tion is in the remotest regions of space what it is here on our earth. It acts always, and always in the same way. The same is true of all other physical forces. Light, heat, electricity, and chemical af- finities are everywhere the same in their mode of operations.
Laivs of Nature.
The ambiguity of the words, law and nature, has already been remarked upon. The phrase " Laws of Nature " is, however, generally used in one or the other of two senses. It either means an observed regular sequence of events, without any reference to the cause by which that regularity of sequence is determined ; or it means a uniformly acting force in nature. In this last sense we speak of the laws of gravitation, light, heat, electricity, etc. That there are such laws, or such physical forces, acting uniformly, which are not to be resolved into " uniform modes of divine opera- tion," is, as we have seen, an important Scriptural fact.
The chief question is, In what relation does God stand to these laws ? The answer to that question, as drawn from the Bible, is. First, that He is their author. He endowed matter with these forces, and ordained that they should be uniform. Secondly, He is independent of them. He can change, annihilate, or suspend them at pleasure. He can operate with them or without them. " The Reign of Law " must not be made to extend over Him who made the laws. Thirdly, As the stability of the universe, and the welfare, and even the existence of organized creatures, depend on the uniformity of the laws of nature, God never does disregard them except for the accomplishment of some high purpose. He, in the ordinary operations of his Providence, operates with and through the laws which He has ordained. He governs the mate- rial, as well as the moral world by law.
The relation, therefore, in which God stands to the laws of na- ture, is, in one important aspect, analogous to that in which we our- selves stand to them. We employ them. Man can do nothing outside of himself without them ; yet what marvels of ingenuity, beauty, and utility, has he not accomplished. Dr. Beale, as we have seen, illustrates God's' relation to physical forces by a refer- ence to a chemist in his laboratory. The chemicals do not put themselves in the retorts in due proportions, and subject themselves first to one and then to another operation. As mere blind, phys- ical forces, they can accomplish nothing ; at least nothing implying purpose or design. The chemical properties of the materials em- ployed have their functions, and the chemist has his, evidently not
608 PART I. — THEOLOGY. [Ch. XI. — Providencbu
only different, but diverse ; i. e., of a different kind. Professor Henry's illustration was drawn from the relation of the engineer to the engine. The complicated structure of the machine, the composition and combustion of the fuel ; the evaporation of the water, are all external to the engineer, and he to them. The loco- motive, although instinct with power, stands perfectly still. At a toiach of the engineer it starts into life, and yet with all its tre- mendous energy is perfectly obedient to his will.
These, and any possible illustration, are of necessity very inad- equate. The powers of nature of which man avails himself, are not dependent on him, and are only to a very limited extent under his control. He is entirely external to his works. God, however, fills heaven and earth. He is immanent in the world ; intimately and always present with every particle of matter. And this pres- ence is not of being only, but also of knowledge and power. It is manifestly inconsistent with the idea of an infinite God, that any part of his works should be absent from Him, out of his view, or independent of his control. Though everywhere thus efficiently present, his efficiency does not supersede that of his creatures. It is by a natural law, or physical force, that vapour arises from the surface of the ocean, is formed into clouds, and condenses and falls in showers upon the earth, yet God so controls the operation of the laws producing these effects, that He sends rain when and where He pleases. The same is true of all the operations of nature, and of all events in the external world. They are due to the efficiency of physical forces ; but those forces, which are combined, adjusted, and made to cooperate or to counteract each other, in the greatest complexity, are all under the constant guidance of God, and are made to accomplish his purpose. It is perfectly rational, therefore, in a world where blind, natural forces are the proximate cause of y\ I everything that occurs, to pray for health, for protection, for suc- cess, for fruitful seasons, and for the peace and prosperity of na- tions, since all these events are determined by the intelligent agency of God.
The providence of God is thus seen to be universal and extend- ing to all his creatures and all their actions. The distinction usu- ally and properly made between the general, special, and extraor- dinary providence of God, has reference to the effects produced, and not to his agency in their production ; for this is the same in all cases. But if the object to be accomplished be a general one, such as the orderly motion of the heavenly bodies, or the support and regular operation of the laws of nature, then the providence of