{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 ymaginac{i}ou{n} of þouȝt ne desceiue vs nat. {and} putte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse of þilke þinge þat is su{m}myttid 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. [Sidenote: The sovereign good does exist, and is the source of all other good.] ¶ For al þing þat is cleped i{n}p{er}fit. is proued i{n}p{er}fit by þe [[pg 89]] amenusynge of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}. or of þing þat is p{er}fit. [Sidenote: [* fol. 21.]] [Sidenote: 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. 2468 þat men seen any þing þat is i{n}p{er}fit *certys in þilke general þer mot ben so{m}me þing þat is p{er}fit. ¶ For yif so be þat p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} is don awey. men may nat þinke nor seye fro whe{n}nes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. 2472 [Sidenote: 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} i{n}p{er}fit. but it p{ro}cediþ of þi{n}g{us} þat ben al hool. {and} absolut. {and} descendeþ so doune in to outerest þinges {and} in to þi{n}g{us} empty {and} 2476 wiþ oute fruyt. [Sidenote: 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} inp{er}fit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse þat is sad stedfast {and} p{er}fit. b. þis is concludid 2480 q{uo}d I fermely {and} soþefastly. [Sidenote: 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 co{n}sidere also q{uo}d she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe co{m}mune acordaunce {and} conceite of þe corages of men p{ro}ueþ {and} graunteþ þat god p{r}ince of alle þi{n}g{us} is 2484 good. [Sidenote: 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 þ{a}t] no þing is bettre. þat he nys good. [Sidenote: Reason clearly demonstrates (1) that God is good, and (2) that the sovereign good exists in him.]