84 LIBERTY OP REASONING 



world and of religion, which, when it is completed^* 

 will probably bring us near to the folution of our pro- 

 blem. But ere we proceed in the feries of reflections 

 we have begun, it will be needful to take^a departure 

 again, for placing, as well the refult of what has been 

 already faid, as the primitive axioms from whence we 

 fet out on our meditations, fo clofely together, that 

 we may furvey them at one view, with- as much perfpi- 

 euity as poflible. 



When a good institution has fo groffly failed of its 

 aim, that precifely the contrary from what it ought to 

 have effected has fallen out, there remain (unlefs I am 

 very much miffaken) only two things to be done : We 

 mull either let the good inffitution entirely drop, — 

 and this would be acting very fbolifhly, unlefs we were 

 certain of being able to fubftitute fomewhat preferable* 

 in its place, that would better and more affuredly pro- 

 duce what the other was intended to produce : — or, 

 we muft inveftigate how it happened, that the defign 

 of the former was defeated, till we have plainly disco- 

 vered it, and then apply the moil effectual remedies a& 

 quickly as we can. 



But, is the good, from whence, contrary to its na- 

 ture, evil has proceeded, of fuch a kind, as that, m 

 the firft place, it does not depend upon us whether it 

 fhall exift or not ; is, fecondly, the matter fo framed,, 

 as that every man, merely by opening his eyes, can be 

 convinced, that the evil only arofe, becaufe every good 

 mufc have a mixture of feme degree of evil, that not 

 only hinders the falutary effects of it, but by its mix- 

 ing with it, has even changed it into a deadly poifon ; 

 and, in fhort, . is it, thirdly, as apparent^ that it is- 



