The xvj. Chapter. Of Prouidence; vpon Genesis the 28. chapter, verse 16.
1 THe Grecians call prouidence ⟨…⟩, or ⟨…⟩. The Hebrues deriue it from the verbe Hisgiah, in the coniugation Hiphil, which is To see exactlie and to discerne. 2 As touching the definition thereof Cicero saith in his booke De inuentione, that it is that, whereby anie thing to come is forséene before it come to passe. Howbeit, this definition, if it be referred vnto diuine prouidence, dooth not expresse it: bicause this dooth onlie shew the knowledge of that which is to come, and the power of foreknowing. But in diuine prouidence, is not onelie comprehended the knowledge of the mind of God, but also his will and election, whereby things are decréed and determined to come to passe, rather by one way than another. Further, there is also a power and ablenes therein, to gouerne and direct those things which it is said to foresée; for in things, there is not onlie found the nature & substance of them; but also the order wherewith they be knit one with another. And the one so reacheth to the other, that it helpeth it, or is made perfect by it: & both waies things be well ordeined; particularlie, as touching themselues, each of them are said to be good; and generallie, as touching order, excellent good. And that this order is in all things, we may prooue it by the nature of order it selfe: 3 for it is defined by Augustine to be the disposition of things like and vnlike, attributing to euerie one that which belongeth vnto it. But no man is ignorant, that the parts of the world are diuers, and not alike, if they be compared one with another.
Moreouer, how conuenientlie each one of them is allotted by God to his owne place, proper seate, and standing, both experience teacheth, and the holie scriptures testifie. For it is said; That God hath set the seas and the waters their bounds, 4 neither may they passe the limits appointed vnto them. 5 Further; He measureth the aire with his span, &c. And séeing that so great a benefit of his, ought to be ascribed vnto him, in respect of his prouidence, we may thus define it; 6 that It is the meane which God vseth in directing of things to their proper ends. In which definition is not onlie comprehended the knowledge, but also the will and power of dooing it. Wherevpon this that we auouch, Paule in the first chapter to the Ephesians, hath verie well expressed, when he saith; 7 Who worketh al things according to the counsell of his will. And Cicero in his oration for Milo, taught by what tokens this prouidence may be knowne from naturall reason: for thus he writeth; Neither doubtlesse can anie man iudge otherwise, vnlesse it be such a one, as thinketh that there is no heauenlie power, nor diuine maiestie; and whom neither the sunne, neither the motions of the heauens and signes thereof, neither yet the order and course of all things doo mooue; and so foorth. The verie selfe-same demonstration Paule describeth in the first chapter to the Romans. 8 And Iob in the twelfe chapter; Aske the cattell, and the foules of the aire, the fishes of the sea, and the plants of the earth, and they shall informe thee. Also in the 19. psalme; The heauens declare the power of God. 9 Againe Iob in the 39. and 40. chapters; Concerning the goats, the harts, the horse, the Leuiathan, and Behemoth.