Post by Admin on Jul 18, 2023 11:20:48 GMT -5
Of the Nature or Perfections of God.
The Scripture represents mankind as instructed in the knowledge of God by his works of creation and providence, Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:19- 20,32 and Rom 2:14-15; Acts 14:15-17 and Acts 17:23. And, while it supposes, it also solemnly asserts and proves, his existence, and represents his Names, Nature, Perfections, Persons, Purposes, and Works.
The proper names which are ascribed to God in the Old Testament, are, El, which denotes him the strong and powerful God, Gen 17:1; Isa 9:6. Eloah, which represents him as the only proper object of worship, Gen 1:1; Ps 45:6-7. Shaddai, which denotes him to be all-sufficient and all-mighty, Gen 17:1; Exod 6:3. , which represents his incomparable excellency, absolute supremacy over all,and his peculiar residence in the highest heavens, Ps 50:14 and Ps 56:2. Adon, which marks him the great Connecter, Supporter, Lord and Judge of all creatures, Ps 110:1; Ps 16:2. Jah, which may denote his self-existence and giving of being to his creatures, or his infinite comeliness and answerableness, to himself and to the happiness or his creatures, Exod 15:2; Ps 68:4; Ps 130:3; Isa 26:4. Ehjeh, I Am, or I Will Be, which denotes his self-existence, absolute independence,
immutable eternity, and all-sufficiency to his people, Exod 3:14; Rev 1:4,8. Jehovah, which denotes his self-existence, absolute independence, and unsuccessive eternity, with his effectual and marvellous giving of being to his creatures, and fulfilling his promises, Gen 2:4,7-8,16,19,21-22; Gen 3:1; Gen 10:9-10; Gen 12:1,4,7.—This name of God was known in the earliest ages of the world, Gen 4:1; Gen 9:26; Gen 5:29; Gen 14:22; Gen 15:7; Gen 24:7.
And so God not being known to the patriarchs by it, means no more than that he had not demonstrated the propriety of it in any remarkable fulfilment of promises, Exod 6:3. This name often, in part, composes the names of persons or things; in that state, it merely denotes a relation to Jehovah, but taken simply by itself, it is never ascribed to any but God.
1. He alone is Jehovah, Ps 83:18; Isa 37:20; Isa 45:5-6.
2. This name is represented as a distinguishing name of God, Isa 42:8; Exod 15:3; Hos 12:5; Amos 5:8 and is his great and terrible name, Ps 99:3. 3. The excellency which it denotes
is applicable to none but God, Ps 96:5; Isa 44:24.
—Whereever an angel is called Jehovah, or Lord, in capitals in our translation, he must be understood to be the Son of God, who is the Messenger of Jehovah, or Messenger-Jehovah, Gen 16:13; Gen 18:13, etc. In the New Testament, God is called Kurios or Lord, which denotes his self-existence, his establishment of, and his authority over all things;
—and Theos, which represents him as the Maker, the Pervader, and the governing Observer of all things.
—This name Theos, as well as El and Eloah, which we render God, is a name which represents his divine nature, not merely his power or office.
1. All persons having power and authority are not truly Gods, 1 Cor 8:5- 6.
2. God is represented as a God by nature, to distinguish him from idols, Gal 4:8.
3. He was God before his power had formed any creatures, or he had any to govern, Rom 1:20; Rom 16:26; Ps 90:2.
4. Theotes, or Theiotes, godhead, means not power, or office, but a divine nature, Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20; Col 2:9.
5. No creature is called God without some limitation annexed, which plainly imports, that they are not so by nature: angels and magistrates are called gods, because of their being his deputies in his government of the world, and resembling his majesty, wisdom, power, and equity, Ps 97:7; Ps 82:6; John 10:34; Exod 4:16; Exod 7:1; Exod 22:28.—Idols, devils,
and men's bellies, are called gods, because they are often regarded or worshipped instead of the true God, Ps 115:4; 2 Cor 4:4; Phil 3:19. God is represented by a multitude of metaphorical names, as a Man, a Lion, a Rock, etc.
—Besides the names which represent the divine nature, there are others which represent particular persons in the Godhead, as Father, Son, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost or Spirit, Matt
28:19; 2 Cor 13:14.
—The titles which denote what relation God hath to others, belong to his name.
—Some of them, as Creator of all the ends of the earth, Isa 40:28. Preserver of men, Job 7:20. King of nations, Jer 10:7. Lord of Hosts, belong to him as the God of nature.
—Others as the God and Father of Christ, Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3; John 20:17; 2 Cor 1:3. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, Exod 3:6.
—The God and the Holy One of Israel, 2 Sam 23:3; Isa 48:17.
— King of saints, Rev 15:3.
—Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, 2 Cor 1:3.
—The God of mercy, Ps 59:17.
—The God of grace, 1 Pet 5:10.
—The God of peace, Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 13:11; Heb 13:20.
—The God of salvation, Ps 68:20.—The hearer of prayer, etc.
—belong to him as God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself In respect of his substance, God is a most pure spirit, having an understanding and will, without any bodily parts, any affections or passions.
1. He is expressly represented as a Spirit, John 4:24; Num 24:2; Judg 3:10; Ezek 11:24; 2 Cor 3:17-18 and as the God, the Father, and the former of spirits, Num 16:22; Heb 12:9; Zech 12:1 with Luke 24:39.
2. He is represented as altogether incorporeal and invisible, Job 10:4; Job 9:11; Job 4:16-17; Job 23:3-4,8; Isa 40:18; Deut 4:15-16; Exod 33:20; John 5:37; John 1:18; Rom 1:20,23; 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Tim 6:16; Heb 11:27.
3. Immortal life is ascribed to him, Deut.33:40; Jer 10:10; 2 Cor 6:16; 1 Thess 1:9; 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Tim 4:10; 1 Tim 6:16; Acts 14:15; Rom 1:23; Rev 1:18; Gen 16:13; Ps 18:46. Which
life is manifested in his giving and preserving that natural or spiritual life which his creatures enjoy, Acts 17:25-29; Ps 36:9; 1 Tim6:13; Rom 4:17; 1 John 5:20; John 5:21,25-26,28; John 14:19.
4. Spiritual acts of thinking and willing are ascribed to him, Ps 33:11; Ps 40:5; Ps 139:2; Ps 147:4-5; Ps 92:3; Isa 55:8; Jer 29:11; Ps 115:3; Rev 4:11; Dan 4:35; Isa 46:10; Isa 14:24,27, Eph 1:11; Phil 2:13; Rom 9:16,18.
5. The power, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth, the persons, purposes, and works, hereafter proved to belong to him, harmoniously manifest him a most pure Spirit.
—The bodily members attributed to him in Scripture, are but instructive emblems of his spiritual perfections and acts,
—used in condescension to our weakness, Hos 12:10.—
In this manner also, all the affections or passions of desire, joy, hope, fear, grief, anger, etc. ascribed to him are to be understood. Moreover, God having always dealt with men,
in the way of covenant-connections, many of these affections are intended to represent him as a friend, or enemy, according to the tenor of these covenants. And the changes seemingly attributed to him, really import the change in, or on us, from being under the covenant of works, to be in the covenant of grace. The attributes, perfections, or excellencies of God, are the essential and absolutely inseparable properties of his spiritual substance or nature. These may be distinguished into those called communicable,
of which some faint, but infinitely defective resemblances, may be found among his creatures,
—as knowledge, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth
—and incommunicable, of which no resemblance can be found among his creatures,
—as self-existence, absolute independence, absolute simplicity, infinity, unsuccessive eternity, unchangeableness, necessary oneness, and subsistence in three distinct persons.
I. The knowledge of God is that intellectual perfection, by which he discerns objects.
—He knows all things, Ps 147:5; John 21:17; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 3:20; Heb 4:13; Job 34:21-22; Job 36:4-5; Ps 94:7-10; Ps 139:4-7; Jer 23:24.—He knows,
1. Himself in all his unbounded perfections and mysterious purposes, Matt 11:27; John 1:18; John 10:15; 1 Cor 1:10; Jer 29:11; Acts 15:18.
2. All his creatures, great and small, possibly or really existent, Ps 147:4; Matt 10:30 Acts 15:18; Deut 29:29; Job 12:22; Job 28:8,10,24; Job 26:4-6; Job 24:1; Job 34:21-22; 2 Chron 16:9; Prov 15:3; Ps 33:13-15; Ps 11:4; Ps 138:6; Jer 23:24; 2 Tim 2:19.
3. All the actions of his creatures, good and bad, Prov 5:21; Prov 15:3; Job 34:21-22; Ps 69:5; Ps 90:8; Ps 139:7-13; Ps 33:13-18; Ps 34:15; Ps 1:6; Ps 56:8; Neh 1:7; 1 Sam 2:3; Jer 16:17; Jer 32:19; Isa 26:7; Hab 1:13.
4. All the secret properties and thoughts or desires of human hearts, Gen 6:5; Heb 4:12-13; Ps 139:1-4; Ps 7:9; Ps 38:9; 1 Chron 28:9; 1 Sam 16:7; Deut 31:21; Prov 15:11; Prov 16:2; Prov 21:2; Luke 16:15; Amos 4:13; Jer 17:5,9-10; Jer 16:17; Acts 1:24; Rev 2:23; Rom 8:27; 2 Chron 6:30; John 2:24-25; 1 Cor 4:5.
5. All future things, Ps 139:3-4; Isa 45:20-21; Isa 41:21-24; Isa 42:9; Isa 46:9-10; Jer 29:11; Dan 2:20-22; Acts 15:18 and hence he hath foretold most of them, Gen 3:14-19 and Gen 6:9; Gen 9; Gen 12-13; Gen 49; Lev 26; Deut 27-33, etc. 6. The connections between possible things, which never actually happen, as he knows what his power can produce, and what dependence one circumstance must have upon another, Ezek 3:6-7; Matt 11:21,23.
The Scripture represents mankind as instructed in the knowledge of God by his works of creation and providence, Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:19- 20,32 and Rom 2:14-15; Acts 14:15-17 and Acts 17:23. And, while it supposes, it also solemnly asserts and proves, his existence, and represents his Names, Nature, Perfections, Persons, Purposes, and Works.
The proper names which are ascribed to God in the Old Testament, are, El, which denotes him the strong and powerful God, Gen 17:1; Isa 9:6. Eloah, which represents him as the only proper object of worship, Gen 1:1; Ps 45:6-7. Shaddai, which denotes him to be all-sufficient and all-mighty, Gen 17:1; Exod 6:3. , which represents his incomparable excellency, absolute supremacy over all,and his peculiar residence in the highest heavens, Ps 50:14 and Ps 56:2. Adon, which marks him the great Connecter, Supporter, Lord and Judge of all creatures, Ps 110:1; Ps 16:2. Jah, which may denote his self-existence and giving of being to his creatures, or his infinite comeliness and answerableness, to himself and to the happiness or his creatures, Exod 15:2; Ps 68:4; Ps 130:3; Isa 26:4. Ehjeh, I Am, or I Will Be, which denotes his self-existence, absolute independence,
immutable eternity, and all-sufficiency to his people, Exod 3:14; Rev 1:4,8. Jehovah, which denotes his self-existence, absolute independence, and unsuccessive eternity, with his effectual and marvellous giving of being to his creatures, and fulfilling his promises, Gen 2:4,7-8,16,19,21-22; Gen 3:1; Gen 10:9-10; Gen 12:1,4,7.—This name of God was known in the earliest ages of the world, Gen 4:1; Gen 9:26; Gen 5:29; Gen 14:22; Gen 15:7; Gen 24:7.
And so God not being known to the patriarchs by it, means no more than that he had not demonstrated the propriety of it in any remarkable fulfilment of promises, Exod 6:3. This name often, in part, composes the names of persons or things; in that state, it merely denotes a relation to Jehovah, but taken simply by itself, it is never ascribed to any but God.
1. He alone is Jehovah, Ps 83:18; Isa 37:20; Isa 45:5-6.
2. This name is represented as a distinguishing name of God, Isa 42:8; Exod 15:3; Hos 12:5; Amos 5:8 and is his great and terrible name, Ps 99:3. 3. The excellency which it denotes
is applicable to none but God, Ps 96:5; Isa 44:24.
—Whereever an angel is called Jehovah, or Lord, in capitals in our translation, he must be understood to be the Son of God, who is the Messenger of Jehovah, or Messenger-Jehovah, Gen 16:13; Gen 18:13, etc. In the New Testament, God is called Kurios or Lord, which denotes his self-existence, his establishment of, and his authority over all things;
—and Theos, which represents him as the Maker, the Pervader, and the governing Observer of all things.
—This name Theos, as well as El and Eloah, which we render God, is a name which represents his divine nature, not merely his power or office.
1. All persons having power and authority are not truly Gods, 1 Cor 8:5- 6.
2. God is represented as a God by nature, to distinguish him from idols, Gal 4:8.
3. He was God before his power had formed any creatures, or he had any to govern, Rom 1:20; Rom 16:26; Ps 90:2.
4. Theotes, or Theiotes, godhead, means not power, or office, but a divine nature, Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20; Col 2:9.
5. No creature is called God without some limitation annexed, which plainly imports, that they are not so by nature: angels and magistrates are called gods, because of their being his deputies in his government of the world, and resembling his majesty, wisdom, power, and equity, Ps 97:7; Ps 82:6; John 10:34; Exod 4:16; Exod 7:1; Exod 22:28.—Idols, devils,
and men's bellies, are called gods, because they are often regarded or worshipped instead of the true God, Ps 115:4; 2 Cor 4:4; Phil 3:19. God is represented by a multitude of metaphorical names, as a Man, a Lion, a Rock, etc.
—Besides the names which represent the divine nature, there are others which represent particular persons in the Godhead, as Father, Son, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost or Spirit, Matt
28:19; 2 Cor 13:14.
—The titles which denote what relation God hath to others, belong to his name.
—Some of them, as Creator of all the ends of the earth, Isa 40:28. Preserver of men, Job 7:20. King of nations, Jer 10:7. Lord of Hosts, belong to him as the God of nature.
—Others as the God and Father of Christ, Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3; John 20:17; 2 Cor 1:3. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, Exod 3:6.
—The God and the Holy One of Israel, 2 Sam 23:3; Isa 48:17.
— King of saints, Rev 15:3.
—Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, 2 Cor 1:3.
—The God of mercy, Ps 59:17.
—The God of grace, 1 Pet 5:10.
—The God of peace, Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 13:11; Heb 13:20.
—The God of salvation, Ps 68:20.—The hearer of prayer, etc.
—belong to him as God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself In respect of his substance, God is a most pure spirit, having an understanding and will, without any bodily parts, any affections or passions.
1. He is expressly represented as a Spirit, John 4:24; Num 24:2; Judg 3:10; Ezek 11:24; 2 Cor 3:17-18 and as the God, the Father, and the former of spirits, Num 16:22; Heb 12:9; Zech 12:1 with Luke 24:39.
2. He is represented as altogether incorporeal and invisible, Job 10:4; Job 9:11; Job 4:16-17; Job 23:3-4,8; Isa 40:18; Deut 4:15-16; Exod 33:20; John 5:37; John 1:18; Rom 1:20,23; 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Tim 6:16; Heb 11:27.
3. Immortal life is ascribed to him, Deut.33:40; Jer 10:10; 2 Cor 6:16; 1 Thess 1:9; 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Tim 4:10; 1 Tim 6:16; Acts 14:15; Rom 1:23; Rev 1:18; Gen 16:13; Ps 18:46. Which
life is manifested in his giving and preserving that natural or spiritual life which his creatures enjoy, Acts 17:25-29; Ps 36:9; 1 Tim6:13; Rom 4:17; 1 John 5:20; John 5:21,25-26,28; John 14:19.
4. Spiritual acts of thinking and willing are ascribed to him, Ps 33:11; Ps 40:5; Ps 139:2; Ps 147:4-5; Ps 92:3; Isa 55:8; Jer 29:11; Ps 115:3; Rev 4:11; Dan 4:35; Isa 46:10; Isa 14:24,27, Eph 1:11; Phil 2:13; Rom 9:16,18.
5. The power, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth, the persons, purposes, and works, hereafter proved to belong to him, harmoniously manifest him a most pure Spirit.
—The bodily members attributed to him in Scripture, are but instructive emblems of his spiritual perfections and acts,
—used in condescension to our weakness, Hos 12:10.—
In this manner also, all the affections or passions of desire, joy, hope, fear, grief, anger, etc. ascribed to him are to be understood. Moreover, God having always dealt with men,
in the way of covenant-connections, many of these affections are intended to represent him as a friend, or enemy, according to the tenor of these covenants. And the changes seemingly attributed to him, really import the change in, or on us, from being under the covenant of works, to be in the covenant of grace. The attributes, perfections, or excellencies of God, are the essential and absolutely inseparable properties of his spiritual substance or nature. These may be distinguished into those called communicable,
of which some faint, but infinitely defective resemblances, may be found among his creatures,
—as knowledge, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth
—and incommunicable, of which no resemblance can be found among his creatures,
—as self-existence, absolute independence, absolute simplicity, infinity, unsuccessive eternity, unchangeableness, necessary oneness, and subsistence in three distinct persons.
I. The knowledge of God is that intellectual perfection, by which he discerns objects.
—He knows all things, Ps 147:5; John 21:17; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 3:20; Heb 4:13; Job 34:21-22; Job 36:4-5; Ps 94:7-10; Ps 139:4-7; Jer 23:24.—He knows,
1. Himself in all his unbounded perfections and mysterious purposes, Matt 11:27; John 1:18; John 10:15; 1 Cor 1:10; Jer 29:11; Acts 15:18.
2. All his creatures, great and small, possibly or really existent, Ps 147:4; Matt 10:30 Acts 15:18; Deut 29:29; Job 12:22; Job 28:8,10,24; Job 26:4-6; Job 24:1; Job 34:21-22; 2 Chron 16:9; Prov 15:3; Ps 33:13-15; Ps 11:4; Ps 138:6; Jer 23:24; 2 Tim 2:19.
3. All the actions of his creatures, good and bad, Prov 5:21; Prov 15:3; Job 34:21-22; Ps 69:5; Ps 90:8; Ps 139:7-13; Ps 33:13-18; Ps 34:15; Ps 1:6; Ps 56:8; Neh 1:7; 1 Sam 2:3; Jer 16:17; Jer 32:19; Isa 26:7; Hab 1:13.
4. All the secret properties and thoughts or desires of human hearts, Gen 6:5; Heb 4:12-13; Ps 139:1-4; Ps 7:9; Ps 38:9; 1 Chron 28:9; 1 Sam 16:7; Deut 31:21; Prov 15:11; Prov 16:2; Prov 21:2; Luke 16:15; Amos 4:13; Jer 17:5,9-10; Jer 16:17; Acts 1:24; Rev 2:23; Rom 8:27; 2 Chron 6:30; John 2:24-25; 1 Cor 4:5.
5. All future things, Ps 139:3-4; Isa 45:20-21; Isa 41:21-24; Isa 42:9; Isa 46:9-10; Jer 29:11; Dan 2:20-22; Acts 15:18 and hence he hath foretold most of them, Gen 3:14-19 and Gen 6:9; Gen 9; Gen 12-13; Gen 49; Lev 26; Deut 27-33, etc. 6. The connections between possible things, which never actually happen, as he knows what his power can produce, and what dependence one circumstance must have upon another, Ezek 3:6-7; Matt 11:21,23.