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Originally Posted by fredtgreco  Please explain to me how these are in accordance with second causes. |
The problem is with the way the sections are being connected together. First, section 1 tells us what providence is -- preservation and gubernation. Next, section 2 tells us what providence does -- orders all things to fall out according to the nature of second causes. This is obvious. Afterall, providence is not creation, but a maintaining of what has been created. Then we are told that all things fall out according to the nature of second causes either necessarily, freely, or contingently; and the Scripture proofs illustrate well what is meant by these terms. Then section 3 tells us there is an ordinary providence in which God makes use of means. What means? are these the second causes of the previous section? How could that be possible since the ordering of second causes is the very definition of how providence works as explained in the previous section. If God all of a sudden ordered something without the use of second causes that would be a creation, bringing of something from nothing, not a maintenance of something which already existed. What then are the means? It is the ordinary manner in which second causes produce natural effects. God may dispense with this ordinary manner and produce the effect in an extraordinary way, which is called extraordinary providence.