The Divine Life, Treatise 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
6. HAving spoken of the effects of the Attributes of Gods Essence as such, we must next speak of the Effects of his three great Attributes which some call Subsistential, that is his Omnipotency, Understanding and Will; or his Infinite Power, Wisdom and Goodness: By which it hath been the way of the Schoolmen and other Divines to denominate the three Persons, not without some countenance from Scripture Phrase. The Father they call the Infinite Power of the God head; and the Son, the Wisdom and Word of God, and of the Father: and the Holy Ghost, the Love and Goodness of God, of the Father and Son. But that these Attributes, of Power, Understanding and Will, or Power, Wisdome and Goodness, are of the same importance with the termes of Personality, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we presume not to affirm. It sufficeth us, 1. That God hath assumed these Attributes to himself in Scripture. 2. And that man who beareth the Natural Image of God, hath Power, Understanding and Will; and as he beareth the Holy Moral Image of God, he hath a Power to execute that which is Good, and Wisdome to direct, and Goodness of Will to determine for the execution: And so while God is seen of us in this Glass of Man, we must conceive of him after the Image that in man appeareth to us, and speak of him in the language of man, as he doth of himself.
And first, The Almightiness of God must make these impressions on our souls. 1. It must possess the soul with very awful Reverent thoughts of God; and fill us continually with his holy Fear. Infinite Greatness and Power, must have no common careless thoughts, lest we Blaspheme him in our Minds, and be guilty of Contempt. The Dread of the Heavenly Majesty should be still upon us; and we must be in his fear all the day long, Prov. 23. 17. Not under that slavish Fear that is void of Love, as men fear an Enemy, or hurtful Creature, or that which is Evil: For we have not such a spirit from the Lord, nor stand in a Relation of enmity and bondage to him: But Reverence is necessary; and from thence a Fear of sinning and displeasing so Great a God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome, Prov. 1. 7. and 9. 10. Psal. 111. 10. By it men depart from evil, Prov. 16. 6. Sin is for want of the Fear of God, Luk. 23. 40. Pro. 3. 7. Jer. 5. 24. I. ev. 25. 36. The Fear of God is often put for the whole new man, or all the work of Grace within us, even the Principle of new life; Jer. 2. 19. and 32. 40. And it is often put for the whole work of Religion or Service of God, Psal. 34. 11. Prov. 1. 29. Psal. 130. 4. and 34. 9. And therefore the Godly are usually denominated, such as Fear God, Psal. 15. 4. and 22. 23. and 115. 11, 13. and 135. 20. and 34. 7, 9. &c. The godly are devoted to the Fear of God, Psal. 119. 38. It is our Sanctifying the Lord in our hearts, that he be our fear and dread, Isa. 8. 13. If we Fear him not, we take him not for our Master, Mal. 1. 6. Evangelical Grace excludeth not this Fear, Luk. 12. 5. Though we receive a Kingdom that cannot be moved, yet must our acceptable service of God, be with Reverence and godly fear, Heb. 12. 28. With fear and trembling we must work out our salvation, Phil. 2. 12. In fear we must pass the time of …journing here, 1 Pet. 1. 17. In it we must converse together, Eph. 5. 4. Yea Holiness is to be perfected in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1. and that because we have the Promises. The most prosperous Churches walk in this fear, Acts 9. 31. Its a necessary means of preventing destruction, Heb. 11. 7. and of attaining salvation when we have the promises, Heb. 4. 1. God puts this fear in the hearts of those that shall not depart from him, Jer. 32. 40. See therefore that the Greatness of the Almighty God possess thy soul continually with his Fear.
2. Gods Almightiness should also possess us with holy Admiration of him, and cause us in heart and voice to Magnifie him. Oh what a Power is that which made the world of nothing? which upholdeth the earth without any foundation but his Will? which placed and maintaineth all things in their Order in Heaven and Earth! which causeth so great and glorious a creature as the Sun, that is so much bigger then all the earth, to move so many thousand miles in a few moments, and constantly to keep its time and course! that giveth its instinct to every brute, and causeth every part of nature, to do its office▪ By his Power it is that every motion of the Creature is performed, and that order is kept in the Kingdoms of the world. Jer. 32. 17, 18, 19. [He made the Heaven and the Earth by his Great Power and stretched out arm, and nothing is too hard for him: The Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts is his Name; great in counsel, and mighty in works] Neh. 9. 32. The Great, the Mighty, the terrible God,] Psal. 136. 4. To him therefore that alone doth Great wonders we must give the Greatest Praise] O how Great are his works, and his thoughts are very deep, Psal. 92. 5. [Great is our Lord and of Great Power, Psal. 147. 5.] And therefore in Zion must …e be Great] Psalm 99. 2. And his Great and terrible Name must be Praised.
3. In the Church where he is known, must his Name be Great, Psal. 76. 1. For we know that the Lord is Great, and our God is above all Gods, Psal. 135. 5. His Saints delight to praise his Greatness: Psal. 104. 1, 2, 3, 4. [Bless the Lord O my soul! O Lord my God thou art very Great: thou art cloathed with honour and Majesty, who coverest thy self with Light as with a garment, who stretchest out the Heavens like a Curtain, who layeth the beams of his Chambers in the waters, who maketh the clouds his Chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind, who maketh his Angels Spirits, his Ministers a flame of fire, &c.] From Almightiness all things have their being, and therefore must honour the Almighty, Rev. 1. 8. [I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending; saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty] Rev. 15. 3. They that magnifie the Lord with the song of Moses and of the Lamb, say [Great and Marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty; Just and True are thy wayes thou King of Saints.]
3. The Almightiness of God must imprint upon our souls a strong and stedfast confidence in him, according to the tenour of his Covenant and promises. Nothing more certain then that Impotency and Insufficiency will never cause him to fail us or to break his word. O what an encouragement is it to the Saints, that they are built on such an impregnable Rock, and that Omnipotency is engaged for them! And O what a shame is this to our unbelief, that ever we should distrust omnipotency!
If God be Almighty, 1. Remembe in thy greatest wants, that there is no want but he can easily and abundantly supply.
2. Remember in thy greatest sufferings, pains, or dangers, that no pain is so great which he cannot mitigate and remove, and no danger so great from which he is not able to deliver thee. The servants of Christ dare venture on the flames, because they trust upon the Almighty, Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18. In confidence on Omnipotency they dare stand against the threatnings of the greatest upon earth. [We are not careful (said those three Believers to the King) to answer thee in this matter: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, &c.] He that is afraid to stand upon a slender bow, or upon the unstable waters, is not afraid to stand upon the earth; And he that is afraid of robbers when he is alone, is bolder in a conquering Army; what will man Trust, if he distrust Omnipotency? Where can we be safe, if not in the Love, the Covenant, the hands of the Almighty God? When storms and winds had feared the Disciples, lest they should be drowned when Christ was in the ship, their sin was aggravated by the presence of their Powerful Lord, whose mighty works they had often seen [Why fear ye (saith he) O ye of little faith! Mat. 8. 26.] Cannot he rebuke our winds and waves! and will not all obey the rebukes of the Almighty? when thou hast a want that God cannot supply, or a sickness that he cannot cure, or a danger that he cannot prevent, then be thou Fearful, and distrust him and spare not.
3. Remember also in thy lowest state, and in the Churches greatest sufferings or dangers, that the Almighty is able to raise up his Church or thee even in a moment.
If you say, that Its true God can do it, but we know not whether he will; I answer 1. I shall shew you in due place, how far he hath revealed his Will for such deliverances. In sum, we have his promise, that all things shall work together for our good, Rom. 8. 28. and what would we have more? Would you have that which is evil for you?
2. At present, see that Omnipotency do establish thy confidence so far as it is concerned in the cause. As 1. Be sure that no work is too hard for the Almighty; Do not so much as in the thoughts of thy heart, make question of his Power, and say with those unbelievers, Psal. 78. 19, 20. [Can God furnish a Table in the wildernest? Can he give Bread also? Can he provide Flesh?] If really thou distrust not the Power of God, believe then the most difficult or improbable things, as well as the easiest and most probable, if God reveal or promise them. The Resurrection seemeth improbable to impotent man; But God hath promised it; And nothing is difficult to Omnipotency. The calling of the Jews; the ruine of the Turk; the downfall of the Pope; the unity of Christians, do all seem to us unlikely things; But all things to God are not only possible, but easie. He is at no more labour to make a world, then to make a straw, or make fly, [Whatsoever pleased the Lord, that did he in heaven and earth, in the sea and in the depths] Psal. 135. 6. Dost thou think it improbable that ever all thy sins should be conquered? and that ever thy soul should live with Christ among the holy Saints and Angels? and that ever thy Body that must first be dust, should shine as the stars in the firmament of God? And why doth it seem to thee improbable? Is it not as easie to God as to cause the earth to stand on nothing, and the …un to run its daily course? If God had promised thee to live a day longer, or any small and common things, thou couldst then believe him; And is it not as easie to him to advance thee to Everlasting Glory, as …o cause thee to live another hour, or to keep a haire of thy head from perishing? sin is too strong for thee to overcome, but not for God. Death is too strong for thee to conquer… ▪ but not for Christ. Heaven is too high for thee to reach by thy own strength; but he that is there, and prepared it for thee can take thee thither. Trust God or trust nothing: He that cannot Trust in him, shall despair for ever; for all other confidence will deceive him. Psal. 9. 10. [They that know his Name, will put their Trust in him; for the Lord hath not forsaken them that seek him.] All those that Trust in him shall Rejoyce, and ever shout for joy, because he defendeth them, Psal. 5. 11. [Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord, his Trust, and respecteth not the Proud, nor such as turn aside to lies, Psal 40. 4. … [Who so putteth his Trust in the Lord shall be safe, Prov. 29. 25▪] O what hath Almightiness done in the world? and what for the Church? and what for thee? and yet wilt thou distrust him? [O how great is the goodness that he hath laid up for them that fear him? which he hath wrought for them that Trust in him before the sons of men? Psal. 31. 19.] [The Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants, and none of them that Trust in him shall be desolate, Psla. 34. 22▪ Are thy straits too great? thy work too hard? [Commit thy way unto the Lord▪ Trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass, Psal. 37. 5.] In thy lowest state look up to the Almighty, and say [What time I am afaid I will Trust in thee: In God have I put my Trust; I will not fear, what man can do unto me, Psal. 56. 3, 4.] [The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer: my God; my strength; in whom I will put my Trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower, Psal. 18. 2.] [He is a buckler to all that Trust in him] [Some Trust in Chariots, and some in Horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God, Psal. 20. 7.] Trust not in the Creature▪ that is, in vanity and infirmity. There is not Almightiness in man, or any Creature. [It is better therefore to Trust in the Lord, then to put confidence in man: It is better to Trust in the Lord, then to put confidence in Princes. Psal. 118. 7, 8.] what a working passage is that, Jer. 17. 5, 6, 7. [Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be man that Trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord! For he shall be like the heath in the deserts, and shall not see when good cometh. Blessed is the man that Trusteth in the Lord, whose Hope the Lord is; For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh—]
2. Trust also in God as one that is assured, that no Enemy is too strong for the Almighty▪ Alas, what is an Army of Dust to Omnipotency? If the Lord do but arise, his Enemies will be scattered, and they that hate him will flee before him; as smoak is driven away, and as wax melteth before the fire, the wicked shall perish at the presence of the Lord, Psal. 68. 1, 2.] while the Lord of Hosts is for us, we need not fear if hosts come against us; As worst they can but Kill our bodies; And Greater is he that is in us, then he that is in the world, 1 Joh. 4. 4.] Oh what a match have the miserable Enemies of the Church? what a work do they undertake? what a desperate attempt do they enterprise? to strive against Heaven, and overcome Omnipotency?
3. Trust in the Lord, as one that believeth that no Means or Instruments are too small or weak for Almightness successfully to use. No matter who the Instrument be, how mean, and weak, and despicable, if it be but an Almighty hand that uses it. A few poor fishermen and despised people shall pull down Satans Kingdom in the world, and conquer the greatest, and bring in the Nations to the faith if Omnipotency be with them.
4. The Almightiness of God must fill our hearts, with Courage and Resolueion in his Cause, and make us go on with greatest alacrity in his work. Though we must be Doves and Lambs for innocency and meekness, yet must we be souldiers for valour and stability. Shall we flag or shrink that have Omnipotency on our side? who ever scorneth thee, hateth thee, threatneth thee, imprisoneth thee, is not the Almighty enough to set against them all for thy encouragement?
5. The Almightiness of God must be the Comfort of all that have Interest in him. O did the blind world but see him that is Omnipotent, or know the strength that is engaged for the weakest Saint, they would soon see which is the stronger side, and which to cleave to for their security. O Blessed people that have the Almighty on their side, and engaged with them against their enemies, and to do their works, and answer their desires? How can any of them perish, when the Almighty is engaged for their salvation? The Father is Greater then all, and none shall take them out of his hands, Joh. 10. 29.] How glad would men be in the beginning of a war to know which side will prove the stronger, that they may joyn with that? Can the side that God is on be conquered? If you are wise, observe what cause is his, and let that be yours. Its hard to Kick against the Pricks; Woe to those souls that the Almighty is against, and that dash themselves on the Rock that they should build on.