We have here then made a large stride towards our intended Goal, having at once acquitted the Divine Goodness, and freed Mankind from a numerous train of imaginary Evils, by most clearly fhewing them to be no Evils at all; and yet under this head are really comprehended all the Evils we perpetually complain of, except actual pain, the nature of which, and how it came to have a place in the works of an omnipotent and good Being, fhall be confidered in the next Letter from,

SIR, &c.

LET

LETTER III.

Ο Ν

NATURAL EVILS.

I

SIR,

Shall now lay before you my free sentiments. concerning the Origin of Natural Evils, by which I understand the sufferings of fenfitive Beings only; for tempefts, inundations and earthquakes, with all the diforders of the material World, are no farther Evils than as they affect the fenfitive: fo that under this head can be only comprehended pains of body, and inquietudes of mind. That these are real Evils, I readily acknowledge; and if and if any one is philofopher enough to doubt of it, I shall only beg leave to refer him to a fevere fit of fickness, or a tedious law-fuit, for farther fatisfaction.

THE production of Happiness seems to be the only motive that could induce infinite Goodness

to

to exert infinite Power to create all things: for, to fay truth, Happiness is the only thing of real value in exiftencë; neither riches, nor power, nor wifdom, nor learning, nor ftrength, nor beauty, nor virtue, nor religion, nor even life itself, being of any importance but as they contribute to its production. All thefe are in themselves neither Good nor Evil; Happiness alone is their great end, and they defirable only as they tend to promote it. Most aftonifhing therefore it must appear to every one who looks round him, to obferve all creatures bleffed with life and fenfation, that is, all creatures made capable of Happiness, at the fame time by their own natures condemned to inhumerable and unavoidable miferies. Whence can it proceed, that Providence fhould thus feem to counteract his own benevolent intentions? To what strange and invifible caufe are all thefe numerous and invincible Evils indebted for their Existence? If God is a good and benevolent Being, what end could he propose from creation, but the propagation of Happiness? and if Happinefs is the end of all exiftence, why are not all creatures that do exist happy?

THE true folution of this important question, so long and fo vainly searched for by the philofophers of all ages and all countries, I take to be at faft no more than this, That these real Evils proceed from the fame fource as thofe imaginary ones

of