The following on the providence of God follows from Polanus’ discussion on permission of sin.

Polanus:

Hitherto concerning the parts of God’s providence: the sorts follow.

The providence of God is twofold: General or special.

The general providence of God, is that whereby the whole world is governed by a certain universal motion, Gen 7.1,2,3.

And that is declared, and especially beheld both in the preservation or destruction of things, and also in the governing of them.

The preservation of things, is that whereby God preserves all creatures, the better to declare his love towards them, Psal. 36.8, 9. Psal. 104. throughout, 105. 106. Mat. 6:36, 30.

Preservation is either universal or special.

The universal preservation, is that whereby he is present with all and every creature, even with the evil, so that he may preserve them only as long as pleases him. Psal. 104. throughout, Mat. 6.26, 30.

That is made manifest by their succeeding one another, or by continuance.

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