First Theory . There Is No Providence

He, However, Who Begins With Metaphysics, Will Not Only Become Confused In Matters Of Religion, But Will Fall Into Complete Infidelity.

Be Convinced That, If Man Were Able To Reach The End Without Preparatory Studies, Such Studies Would Not Be Preparatory But Tiresome And Utterly Superfluous.

An Ignorant Man Believes That The Whole Universe Only Exists For Him: As If Nothing Else Required Any Consideration. If, Therefore, Anything Happens To Him Contrary To His Expectation, He At Once Concludes That The Whole Universe Is Evil. If, However, He Would Take Into Consideration The Whole Universe, Form An Idea Of It, And Comprehend What A Small Portion He Is Of The Universe, He Will Find The Truth. There Are Many ... Passages In The Books Of The Prophets Expressing The Same Idea.

I Believe With Perfect Faith That The Creator, Blessed Be His Name, Is Not A Body, And That He Is Free From All Accidents Of Matter, And That He Has Not Any Form Whatsoever.

The More Necessary A Thing Is For Living Beings, The More Easily It Is Found And The Cheaper It Is; The Less Necessary It Is, The Rarer And Dearer It Is.