agreeable to the highest Goodness to create those which are leaft perfect, if they be no hindrance to the Number or Convenience of the more perfect ones. 130 6 This confirm'd by an Instance of Matter, which is no Impediment to pure Spirits, 132 7 'Tis lefs agreeable to the Divine Goodness to have omitted, than to have created these more imperfect Beings. CHA P. IV. Concerning Natural Evil. SECT. I. Of Generation and Corruption. 137 145 T.1 A Creature cannot complain of its Fate tho' it be lefs perfect then others. 2 The Origin of things from Matter is the Source of Natural Evils, as their Rife from nothing is the Cause of thofe of Imperfection. 146 3 Matter is useless except it have Motion. 147 4 Such Motion was to be rais'd in Matter as might feparate it into Parts Hence the Generation and Corruption of Bodies. 148 5 Motion under certain Laws, tends more to the Prefervation of things than if it were left at random; hence God has diftributed Bodies into various Systems. 150 6 It appears from Light and other Phænomena, that the Systems of the Universe are very good and beautiful. 7 'Tis rah to affirm that Matter might be diftributed into better Syftems, fince we do not throughly understand the prefent. CHAP. IV. SECT. II. Concerning Animals and the Variety of them. 153 T.1 Matter does not seem to be made for its own fake, fince it is not self confcious; 'tis therefore defign'd for the ufe of Animals. proper 155 154 2 'Tis probable that Animals vary according to to the Variety of thofe Regions which they are deftin'd to inhabit. Therefore the Æther and Air, in all probability, have their Inhabitants as well as the Earth. 3 The Earth, as being the least part of the Mundane Syftem, is not to be chiefly regarded, but yet is not made to no Purpofe, or without Defign. 159 4 The Earth may be conceiv'd as a Wheel in this great Automaton of the World, without which its Motion would be defective: in the interim it affords an habitation and food for Animals. 160 5 The Earth is made not for Man alone but for the Universe to think otherwise favours of human Pride. 162 CHAP. IV. SE C T. III. Of Death. ¶. 1 'Tis probable that the Solidity of our Bodies is the Cause why we cannot move them whither we please. 166 2 A Soul united to a Portion of Ethereal Matter, &c. can move it whither it will, and preferve its Union; fuch a Body therefore is immortal. ibid. 3 The Body of a terreftrial Animal is a kind of Veffel which may be broken, the humours may flow out, and the circular Motion cease, fuch Animals then are naturally mortal. 167 4 This Hypothefis reconcil'd with facred History concerning the Mortality of the first Man. 169 CHA P. IV. SECT. IV. Of the Paffions. . 1 Our Souls require Bodies of a peculiar Crafis, when that is diforder'd the Operations of the Soul are either hinder'd or destroy'd. 171 2 The Soul and Body admit of a mutual Sympathy: hence it is the firft care of the Soul to keep the Body free from harm. 172 3 The Senfe of Pain is neceffary to preferve Life, as alfo the dread of Death. ibid. 4 The reft of the Paffions are connected with these. 174 The Paffions could not be avoided otherwise 6 It is not contrary to the Divine Goodnefs to permit these Inconveniencies, fince they could no be avoided without greater. 7 God therefore compared the Good in things with the Evils which neceffarily attend them, and tolerated those Evils which were insepara- 8 The Axiom about not doing Evil for the fake Of Hunger, Thirst and Labour. ¶. 1 The Parts of the Body fly off, it stands in need therefore of Reparation, viz. by Food. 182 2 Choice must be had in Food, fince all things ibid. ibid. 4 Every Animal is placed by God where it may have its proper Nourishment, hence almot every Herb maintains its proper Infect. 183 Some Animals are made for Food to others, and 5 6 All parts of the Earth could not have afforded Nourishment and Reception for Men, whatever Situation they may be placed in. of Earthquakes, Lightning, and Deluges. 7 185 188 8 The number of Animals to be fed, was to be proportioned to the Food, not the Food to the Animals. 190 9 The hundredth part of Mankind which might live upon the Earth does not yet inhabit it: vain therefore is the Complaint about Seas and Defarts. 192 10 'Tis abfurd for any one to defire a different Station from that which is allotted him, fince he was made to fill that Place, and would otherwise have had none at all. CHA P. IV. SE C T. VI. ib. Concerning Propagation of the Species, Childhood, and Old-Age. q. i Animals may be repair'd three Ways: ft. If Death were prevented by Omnipotence. 2dly. By Creation. 3dly. By Propagation. 195 2 This 3d Method is the best, because it may be effected without doing Violence to the Laws of Nature. ibid. 3 The Divine Wisdom and Goodnefs admirable in the Contrivance of it. 196 4 Why Men are tormented with the continual dread of Death, while the Brutes are not at all concern'd about it. 197 5 This is a Sign that the prefent Life is a Frelude to a better. 198 |