A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 22 (Question 4 cont.)
SERMON XXII.
2. THE next of the Divine Vertues to be conſidered of, is Power; of which take this Deſcription: It is God able to do whatſoever he doth or can Will. For our right taking up the notion of this Attribute, let theſe things be conſidered,
1. THAT Power conſidered in the moſt general & comprehenſive ſenſe of it, is nothing elſe but God's Alſufficiency; and hath been already conſidered, in the fuſt general Head, to which the Knowledge of God in his Back parts is referred; and ſo it comprehends all the Attributes under it, as being in our conception, a Genus both to his Eſſence & Subſiſtence; and ſo the word Power is uſed in Scripture ſometimes, for God's ſufficiency; ſo, Gen 17.1— I am the Almighty God—. This, in our mode & method of expreſſing things, is the prima potentia of God, antecedent, and leading to our conſideration of his Knowledge & Will.
2. THERE is an executive Power which we aſcribe unto God, or a Power of Operation, which diſcovers it ſelf in his works of Efficiency; and therefore the Doctrine of it properly belongs to that Head in general; for when we ſee what God hath done, we are thereby led to conclude his Omnipotency; and this is conſequent upon, and flows from his Alſufficiency; and is one of the Perfections in which it is manifeſted. Of this Power mention is made, Pſal. 115.3. and we conceive of it in this order: We firſt look upon God as able, (Eph. 3.20.) that is his Alſufficiency; then by his Wiſdom & Will determining what to do, (Eph. 1.11.) and then powerfully to effect or bring about, what he hath ſo propounded; Pſal. 13.5, 6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the ſeas, and all deep places.
3. THAT this executive Omnipotency of God, is nothing elſe but his effective Will: for the Will of God, as it is an effective Principle, or efficient Cauſe of things, hath the conſideration of an unreſiſtible Omnipotency in it; ſee Rom. 9.19. Pſal. 33.9. For he ſpake, and it was done; he commanded, and it ſtood faſt. And therefore it cannot be properly ſaid that God wills to do any thing, which yet by his Omnipotency he effects not; for it is his Will, which doth but in our notion differ from his Power; or it is his Omnipotent Will, which doth all things.
4. POWER is attributed to God Actively. God is a pure Act, and therefore he hath not in him a paſſive power. We muſt not conceive that God hath ſometimes been out of Act; and that he did afterwards by this Power of his, ſet himſelf to work: but yet our conception is neceſſitated to look upon him as having the vertue of a Cauſe, or of communicating Efficacy or Efficiency to Effects. But there is no Power in God, really diſtinct from his Eſſence; for his Eſſence is that Power by which he is Omnipotent; as it is that mercy, by which he is mercifull. God's Active Power is therefore beſt conceived of by us, as it relates to the Creature, which is capable of receiving the impreſſion which it had not upon it before. Hence this Power of God is ſaid not to be in reſpect of himſelf, but with reference to the things that are Effected, Matth. 19.26.—With God all things are poſſible.
THESE things thus premiſed, I come now to conſider this Attribute as is expreſſed in the Deſcription, viz. That it is God able to do whatſoever he doth or can Will. And here I ſhall only point you, to the account which the Scripture gives us of it; which we may take in theſe particulars,
1. THERE is none ſtronger than God. Among all the beings from the firſt, there is none whoſe Power equals, much leſs goes beyond his. There are many ſtrong beings in the Creation; Angels are mighty beings and that whether good or bad; Satan is called the ſtrong man, Luk. 11.21. and the Prince of the power of the air, Eph. 2.2. One Angel is able to cope with all the powers of fleſh & blood: where Satan hath erected his throne, all the world cannot turn him out. But put all the ſtrength of the Creation together, and it will not exceed his; 1 Cor. 10 22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealouſy? are we stronger than he?
2. GOD is mightier than all Created beings. He is not only equal to them, but Infinitely above them in Power; Job 40.9. & 41.10. Haſt thou an arm like God? or canſt thou thunder with a voice like him? He hath an Arm like to which there is none. Men's ſtrength is in their Arms, at leaſt is ſhewed by them: hence Arms are aſcribed to God, and ſuch Arms as are incomparable, Pſal. 89.19.
3. THOSE things that are weak in us, when they are attributed to him, are ſtronger than the greateſt ſtrength of all Creatures: ſuch things as in the Creatures are feeble, when ſpoken of him, have more ſtrength than all the World; 1 Cor. 1.25. — And the weakneſs of God is ſtronger than men. It is but little ſtrength that we have in one of our fingers; yet he with his finger made the Heavens, Pſal. 8.3. Caſts out Devils, Luke 11.20. What can we do with a breath, or by a word, ſee Pſal. 33.9. Gen. 1. A frown or an angry look from a mortal man is no great matter; but he ſends a world of men to perdition by it; Pſal. 80.16. — They periſh at the rebuke of thy countenance. And theſe expreſſions are uſed purpoſely to recommend his Omnipotency to us.
4. HIS Power is irreſiſtible; there is no withſtanding of it. It is a vain thing for the whole World to combine againſt it, or ſet themſelves in Oppoſition unto it; Job. 23.13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his ſoul deſireth, even that he doeth. If he hath a mind to a thing, he dares to challenge the whole World to hinder him if they can, Iſa. 14.27. & 43.13 He declares what is in his tho'ts to do; and ſounds a challenge to all the Powers of Earth & Hell to defeat him if they are able.
5. ALL Created Power is nothing, and leſs than that, when it is compared with his. There are Powers among Creatures, and they can do much if he permits them; we ſee many effects thereof in the World; but caſt them into the ſcale againſt his, and they will not weigh the light duſt, Iſa 40.17. All nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him leſs than nothing, and vanity. If there were a thouſand times more power in Creatures, than there is, it would be all nothing; that therefore that is, is leſs than nothing; it ſtands for a Cypher. In a word, the Power of God exceeds the Creatures knowledge, Pſal. 50 11.
6. HENCE there are two things in which the extent of this Power is expreſſed, viz. 1. THAT he can do all things that he Wills. Whatſoever his holy pleaſure ſaith ſhall be, that he doth always powerfully and uncontrolably effect, Pſal. 115.3. He never had a mind or deſire to do or effect any thing which he could not effect; he never did affect any project, but what he brought about, let it be never ſo great, Job 23.14. 2. THAT he can do all things, which he can Will. Hence his Power reacheth not only to the things that are, but to all poſſibilities. There is not only a World made according to his Counſel, but thouſands of beings which he could have wrought; for when God made the World, he did not put forth all his Power; but had the reſidue of the ſpirit, (Mal. 2.15. Matth. 3.8.) Nor is all the Capacity of the Creation able to comprehend the vaſt extent of this Omnipotency of God. 3. THERE are clear & convincing diſcoveries of this Divine Omnipotency, in the worl…s that he hath done. If God doth work all, it is thence evident that he can work all. He that is the Cauſe of all Cauſes; he hath the vertue and efficacy of all Cauſes in him. Hence the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 86.5, 10. For thou are great and doeſt wondrous things: thou art God alone. And there are particularly theſe three clear diſcoveries of God's Omnipotency in his Efficiency. 1. IN the production of the World; and ſuch a World, in which there are ſo many Beings & Creatures; a World ſo vaſt for bigneſs; ſo curious a fabrick, having ſo many admirable pieces of workmanſhip in it: and that all theſe were produced from no Pre-exiſting matter; that he hath nothing to lay the foundation of all this work upon. To make ſomething to make all things, is a glorious demonſtration of his Power. He that could give being to ſuch, ſo great, and ſo many beings, that once were not at all, what is it that he is not able to do? God therefore uſeth this Argument to ſtrengthen the faith of his People on him, in the times of foreſt diſtreſs, when they were ready to ſink under diſcouragement; Iſa. 40.27, 28. & 45.11, 12. Thus ſaith the Lord, the holy One of Iſrael, and his maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my ſons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands have ſtretched out the heavens, and all their hoſt have I commanded. 2. THE fulfilling of all his gracious Promiſe: to his People. He never ſpake the word to them but he did it; and that in every point, circumſtance of time, perſons, accidents; and all this notwithſtanding all the blocks, ſeeming impoſſbilities, powerfull contrivances & aſſociatiors that have been made againſt them, they have been all daſht & broken, utterly defeated & come to nought: and all his Promiſes have come to paſs in deſpite of all: inſtances for this we have in Ph…roah, Benhadad, Senacherib, and many other upon Scripture record; yea, for this reaſon hath he been wont to ſuffer his People to be reduced to the utmoſt extremity, till they had nothing left them but the Promiſe to rely upon; that ſo he might take the occaſion to commend his Almighty Power to them. 3. THE execution of all his threatnings upon his proudeſt Enemies. That Obſervation, Whoever reſiſted God & proſpered; is a witneſs to his Almightineſs, that God can look upon the ſtrongeſt Combinations of Men againſt him, and laugh at, and have them in deriſion; that he can dare them to do their worſt, and warn them of the unfruitfulneſs of their Eſſays, and give being to thoſe menaces, as Iſa. 8.9, 10. Aſſociate your ſelves, O ye people, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; and give car all ye of far countreys: gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces. Take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought; ſpeak the word, and it ſhall not ſtand: for God is with us: ſpeaks his Power to be inſuperable. For this reaſon he ſuffers them to proſper, and arrive at the height of Succeſs. Pride and ſelf-Confidence, raiſeth them in his Providence to their height; that he may give a terrible inſtance of this Attribute in their deſtruction, ſee, Exod. 9.16. And in very deed for this cauſe have I raiſed thee up, for to ſhew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
7. WHEN the Scripture ſpeaks of ſome things, which it ſaith God cannot do, it is no way contradictory to this Attribute of his OMNIPOTENCY; but it doth rather confirm us in the belief of it. Here therefore we are to conſider the things wherein ſuch Aſſertions are laid down; and we ſhall readily ſee a ſatisfying reaſon for them: let theſe Rules then be here obſerved on this account.
1. THERE are ſome things done by Men which ariſe from, and argue imperfection in them. Theſe things then God cannot do, not for want of Power, but by reaſon of Power. When we read, that God cannot lye, it argues no weakneſs in him, but his Infinite Perfection. God therefore cannot ſwerve from his own Rules, or croſs his own Nature, who is a God of Holineſs and Truth: Men thro' weakneſs can ſwerve from the Rule; Sin is therefore called a falling ſhort, Rom. 3.23. but becauſe God hath no weakneſs, but is Omnipotent, therefore he cannot lie, or deceive, or ſin.
2. THERE are ſome things which God cannot do by reaſon of impoſſibility in the things. And this no whit weakens his Power. There are two ſorts of impoſſibles to be obſerved,
1. THERE are ſome things impoſſible to nature. Nature natured hath its Powers limited and regulated, and there are bounds beyond which it cannot paſs; ſuch things we therefore call impoſſible; but theſe things are eaſy with the God of Nature: Nature cannot, but God can and did make a Virgin to conceive: Nature cannot produce the fruits of the earth for our nouriſhment but ſucceſſively; but Chriſt by his Divine Power, could multiply the loaves and fiſhes immediately.
2. OTHER things are impoſſible in Nature. Not for want of Power in him, but by reaſon of incapacity & inconſiſtency in the ſubject; the doing of the thing u…erring an impo…bility. The Rules of Art are Eternal & Uncha… gable Principles, which therefore cannot be nul…fied. It is impoſſible that there ſhould be an Effect without a Cauſe; an …d…nſt without a Subject. God cannot make a thing to be, and not to be at the ſame time, place, and reſpect; or a thing done, not to be done. God cannot m…ke a contradiction true, becauſe then he ſhould nul…fy his own Infinite Wiſdom, which he cannot do. In a word, whatever God cannot do, it is becauſe either for want of Entity or Goodneſs, it cannot be the Object of his Will.
3. DIVINES do from Scripture obſerve a t…fold Power eſcribed to God, viz.
1. AN …ted & abſolute Power, by vertue of which he can do all poſſible things, even ſuch things as he never actually doth: of this Power it is that we read, Matth. 3.9. —God is able of theſe ſt…nes to raiſe up ob…laren unto Abra….
2. AN Ordinate Power, which is not a Power different from the former, but the former confidered, as God hath pleaſed to ſet limits … bounds to it by the Decree, with reſpect to his exerting of it in his works of Efficiency. It is certain that he hath by an Eternal purpoſe, determined in himſelf whatſoever ſhall be done in time; and this did unalterably fix the limits between things meerly poſſible, and things future: and it is with reſpect to this limitation, that it is ſometimes ſaid in Scripture, that God could not do ſome things. Thus we read that God could not deſtroy Sedom till Lot was out of it: that Chriſt could not do many miracles in his own Country, becauſe of their Unbei…eſ, &c. Not that his Arm was ſhortned in theſe reſpects, but becauſe his purpoſe, and ſometimes his p… miſe had tied his hands; his Will was otherwiſe, and he purſues that in all he doth, Eph. 1.11.
USE 1. LEARN hence how vain a thing … is for any to go about to reſiſt God. There is no oppoſing of Omnipotency, no ſtriving againſt him who is Almighty: tho' every ſinner doth ſo in every ſin; Job. 15.25, 26. For be ſhet…b… out his hand againſt God, and ſtrengtheneth himſelf againſt the Almighty. He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick beſſes of her bucklers. Know it, every time you dare to commit any Sin, you bid a challenge to God to come and fight againſt you if he dare; and do you know whom it is you ſet your ſelves in battle array againſt? Shall briars and thorns arm themſelves againſt a conſuming fire? Shall a Worm rouſe it ſelf up againſt a Lion? Every time you are tempted to ſin, ask your ſelves that Queſtion, 1 Cor. 10.22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealouſy? are we ſtronger than he? You muſt doubtleſs have the worſt of it, Job. 9.4. He is wiſe in heart, and mighty in ſtrength: who hath hardned himſelf againſt him, and hath proſecred? Ask the damned in Hell, who once were Rebels as you are, and they will tell you, that they are ruined & damned, heaps upon heaps, to be Eternal witneſſes, that there is no withſtanding him.
USE 2. THIS tells us. That there is none … ſecure a Sinner from God's hands. There … mighty ones in the World; but there is none Almighty but he, and therefore none can bicker with him. The Sinner endeavours to …rtify himſelf in his ſtrong holds, and …ters into com…i…i… with Earth & Hell, but all is to … purpoſe, they cannot ſave him; Iſa. 47.13, 14. … …ied in the …titude of thy … … the …gers, the ſ…-g…zers, the … ſtand up, and ſave … from … that-ſhall … thee. Behold, they ſhall be as ſtubb…: the j…re ſhall …rn them: they ſhall … deliver themſelves from the power of the ſ…e: there ſhall … be a … to …, … to … before it. They cannot deliver themſelves, how much leſs can they …a…e others? it i… vain to look to them, or expect help from …; Jer. 3.23. Truly in va…n i… …alvati… … for fr… the bills, and fr… the …t…ade of …s. All leagues with them ſhall be …, and ruin not be prevented, Jer. 28.17.
Hence,
USE 3. WE learn … fearful the Deſ…rac… on of …nners muſt needs be. And there are …b … conſiderations of it which are diſcovered in this Attribute.
1. THE cer…nry of it. There is no eſcaping … of the hands of Omnipotency; no delivering your ſelves from his Wrath; Iſa. 43.13. … Th…ſ. 5.3. For when they ſhall ſay, Peace and … them ſudden deſtruction co…th upon them, … upon a … with chill; and they … eſcape. The Almighty Power of God is … againſt the Sinner; and if Almightine… o… … him miſerable, it ſhall be done; … of God can b…ing him down to the lo…eſt Hell, he ſhall not eſcape. Were the Sinner … cope with a Man like himſelf, he …ight …eive ſome hope of overco…ing; but if … ene…y, he will tear him in pieces, he will …, deſtroy and damn him: and God would have Sinners to think of it; Pſal. 50.22. N… conſider this, ye that forget God, leaſt I tear you … pi…ces, and there be none to deliver. He … with more caſe tread you down to Hell, than you can cruſh the leaſt worm under your feet.
2. THE greatneſs of it. God doth all things … himſelf: in particular, we are told that God deſigns the declaration of his Power in the deſtruction of impe…iter… Sinners; Rom. 9.22. What of God willing to … his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longſ…ſſ…ring the veſſels of wrath ſitted to deſtruction. He will therefore power…ly deſtroy them, and th… their miſery cannot be ſmall: He will not ſtrike the Sinner as a Man, but he will do it like a God: He will hold him up by one hand of his Power, and ſtrike him down with the …. And will it not be an intollerable ſtroak … Almightineſs ſhall inflict? Ezek. 22.14. … boart endure, or can thy hands be ſtrong in the days that I ſhall deal with thee? I the Lord have ſpoken it, and will do it. And what a powerfull Argument doth this afford, to per…irade Sinners to make their peace with God, …dering. Heb. 10.31. It is a fearful thing to … into the hands of the living God.
USE 4. THIS tells us, That a tra… Believer need not to fear any evil. There can no danger offer it ſelf before him to diſtreſs him, but he may anſwer it with God's Almightineſs. In times of difficulty, when every door is ſhut up, he can open one that we know not of. In times of danger, when our enemies are more and mightier than we are, yet are we ſafe under the ſhelter of his …ings; the feathers of the Almighty will cover us; and tho' ten thouſands riſe up againſt us, th…e is no …ear. In times of foreſt temptation, when all the Power of Hell is engaged to devour us, yet they that have Omnipotency for their protection, are in an Ar… … of which all the Devils of Hell cannot be … p…ck them. Let us then reſolve, that … time we are afraid, we will truſt in the Lord: having taken, let us keep fiſt hold of his Almighty Arm; and tho' every ſtep to Heaven were g…a…ded with a legion of Devils, there would be no danges: this Attribute is our … co…ragement; and let us take it as God is giving it to us, Iſa. 26. …. Truſt in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Je…ah it everlaſ…ing ſtrength.
[SEPTEMBER 1…. 1689.]