An Essay on the Origin of Evil Author:William King Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. /Have always looked upon an Enquiry into the Caufe and Origin of Evil, as one of the noblejl and mojl important Subjects in Natur... more »al Religion. It leads us into the moft exalted Speculations concerning the Exiftence and Attributes of God, and the Original of 'Things. It firft endeavours to difcover the true intent of the Deity in creating Beings at all, and then purfues that Intent through the feveral Works of his Creation: it jhews bow this is fully anfwered at prefent by the Inanimate and Brute Part, and how it might and Jhould be, and why, and in what refpecl, it is not by the Rational. It contemplates the Divine CEconomy in the Government of the Univerfe, fearches into the various Schemes of Providence, and takes in the whole Compafs of Nature. Neither is its Ufefulnefs inferior to its Extent. It concerns every Man who pretends to aft upon any ferious Views here, or to entertain any folid Hopes of Futurity. The Knowledge of it, in fame degree, is absolutely necejjary in order to the fettling in our Minds right 'Notions of the Nature and Will of God, and the Duties we owe him; in order to the due Apprehenjion of bis Defign in creating, preserving, and directing us; and to the regular Conduct of our Lives and Enjoyment of ourfelvey in that State and Condition wherein he has placed us. Nay, while we are ignorant of this one Point, what rational Plea- fure can we take in knowing any other ? When I enquire how I got into this World, and came to bejuthat I am, I am told that an abfolutefy perfect Being produced me out of Nothing, and placed me here on purpofe to' communicate fame Part of his Happinefs to me, and to make me, in fame meajure, like bimfelf— 'This End is not obtained; — the direct contrary appears; — I find myfelf Jurrounded with nothing...« less