Deism is the belief that God exists and that he created the world, but that he exercises no providential care or control over either people or the material universe
The philosophers try to persuade us that God takes care of the universe, along with its genera and species. However, they say He does not take care of you and me, individually. Otherwise, they say we would surely not need to pray to Him night and day. Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.194
The Epicureans regarded God as apathetic and inert. Essentially, then, He is a non-entity to them. Tertullian (c. 197, W), 3.130
Epicurus said that there was indeed a God, . . . but that there was no providence. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W), 7.264