Chap.I. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 117 



BOOK III. 

 Of the Goodnefs of God. 



CHAP. L 



Goodnefs effent'ial lo the Divine Nature— Jloown from his works.-— 

 Of the Beauty of the Syflem of the Univerfe ; — Goodnefs yZio'M;?^ 

 both in the formatio7i and prefervatio)! of it. 



IN the preceding Book I have proved, from the works of the Au- 

 thor of this Univerfe, that he is a Being of Supreme Intelligence. 

 It is a proof that, I think, muft convince every intelligent read- 

 er : For it is only intelligence that can perceive intelligence in the 

 works of any being ; and I hefitate not to pronounce a man void of 

 intelligence, who does not perceive intelligence in the works of God, 

 if he has formed any idea of them, or if they be properly laid be- 

 fore him *. 



The fubjed: of this Book is to be the Goodnefs of God, another 

 predominant attribute of the Divine Being; fo predominant, and fo 



eflential 

 * See upon this fubjecl Cicero, De Natura Decrunt~ 



