Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Section 30
Properties of the perfection in God.
1 It's independent. The creatures may be perfect in their kinde, yet they depend on ſomething elſe; as a River though it be a perfect River, yet it ſtands need either of the fountain or of the ſea to maintain it. He ſtands not in need of Princes, of men or Angels. Though he uſe them as inſtruments, it is not becauſe he cannot act and bring about his ends without them, for he that could make the heavens and earth by the word of his mouth, Pſal. 33.6. what cannot he do?
2 It's incomprehenſible. Canſt thou by ſearching finde out God? Canſt thou finde out the Almighty unto perfection? Job 11.7. It is as high as heaven, what canſt thou do? deeper then hell, what canſt thou know? the meaſure thereof is longer then the earth and broader then the ſea, v. 8, 9. there is no ſearching out of Gods perfection, but God ſearcheth out the perfection of every creature, Job 28.3.
3 Its uncapable of addition, there's nothing can be added to it, our righteouſneſs cannot adde any thing to him, nor our wickedneſs derogate any thing from him, Job. 22.3. Job. 35.7, 8. if the blaſphemer reproach God, God is not the worſe, if we worſhip him, he is not the better.
4 Its unſpeakable, Nehem. 9.5. he is exalted high above all bleſsing and praiſe: Though we are commanded by our lives, Mat. 5.16. and praiſes to glorifie God, yet we do not adde any thing hereby to his eſſence, but onelyonly declare him glorious, if we call him holy, juſt, righteous, &c. he is all theſe in the abſtract, holineſs it ſelf, juſtice and mercy it ſelf, ſo that we cannot flatter him.
5 Its an unmixed perfection. The creatures have perfections in their kinds, but they are mixed with imperfections. Saul was a proper man but wicked, Abſalom beautifull but unhappy, Naaman honourable but he was a leper, but in God there's wiſdom without folly, truth without falſhood. Tit. 1.2. light without darkneſs, 1 Joh. 1.5. God is light and in him is no darkneſs at all; holineſs without ſinfulneſs, Pſal, 5.4. Hab. 1.13.
6 Gods perfection is ſelf exiſting, the perfection of his underſtanding, that he conceives things at once and not ſucceſſively, the perfection of his will, Rom. 12.2. whereby he wills whatſoever is good at once, now the perfection of creatures is a borrowed perfection. If a man would be perfect in any thing he propounds unto himſelf a perfect pattern; the perfections of all creatures, ſun, moon, ſtars, wine, gold, pearls, are from him, Rom. 11.36. of him are all things, every creature without his influence, is as the aire without the ſun, a dark and comfortleſs body. Pſal. 30.7. By thy favour thou madeſt my mountain ſtrong, thou didſt hide thy face and I was troubled.
For Application 1 To magnifie Gods perfection: depending ſervants magnifie bountifull Lords, we praiſe the ſun, not onelyonly becauſe of its glorious ſplendor, but becauſe we receive of its heat and light: Moſes ſaith, aſcribe ye greatneſs to our God, why? becauſe his work is perfect, Deut. 32.4.
2 Be content with God alone, ſeeing all perfection is in him: as we count it day when the ſun ſhines, though never a ſtarr appear, ſo ſhould we be content with God alone: the heavenly Hieruſalem had no need of the ſun or of the moon to ſhine in it, for the glory of God did enlighten it, and the lamb was the light thereof, Rev. 21.23. though the figgtree ſhould not bloſſom, and there were no fruit in the field, and the herds were cut off from the ſtall, and the vine ſhould not give her increaſe, yet will I rejoyce in the Lord, Hab. 3.16, 17. yea though thou wert in baniſhment, poverty, ſlavery, impriſonment, be content with God. David, 1 Sam. 30.6. when all was gone and the people ſpoke of ſtoning him, he encouraged himſelf in God, alſo Paul and Silas, Act. 16.25. As death and impriſonment is nothing to thoſe who are filled with the joy of the holy Ghoſt, ſo all outward comforts are nothing to fill the ſoul till God come with them.
3 To make up all our imperfections we meet withall in this world in God, when we looſe honours, eſtates, liberty, relations, country. How did God make up Joſephs name when it was taken from him unjuſtly? and Davids name when it was juſtly gone? ſo that he dyed full of honour, 1 Chron. 29.28. Job loſt his eſtate and children, and God doubled them to him, Job 42.12. how much more when any enjoyment is forſaken for a good conſcience? Mat. 19.27. Mar. 10.29, 30.
4 Be humbled in ſight of thy own imperfections, he is pure, thou ſinful; he ſtands in need of nothing, Pſal. 16.3. Thy goodneſs extends not to him, thou needs every thing, Pſal. 19.12. Pſal. 130.3.143.2. Luk. 17.10. when we have done all we are unprofitable.
5 That we ſhould have a holy greatneſs of mind ariſing in us from the intereſt we have in ſuch a God of ſuch perfection. As carnal men have a greatneſs ariſing from riches, honour, learning, kindred, office, which is like the greatneſs of a ſwollen member, ariſing not from the ſtrength but weakneſs thereof; ſo Saints ſhould have a greatneſs of minde from having ſuch a perfect God for their portion. If countrey-men are puft up their wealth being enlarged, why ſhould not we be lifted up in the confidence of ſo great a God that hath all things in his hand? Luth. in Pſalm 121. Pſalm 16.5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, thou maintaineſt my lot. It's a Metaphor from the cuſtome of dividing Inheritances, wherein every Heir hath his portion, as if he ſhould ſay, When others have lands, moneys, Princes favours for their portions, The Lord is my portion. Alſo, He is the portion of my cup, a Metaphor from the manner of banquets, wherein every one hath a cup of ſweet-meats given, ſo others have a cup of wealth, of honour, &c. but God is the portion of my cup. Such a greatneſs of minde had David, Pſalm 119.96. I have ſeen an end of all perfection.
6 Look upon God as a God of perfection: other lords need the ſervice of their ſervants, but God needs none of our ſervices. And being of ſuch perfection we ſhould purſue after his ſervice, as the men of the world purſue to be ſervants to great Princes.
7 Make God the patern of thy actings; in all imitations we chuſe the moſt perfect patern.