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Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)
Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, tr. Pinkerton, 1814
12. Part 2, Section 12: Man the Object of Divine Providence
The distinguished goodness of God to man, is not only seen in his creation; but from the very time of his being made, he became the object of the care of a particular Providence.
The goodness which man partook of in his creation, consisted in that which, in holy writ, is called the image and likeness of God, Gen. i. For no higher honour can be conferred upon the creature, than that it should be accounted worthy to wear impressed upon itself the image of the most exalted and inaccessible God. With this image, there were united in man the purest light in his judgment, the most complete holiness in his will, and perfect concord between his bodily and spiritual inclinations; nothing disturbed his peace; he was immortal; had rule over the creatures, and was endowed with other godlike perfections, which made him completely happy. In this state, man enjoyed the beatific vision of the most perfect godhead; and to God himself, he was the most beloved object in creation.
Even the Heathens themselves, appear to have had some sort of knowledge of this state of man’s original happiness, and have styled it the golden age. The Holy Scriptures speak of it in many places; among other passages, in the eighth Psalm, its glories are celebrated. What higher evidence can we have of the majesty and goodness of God shewn to man in his creation than this, that he “made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honour.” But how man became the object of God’s particular providence, shall be shewn in the following Section.