An Enquiry into the Origin of Honour, and the Usefulness of Christianity in War | Page 4

Dialogues I make Use of the same Persons, who are the Interlocutors there, and whose Characters have been already draw in the Preface of that Book.

The CONTENTS OF THE FIRST DIALOGUE.
_Honour is built upon a Passion in Human Nature, for which there is no Name_
_The Author's Reasons for Coining the Word Self-liking_
_How the Passion of Self-liking is discovered in Infants_
_A Definition of Honour, and what it is in Substance_
_The Author's Opinion illustrated by what we know of Dishonour or Shame_
The different Symptoms of Pride and Shame in the Mechanism of Man Are both the Result of the same Passion _The Word Honour, as it signifies a Principle of Courage and Virtue, is of Gothick Extraction_
All Societies of Men are perpetually in Quest after Happiness _The true Reason, why no Nations can be govern'd without Religion, enquired into_
Why no one Sort or Degree of Idolatry can be more or less absurd than another For what Purpose all Religions may be equally serviceable All Men are born with the Fear of an invisible Cause _The Usefulness of that Fear, as to Religion_
The Impossibility of making Atheism universally received Religion no Invention of Politicians The Benefit expected from the Notions of Honour The Reasonableness of Mens Actions examined _How the Strictness of the Gospel came to be first disapproved of, and the Consequence_
How Mens Actions may be inconsistent with their Belief _That many bad Christians were yet kept in Awe by the Fear of Shame, gave the first Handle to the Invention of Honour as a Principle_
What it is we are afraid of in the Fear of Shame Why the Principle of Honour has been of more Use to Society than that of Virtue _The Principle of Honour, clashing with Christianity_
Reasons why the Church of Rome _endeavour'd to reconcile them_
The real Design of Legends and Romances
The Stratagems of the Church of Rome to enslave the Laity What gave Rise to the Custom of Duelling

The Contents of the Second Dialogue.
Of the Principle of Honour in the fair Sex _The Motives of Women who turn Nuns, seldom Religious_
_Which is most serviceable to the Preservation of Chastity in Women, Religion, or Self-liking_
How the Notions concerning the Principle of Honour came to be commonly received The Qualifications thought Necessary in a Man of Honour But Courage alone is sufficient to obtain the Title When the Fashion of Duelling was at its greatest Height Courts of Honour erected in France
Laws of Honour made by them to prevent Duelling Why those Laws were the Reverse of all others The Laws of Honour introduced as speaking The Effect such Laws must have on Human Nature The Arguments a true Christian would make use of to dissuade Men from Duelling The Reasons why Men are despised who take Affronts without resenting them No Scarcity of Believers in Christ The Principle of Honour contrary to Christianity Why the Principle of Honour is of greater Efficacy upon many than Religion How Men may adore themselves Equivalents for Swearing A ludicrous Proposal of Horatio _upon the Supposition, that Honor is an Idol_
A Passage in the Fable of the Bees Defended Satyr as little to be depended upon as Panegyrick _Whatever belongs to Honour or Shame, has its Foundation in the Passion of Self-liking_
The Church of Rome's cunning in consulting and humouring Human Nature _Heraldry of great influence on the Passion of Self-liking_
_Of Canonizations of Saint, and the different Purposes they serve_
The want of Foresight in the first Reformers The worldly Wisdom of the Church of Rome _Hor. owning the Self-denial required in the Gospel in a literal Sense_
The great Use she has made of it The Analogy between the Popish Religion and a Manufacture _The Danger there is in explaining away the Self-denial of the Gospel_
_How the Self-denial of some may seem to be of use to others that practise none_
Easy Casuists can only satisfy the Beau Monde
_Jesuits don't, explain away Self-denial in General_
What sort of Preachers will soonest gain Credit among the Multitude Men may easily be taught to believe what is not Clashing with received Opinions _The force of Education as to Self-denial_
The Advantage the Church of Rome has made from vulgar Nations _Divines, who appeal to Men's Reason, ought to behave differently from those, who teach implicite Faith._
_Why the Luxury of a Popish Clergy gives less Offence to the Laity, than that of Protestants_
What the Church of Rome seems no to dispair of The Politicks of Rome more formidable than any other What must always keep up the Popish Interest in Great-Britain
The most probable Maxims to hinder the Growth as well as Irreligion and Impiety as of Popery and Superstition _When the literal Sense of Words is to be prefer'd to the figurative_
What the Reformers might have foreseen What has been and ever will be the Fate of all Sects

The Contents