Philonis Judaei Opera Omnia (Vol. 8)

PHIL. IUD. ON PROV. BOOK I. §. 24—27.

If we wish to look again, by what reasoning each one of the perfect creatures proceeds from wise providence and effective intelligence, what is there among the parts of the world that is not endowed with either wisdom or providence!

§. 25. Let us, therefore, call Him who bestows care upon all things, providential. For man provides for his children, the herdsman for his flocks, the groom for the horses, and the shepherd for the herd, the captain for the ship, and the physician for the sick: even the bee is wise and the ant is provident. These, however, are parts and particles of the parts of the universe; yet they are parts that are wise and have provident care. If, therefore, the part is wise and provident, will not the whole also be wise? But all these things that we have recounted have a principle of creation: that which has a principle began: and that which began, began by taking a beginning from something; therefore, he who was made wise and provident in beginning took his principle from another.

§. 26. Furthermore, how can anyone be provident without providence or wise without wisdom? If, therefore, no one will be provident and wise without providence or wisdom, certainly there was some provident and wise being from whom these took their beginning. If indeed it is fitting that the creator should providentially have care for the things created by Him; for there is nothing that is not cared for by Him. How, therefore, shall we not call the providence of God rational, especially since these very things which were made by Him show (or have received) providence?

§. 27. O, truly brutish envy! Those who want to be considered provident themselves, these men strip God of providence. Seeing the happiness of a single house or city with all abundance, we call it the work of providence and diligence, which is found prepared even for the vilest and most unworthy humans; so that they do not even lack necessities, not even those who have been condemned to punishments and torments. Yet for the whole world, they say there is neither any stewardship nor care, nor any law established by anyone with beautiful providence (or foreknowledge).