-
Chapter 7: The Immutability and Decrees of God
The Unchangeableness of God, Which is Essential to Himself, and His Decrees. Position 1.—God is essentially unchangeable in Himself. Were He otherwise, He would be confessedly imperfect, since whoever changes must change either for the better or for the worse; whatever alteration any being undergoes, that being must, ipso facto, either become more excellent than it was or lose some…
-
Chapter 8: The Omnipotence of God, Part 1
The Omnipotence of God. Position 1.—God is, in the most unlimited and absolute sense of the word, Almighty. "Behold Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee” (Jer. 32:17). "With God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). The schoolmen, very properly, distinguish the omnipotence…
-
Chapter 9: The Omnipotence of God, Part 2
Position 3.—God, as the primary and efficient cause of all things, is not only the Author of those actions done by His elect as actions, but also as they are good actions, whereas, on the other hand, though He may be said to be the Author of all the actions done by the wicked, yet He is not the Author…
-
Chapter 10: The Omnipotence of God, Part 3
I shall conclude this article with two or three observations, and— (1) I would infer that, if we would maintain the doctrine of God's omnipotence, we must insist upon that of His universal agency; the latter cannot be denied without giving up the former. Disprove that He is almighty, and then we will grant that His influence and operations are…
-
Chapter 11: The Justice of God
The Justice of God. Position 1.—God is infinitely, absolutely and unchangeably just. The justice of God may be considered either immanently, as it is in Himself, which is, properly speaking, the same with His holiness; or transiently and relatively, as it respects His right conduct towards His creatures, which is properly justice. By the former He is all that is…
-
Chapter 12. The Mercy of God
VI. The Mercy of God Position 1.—The Deity is, throughout the Scriptures, represented as infinitely gracious and merciful (Exod. 34:6; Nehem. 9:17; Psalm 103:8; 1 Peter 1:3). When we call the Divine mercy infinite, we do not mean that it is, in a way of grace, extended to all men without exception (and supposing it was, even then it would…
