331. The Lord Cannot Act Contrary to the Laws of Divine Providence, Because to Do So Would Be to Act Contrary to His Own Divine Love and His Own Divine Wisdom, and Therefore Contrary to Himself
I explained in Angelic Wisdom about Divine Love and Wisdom that the Lord is divine love and divine wisdom and that these two are reality itself and life itself, the source of the reality and life of everything. I also explained that what emanates from him is of the same nature, that, for example, the emanating divine nature is actually himself. Divine providence is first and foremost among the things that emanate from him. It is constantly focused on its goal, the purpose for which the universe was created. The working and progress of this purpose, through its means, is what we mean by "divine providence."
[2] Since divine providence is the Lord, then, and since it is the first and foremost thing that emanates, it follows that for the Lord to act contrary to the laws of his divine providence would be to act contrary to himself.
We can also say that the Lord is providence just as we can say that the Lord is the design, since divine providence is the divine design as it relates specifically to our salvation. Further, just as there is no design without its laws (the laws actually define it) and every law is a design because its source is the design, it follows that just as God is the design, he is also the law of his design. We must then say the same of his divine providence, that just as the Lord is his providence, he is also the law of his providence. We can see from this that the Lord cannot act contrary to the laws of his divine providence, because to do so would be to act contrary to himself.
[3] Further, there is no such thing as doing something unless it affects some subject and does so through some means. Unless a deed affects some subject and does so through some means, it does not happen. We are the subject of divine providence; its means are the divine truths that provide us with wisdom and the divine generosity that provides us with love. It is through these means that divine providence accomplishes its purpose, which is our salvation, since anyone who intends to accomplish a purpose intends the means as well. So when the "intender" does accomplish the purpose, it is through means.
These matters will become clearer, though, when we go through them in the following sequence.
1. The working of divine providence for our salvation starts with our birth and lasts to the end of our life and then on to eternity.
2. The working of divine providence is constantly done through means, out of pure mercy.
3. Instant salvation by direct mercy is impossible.
4. Instant salvation by direct mercy is the flying fiery serpent in the church.
