Providence

1. Marvel not if the other animals have all things that are needful for the body without preparation, not alone food and drink, but sleeping places also, and they have no need of shoes, nor bedding, nor raiment, while all these things must needs be added to us. For these creatures exist not for themselves, but for service; it were not expedient that they had been made with need of such additions. For, look you, what a task it were for us to take thought, not for ourselves alone, but also for the sheep and the asses, how they should be clad, how shod, how they should eat, how they should drink! But as soldiers are ready for their commands, shod, and clothed, and accoutred, and it would be a grievous thing if each captain of a thousand must go round and shoe or clothe his thousand; so also hath Nature formed the animals that are made for service, ready equipped, and needing no further care. And thus one little child with a rod will drive the sheep.

1. Do not be surprised that other animals have everything their bodies need without having to prepare it. They have not only food and drink, but also places to sleep. They need no shoes, bedding, or clothing, while we must provide ourselves with all these things. These creatures do not exist for themselves, but to serve. It would not have been practical to make them dependent on such things. Think what a task we would face if we had to care for more than ourselves. We would also have to consider how sheep and donkeys should be clothed and shod, and how they should eat and drink! Soldiers stand ready for orders, already shod, clothed, and equipped. It would be a great burden if every commander of a thousand had to shoe or clothe each soldier. In the same way, Nature has made animals meant for service already equipped, needing no further care. And so one small child with a stick can drive the sheep.

2. But now we, neglecting to be grateful, for that we need not attend to the animals equally with ourselves, do accuse God for our own lack. And yet, by Zeus and all the Gods, there is no one thing in the frame of Nature but would give, at least to a reverent and grateful spirit, enough for the perceiving of the Providence of God. And to speak of no great things now, consider this alone, how milk is produced from grass, and cheese from milk, and wool from skins. Who is he that hath made these things or planned them? No one, sayest thou? O monstrous impudence and dullness!

2. But now we forget to be grateful that animals need less care than we do. Instead, we blame God for what we lack. Yet, by Zeus and all the Gods, every single thing in Nature offers evidence of God's providence. For a reverent and grateful spirit, any one thing would be enough to see it. To leave great things aside for now, consider just this. Think how milk comes from grass, cheese from milk, and wool from skins. Who made these things or planned them? No one, you say? What monstrous arrogance and stupidity!

3. Well, then, let the large works of Nature pass, and let us look only at her by-works. Is there aught more useless than the hairs on the chin? What then? hath she not made such use even of these, that nothing could be comelier? hath she not by them distinguished male from female? Doth not the nature of every man cry aloud even at a distance, I am a man, thus shalt thou approach me, thus speak to me, look for nothing else; behold the tokens! And again in women, as Nature hath mingled something of softness in the voice, so she hath taken away the hairs. Nay, will you say? but every creature should have been left undistinguished, and each of us should proclaim, “I am a man?” But how beautiful is not the token, and becoming, and reverend? how much more beautiful than the cock’s comb? how much more becoming than the lion’s mane? Wherefore it behooveth us to preserve God’s tokens, nor to fling them away, nor to confound, as far as in us lies, the things that distinguish the sexes.

3. Well then, let us set aside Nature’s great works and look only at her minor ones. Is anything more useless than the hair on the chin? And yet, has she not used even this to create something supremely handsome? Has she not used it to distinguish male from female? Does not every man’s nature call out, even from a distance, I am a man. Approach me as such, speak to me as such, and expect nothing else. Look at the signs! And in women, Nature has softened the voice and removed the hair. No, you may say. Should every creature not have been left without distinguishing features, so each of us would have to announce, “I am a man?” But how beautiful this sign is, how fitting, and how dignified! How much more beautiful than the rooster’s comb! How much more fitting than the lion’s mane! So we must preserve God’s signs, not throw them away. Nor should we do what we can to blur the features that distinguish the sexes.

4. Are these the only works of Providence in us?—but what may suffice to rightly praise and tell them? For had we understanding thereof, would any other thing better beseem us, either in company or alone, than to hymn the Divine Being, and laud Him and rehearse His gracious deeds? Should we not, as we dig or plow or eat, sing this hymn to God, Great is God, who hath given us such instruments whereby we shall till the earth; great is God, who hath given us hands, and swallowing, and the belly; who maketh us to grow without our knowledge, and to breathe while we sleep. These things it were fitting that every man should sing, and to chant the greatest and divinest hymns for this, that He hath given us the power to observe and consider His works and a Way wherein to walk.¹⁰⁰ What then? since the most of you have become blind, should there not be one to fill this place, and in the name of all to sing this hymn to God? For what else can I do, an old man and lame, than sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale I would do after the nature of a nightingale; if a swan, after that of a swan. But now I am a reasoning creature, and it behooves me to sing the praise of God: this is my task, and this I do, nor, as long as it is granted me, will I ever abandon this post. And you, too, I summon to join me in the same song.

4. Are these the only works of Providence in us? What words could be enough to praise and describe them properly? If we understood them, what better thing could we do, together or alone, than sing hymns to God? Should we not praise him and recount his gracious deeds? As we dig or plow or eat, should we not sing this hymn to God? Great is God, who has given us these tools for working the earth. Great is God, who has given us hands, the ability to swallow, and a stomach. He makes us grow without our knowing it and breathe while we sleep. Everyone should sing about these things. And we should sing the greatest and holiest hymns for an even greater gift. He has given us the power to observe and reflect on his works, and a Way to follow.¹⁰⁰ What then? Since most of you have become blind, should not someone take this place? Should not someone sing this hymn to God on behalf of everyone? For what else can I do, old and lame as I am, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do what comes naturally to a nightingale. If I were a swan, I would do what comes naturally to a swan. But I am a creature capable of reason, and it is my duty to sing God's praise. This is my task, and I carry it out. As long as I am allowed, I will never abandon this post. And I call on you, too, to join me in the same song.