Divine Providence vs. Pagan Idolatry

The distribution of alms; the breasts, the power of piety dwelling in them; the belly and the lower members, the exercise of temperance; the feet, the course of virtue. And what must be said regarding each part? For even the fire did not dare to consume the hairs, because they were more properly covered by piety as a diadem; and thus it also spared the garment because of the modesty of the saints. What then? On this, the God of the Chaldeans exhorts one to seize the fire, so that, not thinking the energy of the fire to be magic, they might not dim the glory of the martyrs and slander the wonder of the truth; for this reason, some were at rest within, while the fire was presented to the Chaldeans without, so that it might safely convince those watching that upon the saints He did not ignore His own nature, but honored piety; just as the lions protected Daniel in the pit. In this way, they truly established an angelic choir, and the three-times-blessed children brought God, and all creation, both the unseen and the seen, into one choir of hymnody.

It is necessary, however, not to leave that thing unexamined: for whose sake did not all equally hymn the creation, but the work was set forth in parts. It is sufficient, indeed, to say how much was said toward the truth: 'Bless the Lord, all His works, God' (Psalm 148:1). But since in the land of the ungodly this great theater of piety was being performed, it was necessary for the Babylonians to be instructed: who the works are, and who is the Maker of all things. And they begin from angels and conclude with men. They were thought to be gods; and among the Greeks, it is mythologized that these, they say, whom we worship as gods, are angels of the great God. In order that the foolish might be instructed that the angels are not those being worshipped, but those who worship, for this reason they cry out: 'Bless the Lord, O angels of the Lord' (Psalm 148:2). The sun and the moon and the whole choir of the stars were worshipped. For this reason, they also take these into the worship of the hymns. 'Bless, they say, O sun and moon; bless, O stars of the heaven, the Lord' (Psalm 148:3). Then after these, 'All rain and dew, the Lord' (Psalm 148:8). What then does the phrase 'All rain...' want to say?

It is good to observe the rain and the frost, and all the winds. Many times there are cloudless days and untimely, violent winds. But those of falsehood always love to attribute everything to some material thing or to an evil disorder, not knowing that nothing is unmanaged or has happened in vain, but that God manages all these things for the discipline of humans and for the avoidance of impiety. For the order of the created things is accustomed to proclaim the Creator, while disorder demands the worship of creatures. For if the rain or the winds were something divine and venerable, they would not be disordered; for the divine does not accept disorder. Because of this they say: 'Every rain, and frost, and all the winds are the Lord.'

Rains and winds were worshipped, some as nourishers, others as farmers of the earth's fruits; and the earth was worshipped, and its fruits were dedicated to various demons; saying the vine is a gift of Dionysus, and the olive of Athena; and others to other fruits. And this same word of truth, being made firm, says: 'Bless the Lord, all things growing in the earth' (Psalm 145:9). For He himself is the Creator and Master of all things growing and to be grown.

Then after this, the mountains and the hills. Are then the mountains and the hills outside of God? By no means; but because in the hills the defilements of the demons were constructed, and there idols were worshipped, because of this it says: 'Bless the Lord, mountains and hills.' But nonetheless, having remembered the hills, He remembers also the springs and the rivers and the sea; for these too were made gods; and they called the springs Nymphs, Poseidon the sea, and certain Sirens and Nereids; and that even rivers were worshipped is testified by those in Egypt even unto here; they offered incense at the rising of the Nile, not marveling at Him as a God by nature, but treating the water itself as a god by worshiping it. Because of this they also call rivers and springs and the sea into the hymnody.

Then the winged things of heaven and the cattle; for these too are not exempt from making gods; for the eagle was worshipped, and the hawk; and the wild beasts and the cattle the Egyptians have honored by the names of gods; and so much did the error prevail.