De Moor X: Outline of the Doctrine of Providence

CHAPTER X provides a treatment of PROVIDENCE,

As a Corollary of Creation or Continued Creation, § 1.

I.  Nominal with its Etymology, Synonymy, and Homonymy, § 2.

II.  Real; in which Providence’s

A.  True Existence is proven, with Objections answered, § 3.

B.  Definition is set forth, § 4, which includes Providence’s

א.  Efficient Cause,

α.  Generally,

a.  Principal, which is

a.  Positively, God.

b.  Negatively, not

1.  Fortune or Chance.

2.  The Influence of the Stars.

3.  Fatal Necessity, § 5.

b.  Less principal, the Means, in which it differs from Creation, § 6.

β.  Specifically,

a.  The Three Persons of the Trinity, especially the Father, § 7.

b.  The Decree of the divine Will, § 8 in the prior part.

It is asked, In what manner is that Power said to be Omnipotent and Omnipresent, § 8 in the latter part.

ב.  Threefold formal Act,

α.  Of Preservation, which

a.  Is proven.

b.  Is explained, as it is a Positive Act.

c.  Its mode is declared.

d.  The adjunct of Freedom is added, § 9.

β.  Of Cooperation or Concursus, which again

a.  Is proven.

b.  Is explained;

a.  Negatively, it is not

1.  The Preservation of Strength;

2.  The Giving of an abiding Law;

3.  General Motion;

4.  A simultaneous Act in the Actions, not flowing into the acting Creatures:  against the Pelagians and Pelagianizers.

b.  Positively, it is the Immediate, Prevenient, and Predetermining Impulse and Motion of the Creatures to action, § 10.

γ.  Of Government, § 11.

Corollary:  God is not so bound to second Causes, and to their ordinary Powers and Operations, that He is not able to work, and often does work, true Miracles, § 12.

ג.  Object, which are All Created Things; and in particular

α.  With respect had to Quantity,

a.  The Greatest, § 13.

b.  The Least, which

a.  Is proven,

b.  Is defended, § 14.

β.  With respect had to Quality,

a.  Physical or Natural,

a.  Things Necessary, § 15.

b.  Things Contingent, which

1.  Is proven,

2.  Is defended against the Pelagians and Pelagianizers, § 16.

c.  Things Free, which

1.  Is proven,

2.  Is defended,

3.  With various expressions of the Cartesians hence rejected, § 17.

b.  Ethical or Moral,

a.  Goods Natural, Moral, Spiritual, § 18.

b.  Evils;

1.  Of Punishment, § 19 in the prior part.

2.  Of Guilt, which

§.  Is proven, § 19 in the latter part.

§§.  The mode is declared,

̸.  Negatively;

̅ .  All evil is not to be denied; with the Simonians, Gnostics, and Libertines.

̲̅ .  God is not to be thought the Author of Sin, with the Marcionites, Manicheans, and Florians.

This is incorrectly imputed to our doctrine by the Lutherans, Arminians, Socinians, and Papists

̶̲̅ .  It is not to be contrived as Bare Contemplation and Idle Permission of Evil, with the Pelagians, § 20.

̸ ̸.  Positively, the Providence of God is manifest

̅ .  In the very Action, which it produces.

̲̅ .  In the Wicked Action’s

†.  Permission, by Grace’s

AA.  Denial,

BB.  Removal.

††.  Increase, by

AA.  A judicial delivering up,

BB.  Presenting occasions for sin.

†††.  Limitation, with respect to the

AA.  Objects,

BB.  Measure,

CC.  Duration.

††††.  Direction to

AA.  His own Prais,

BB.  Ends salutary to the Elect, § 21.

ד.  End,

α.  The Glory of God,

β.  The Salvation of the Elect, § 22.

ה.  A Corollary:  This Doctrine

α.  Is falsely burdened with a great many Absurdities, which have regard to

a.  God; by this they maintain to be Injured His

a.  Liberty,

b.  Quiet,

c.  Majesty,

d.  Righteousness,

e.  Holiness.

b.  Man, before whom is brought

a.  On the one hand,

1.  Carnal security,

2.  Neglect of means,

3.  Excuse for sins.

b.  On the other hand, Fatal Necessity, § 23.

β.  Truly furnishes manifold Use,

a.  Of instruction concerning the Perfections of God, and the Weakness of the Flesh.

b.  Of consolation in Adversities.

c.  Of exhortation, that one conduct himself decently

a.  In Favorable Circumstances,

b.  In Adversities,

c.  With respect to Future Things, § 24.