and prefided over the Affairs of Men. This therefore is a Matter which deferves to be carefully confidered, fince to entertain wrong or difparaging Thoughts of the divine Goodness, would be of the most pernicious Confequence to Religion and Virtue.

In treating of this Subject I fhall first lay down fome Principles, which may be of Use for regulating our Notions of the divine Goodness, and which may tend to prevent or rectify Mistakes which Persons are apt to fall into concerning it.

Secondly, I fhall make a general Reprefentation of the Goodness of Divine Providence towards Mankind in this prefent State. And then shall proceed to confider the Objections that are raised against it.

First, I fhall lay down fome Principles which ought to be carefully attended to, in order to our forming right Notions of the divine Goodness, and of the Manner in which it is exercised.

1

Ift, The Goodness of God and of his Providence, is not a blind inconfiderate Goodnefs, acting by a Neceffity of Nature to the utmost of its Capacity; but it is a moft wife Goodness, i. e. it is a Goodness always in Conjunction with, and under the Direction of infinite Wisdom. This is a

Principle

Principle fo reasonable and evident, that it can scarce be contested; and yet the Objections which have been made against the Goodness of Divine Providence, feem to have been principally owing to Mens not attending to this as they ought. When they hear of infinite Goodness, they are apt to form a Notion of an abfolute Goodnefs, acting always, and in every Inftance, to the utmost poffible Degree; and therefore they look upon every Evil which happeneth to the Creatures in any Part of the Universe, to be inconfiftent with it. But it is manifeft, that mere Goodness and Benevolence, let us fuppofe it never fo great, if it acted neceffarily, and in all Cafes, without Diftinction or Discernment, would lofe much of its Excellency, and could fcarce be accounted a Virtue or a Perfection. So it evidently is among Men. Goodness in a private Man, much more in a Prince, may be carried to an Excefs, if it be exercised promiscuously without Confideration or Judgment. It is then that Goodness and Beneficence is truly admirable and praise-worthy, when it is in a happy Conjunction with Wisdom and Prudence, and is exercised towards proper Objects, at proper Seasons, and in proper Meafures and Degrees We must not imagine that God difpenfeth his Benefits by a natural Neceffity;

Neceffity; as the Sun fendeth forth its Rays, and a Fountain its Streams. Such a Notion of the divine Goodnefs would be dishonourable to God, and of ill Confequence to the Interefts of Religion and Virtue in the World. But his Goodness

is that of a most holy and understanding Mind, and is always exercised in such a Way as feems most fit to his infinite Wifdom, and when confidered in this View is most amiable and venerable, and fuch as becometh the infinitely perfect Being.

2dly, It must be farther confidered, that the Goodnefs of God in his Providence, is the Goodness of a free and fovereign Benefactor, who is the abfolute Lord of his own Gifts, and can dispense them in what Measures and Proportions he fees fit, of which he is certainly the best Judge. The Nature of Goodness no Way requires that he should exactly confer the fame or equal Benefits upon all his Creatures, or make them all equal in their Capacities or Degrees of Excellence. For then there must have been only one Species of Beings created, and that of the highest Kind. Whereas it cannot be reasonably denied, that both the Wisdom and Goodnefs of God is eminently confpicuous in the creating and providing for numberless Species of Beings, from the higher Or

ders

ders of created Intelligences, through all the various Degrees of Life, to the very loweft of fenfitive Beings: those of an inferior Kind contributing, in their several Stations and Degrees, to the Beauty, Order, and Harmony of the Universe, as well as thofe of an higher. And as Goodness doth not require, that God fhould make all his Creatures of one and the fame Species, fo neither doth it require, that he should make all the Individuals of the fame Species equal among themselves, and give them all precisely the fame or equal Capacities and Advantages. It is in no wife inconfiftent with the infinite Goodness of God, that he should dispense his Gifts and Bles fings with great Variety. No wise Man pretends to find Fault with the Goodness of an earthly Prince or Benefactor, merely because he bestows his Favours in a larger Degree upon fome Perfons than upon others. And fhall we confine the fovereign Lord of the Universe within narrower Limits than we do our Fellow-creatures, or make him lefs the Lord of his own Gifts than they are? The contrary is an abfurd Notion of Goodness, neither founded in Reafon, nor agreeable to Fact and Experience. And yet fome Objections that have made a great Noise against the Good

nefs

nefs of Divine Providence, proceed upon this Suppofition.

3dly, The Goodnefs of God as exercifed towards Man, is farther to be confidered as the Goodness of a moral Governor, and therefore it must be exercised in a Way fuited to the Nature of moral Government. It must not therefore be extended equally at all Times to the good and bad. Nor muft the Effects of it be bestowed indiscriminately upon Men_however they behave, and without any Regard to their moral Conduct. For this would be to overthrow and diffolve all Government, and to confound the Differences between Good and Evil. If Men be moral Agents, and if God beareth towards them the Relation of a moral Governor, his Goodness must be difpenfed towards them as becometh a wife and righteous Governor, and therefore cannot be inconfiftent with the Exercise of his rectoral Justice, nor confequently with the inflicting Punishments upon obftinate Offenders. Yea, Goodness itself confidered in the moft extenfive View requireth fuch Punishments to be inflicted, as tend to the Good of the whole, and to the preferving the Peace, Order, and Harmony of the moral World. No confidering Man ever pretended that it is a Derogation from the Goodness of an earthly