Providence

Do not wonder if for other animals than man all things are provided for the body, not only food and drink, but beds also, and they have no need of shoes nor bed materials, nor clothing; but we require all these additional things. For animals not being made for themselves, but for service, it was not fit for them to be made so as to need other things. For consider what it would be for us to take care not only of ourselves, but also about cattle and asses, how they should be clothed, and how shod, and how they should eat and drink. Now as soldiers are ready for their commander, shod, clothed, and armed: but it would be a hard thing for the chiliarch (tribune) to go round and shoe or clothe his thousand men: so also nature has formed the animals which are made for service, all ready, prepared, and requiring no further care. So one little boy with only a stick drives the cattle.

Do not be surprised that other animals have everything their bodies need, but humans do not. Animals have not only food and drink, but also places to sleep. They need no shoes, bedding, or clothing, but we need all these things. Animals were made not for themselves, but for service. So it would not have been right to make them dependent on other things. Consider what it would be like to care for cattle and donkeys as well as ourselves. We would have to see that they were clothed and shod, and that they ate and drank. Soldiers come ready for their commander, clothed, shod, and armed. It would be hard for a chiliarch (tribune) to go around clothing and shoeing his thousand men. In the same way, nature has made animals for service ready and prepared, needing no further care. So a little boy with only a stick can drive the cattle.

But now we, instead of being thankful that we need not take the same care of animals as of ourselves, complain of God on our own account; and yet, in the name of Zeus and the gods, any one thing of those which exist would be enough to make a man perceive the providence of God, at least a man who is modest and grateful. And speak not to me now of the great things, but only of this, that milk is produced from grass, and cheese from milk, and wool from skins. Who made these things or devised them? No one, you say. O amazing shamelessness and stupidity!

But instead of being thankful that we do not have to care for animals as we care for ourselves, we complain to God about our own lot. Yet, in the name of Zeus and the gods, any one thing in existence would be enough to show a modest and grateful person that God provides for us. Do not speak to me now of great things. Consider only this: grass produces milk, milk produces cheese, and skins produce wool. Who made or devised these things? No one, you say. What astonishing shamelessness and stupidity!

Well, let us omit the works of nature, and contemplate her smaller (subordinate, πάρεργα) acts. Is there anything less useful than the hair on the chin? What then, has not nature used this hair also in the most suitable manner possible? Has she not by it distinguished the male and the female? does not the nature of every man forthwith proclaim from a distance, I am a man: as such approach me, as such speak to me; look for nothing else; see the signs? Again, in the case of women, as she has mingled something softer in the voice, so she has also deprived them of hair (on the chin). You say, not so: the human animal ought to have been left without marks of distinction, and each of us should have been obliged to proclaim, I am a man. But how is not the sign beautiful and becoming and venerable? how much more beautiful than the cock's comb, how much more becoming than the lion's mane? For this reason we ought to preserve the signs which God has given, we ought not to throw them away, nor to confound, as much as we can, the distinctions of the sexes.

Well, let us set aside the works of nature and consider her smaller, subordinate acts (πάρεργα). What could be less useful than the hair on the chin? Yet has nature not used even this hair in the best possible way? Has she not used it to distinguish male from female? Does not every man’s nature immediately proclaim from a distance: I am a man. Approach me and speak to me as a man. Expect nothing else. Look at the signs. Likewise, nature has given women a somewhat softer voice and has also left their chins without hair. You say no. Human beings should have been left without distinguishing marks, and each of us should have had to declare, I am a man. But is this sign not beautiful, fitting, and worthy of respect? How much more beautiful it is than the cock’s comb, and how much more fitting than the lion’s mane! For this reason, we ought to preserve the signs God has given us. We should not throw them away or do all we can to blur the distinctions between the sexes.

Are these the only works of providence in us? And what words are sufficient to praise them and set them forth according to their worth? For if we had understanding, ought we to do any thing else both jointly and severally than to sing hymns and bless the deity, and to tell of his benefits?¹¹⁴ Ought we not when we are digging and ploughing and eating to sing this hymn to God? "Great is God, who has given us such implements with which we shall cultivate the earth: great is God who has given us hands, the power of swallowing, a stomach, imperceptible growth, and the power of breathing while we sleep." This is what we ought to sing on every occasion, and to sing the greatest and most divine hymn for giving us the faculty of comprehending these things and using a proper way.¹¹⁵ Well then, since most of you have become blind, ought there not to be some man to fill this office, and on behalf of all to sing¹¹⁶ the hymn to God? For what else can I do, a lame old man, than sing hymns to God? If then I was a nightingale, I would do the part of a nightingale. if I were a swan, I would do like a swan. But now I am a rational creature, and I ought to praise God: this is my work; I do it, nor will I desert this post, so long as I am allowed to keep it; and I exhort you to join in this same song.

Are these the only ways providence works in us? What words could praise them enough and describe their true worth? If we understood, should we do anything else, together or separately, but sing hymns, bless God, and speak of his gifts?¹¹⁴ Should we not sing this hymn to God when we dig, plow, and eat? "Great is God, who has given us such tools to cultivate the earth. Great is God, who has given us hands, the power to swallow, a stomach, growth we cannot perceive, and the power to breathe while we sleep." We should sing this on every occasion. And we should sing the greatest and most divine hymn because he has given us the ability to understand these things and use them properly.¹¹⁵ Well then, since most of you have become blind, should there not be someone to take up this task? Should he not sing¹¹⁶ the hymn to God on behalf of everyone? For what else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do what a nightingale does. If I were a swan, I would do what a swan does. But I am a rational creature, and I should praise God. This is my work, and I do it. I will not leave this post as long as I am allowed to keep it. And I urge you to join in this same song.