134 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III. 



Avere not as perfe£l of their kinds as they could be, there would be 

 fomething irregular and defective in this fyftem of the univerfe. Now, 

 as they, and they only, are capable of pleafure, and confequently of 

 happinefs, they ought' to be as happy as their nature will admit; for 

 the fyftem of nature would be defedlive on this earth, of which 

 only I fpeak, if what is principal in that fyftem be not as perfect as 

 it can be : And, therefore, I think that the goodnefs of God is nc- 

 ceflarily connedted with his intelligence, by which the fyftem of the 

 miiverfe was formed. 



And thus, I think, the goodnefs of God is proved a priori , being 

 neceflarily connedted with his intelligence. And what only remains 

 to be confidered is, whether or not it cannot likewife be proved by 

 fads. 



CHAP. 



