The divine life in three treatises

5. The Immensity and Infinite Greatness of God assureth us of his Particular Providence. Some blasphemous Infidels imagine that he hath only a General Providence, and hath left all to some inferior powers, and meddleth not with particular things himself: They think that as he hath left it to the Sun to illuminate the world, so hath he left all other inferior things and events to nature or inferior causes; and that he doth not himself regard, observe, reward or punish the thoughts, and words, and ways of men. And all this is because they consider not the Immensity or Infinite Greatness of the Lord. Its true, that God hath framed the Nature of all things, and delighteth to maintain and use the frame of second causes which he hath made; and will not easily and ordinarily work against or without this order of causes: But it is as true and certain both that sometimes he maketh use of Miracles, and that in the very course of natural causes he is able to exercise a particular Providence, as well as without them by himself alone. The Creature doth nothing but by him. All things move as he first moveth them, in their natural agency. His wisdom guideth, his will intendeth, and commandeth; his Power moveth and disposeth all. The Sun would not shine, if he were not the light of it; and he is no less himself the Light of the world, then if he did illuminate it without a Sun. God is never the further off▪ because the Creatures are near us; nor never the less in the effect, because he useth a second cause, then if there were no second cause at all. What influence second causes have upon the souls of men, he hath for the most part kept unknown to us; But that himself disposeth of us and all ⟨p. 26⟩things after the counsel of his own will, is beyond all question. Can he that is most nearly present with thy thoughts, be regardless of them? can he be regardless of thy words and ways that is with thee and seeth and heareth all? If thou believe not that he is as verily with thee as thou art there thy self, thou art then an Atheist. If thou believe him not to be Infinite, thou believest him not to be God. It is not God that can be absent, limited or finite. And if thou be not such a senseless Atheist, but knowest that God is everywhere, how is it possible thou shouldst doubt of his care or observance or particular providence about every thing?

5. The Immensity and Infinite Greatness of God assureth us of his Particular Providence. Some blasphemous Infidels imagine that he hath only a General Providence, and hath left all to some inferiour powers, and medleth not with particular things himself: They think that as he hath left it to the Sun to illuminate the world, so hath he left all other inferiour things and events to nature or inferior causes; and that he doth not himself regard, observe, reward or punish the thoughts, and words, and wayes of men. And all this is because they consider not the Immensity or Infinite Greatness of the Lord. Its true, that God hath framed the Nature of all things, and delighteth to maintain and use the frame of second causes which he hath made; and will not easily and ordinarily work against or without this order of causes: But it is as true and certain both that sometimes he maketh use of Miracles, and that in the very course of natural causes he is able to exercise a particular Providence, as well as without them by himself alone. The Creature doth nothing but by him. All things move as he first moveth them, in their natural agency. His wisdom guideth, his will intendeth, and commandeth; his Power moveth and disposeth all. The Sun would not shine, if he were not the light of it; and he is no less himself the Light of the world, then if he did illuminate it without a Sun. God is never the further off because the Creatures are near us; nor never the less in the effect, because he useth a second cause, then if there were no second cause at all. What influence second causes have upon the souls of men, he hath for the most part kept unknown to us; But that himself disposeth of us and all