1ET. V. OF THE SYSTEM OF Des CARTES. 7g

to be perfectly reconcileable upon this system.Like Plato and Chrysippus of old, he maintainsthat it never could have been the aim, or firstintention of the Author of Nature, and Parentof all good, to make men obnoxious to diseases,and other evils; yet, whilst he was producingmany excellent things, and forming his workin the best manner possible, other things alsoarose, connected with them, which were incom-modious, and not made for their own fake, butpermitted as necessary consequences of what wasbest.

The perfection of the universe was, indeed,this learned author’s darling theme. But afterall which he has said upon the subject, though itmay perhaps perplex his readers, yet it can neversatisfy them. For is it not much more desirablethat the Author of the world ssiould be con-stantly acting in it, and cherishing it by his pre-sence, than that after having finissied his work,he ssiould totally abandon it, and think it nofurther worthy of his notice or inspection ?

It was sit that there ssiould be, in general, aregularity and constancy in the course of nature,not only on account of its greater beauty, butalso for the sake of intelligent agents, who, with-out this, could have had no foresight, or occasionfor choice and wisdom in judging of things bytheir consequences; and therefore, no properexercise for their reasonable faculties.

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But