I don't understand the (below) 9th parsgraph. So here it is copied and broken-up for easier study. It is 11:50pm Thurs 29-Nov here. I will sleep on it and put it in my own words tomorrow, if I can.
9. "Nevertheless,
the belief that there is a God who is all powerful,
and who created me, such as I am,
[b]has, [-b]for a long time, obtained steady
possession of my mind.
How, then, do I know that he has not arranged that there should be neither earth, nor sky, nor any extended thing, nor figure, nor magnitude, nor place,
providing at the same time, however, for the rise in me of the perceptions of all these objects,
and] the persuasion that these do not exist otherwise than as I perceive them ?
And further, as I sometimes think that others are in error respecting matters of which they believe themselves to possess a perfect knowledge,
how do I know that I am not also deceived each time I add together two and three,
or number the sides of a square,
or form some judgment still more simple, if more simple indeed can be imagined?
But perhaps Deity has not been willing that I should be thus deceived,
for he is said to be supremely good.
If, however, it were repugnant to the goodness of Deity to have created me subject to constant deception, it would seem likewise to be contrary to his goodness to allow me to be occasionally deceived;
and yet it is clear that this is permitted."
I don't get it! but if I still don't get it in the morning I will move-on to paragraph (10).
here is a link to all 12 paragraghs of Meditation 1.
Descartes, Rene - Meditations on First Philosophy
can you help me out?