The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. X. Yea, sublunary things.

AND that they are much out of the way, who shut up this providence within the celestial Orbs, and would have it descend no lower than the Moon, is apparent; both from the reason now mentioned, whose force extends to all created things; and also from hence, that the course of the Stars, as the best Philosophers acknowledge, and experience sufficiently demonstrates, are ordained for the use of Man. Now it stands but with equity that that Creature should be more regarded for whose sake another is ordained, than that which is appointed for anothers use.

Neither are they less erroneous that say this providence is extended unto universal things only, and not to particulars; for if they will have God to be ignorant of particular things, as some of them have professed, then verily God could not understand himself; neither should he be infinite in knowledge, as we have proved him before to be, if it be not extended unto every thing. But then, if God do know

these things, why can he not also have care of them? especially since that particulars, as they are particulars, are appointed for some certain end, both special and general: And the common essences of things, which by the confession of the said Authors are preserved by God, cannot subsist but in their singulars; So that if these singulars, being forsaken by Divine providence, may perish, then may the whole kinds likewise.