• Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary

    19 Infinity

    INFINITY Infinity is taken in two senses entirely different, i. e. in a positive and a negative one. Positive infinity is a quality of being perfect in itself, or capable of receiving no addition. Negative is the quality of being boundless, unlimited, or endless. That God is infinite is evident; for as Doddridge observes, 1. If he be limited, it must either be by himself, or by another; but no wise being would abridge himself, and there could be no other being to limit God.--2. Infinity follows from self-existence; for a necessity that is not universal must depend on some external cause, which a self-existent Being does not.--3. Creation is so great an act of power, that we can imagine nothing impossible to that Being…

  • Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary

    18 Immutability Of God

    IMMUTABILITY OF GOD In his unchangeableness. He is immutable in his essence, James 1:17. In his attributes, Ps. 102:27. In his purposes, Isa. 25:1. Ps. 33:11. In his promises, Mal. 3:6. 2 Tim. 2:12. And in his threatenings, Matt. 25:41. "This is a perfection," says Dr. Blair, "which, perhaps, more than any other, distinguishes the divine nature from the human, gives complete energy to all its attributes, and entitles it to the highest adoration. From hence are derived the regular order of nature, and the steadfastness of the universe. Hence flows the unchanging terror of those laws which from age to age regulate the conduct of mankind. Hence the uniformity of that government, and the certainty of those promises, which are the ground of our…

  • Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary

    17 Eternity

    ETERNITY With respect to God, is a duration without beginning or end. As it is the attribute of human nature, it is a duration that has a beginning, but will never have an end. "It is a duration," says a lively writer, "that excludes all number and computation: days, and months, and years, yea, and ages, are lost in it, like drops in the ocean! Millions of millions of years, as many years as there are sands on the sea-shore, or particles of dust in the globe of the earth, and those multiplied to the highest reach of number, all these are nothing to eternity. They do not bear the least imaginable proportion to it; for these will come to an end, as certainly as…

  • Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary

    16 Eternity Of God

    ETERNITY OF GOD Is the perpetual continuance of his being, without beginning, end, or succession. that he is without beginning, says Dr. Gill, may be proved from, 1. His necessary self-existence, Exod. 3:14.--2. From his attributes, several of which are said to be eternal, Rom. 1:20. Acts 15:18. Ps. 103:17. Jer. 31:3.—3. From his purposes, which are also said to be from eternity, Isa. 25:1. Eph. 3:11. Rom. 9:11. Eph. 1:4.—4. From the covenant of grace, which is eternal, 2 Sam. 3:5. Mac. 5:2. That he is without end, may be proven from, 1. His spiritually and simplicity, Rom. 1:23.--2. From his independency, Rom. 9:5.--3. From his immutability, 2 Pet. 1:24,25. Mal. 3:6. Psal. 3:26,27.--4. From his dominion and government, said never to end, Jer.…

  • Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary

    15 Incorporeality Of God

    INCORPOREALITY OF GOD Is his being without a body. That God is incorporeal is evident; for, 1. Materiality is incompatible with self-existence, and God being self-existent, must be incorporeal.--2. If God were corporeal, he could not be present in any part of the world where body is; yet his presence is necessary for the support and, motion of body.--3. A body cannot be in two places at the same time; yet he is every where, and fills heaven and earth.--4. A body is to be seen and felt, but God is invisible and impalpable, John 1:18.

  • Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary

    14 Spirituality Of God

    SPIRITUALITY OF GOD Is his immateriality, or being without body. It expresses an idea (says Dr. Paley) made up of a negative part and of a positive part. The negative part consists in the exclusion of some of the known properties of matter, especially of solidity, and the vis inertiae, and of gravitation. The positive part comprises perception, thought, will, power, action, by which last term is meant the origination of motion.