A Glimpse of God, Part 13
A diſcourſe concerning Gods Omnipotency.
Gen. 17. 1. I am the Almighty God; Walk before me, and be thou perfect.
CHAP. I.
I Proceed to another of Gods glorious attributes; viz. his Power or Omnipotency, whereby he is able to do whatſoever is poſſible, whatſoever pleaſeth him; but before I handle it, I will firſt open the Text.
God (as we may ſee in the foregoing Chapters) had vouchſafed to ſpeak to Abraham four times: Firſt, In Chaldea, Gen. 12. 1. when he bade him to leave his Country and Kindred, promiſing to bleſs him, and of him to make a great Nation. S…condly, he appeared to him in Sichem, in the land of Canaan, Chap. 12. 7. promiſing him that land for his inheritance. Thirdly, At Bethel, after Lots departure from him, Gen. 13. 14. There he promiſeth him a numbe…leſs poſterity. Fourthly, At Hebron, Gen. 15. 13. Now in this Chapter is Gods appearing to Abraham the …ifth time; and for the time when God appeared to him, it is here ſet down, when Abraham was ninety nine years old; the place where is concealed; It is thought to have been in Hebron; it is very probable that this apparition of God was viſible, becauſe Abraham being ſtruck with a reverential fear of God, fell on his face, Chap. 17. 3. At this time God doth renew the Covenant, and his promiſes made with Abraham long before; and for confirmation hereof, God did ordain …ircumciſion to be a ſign and ſeal of the Covenant to all generations.
For the deſcription of the Covenant, it is firſt in general; Secondly, more ſpecially deſcribed. The general deſcription is in the Text; This is the very ſum of the Covenant; it ſheweth the interchangeable on mutual bargain, Covenant or promiſe between God and Abraham. The Covenant on Gods part is, I am God Almighty: The Covenant on Abrahams part is, Walk before me and be thou perfect. Now for the opening of the words.
I am the Almighty God.
I am foreign here are two names of God, El, which denoteth the power and ſtrength of God, I am a ſtrong, powerful God; I make all things, and uphold all things by the word of my power: and Shaddai, this hath two ſignifications; it is tranſlated Almighty, or Omnipotent, from the word foreign deſtruere, to deſtroy, becauſe God is a ſtrong God to deſtroy his enemies; the ſtrongeſt creatures are not able to ſtand before him, if his wrath be kindled but a little; or it ſignifieth his Alſufficiency; I am God alſufficient: either from foreign mamma, ſignifying a Dugg, becauſe God filleth every living thing with every good thing; or elſe from foreign & foreign qui eſt ſufficiens, who is ſelf-ſufficient, and all-ſufficient; he needeth nothing to make him happy, and he is able to make all others happy.
The Septuagint leaves out the Epithite Almighty, and re…deth the words, Ego ſum Deus tuus, I am thy God.
I am the Almighty God.
This doth not onelyonly ſet forth what God is in himſelf, but what God is to Abraham, and to all the faithful ſeed; I am thine Almighty God, I am Almighty to ſave thee, Almighty to deſtroy thine enemies: This title, or Epithet, calleth for three things from all that enter into Covenant with God.
1. To reverence and worſhip his glorious and Almighty Majeſty; Abraham in token of his reverence and adoration, preſently fell upon his face.
2. To truſt in him, as if God had ſaid, Know for certain, what I covenan… to do, I will do, for I am Almighty; there is no good ſo great but I can and will give it to you; there is no evil ſo great and terrible, but I can and will remove and keep off from the people that are in Covenant with me.
3. I am God Almighty: Therefore fear to provoke me to anger; it is in vain for proud miſcreants to riſe up in Rebellion againſt me, for I am an Almighty God, I can and ſhall eaſily deſtroy you.
This is the Covenant on Gods part, which is promiſſory; Now the Covenant on Abrahams part is obligatory, binding Abraham and all the faithful, to walk before God in uprighteouſneſs. The people in covenant with God, are bound to perform two things.
1. To walk before God: This phraſe imports this: ſc. what the conſtant courſe of people in Covenant with God is: for walking in Scripture denoteth the whole courſe and progreſs of a mans life from ſtep to ſtep, till he cometh to the end of his life; and it concerneth faith and manners, to walk before God, or with God. It is to beleive in God, to put all thy truſt in him, to depend upon God onelyonly, to ſerve him onelyonly, to obey him according to his will.
Or, in a word, walking before God, or with God, importeth theſe two things.
1. To embrace the promiſes by faith.
2. To do all duties and acts of obedience which God requireth.
And be thou perfect.
Here is modus ambulandi, the modification of a Chriſtian courſe, that we walk before God ſincerely and uprightly, without hypocriſie and diſſimulation; to have a due reſpect to all Gods Commandments, to be conſciencious of all duties little and great, and not to fail in any.
I ſhall now ſpeak of the firſt interpretation, I am the Almighty God; and ſhall firſt treat of theſe words abſolutely; not as they are Gods promiſe what he will be to all that are in Covenant with him.
CHAP. II.
GOd is an Almighty God: HereObſerv. you have his own teſtimony, what a God he is, who knoweth his own ſtrength and power; I am God Almighty; So when he appeared to Jacob, Gen. 45. 11. I am God Almighty, Rev. 1. 8. he is called, foreign, the Almighty: I know ſome diſtinguiſh theſe two words, foreign, and foreign, the one ſignifieth that power whereby he doth all things, the other whereby he upholdeth and governeth all things that he maketh: ſo ſome render this word omnitenens, quia omnia tenet. Thus the Angels ſay of God, holy, holy, holy, Lord, the God Almighty: there are two Articles foreign, to ſhew that nothing is Almighty but God onelyonly.
In the handling of this Attribute, I will firſt ſhew what God's Power and Omnipotency is; There are two words that ſignifie power, foreign & foreign, potentia & poteſtas: they are thus diſtinguiſhed; foreign, or poteſtas, is taken for authority, right, or juriſdiction, as a King hath over his Subjects, a Maſter over his ſervant, Matth. 28. 18. All power is given me, ſaith Chriſt, foreign, omnis poteſtas, authoritas, or jus, is given to me. foreign, or potentia, is that perfection whereby one is able to do any thing; and of this I ſhall diſcourſe. There is duplex potentia, a double power.
Potentia activa,
Potentia paſſiva:
An active power,
A paſſive power.
There is a paſſive power, which receiveth or ſuffereth from an Agent, but acteth not: this is not in God, who is purus actus, a pure act: God is not obnoxious to any alteration or mutation; there is nothing but an active power in God. So then God is ſaid to be potent, powerful, becauſe he can do, and will do whatſoever he pleaſeth: and Omnipotens, Almighty, becauſe he can do whatſoever is poſſible to be done. This Omnipotency is twofold.
Firſt, their is Abſoluta Omnipotentia; God's abſolute Omnipotency: He is abſolutely and perfectly Almighty; he can do whatſoever his infinite underſtanding conceiveth may be done; he can make thouſands of worlds if he pleaſe, he can make infinite moe creatures then there are. St. Paul ſaith, Eph. 2. 20. God can do more abundantly then we can ask or think: It is impoſſible for the underſtandings of men and Angels to conceive what God can do; he is able to do more abundantly then the vaſt thoughts and conceits of Angels can comprehend: And of this Omnipotency the Scripture ſpeaketh, when it calleth God the Almighty.
Secondly, There is Potentia Dei actualis, or ordinaria, as the Schools term it; the actual or ordinary power of God; but more properly called his actual Omnipotency, which is this: not onelyonly that God can do more then he will; but that God effectually, perfectly and really doth whatſoever he willeth to be done. And it is Zanchi's obſervation, That when ſoever the Prophets joyn Gods power to his promiſes, it always denoteth Gods actual Omnipotency; becauſe God will really and truly make good his promiſes. So that this now is the ſhort deſcription of God's Omnipotency; It is the moſt glorious perfectionDeſcription of Gods Omnipotency. of God, whereby he doth whatſoever he will, and can do whatſoever is poſſible to be done.
CHAP. III.
BUt we ſhall the better behold the nature of Omnipotency in theſe following things. There are theſe things required in Almightineſs, or to be Almighty.
1. That he can effect whatſoever is poſſible to be done: So that Omne poſſibile eſt objectum Omnipotentiae; every thing poſſible is an object of Omnipotency. Mark 10. 27. All things are poſſible with God. So Luk. 1. 37. There is nothing that the heart can conceive, or the tongue expreſs, but God can do: So Jer. 32. 27. Behold I am the Lord, the God of all fleſh: Is there any thing too hard for me? Tell me, what thing is there that I cannot do? I know not any thing that is hard to do but I can do it.
2. That he can do all things facillime, very eaſily. God Almighty can do all things moſt eaſily; what more eaſie then to command a thing to be done? if he ſpeak the word it is done inſtantly: If he doth but ſay, Let there be light, let a world be created, let Heaven and Earth, let Sun Moon and Stars be made, and they are made inſtantly according to his word. Conſider what a great work the whole world is, with all the creatures contained in it; the Almighty God did but give forth a word of command, and they were all made. By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made, and all the hoſts of them, by the breath of his month: he ſpake, and it was done, he commanded and it ſtood faſt, Pſa. 33. 6, 9. ſo God can command mercies, comforts, and all are done accordingly, what more eaſie way of doing? this ſheweth that God is Omnipotent.
3. That he can do all things irreſiſtibiliter, without reſiſtance, let, hinderance, oppoſition, and difficulty: this the Lord Almighty doth: there is no power can make reſiſtance, there is no power can hinder him; he can remove Mountains, daſh Rocks to peices, puff and blow away all creatures; Omnipotency infinitely ſurpaſſeth all power, all is ſubject to this omnipotency; Angels in Heaven, Devils in Hell, Men on Earth, and all creatures, he ſaith to the deep be dry, Iſ. 44. 27. he commandeth the earth and it openeth her mouth, Num. 16. 30, 31.
4. To be Almighty, is to do whatſoever he pleaſeth, and to be able to do more then he will: this onelyonly God can do whatſoever he pleaſeth, Pſa. 115. 3. yea, God can do more then he will do, Mat. 3. 9. God can turn ſtones into men, into beleiving Children, and dunghills into ſtars.
CHAP. IV. Reaſons to prove Gods Omnipotency.
THat God is Omnipotent, may appear by divers Reaſons.
Reaſon. 1. It is evident from the Creation of the World; to create the leaſt creature is an act of Omnipotency, incommunicable to any creature. Angels are mighty in power, yet cannot they create the leaſt contemptible worm; if to create, demonſtrates an Almighty power, then much more the creation of this vaſte world, with all creatures within it, ſheweth God to be Omnipotent; lift up your eyes to Heaven, caſt them upon the earth, behold all creatures in it, and all are the work of his fingers, Pſa. 8. 3. As Nebuchadnezzar in his pride boaſted; (Is not this great Babel that I have built, for the houſe of my Kingdom, by the might of my power, and honour of my Majeſty?) may much better be ſpoken by the Lord of the world; Is not this great Heaven above, this great Earth below, that which I have builded, which I have created by the might of my power, and for the honour of my Majeſty? Expede Herculem, you may gueſs at the giant like ſtature of Hercules, by the length of his foot: you may ſee what an Almighty God I am, by the world which I have made, which in compariſon of my Almighty power, is but as a drop of a Bucket to the vaſt Ocean.
2. As the creation, ſo the upholding and preſervation of the whole world, ſheweth his Almighty power; the ſame power is required to uphold, which is to make it: he made the world by the word of his power, ſo he upholds all things by the word of his power, Heb. 1. 3. therefore the conſervation of the world is, Creatio continuata, a continued creation: and the word foreign, Omnipotent, importeth him that upholdeth, guideth, and governeth all things; if the ſame hand did not uphold this glorious fabrick, it would in a moment be turned into its firſt nothing.
Reaſ. 3. That the ſtrong and mighty creatures are all ſubject to him, ruled and ordered by him, are at his beck, and cannot but execute his will, argues his Almighty power. The Angels are great in power; the good Angels flye from Heaven to do his will, if he commandeth. The principalities and powers of Hell cannot ſtir an inch, but at his pleaſure; if he ſaith to the deep, be dry, the Seas are dry; if he ſaith to the Earth, open, it openeth its mouth; if he commandeth the Mountains to remove, they are gone; if he ſmites the Rocks, they become duſt; if millions of Men ſhould oppoſe him, he can deſtroy them in a moment: As the men of Bethſhemeſh cried out, who is able to ſtand before the mighty God of Heaven? ſo the world of creatures may cry, tis not this world, nor a thouſand more can ſtand before this mighty God.
Reaſ. 4. If all the power of all creatures in Heaven, Earth, and Hell could meet in one creature, yet all would be but as a drop in compariſon of Gods Almighty power, yet there is much power in the creatures, all is derived from him, even the great power of the Angels: Now he that hath given to thouſands of creatures great power, he is much more powerful who is the Almighty God; if Angels be great in power, if beaſts be ſo powerful, if Rocks and Mountains be ſo ſtrong, what is God the giver of this power? if drops of power be ſo great, what is the Sea?
Reaſ. 5. Gods power is infinite, therefore Omnipotent, natura ſua, in his nature; becauſe his Omnipotency is his very eſſence, infinite in reſpect of his nature, by which he doth whatſoever he doth; his action is never ſo great, but it can be greater, more intended, infinite in reſpect of the objects; there can be no end of his works; he can make infinite more creatures then he hath made; A Limner or Painter that can draw one Picture, can make more, he that can fanſie a Palace, and according to the idea of it in his mind can build it, can build more: God that hath made one World, can with as much eaſe create many more.
Reaſ. 6. As Gods underſtanding, knowledge, or wiſdom is, ſo is his power; whatſoever Gods infinite underſtanding can conceive to be done, that can his power do: A Painter can outwardly draw what he inwardly imagineth: So ſaith the Apoſtle, God can do more abundantly for us then we can ask or think, Epheſ. 3. 20. It is impoſſible for us to conceive what God can do.
CHAP. V. Diverſe Queſtions about Gods Omnipotency Anſwered.
QUeſt. 1. But here it may be demanded, whether God can do things which by nature are impoſſible?
Sol. There are two kinds of impoſſibilities; either things that are impoſſible to nature; As,
1. Things that are contrary, or above the ordinary courſe of nature, as that the fire ſhould not burn, that Iron ſhould ſwim, the ſun ſtand ſtill; theſe God can do, and hath done; though theſe things be contrary to the natural courſe of creatures, yet they are not repuguant to the nature of creatures.
2. There are things impoſſible by nature, that is, repugnant to the very being, and nature of the creature; theſe things God cannot do, not prop…er defectum potentiae, as if there were want of power in God, but becauſe the being and nature of the creature is incapable of it.
As for inſtance in things that imply a contradiction: that a thing ſhould be and not be at the ſame inſtant; or that a man ſhould not be a living creature; or for one and the ſame body to be in diverſe places at one inſtant; theſe things God cannot do, not for want of power in God, as if he were not Omnipotent; but becauſe it is repugnant to the very being and nature of the thing it ſelf: It is repugnant to the nature of man to be no living creature, to a body to be in moe places at once.
Queſt. 2. If God be omnipotent, how is it ſaid, he cannot lye, he cannot deny himſelf, with ſuch like phraſes?
Sol. That God cannot lye, cannot deny himſelf, cannot change, or ſin, theſe things argue the perfection of his power, that he is Omnipotent; for theſe things argue defect, not power; and not to do theſe things which are contrary to his nature, argueth his glorious and abſolute perfection; that the Sun hath no darkneſs, or (as it is) cannot be dark and be a Sun, argues the excellency and perfection of that creature; ſo when we ſay, God cannot lye, cannot deny himſelf, cannot repent or change, argues his great perfection. God cannot diſenable himſelf, and do any thing that will not ſtand with his own glory.
Theſe three things will anſwer all Objections againſt his Omnipotency.
1. God cannot do what is contrary to the being of a creature, or repugnant to the nature of a creature, as ſuch a creature.
2. God cannot do ſuch things as ſhould imply any defect in him.
3. In Scripture, his cannot do ſuch and ſuch things, is taken for his will not; he will not do ſuch or ſuch a thing, as Gen. 19. 22. Haſte thee to Zoar, ſaith God to Lot, eſcape thither, for I cannot do any thing, till thou come there; that is, I will do nothing till thou come thither, becauſe I will deliver thee from this deſtruction of fire.
Queſt. 3. Seeing God is Omnipotent, Why was he ſix days in making the world? he could have made it in a moment.
Sol. Beſides other reaſons, let this ſuffice, it was his pleaſure to be ſix days in making the world; his will is reaſon enough of his actions.
Queſt. 4. Why doth God uſe the miniſtry of Angels and other creatures, being Omnipotent? he needs not their help.
Sol. Among other reaſons let this ſuffice; God doth not employ them, as if he needed them in his working, but becauſe he will have his creatures do his ſervice: that a ſervant doth his Maſters work, argues not weakneſs in his Maſter: the miniſtry of Angels and men argues no defect of power in God.
CHAP. VI.
SECT. 1.
IF God be Omnipotent, then youƲſe 1. that are wicked be ye admoniſhed;
1. To take heed of walking any longer in the ſtubbornneſs of your own hearts againſt God, ceaſe to provoke him to anger; for according to his power ſo is his wrath; if ye will walk contrary to him, he will walk contrary to you, cloathed with almighty wrath. And if his power and wrath be againſt you, then all the Angels, Devils and creatures in heaven and earth are againſt you; all the plagues, curſes and vengeance that God can inflict upon you, that the earth affords, that hell affords, are againſt you: Therefore if ye will walk contrary to God, prepare ye to meet the Almighty God in moſt horrible and almighty wrath. But tell me O ſinner! haſt thou the ſtrength of ſtones to bear his wrath? ſuch ſtrength is too weak: God can break the rocks and pound them to pouder, much more thy ſtubborn heart; If he touch the mountains they will ſmoak; much more when he ſhall inflict full ſtroaks of vengeance upon thy ſoul and body.
What ſaith the Apoſtle? Do we provoke the Lord to anger? are we stronger then he? Can ye ſtubborn ſinners grapple with the terrible wrath of the Almighty God? or can ye overcome him, when ye ſhall meet him cloathed with almighty vengeance? if ye can, you can do more then all the Devils in hell can do, for they tremble at the power of his wrath.
2. Let the ſtout-hearted and ſtubborn ſinners be admoniſhed to humble themſelves before this Almighty God, and fear to ſin any more againſt him: Go and break your hearts, and humble your ſouls deeply, and make your peace with Almighty God, before the decree bring forth his irreſiſtible wrath. Our moſt conquering contention, and wreſtling with God, is our ſerious humiliation under the mighty hand of God. Brethren, either your hearts muſt be broken with the ſenſe of ſin, or elſe the Almighty God will break you all to pieces, like a potters veſſel, with his iron rod; either you muſt caſt your ſelves down before him, or God in his wrath will caſt you into the loweſt hell, Iſa. 27. 4, 5. But you will ſay, how ſhall we do it? What ſaid the Leaper to Chriſt, Lord if thou wilt thou canſt make me clean: Go ye to Chriſt and ſay, Lord, if thou wilt thou canſt humble my proud heart; Lord, if thou wilt thou canſt break my ſtubborn heart; Lord, if thou wilt thou canſt ſoften this hardned heart of mine; Lord, if thou wilt thou canſt ſmite this rook of mine, and rivers of tears ſhall guſh out. I ſee it is an hard matter for ſuch proud ſtubborn hearts to be humbled but nothing is impoſſible for thee.
SECT. 2.
THe ſecond Uſe is a uſe of terrorƲſe 2. to the profeſſed enemies of God's Church and people.
1. God will ſhew forth his almighty power and wrath againſt his Churches enemies to their utter deſtruction; however the Nimrods, the mighty hunters before the Lord, may ſet themſelves in their pride, fury and malice againſt his people, yet theſe lofty mountains ſhall be made plain, and theſe Anakims, theſe great Nimrods ſhall be driven away by his Almighty wrath as the chaff before the wind. The Lord who is King of his Church is moſt wiſe, and therefore can fruſtrate and bring to nothing all their devices; he is Almighty, therefore can deſtroy them with a ſudden deſtruction.
Ʋſe 2. Here is comfort to God's people, Be not affraid thou worm Jacob: for the Almighty God that hath all power, all might, all ſtrength, is thy ſheild, buckler, tower; God is on thy right hand, and left hand, before thee, behinde thee, to uphold, preſerve, defend and ſave thee. If God be with us who can be againſt us? if God be with you, who is he that can harm you? let all the furies of hell with their malice and madneſs ſet upon you, yet Ʋmbra Dei plus valet, quam mille gladii hominum, mille ſagittae, mille exercitus: The ſhadow of Gods protection will be more available for your help, then a thouſand ſwords and darts of men, then a thouſand Armies are able to do you hurt.
Ʋſe 4. Then be exhorted to pray with confidence at all times, and daily to depend upon Almighty God: So long as there is a poſſibility that the thing may be done, though ſmall or no probability in reſpect of the outward ſecondary cauſes and means appear, yet pray; becauſe every thing is poſſible to Almighty God, and he will put forth his Almighty power to do what ſhall make for his glory and thy good. Deſpair of no mercy whatſoever, Eph. 3. 20. God can do abundantly above what ye can ask or think; God can do great matters, give great mercies, he can give great deliverances, remove great evils, confound the crafty, overcome the mighty; therefore pray ſtill; you cannot ask ſo great things as God can do for you; you cannot think of ſo great things as God can do; yet the mind can conceive greater things then the tongue can utter; ask and think as great things as you can, yet God can do, and give more abundantly.
Deſpair likewiſe of no perſon, deſpair not of the converſion of thy wife, and children, and friends, after whoſe ſalvation thy ſoul longeth, pray for them and continue in ſo doing; becauſe all things are poſſible to God, he can break hearts he can change hearts, convert the ſtubborn, humble the proud; he can draw a Camel through a needles eie.
Be exhorted likewiſe to depend always upon the Almighty God, let him be thy ſtay, truſt and confidence in the greateſt ſtreights difficulties, perplexlties, or in what condition ſoever. What! are means weak? its no matter, God is Almighty, and can bring mighty things to paſs by ſmall means. Do means go croſs? it is no matter; God is Almighty, and can make contraries to work thy happineſs. Do means fail? God is Almighty, and can do any thing without means: All things are poſſible to him that beleiveth, that dependeth on the Lord the Almighty God.
Ʋſe 5. If God be Almighty; then be ye lifted up ye heads that hang down, and be ſtrong ye feeble knees; Gods almighty power is matter of great comfort. Art thou weak? be not caſt down, but hope in God and he can ſtrengthen thee to do all things. Art thou faint? be not caſt down, God Almighty can renew thy ſtrength, that thou ſhalt run and not be weary, walk, and not be faint, Iſa. 40. 31. Art thou afraid thou ſhalt not hold out, but fall back from God? the almighty power of God ſhall keep thee through faith unto ſalvation. Gods almighty power is a Chriſtians ſtrong hold and garriſon. Art thou afraid of tentations? Gods almighty power is ſufficient to bear thee up and out of the moſt fearful tentations. Haſt thou a dead heart? God's almighty ſpirit will quicken thee: Fear no affliction, for God's almighty power ſhall make thee more then a conqueror in all theſe. Fear not death nor the grave; for Gods almighty power can raiſe thee from the duſt, and make thy body glorious, like unto the glorious body of Chriſt.