_Job 1:12_—“_And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand_”; _2:6_—“_Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life_”; _Ps. 124:2_—“_If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, when men rose up against us; Then had they swallowed us up alive_”; _1 Cor. 10:13_—“_will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it_”; _2 Thess. 2:7_—“_For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work; only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way_”; _Rev. 20:2, 3_—“_And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years._” Pepper, Outlines of Syst. Theol., 76—The union of God’s will and man’s will is “such that, while in one view all can be ascribed to God, in another all can be ascribed to the creature. But how God and the creature are united in operation is doubtless known and knowable only to God. A very dim analogy is furnished in the union of the soul and body in men. The hand retains its own physical laws, yet is obedient to the human will. This theory recognizes the veracity of consciousness in its witness to personal freedom, and yet the completeness of God’s control of both the bad and the good. Free beings are ruled, but are ruled as free and in their freedom. The freedom is not sacrificed to the control. The two coëxist, each in its integrity. Any doctrine which does not allow this is false to Scripture and destructive of religion.” 2. Rational proof. A. Arguments _a priori_ from the divine attributes. (_a_) From the immutability of God. This makes it certain that he will execute his eternal plan of the universe and its history. But the execution of this plan involves not only creation and preservation, but also providence. (_b_) From the benevolence of God. This renders it certain that he will care for the intelligent universe he has created. What it was worth his while to create, it is worth his while to care for. But this care is providence. (_c_) From the justice of God. As the source of moral law, God must assure the vindication of law by administering justice in the universe and punishing the rebellious. But this administration of justice is providence.