inctSiivity of Matter, &c. 209

We ascribe all the merit of a laudable action,to the spontaneous agent alone, we find faultwith the concurring agents if an action un-justly designed hath its effect. In this we donot consider that the Very design and intentionof an evil action is itself the evil thing, be-fore any effect at all is .produced. But far*'ther, if the arrow by an unsteadiness of hand,or a mistake of persons, should wound, orkill an innocent man; or if the innocent isovertaken by some inevitable calamity, whereno moral agent is concerned; we are to af-firm that this could not come to pass but for thebest and wises ends. For it is an infalliblecertainty, that there exists a Being infinitelygood and just ; and therefore that any crea-ture should be ultimately unhappy, by the im-mediate agency of this Being, or in a worldwhere the power and knowledge of this Be-mg presides, or worse than another creaturenot more innocent, or than another creatureyet more guilty, is the greatest impossibility,if we are peremptory in this cafe, and deter-mine that either there is not a God, or that he isnot ajust inspector of human affairs , and for thisreason, because otherwise such an innocentperson would not have been indiscriminatelyVol. I. P involved,.