314 NOVATIAN THE ROMAN PRESBYTER followHim, might have One whom even initssupplicationsit might now callFather insteadof God. And His providence has had or has itscourse among men, not only individually, but alsoamong citiesthemselves,and stateswhose destruc tionshave been announced by the words of prophets; yea, even through the whole world itself; whose end, whose miseries,and wastings,and sufferingson accountof unbelief He has allotted.And lestmoreover any one shouldthink thatsuch an indefatigableprovidenceof God does notreach to even the very leastthings," One of two sparrows,"says the Lord, u shallnot fallwithout the willof the Father; but even the very hairsof your head are allnumbered."1 And His careand providencedid not permiteven the clothes of the Israelitesto be worn out,nor even the vilestshoeson theirfeet to be wasted ; nor, moreover, finally,the very garments of the captiveyoung men to be burnt. And this ,is not without reason; for if He embraces allthings,and containsallthings (and allthings,and the whole,consist of individuals),His care will consequentlyextend evento every individualthing,sinceHis providencereachestothe whole,whatever itis. Hence itisthatHe alsosittethabove the cherubim ; that is,He presidesover the varietyof His works,the livingcreatureswhich hold the controloverthe restbeing subjectedto His throne: a crystalcoveringbeing thrown overallthings; thatis,theheaven coveringallthings, which atthecommand of God had been consolidatedintoafir mament from thefluentmaterialof thewaters,thatthestrong hardnessthatdividesthe midstof thewatersthatcoveredthe earthbefore,might sustainas if on itsback the weightof the superincumbentwater,itsstrengthbeing establishedby thefrost.And, moreover,wheelsliebelow— thatistosay,the seasons— whereby allthe members of the world are alwap being rolledonwards ; such feetbeing added by which those thingsdo not standstillforever,but passonward. And, more over,throughoutalltheirlimbs they are studdedwitheyes; for the works of God must be contemplatedwith an ever watchful inspection: in the heartof which things,a fireof 1Matt.x.29,30.