2444 yif—yiue
þi streite—the streyte
2445 [hym]—from C.
2446 lyȝte—lyht
2448 [thow]—from C.
2449 bryȝtnes—bryhtnesse
2451 paþ—MS. paþe; paath
2452 [þat]—that
GOD THE SUPREME GOOD.
[QUONIAM IGITUR QUI SCIT.][7] [7] Read que sit.
FOr as moche Now that thou hast had a faithful representation of future felicity as well as of the true happiness, I shall show thee in what the Perfection of Happiness consists. þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe
forme of goode þat nys nat perfit. and whiche is þe
forme of goode þat is perfit. now trowe I þat it were
goode to shewe in what þis perfeccioun of blisfulnesse is [2456]
set. Our best plan will be to inquire whether there be in nature such a good as thou hast lately defined, lest we be deceived by the vanity of Imagination and be carried beyond the truth of the matter subjected to our inquiry. and in þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere
forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke
goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat
is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature [2460]
of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginacioun of þouȝt ne
desceiue vs nat. and putte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse
of þilke þinge þat is summyttid to vs. þis is to seyne.
but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is. [2464]
¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes. The sovereign good does exist, and is the source of all other good. ¶ For
al þing þat is cleped inperfit. is proued inperfit by þe
amenusynge of perfeccioun. or of þing þat is perfit. When we say that a thing is imperfect we assert that there is something else of its kind perfect. and
her of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. * fol. 21. þat [2468]
men seen any þing þat is inperfit *certys in þilke general
þer mot ben somme þing þat is perfit. ¶ For yif so
be þat perfeccioun is don awey. men may nat þinke
nor seye fro whennes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. [2472]
Nature takes not her origin from things diminished and imperfect; but, proceeding from an entire and absolute substance, descends into the remotest and most fruitless things. ¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng
of þinges amenused and inperfit. but it procediþ of
þingus þat ben al hool. and absolut. and descendeþ so
doune in to outerest þinges and in to þingus empty and [2476]
wiþ oute fruyt. If there be an imperfect and fading felicity there must also be one stable and perfect. but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne.
þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be frele and vein and
inperfit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse
þat is sad stedfast and perfit. b. þis is concludid [2480]
quod I fermely and soþefastly. But now consider wherein this felicity resides. That God is the governor of all things is proved by the universal opinion of all men. P. But considere
also quod she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe
commune acordaunce and conceite of þe corages of men
proueþ and graunteþ þat god prince of alle þingus is [2484]
good. For since nothing may be conceived better than God, then He who has no equal in goodness must be good. ¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan
god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þat] no þing is
bettre. þat he nys good. Reason clearly demonstrates (1) that God is good, and (2) that the sovereign good exists in him. ¶ Certys resoun sheweþ þat
god is so goode þat it proueþ by verray force þat perfit [2488]
goode is in hym. If it were not so He could not be the Ruler of all things, for there would be some other being excelling him who possesses the supreme good and who must have existed before Him. ¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne
may nat ben prince of alle þinges. for certis som þing
possessyng in hym self perfit goode sholde ben more
þan god. and [it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were first [2492]
and elder þan god. And we have already shown that the perfect precedes the imperfect; ¶ For we han shewed apertly þat
alle þinges þat ben perfit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit.