ubject of divine providence; divine truths by which he
has wisdom, and divine goods by which he has love, are the means; and by
these means divine providence pursues its purpose, which is the salvation
of man. For he who wills the purpose, wills the means. Therefore when he
who wills the purpose pursues it, he does so through means. But these
things will become plainer on being examined in this order:

i. The activity of divine providence to save man begins at his birth and
continues to the close of his life and afterwards to eternity.
ii. The activity of divine providence is maintained steadily out of pure
mercy through means.
iii. Instantaneous salvation by direct mercy is impossible.
iv. Instantaneous salvation by direct mercy is the flying fiery serpent
in the church.

332. (i) _The activity of divine providence to save man begins at his
birth and continues to the close of his life and afterwards to eternity._
It was shown above that a heaven from mankind is the very purpose of the
creation of the universe; that this purpose in its operation and progress
is the divine providence for the salvation of man; and that all which is
external to man and available to him for use is a secondary end in
creation--in brief, all that is to be found in the three kingdoms, animal,
vegetable and mineral. When all this constantly proceeds according to
laws of divine order fixed at the first of creation, how can the primary
end, which is the salvation of the human race, fail to proceed constantly
according to laws of its order, which are the laws of divine providence?

[2] Observe just a fruit tree. It springs up first as a slender shoot
from a tiny seed, grows gradually into a stalk, spreads branches which
become covered with leaves, and then puts forth flowers and bears fruit,
in which it deposits fresh seed to provide for its perpetuation. This is
also true of every shrub and of every herb of the field. Do not each and
all things in tree or shrub proceed constantly and wonderfully from
purpose to purpose according to the laws of their order of things? Why
should not the supreme end, a heaven from the human race, proceed in
similar fashion? Can there be anything in its progress which does not
proceed with all constancy according to the laws of divine providence?

[3] As there is a correspondence of man's life with the growth of a tree,
let us draw the parallel or make the comparison. His infancy is
relatively like the tender shoo