The Law of God's Providence

Selection from Divine Providence ~ Emanuel Swedenborg

The Lord cannot act contrary to the laws of the Divine Providence, because acting contrary to them would be acting contrary to His Divine love and contrary to His Divine wisdom, thus contrary to Himself.

The Lord is Divine Love and Divine Wisdom, and that these two are Being (Esse) itself and life itself, from which everything has being and life.  This same goes forth from Him - the Divine that goes forth is Himself. Of all that goes forth the Divine providence is primary - for this is continually in the end for the sake of which the universe was created. The operation and progress of the end through means is what is called the Divine providence. Since, then, the Divine that goes forth is Himself, and the Divine providence is the primary thing that goes forth, it follows that to act contrary to the laws of His Divine providence is to act contrary to Himself.

It may be said furthermore, that the Lord is Providence, as it is said that God is Order, for the Divine providence is Divine order with primary regard to the salvation of men; and as there is no order possible without laws - for laws are what constitute order - and every law derives from order that it is order, it follows that as God is order so is He the Law of His order. The same is to be said of the Divine providence, that as the Lord is His providence He is also the law of His providence.

From this it is evident that the Lord cannot act contrary to the laws of His providence, for to act contrary to them would be to act contrary to Himself.

Again, there can be no operation except upon a subject and upon it through means - operation except upon a subject and upon it through means is impossible.

• The subject of the Divine providence is man
• The means are the Divine truths whereby man gains wisdom and the Divine good whereby he gains love

The Divine providence through these means works out its end, which is man's salvation - for He that wills an end wills the means also, consequently in willing to accomplish an end He accomplishes it through means.

(from Divine Providence 331)