idence the generous care which Divinity shows in providing
for our needs, and in watching over the happiness of its beloved
creatures. But, as soon as we look around, we find that God provides for
nothing. Providence neglects the greatest part of the inhabitants of
this world. Against a very small number of men, who are supposed to be
happy, what a multitude of miserable ones are groaning beneath
oppression, and languishing in misery! Whole nations are compelled to
starve in order to indulge the extravagances of a few morose tyrants,
who are no happier than the slaves whom they oppress! At the same time
that our philosophers energetically parade the bounties of Providence,
and exhort us to place confidence in it, do we not see them cry out at
unforeseen catastrophes, by which Providence plays with the vain
projects of men; do we not see that it overthrows their designs, laughs
at their efforts, and that its profound wisdom pleases itself in
misleading mortals? But how can we place confidence in a malicious
Providence which laughs at and sports with mankind? How can I admire the
unknown course of a hidden wisdom whose manner of acting is inexplicable
to me? Judge it by its effects! you will say; it is by these I do judge
it, and I find that these effects are sometimes useful and sometimes
injurious to me.

We think to justify Providence by saying, that in this world there are
more blessings than evil for each individual man. Let us suppose that
the blessings which this Providence makes us enjoy are as one hundred,
and that the evils are as ten per cent.; would it not always result that
against these hundred degrees of goodness, Providence possesses a tenth
degree of malignity?--which is incompatible with the perfection we
suppose it to have.

All the books are filled with the most flattering praises of Providence,
whose attentive care is extolled; it would seem to us, as if in order to
live happy here below, man would have no need of exerting himself.
However, without labor, man could scarcely live a day. In order to live,
I see him obliged to sweat, work, hunt, fish, toil without relaxation;
without these secondary causes, the First Cause (at least in the
majority of countries) could provide for none of his needs. If I examine
all parts of this globe, I see the uncivilized as well as the civilized
man in a perpetual struggle with Providence; he is compelled to ward off
the blows which it sends in the form of hurricanes