That God cannot properly be styled the remote cause of individual things, except for the sake of distinguishing these from what he immediately produces, or rather from what follows from his absolute nature.

For, by a remote cause, we understand a cause which is in no way conjoined to the effect.
But all things which are, are in God, and so depend on God, that without him they can neither be nor be conceived.
PROP.XXIX.

Nothing in the universe is contingent, but all things are conditioned to exist and operate in a particular manner by the necessity of the divine nature.
Proof .-- Whatsoever is, is in God (Prop.

xv.).

But God cannot be called a thing contingent.