CHAPTER VIl1i 503 it promotes natural good, as it is that which tends to procure the pleasure or happiness of other beings. Any thing that is excellent in its kind is vulgarly called good, whether it be natural, artificial or moral. Note, What truth is to the mind that isgood to the will, L e. its most proper object. According to some of these divisions ef.truth and goodness it may be proper also to shew what is falsehood, and what is evil, Which are their contraries ; and here the moral ideas of vice and sinmay be introduced, which is the unconformity of our volun- tary thoughts, words, or actions, to the laws of reason, or to the revealed will of God. here we might say, as duties and virtues consist either in äction or in abstinence, so sins are distinguished into those of omission or those of commission. We might remark also con. cerning good and evil, that of several good things the greatest is tobe chosen, and of several evils the least. But these thoughts belong rather to moral science. Let us proceednow to consider what is the true idea of 'per- fection. When metaphysical or physical truth and goodness are united in any being it is called perfect, i. e. it contains all the parts and properties which belong to the essence or nature of that thing, without defect or blemish ; it comes up to its standard, and it is fitted to answer all its designed or proper ends. Where any of these are wanting the being is called irnperfect. A being may be called perfect absolutely in all respects; and that belongs to God alone; it may be said to be perfect in its own kind as a perfect cube or triangle, or circle; that is a perfect rainbow, which has all its colours and reaches from side to side of the horizon ; or it may beballed perfect comparatively; that is a perfect image, statue or picture, which has no sensible defects or unlikeness to the original, and is superior to all others; so established and knowing christians are called perfect in scrip- ture in comparison of novices. Again, Abeing is perfect either as to parts or as to degrees; an infant is a perfect man as to his parts, but his degrees of growth, or of power to stand, to walk, to reason, &c. are imper- fect. Yet further, a thing may be perfect as to quantity and measure, as a horse of full grown stature ; but this horse may not be perfect as to the qualities and powers of beauty, or swiftness. So fruit may be perfect as to its size, but not as to its ripeness. In the last place, things are yet said to be perfect with regard to all their essentials (viz.) the natural parts and properties which make the thing be what it is, as a garden just laid out and planted ; or it may be perfect with regard to all circurnttantials bii I! 'i
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