DP 214 - The Ends of Divine Providence; DP 215 - A History Lesson

DP 214

The fact that Divine providence regards eternal ends,
and not temporal ones
except as they coincide with eternal ones --
this we are going to demonstrate
under the following series of headings:

(1) Temporal ends have to do with advancements and riches,
thus with honors and material gains, in the world.

(2) Eternal ends have to do with spiritual honors and riches,
which are those of love and wisdom, in heaven.

(3) Temporal and eternal ends are separated by mankind,
but conjoined by the Lord.

(4) The conjoining of temporal and eternal ends
is the Lord's Divine providence.

DP 215 [2-6]

Advancements and riches in most ancient times
were altogether different
from what they gradually became thereafter.
Advancements in most ancient times were simply
the kind that exist between parents and children --
advancements of the children
that were advancements in love,
full of respect and veneration,
not because of the children's birth from the parents,
but because of the instruction and wisdom
gained from them,
which was a second birth,
in itself spiritual,
because it was a birth of their spirit.

This was the only advancement in most ancient times,
because tribes, clans and households
dwelled separately then,
and not under governments as today.
It was the head of the family
in relation to whom the advancement was made.
People of old called those times golden ages.

After those times, however,
a love of ruling gradually entered
owing simply to the delight of that love.
And because there entered at the same time
an enmity and hostility toward those
who refused to submit,
tribes, clans and households
out of necessity banded together into confederations,
and they set over themselves
someone they called at first a judge,
then a prince, and finally a king or emperor.
And at the same time
they also began to fortify themselves
with towers, earthworks, and walls.

From the judge, prince, king or emperor --
as from the head into the body --
a lust to rule spread like a contagion to many others.
Degrees of advancement arose as a result,
and also honors in accordance with them,
and with these a love of self
and people's pride in their own prudence.

Something similar happened with a love of riches.
In most ancient times,
when tribes and clans lived apart from each other,
the only love of riches
was a desire to possess the necessities of life,
which they acquired for themselves
by their flocks and herds,
and by their farmlands, fields, and gardens,
which supplied them with food.
Among their necessities of life
were also attractive houses,
equipped with implements of every kind,
and also garments.
Engaged in pursuing and laboring for all these things
were parents, children, menservants, and maidservants --
those included in the household.

But after a love of ruling entered
and destroyed this state of affairs,
a love of possessing means
beyond the necessities
entered also,
and it grew to such a height
that it wished to possess
the means belonging to all others.

These two loves are like blood brothers,
as someone who wishes to rule over all things
also wishes to possess all things;
for thus all others become their servants,
and they alone lords.
This is clearly apparent
from those in the Roman Catholic world,
who have exalted their dominion
even into heaven to the Lord's throne,
on which they have placed themselves --
that they seek out the wealth of the whole world
and enlarge their treasuries endlessly.