Chapter VII: Governance
CHAPTER VII: ON THE SECOND ACT OF CONTROL, NAMELY, GOVERNANCE
How is the governance of things arranged?
§ 64. To be sure, God not only preserves the things He has created but also governs them. We shall explain how this governance is arranged with some aphorisms, provided that we first note this: Although all things are subject to the providence of God, yet God is particularly concerned for man, as the epitome of the world and the fulfillment of all other created things, and He is especially concerned for the church, which is gathered from the human race. 1 Tim. 4:10: “God is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” 1 Pet. 5:7: “He cares for you.” Ps. 33:13: “Jehovah looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.” Verse 18: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him, who hope in His mercy.” Thus from this spring flows forth the distinction between the general providence for the whole world and the specific providence for the church.
§ 65. Just as God created all things, so He preserves and governs all things. However, just as all things have been created for man’s sake (as Scaliger proves and explains very beautifully, Exer. 250, sect. 1), so man, as the most beautiful compendium of the entire universe, is God’s particular concern. Man is the ‘olam katon, the microcosm, as the rabbinic scholars call him (Kimchi, on Zechariah 2). In turn, God preserves the whole human race after the fall for the sake of the church gathered and still to be gathered from it. The church is His household, she is His flock, she is His “peculiar people” [Exod. 19:5; 23:22 LXX]. Therefore the providence of God pertains especially1 to the church and to all the true members of the church.
1 Read maxime with Cotta instead of maximus.