IN Christian theology the word "Providence" has been and still is frequently used as a term for Deity. And too often in ignorance of the true nature of God or Deity, untoward events—disease, death, accidents, and great catastrophes—have been ascribed to the inscrutable will and dispensation of Providence. Christ Jesus, however, declared God to be Spirit, and proved the nature of Spirit to be loving and altogether good. Can an infinitely good God who is Love provide evil for His children or permit evil to occur in His universe?
Mary Baker Eddy twice uses the term "Providence" as signifying Deity and in her writings speaks of "divine Providence" and the "providence of God." Her concept of God and His providence conforms to that of Christ Jesus rather than to that of mistaken and creedal theology. For example, on page 424 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she writes, "Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony." The next paragraph continues. "Under divine Providence there can be no accidents, since there is no room for imperfection in perfection."
Here we are given the true concept of God and His providence, His unerring direction, His beneficent law, which holds man exempt from all evil, accidents, and untoward events. Here also is shown how mankind may avail themselves of this divine providence in their daily living. The instruction reads, "We must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind." As this is done, one finds himself never at the mercy of chance, of what is called "luck," either good or bad, but under the unerring direction and protection of divine Principle.
