Chapter 022 - The Providence of God

Since all the good which exists in created things is from God, the good of harmony (or order) is from God; for goodness is found, not only in the substance of things, but also in the manner in which they are ordered to their end. For God being the Cause of all things by His Intellect, the idea of all things must pre-exist in Him; and this idea of the order of things in relation to their end is, in God, called Providence. To this Providence all things are subject, not only in general but also in particular; for all have their being from God, and are subject to the First Cause, nor can any effect take place beyond His intention.

With regard to this order, God provides for all things immediately, inasmuch as He has, in His Intellect, the conception of each one, even the smallest; but as regards the execution, He provides through some medium, inasmuch as He governs the inferior through the superior; and this not on account of any deficiency in Himself, but in order that He may communicate to others the dignity of causation.

In some things the Providence of God imposes necessity, but not in all. It belongs to Him to ordain all things to their end, and thus to the perfection of the universe, which requires the existence of every gradation of being. Hence for some things God has prepared necessary causes, and for some contingent causes, according as He sees expedient for the perfection of the universe.