which matter alone
forms the sphere, and should not be that causing the creation of any
special being.

"Do we find in the two objects created, _i.e._, _matter_ and
_nature_, the source of the good and evil which have almost always
been thought to exist in the events of this world? To this question
I shall answer that good and evil are only relative to particular
objects, that they never affect by their temporary existence the
general result expected (_prevu_), and that for the end which the
Creator designed, there is in reality neither good nor evil, because
everything in nature perfectly fulfils its object.

"Has God limited his creations to the existence of only matter and
nature? This question is vain, and should remain without an answer
on our part; because, being reduced to knowing anything only through
observation, and to bodies alone, also to what concerns them, these
being for us the only observable objects, it would be rash to speak
affirmatively or negatively on this subject.

"What is a spiritual being? It is what, with the aid of the
imagination, one would naturally suppose (_l'on vaudra supposer_).
Indeed, it is only by means of opposing that which is material that
we can form the idea of spirit; but as this hypothetical being is
not in the category of objects which it is possible for us to
observe, we do not know how to take cognizance of it. The idea that
we have of it is absolutely without base.

"We only know physical objects and only objects relative to these
beings (_etres_): such is the condition of our nature. If our
thoughts, our reasonings, our principles have been considered as
metaphysical objects, these objects, then, are not beings (_etres_).
They are only relations or consequences of relations (_rapports_),
or only results of observed laws.

"We know that relations are distinguished as general and special.
Among these last are regarded those of nature, form, dimension,
solidity, size, quantity, resemblance, and difference; and if we add
to these objects the being observed and the consideration of known
laws, as also that of conventional objects, we shall have all the
materials on which our thoughts are based.

"Thus being able to observe only the phenomena of nature, as well as
the laws which regulate these phenomena, also the products of these
last, in a word, only bodies (_corps_) and what concerns them, all