The Incomparableness of God, Treatise · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. God incomparable in his Attributes, in his Knowledge and Faithfulneſs.
5. GOd is incomparable in his Knowledge: Knowledge is that Attribute of God, whereby he underſtandeth all things in and of himſelf. He is ſtiled in the Scriptures, 1 Sam. 2.3. A God of Knowledge: The Lord is a God of Knowledge, and by him Actions are weighed. As Chriſt is called a Man of Sorrows, Iſa. 53.3. To expreſs the greatneſs of his Griefs, to denote him one made up of Sorrow; little elſe then Sorrow: So God is called a God of Knowledge, to expreſs the greatneſs of his Knowledge; as if he were wholly, and onelyonly Knowledge. Hence he hath Eyes and Ears attributed to him, becauſe he knoweth all that is done as an Eye-witneſs, and whatſoever is ſpoken as an Ear-witneſs, 2 Chron. 16.9. Pſal. 11.7.
The Underſtanding of God is like himſelf, infinite, without bounds or limits; Pſal. 147.5. His Ʋnderſtanding is infinite. He is ſaid, Job 37.16. To be perfect in Knowledge; not onelyonly comparatively, (as one man may be in reſpect of another, or as an Angel may be in reſpect of Man) but abſolutely to his Knowledge; nothing can be given or added from his Knowledge, nothing can be taken: His Knowledge is ſo perfect, that it admits not of an increaſe or decreaſe. Men are knowing, Solomon was famous for Knowledge, 1 Chron. 1.12. He could ſpeak of the nature of all Plants, from the Cedar to the Hyſop, 1 Kings 4.33. The Romans are ſaid to be filled with all Knowledge, Rom. 15.14. Angels are more knowing then Men: Fleſh is dull-ſighted, and of dim underſtanding; Spirits have ſharper Wits, and quicker Apprehenſions. The Devil, though a fallen Angel, hath one of his names Daemon, from his Knowledge: Elect Angels ſurely know much more then Devils, for they alwayes Behold the Face of their Father, and in that Face, as in a Glaſs, behold more then humane Eyes can diſcern, or evil Angels conceive. The Spirits of juſt Men in Heaven ſee Face to Face, and know as they are known, underſtand very much more then they could here below; but Angels, as their Underſtandings are of larger capacity, and their Natures more excellent, muſt needs know more then Men: But do Men or Angels know as God; Can it be ſaid of any Man, of any Angel, He is perfect in Knowledge: His Knowledge is uncapable of addition or diminution. Can it be ſaid of any Man, any Angel, his Knowledge is infinite. Man's knowledge in this World is little, in compariſon of what it ſhall be; yea, nothing: We are but of Yeſterday, and know nothing, Job 8.3. He is but of ſmall continuance here, and hath but little experience; and therefore muſt have but little knowledge, yea ſo little, that it's call'd nothing: yea, the knowledge of Men and Angels in the other World will be ſo little (though enough for their perfection and ſatisfaction) that it will be nothing, in compariſon of the knowledge of God; finite knowledge is nothing, compared with that knowledge which is infinite.
Whether you conſider the matter or object of God's Knowledge, or the manner or way of it, he is incomparable in it.
1. If you conſider the matter or object of his Knowledge: God knoweth all things; John 21 17. Lord thou knoweſt all things: 1 John 3.20. God is greater then our Hearts, for he knoweth all things. He knoweth whatſoever hath been, whatſoever is, whatſoever ſhall be, whatſoever can be, whatſoever cannot be. He knoweth all ſubſtances, accidents, neceſſary contingent things: He makes all, upholds all, governs all, and diſcerneth all: The Eyes of the Lord are in every place, 2 Chron. 16.3.
He knoweth thoſe things that are moſt hidden, moſt ſecret, the Hearts, the Thoughts, the moſt cloſe retired motions of the Spirit of Man; 1 Cor. 2.11. What man knoweth the things of a man, but the ſpirit of a man that is in him? Yea, what Angel knoweth the things of a man? but God doth. Hell and Deſtruction are before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the Children of Men, Prov. 15.11. Hell ſeems to be far from his ſight, and very remote from Heaven his Seat: The hearts of the Children of men ſeem to be unſearchable, ſo deep that none can fathom them; but he hath a Line that will ſound theſe depths: He knoweth the ſpirit of man, better then man knoweth himſelf: The heart is deceitful, and deſperately wicked, who knoweth it? (No Man, no Angel knoweth it,) I the Lord ſearch the Heart, Jer. 17.9, 10. And none knoweth it but he, therefore he is incomparable herein; For thou, thou only knoweſt the Hearts of the Children of Men, 1 Kings 8.39. It's his ſole Prerogative: Men and Angels may ſee the Skins and Colours, and Lineaments and Proportions, and Faces and Garments, or out-ſides of things; but God ſeeth the in-ſides, he pryeth into the very bowels of things, 1 Sam. 16.7. All things are naked and diſſected and anatomized before him, Heb. 4.13. 1 Chron. 28.9. Pſal. 7.10. Jer. 11.20.
He knoweth what is future, as well as what is paſt and preſent: Thou knowest my Thoughts afar off, Pſal. 139.2. Long before I think them: They? are in thy Thoughts, before they are in my Heart. Man knoweth not what a day is big with, or may bring forth, Prov. 27.1. nor Angels neither; but God knoweth what is in the Womb of eternity, what all Ages and Generations ſhall produce: He declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient time the things that are not yet done, Iſa. 46.10. And tells us this is proper to himſelf, Let them declare the things that ſhall come to paſs, that we may know that they are gods, Iſa. 41.23. Let them fore-tell what is future, and we will believe their Deity. Predictions are Arcana Imperii, thoſe ſecret things that belong onelyonly to God, Deut. 29.29. Iſa. 41.22, 23, 26.
2. He is incomparable in the manner of his Knowledge: God knoweth all things fully and perfectly, Men and Angels know (what they do know) but imperfectly, and by halves: They know but part of what is knowable, and they know this but in part. God beholds every thing throughly, as if (like a well-drawn Picture) he beheld that alone, and none but that, 2 Chron. 16.9. His Eye-lids try the Children of Men, Pſal. 11.5. i. e. He hath a diſtinct certain critical through knowledge of them.
God knoweth all things immediately, by immediate intuition, not by ſpecies: Men know things either by the Senſes, the Eyes, Ears, or Taſtes; or by ſpecies taken in by the Senſe, and imprinted on the phantaſie, which are thence offered to the Underſtanding; or elſe by Faith, and the report of others, or by diſcourſe and ratiocination. He knoweth one thing by another, the Concluſion by Mediums and Premiſes; the Cauſes by the Effects, and the Conſequents by the Antecedents. Saints and Angels in Heaven know things in God, not in themſelves: God knoweth all things in themſelves, and ſeeth all things in himſelf, as in a Glaſs, Man in this World muſt have a two-fold Light to ſee by; A light in his Eye, and a light in the Air: But the Father of Lights needs no light to ſee by, Darkneſs and Light are both alike to him, Pſal. 139.12. His Eyes are as a Flame of Fire, He ſeeth in the Dark, Revel. 1.14.
God knoweth all things at once (uno actu & uno ictu, as they ſay): Creatures know one thing by another, and one thing after another; Their Underſtandings are unable to take in many Objects at once, much leſs able to take in all Objects at once; but God ſeeth all things at one View: The Lord looketh down from Heaven, he beholdeth all the Children of Men's From the place of his Habitation he beholdeth all the Inhabitants of the Earth, Pſal. 33.13, 14. The Eye of Man may ſee many things at once, as an Hive of Bees, but if it will ſee other things, it muſt remove the ſight; though the Mind of Man can take in more then the Eye, as a whole Country or World at once, yet 'tis onelyonly the lumpe of groſs; if it would take the diſtinct knowledge of them, it muſt remove from thought to thought; but God takes all diſtinctly particularly at once.
God knoweth all things from everlasting, before ever the World had a Being: Men and Angels may know what is, when it is, but cannot know it as God doth, before it was; Acts 15.18. Known to God are all his Works, from the beginning of the World. Before he erected the curious frame of the World, he knew all the Rooms and Furniture in it, all the motions and actions of all the Inhabitants of it. He doth by one pure, ſimple, undivided, eternal act of his Underſtanding know all things perfectly, immediately, diſtinctly, every moment.
6. God is incomparable in his Truth and Faithfulneſs: Truth is that Attribute in God, whereby he is in himſelf, as he reveals himſelf to be, and in his ſayings and doings, as he ſpeaketh and acteth.
God is Truth in himſelf, and Truth towards his Creatures: He is Truth in himſelf, 1. As he truly is, and really exiſteth: Hence he is ſtiled the true God, Jer 10.10. John 17.3. in oppoſition to Idols, or falſe gods, 1 Theſſ. 1.9. So he is truly infinite, truly all-ſufficient, truly eternal, truly immutable, &c. 2. As he is the unchangeable Archetipe and Idaea of all true things without himſelf, ſo all created things are true, as they anſwer their patterns in his mind. 3. In his immanent Actions, as his Decrees, and eternal Reſolutions, are all certain, and attain a punctual accompliſhment, Pſal. 33.11. He is never deceived nor diſappointed in his Purpoſes.
God is Truth towards his Creatures; 1. In his Works, as all his Actions of Creation, Preſervation, Government, Redemption, are real, and not chimera's or appearances, Rev. 15.3. Pſal. 111.7. Deut. 32.4. Pſal. 25.10.
2. In his Words, all he ſaith is Truth: His Precepts are true, a perfect Rule of holineſs, without any defect, Pſal. 119.86. All thy Commandements are Faithfulneſs, verſe 142. Thy Law is the Truth. All his Promiſes are true, and ſhall be performed: Not one good thing faileth of all that the Lord our God hath promiſed, Joſh. 23.14. Hence the Goſpel, the compendium of all the Promiſes, is often called The Word of Truth, James 1.18. And the Covenant of Grace is called Sure Mercies, Iſa. 55.3. All his Praedictions are true, and come to paſs in their Seaſon, Hab. 2.3. Rev. 22.6, 7. Theſe are true and faithful Sayings, Gen. 49.10.
His Threatnings are true, and fail not, Rom. 2.2. of their accompliſhment, 2 Kings 9.26, 36.
He is Truth it ſelf, John 14.6. John 17.6. Abundant in Truth, Exod. 34.6. Truth, Truth: The Lord God of Truth, Pſal. 34.5. A God that cannot lie, Titus 1.2. All lying ariſeth either from forgetfulneſs; Men break their word, becauſe their Memories are ſlippery; but Oblivio non cadit in Deum; He is ever mindful of his Word, Luke 1.72. To remember his holy Covenant, Pſal. 106.46. Pſal. 111. 5. He will ever be mindful of his Covenant. Or from weakneſs, ſome would, but want power to make good their Promiſes; though they were able when they promiſed, yet they are by ſome Providence or other diſabled, before the day of performance comes, but the ſtrength of Iſrael cannot lie, 1 Sam. 15.29. The Rock, the eternity of Iſrael cannot lie; Or from Wickedneſs, ſome can, but will not make good their words, but God cannot be charged with any wickedneſs: Pſal. 92. ult. There is no unrighteouſneſs in him, 1 Kings 22.23. Ezek. 14.9.
Men may be true, Pſal. 15.4. Angels are true; but neither Men nor Angels are true as God is, let them be put in the Scales with God; And Men of high degree are Vanity, and Angels of the highest degree are a Lie: to be laid in the Ballance, they are altogether lighter then Vanity, Pſal. 62.9. Read over God's Truth in himſelf, and you will ſee how far Angels come ſhort thereof: Are they the Exemplar of all things? are all things true as they agree with the Idaea's in their minds? Conſider his Truth towards his Creatures; Can it be ſaid of an Angel, as of God, The Angel that cannot lie hath promiſed? Titus 1.2. Are they under an abſolute impoſſibility of deceiving? Surely if they be conſidered in themſelves, it was as poſſible for them to lie, as for the Father of Lies. It's ſaid of God, It is impoſſible for him to lie, Heb. 6.18. But this cannot be ſpoken of Elect Angels conſidered in themſelves. God is ſo true, that he onelyonly is true, all to him are Lyars, Rom. 3.4. Revel. 3.7, 14.