Hugo Grotius · 16 of 132

SECT. XI. And the affairs of this lower world.

AND they are under a very great mistake, who confine this providence to the heavenly bodies; as appears from the foregoing reason, which holds as strong for all created beings; and moreover from this consideration, that there is an especial regard had to the good of man, in the regulation of the course of the stars, as is confessed by the best philosophers, and evident from experience. And it is reasonable to conceive, that greater care should be taken of that for whose sake the other was made, than of that which is only subservient to it.

And the particulars in it.

NEITHER is their error less, who allow the universe to be governed by him, but not the particular things in it. For if he were ignorant of any particular thing, (as some of them say), he would not be thoroughly acquainted with himself. Neither will his knowledge be infinite, (as we have before proved it to be). if it does not extend to individuals. Now, if God knows all things, what should binder his taking care of them; especially since individuals, as such, are appointed for some certain end, either particular or general? and things in general (which they themselves acknowledge to be preserved by God) cannot subsist but in their individuals: so that if the particulars be destroyed, by providence’s forsaking them, the whole must be destroyed too.