CHAPTER I.
MAN, NOT GOD, THE AUTHOR OF MORAL EVIL.
SECTION I.
WHAT EVIL IS.
By "difficulties regarding the wisdom and goodness of the Deity," are meant all such considerations drawn from observation of life and the world, as tend to excite doubt in the mind whether the Author of life and of all things can be perfectly wise and good. Now, all such considerations may obviously be reduced to one, namely, the existence of evil; for evil, whether moral or physical, is that which causes pain and unhappiness to man; and it is the sight of pain and unhappiness which creates in the mind a doubt whether the Author of all things can be perfectly good and wise. For the observer argues thus:—If God be All-good, that is, Love, He must wish to see His creatures happy; and if He be All-wise, He must know how to carry His wish into effect: the consequence must be, that His creatures will be happy. This argument seems strictly logical. If then the expected consequence is not seen to follow, a doubt is excited whether the premises are sound: if unhappiness—much unhappiness, is found to exist in the world, a doubt arises in the mind whether the Creator of the world can be perfectly good and wise.
To remove such doubts—to obviate such difficulties
