PROVIDENCE, in theology, is God's wise and powerful preservation and govern ment of his creatures and works. By preservation is meant that all creatures and things, with their powers and properties, are continued in existence by the will and power of God. Some regard this as a continual creation; which others deny, since, as they affirm, calling into existence is a different thing from continuing in existence; in the forther there can be no co-operation with second causes; but in the latter God's power acts in connection with them. The question is one of metaphysics. The gov ernment of the universe includes the great end which God designs to attain, and the means and processes by which it is to be accomplished. These imply an intelligent con trol over all physical forces, intellectual powers, and moral agencies. 1. The fact of providence may be inferred from the fact of creation. The supposition that God would create this vast universe, and leave it without care, either for its preservation or its accomplishment of the design which he created it, is absurdly contrary to the divine wisdom which creation itself displays. There must be a providence proportioned to creation, and as the whole universe has been created, providence must extend over it all. 2. Providence is actually exhibited through the universe, in the preservation of it, through long periods of time. The design to preserve it and processes by which it is preserved arc manifested through it all. The continual exercise of government is like wise exhibited over its physical, mental, and moral forces. 3. The religious nature of man instinctively believes in a universal providence. It recognizes human dependence on God and responsibility to him. It believes in his moral government ns exercised in this world. It believes in intercourse with him. It is naturally prompted to call on him in trouble, danger, and want. It fears the exercise ,of his justice towards trans gressors; it feels its need of his mercy. All this would be a delusion, imposed on tl:c nature of man by its creator, if there were no universal providence corm:Totaling to it.
Some indeed attribute the existence of all religions convictions to education. The answer to them is, that the sense of dependence, responsibility. and obligation, and of divine government over men, is toogeneral to be acculmded for by education. Who are the educators? it may be asked; and who educated them? 4. The Scriptures affirm the providence of Got]; declaring that lie upholds all things by the word of his power; that in him men live, move, and have their being; that his government is uni versal, extending over all creatures and all their actions; that it is all-powerful, render ing certain the accomplishment of all his plans; that it is infinitely wise in the ends which it proposes. in the means which it employs, and the control which it exercises over creatures and things; and that it is holy. doing, requiring, and ultimately allow ing, nothing inconsistent with justice, truth, nod love. Sonic professing to believe in a general supervision and government over the universe deny that it extends to particular persons and things. To this it has been answered that there can lie no general provi dence which is not also particular. The general is made up of the particulars. Care over the one includes care over the others. Some say that care over minute and insig nificant things is beneath the greatness of God. To this the answers are: (1) If to create the little was not beneath God, to take care of it cannot be; (2) the greatest things are made up of things indefinitely small; (3) the qualities of things are lodged in the elementary particles, that are immeasurably little. Some deny that the providence of God can deal favorably in any wise with the unworthy and guilty. But in reply it is urged, that guilt increases the need that men should lie eared for; transgressors cannot be neglected under a morn] government; that God's goodness is displayed towards the evil as well as the good; and that his grace to sinners is manifested as the crowning wonder of his providential government.