Editorial note — BOOK II. OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY. (continued 7)

P. From the want of attending duly to this distinction, some have been led into the blasphemy of imputing evil to the Supreme Being. There is no such thing as evil in the universe; all is good, all is absolutely perfect. The most flagitious actions tend to universal good: even these, in one respect, may be called the actions of God, as all that is done is done by him; but with respect to the motive which God had in doing them, it is pure in the most sublime degree; the action is impious and wicked, with respect only to the agent; and his wickedness does not proceed from the action itself, but from the want of conformity between his duty and his motive in acting. Now if the punishment of such a transgression (which is also considered as the action of the Supreme Being) enters into the system of general good, is it not a monstrous folly to call it unjust? We know the duties of man, we know the duties of governors, but we know not the duties of God, if we may be allowed to make use of so very improper an expression, and it is for this reason only, that we cannot judge of the goodness of his providence. We must therefore take it for granted; and this is one object of what divines call faith, the belief of things not seen, when the disbelief of them would imply an absurdity.