250 PROVIDENCE. 



ing to laws, or, it may almost be said, he has made them 

 synonymous ivith laws. 



It may safely be believed that the present order and plan 

 of creation is the best that could have been devised by the 

 Divine Mind ; for otherwise, the present plan would not have 

 been adopted. But if it is the best, then it requires no funda- 

 mental change, and not even any modifications, except such as 

 may comport with a constant general progression on the basis 

 of the original plan. But while all progression in each de- 

 partment is dependent upon an influx or inhalation (hence 

 free bestowment by the Divine Being), of additional degrees of 

 that Divine vitalizing influence which is specifically suitable 

 to itself, and while all progression is in this sense providential, 

 God can not, either in causing a progressional or any other 

 change, and without deranging the established, and hence best 

 possible order of things, act providentially and directly upon 

 any department of creation, except through the medium of 

 that particular kind of force or vitality of which the thing acted 

 upon is a suitable receptacle. 



Thus, considering the universe in its most general aspect as 

 one grand Whole, God can not act directly upon it, or modify 

 its existing activities and tendencies, except through the me- 

 dium of those forces and laws of Expansion, Contraction, Cir- 

 culation, Aggregation, etc., in the degree in which they apply 

 to the universe as a whole. He can not act directly upon 

 solar systems and worlds, except through the medium of the 

 same laws and forces in their higher degrees of unfolding as 

 applicable to solar systems and worlds ; God can not act 

 directly upon MineraFcreations, except through the forces and 

 laws of chemical affinities ; He can not act directly upon Vege- 

 table. Kingdoms, except through the forces and laws of vegeta- 

 ble life ; He can not act directly on the Animal Kingdom, or 



