The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · covenant · Question 25 · Commentary · Subsection 2
A briefe Epitome or Abridgement of the former large Explication of the deſcription of God.
GOd is an eſſence.) That is, a thing which hath his being from none but himſelf, and is preſerved and ſuſtained of none, but ſubſiſteth by himſelfe, and is the only cauſe unto all other things of their being: therefore called Jehovah, as if you would ſay, Being by himſelf and cauſing others to be.
S…i…ituall.) Incorporeall, inviſible, and to no ſenſe of man perceivable. Likewiſe in that he liveth of and by himſelfe, and quickeneth or giveth life to other things.Joh. 1.18. & 4.24. Acts 17.24, …8. foreign. Object. 1. He oftentimes appeared. Anſ. True, in a bodily form aſſumed for a time. Object. 2. He was ſeen face to face. Anſ. That is, by the clear knowledge of the mind, and not with the bodily eyes. Object. 3. He hath the parts of a mans body. Anſ. Indeed they are aſcribed unto him after the manner of men. Object. 4. The bodily man is the image of God. Anſ. Surely he is ſo in the eſſence of his ſoul, in the faculties and uprightneſſe thereof,Epheſ. 4. in wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, and true holineſſe; not in the ſhape and figure of his body.
Intelligent.) Witneſſe hereof is the mind of man, and the notions ſhining therein, which all proceeded from God.Pſal. 94.9. Now, He that planted the ear, ſhall he not hear?
Eternall.) Having neither beginning nor end of being: Thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.Pſal. 90.2.
Other from the creatures.) Not Nature it ſelf (as ſome dream) not the matter or form, not any part, but the ſole efficient, and the only maker of all things: neither intermingled with any thing, but of a quite different, or other eſſence, and utterly unlike all things.1 Cor. 8.6. Acts 17.29. Object. 1. All things are of God. Anſ. I grant they are, by creation out of nothing. Object. 2. We are the generation of God. Anſ. Yea verily, by a ſimilitude of properties,John 1.13. and by creation. Object. 3. The Saints are born of God. Anſ. Queſtionleſſe, by regeneration through the holy Ghoſt. Object. 4. We are made partakers of the divine nature. Anſw. Undoubtedly, by the dwelling of God in us, and by our conformity with him. Obj. 5. Chriſt is God and hath a divine body. Anſ. To wit, by a perſonall union and glorification.
Incomprehenſible.) 1. In our cogitation, and the cogitation of any creature. 2. In the unmeaſurableneſſe of his eſſence. 3. By communication of the eſſence, which is in ſuch ſort the very ſubſtance of the three perſons of the Divinity, that it remaineth in number one and the ſame.
Moſt perfect in himſelf.) 1. Sole poſſeſſor of all bleſſedneſſe. 2. And that in himſelfe, and of himſelf. 3. with ſufficiency to repleniſh all other things. Object. 1. The Lord hath made all things for himſelf. Prov. 16.4.Anſw. Not to aid himſelfe by them, but to communicate himſelfe to them. Object. 2. Hee uſeth the creatures miniſtery in accompliſhing many of his works. Anſw. Not as needing, but honouring the creature. Object. 3. Wee yeeld him worſhip. Anſw. It is our debt, his due, and the iſſue is our good and benefit alone. Object. 4. To whom is given that which is due unto him, to him ſomething cometh thereby more then hee had before. Anſw. This aſſertion is falſe of that which is due by order of juſtice, and pertaineth to the felicity of the giver. Obj. 5. God rejoyceth in our obedience. Anſ. He doth ſo; our obedience being an object not an efficient cauſe of his rejoycing.
Unchangeable.) 1. In his eſſence. 2. In his will. 3. In place, becauſe he is immenſe, and filleth all things. Object. 1. God repenteth him of things done. Anſ. To repent, and ſuch like humane affections are attributed to God by Anthropopathy, or after the manner of men. Object. 2. He promiſeth and threatneth that which he performeth not at all. Anſ. True; but a condition and exception is alwaies underſtood. Object. 3. He dependeth on a changeable condition. Anſ. To wit, changeable in reſpect of mans will, but not of Gods decree and counſell. Object. 4. He changeth his precepts, obſervances and works. Anſ. Namely, according to his everlaſting decree.
Omnipotent.) 1. He can do, and doth all things which he ſtill. 2. And that at his beck, without difficulty. 3. As having all things in his own power. Object. Many things he cannot do. Anſ. They are then the works of impotency and imperfection, as to lie, to die.
Of exceeding wiſdome.) 1. In beholding and underſtanding himſelfe, and perceiving at once the whole order of his minde and nature, which hee doth perpetually, and exceeding perfectly. 2. In being the cauſe of all knowledge in Angels and men.
Of exceeding goodneſſe.) 1. Becauſe Gods whole nature is ſuch as is revealed in the Law and the Goſpel. 2. Becauſe he is the cauſe and rule of all good in his creatures. 3. Becauſe hee is the moſt ſupreme good. 4. Becauſe he is the very eſſence of goodneſſe.
Juſt.) 1. In reſpect of his generall juſtice and righteouſneſſe, whereby hee willeth and worketh unchangeably ſuch things as he hath commanded in his Law. 2. In reſpect of his particular juſtice, whereby he immutably diſpenſeth aright rewards and puniſhments. In that he is the rule of righteouſneſſe, and ſquare of uprightneſſe in his creatures. Object. 1. Hee doth good to the evill, and heapeth evils on the good. Anſw. Hee doth; but not finally, but onelyonly for a time. Object. 2. Hee doth not puniſh the wicked out of hand. Anſw. For he providently deferreth their puniſhments for ſpeciall occaſions beſt known to himſelf. Object. 3. No harm ſhould ever be done to the good. Anſw. Not to thoſe which are perfectly good, which wee in this life are not. Object. 4. Hee doth ſomething contrary to his law. Anſw. He abridgeth certainly ſomething from his generall will by his ſpeciall will. Object. 5. Hee giveth to men of equall condition unequall rewards. Anſw. Yet giveth he to each of them that which no way is their due. Repl. They are due by order of juſtice. Anſ. God is bound unto no man. Repl. Promiſe is a debt. Anſ. The promiſe of creatures, not of God the Creatour.
True.) 1. Becauſe he hath the true and certain knowledge of all things. 2. Becauſe he neither willeth, nor ſpeaketh things repugnant or contrary. 3. Becauſe he faineth nothing, nor deceiveth any man. 4. Becauſe he never changeth his mind. 5. Becauſe he ratifieth his ſayings by the events of things. 6. Becauſe he enjoyneth and preſcribeth truth to be kept of all. Object. 1. Hee fore-telleth that which hee will not have done. Anſ. He fore-telleth that it ſhall come to paſſe, but conditionally. Object. 2. He deceiveth the Prophets. Anſw. That is,Ezek. 14.9. he in his juſt judgment delivereth them up to the divell to be ſeduced.
Chaste.) 1. By reaſon of the exceeding purity of his nature. 2. Becauſe he is the lover and author of chaſtity. 3. Becauſe he doth moſt ſeverely deteſt and puniſh all uncleanneſſe, both internall and externall. 4. Becauſe by this notable note of difference he diſtinguiſheth himſelf from unclean ſpirits and filthy divels:1 Theſſ. 4.3, 4. This is the will of God, even your ſanctification, and that ye ſhould abſtain from fornication: That every one of you ſhould know how to poſſeſſe his veſſell in holineſſe and honour, &c. Levit. 18.24.Ye ſhall not defile your ſelves in any of theſe things; for in all theſe the nations are defiled.
Mercifull.) 1. In that hee will that all be ſaved. 2. For that hee deferreth puniſhment, and inviteth all to repentance. 3. In that he applyeth himſelf to our infirmity. 4. In that hee delivereth the elect. 5. In that hee gave his Son to die for them. 6. In that he promiſeth and performeth all theſe things of his own free goodneſſe. 7. In that he doth good unto the unworthy, and his very enemies. Object. 1. Mercy is a kind of griefe or ſorrow. Anſ. It is ſo in men, but not in God. Ob. 2. He rejoyceth in revenge. Iſa. 1.24. & 27.11.Anſ. As far forth as it is an execution of his juſtice. Ob. 3. He denieth mercy to the wicked. Anſ. to the unrepentant. Object. 4. He ſaveth not all when he may. Anſ. To wit, that with his mercy he may declare his juſtice. Ob. 5. He receiveth none to mercy without ſatisfaction. Anſ. No verily; but yet of his free mercy beſtoweth his Sons ſatisfaction on us.
Bountifull.) 1. Becauſe he createth and governeth all things. 2. Becauſe he doth good unto all. 3. Yea, to the wicked. 4. Of his free love towards all creatures. 5. But eſpecially towards man. 6. And amongſt men, chiefly to his Church. 7. And herein alſo towards his choſen, giving them eternall life and glory. Object. 1. He is angry. Anſ. True, with the corruption of the creature, not with the creature it ſelf, and the nature and ſubſtance thereof. Object. 2. He afflicteth men. Anſ. Namely, the impenitent.
Most free.) 1. Free from all fault, miſery, bond, ſubjection, conſtraint. 2. In that hee doth will and execute all things moſt freely and juſtly, when, as much, and in what manner he will. Object. 1. Second cauſes work neceſſarily, and yet work not without God. Anſ. They work by a neceſſity of conſequent, and only conditionall. Object. 2. God is neceſſarily good. Anſ. Queſtionleſſe, but yet by a neceſſity of unchangeableneſſe, not of constraint. Object. 3. What hee hath once decreed, hee neceſſarily willeth. Anſw. He neceſſarily willeth it, becauſe he will not alter his decree, not by conſtraint. Obj. 4. His will is not done ſometimes; as, How often would I, and thou wouldst not? Matth. 23.37.Anſ. He would, that is, in his will apparent to the conceit and judgment of man, not in his determinate ſecret counſell.
Angry with ſin.) Horribly deteſting and puniſhing all ſin with temporall and eternall pain.