the Deity, so luminous and complete that philosophy itself can demand no addition to it. The several particulars of that account must be familiar to the mind of every serious Christian, and ought to be the frequent subject of his thoughts and contemplation. They may be briefly summed up as follows: God is one. "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord." "There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me."2 He is the eternal one-Jehovah-a name which denotes that he exists absolutely and independently. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come." 3 "Even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God."4 He created the universe-formed it out of nothing." In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." 5 66 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."6 He is therefore omnipotent. thou canst do every thing."7 "I know that "The invisible things of God from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead." He is also infinitely skilful. "He hath made the earth by his power; he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his discretion." The same attributes he displays in reproduction, in supplying the wants of his creatures, and in maintaining the perpetual order of nature." He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man ;"1 "Thou sendest forth thy spirit and they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth."2 "In him we live and move, and have our being." "3 God is the sole Ruler and Disposer of the universe which he has made; and he conducts the order of all events with perfect wisdom. He is the "blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords."4 "The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all.”5 "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are his; and he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings and setteth up kings." "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"7 "God is a Spirit"s "dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no 1 Ps. civ, 14. 8 Rom. i, 20. 2 Verse 30. 5 Ps. ciii, 19. 9 Jer. x, 12. Comp. Dan. vii, 9, 10. 6 Dan. ii, 20, 21. 7 Rom. xi, 33. Comp. Eph. i, 7, 8. 8 John iv, 24. man hath seen or can see."9 He is also omnipresent. "Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord? "1 “ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there," &c.2 He knows all things-the past, the present, and the future; "known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."3 "His understanding is infinite.' "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." He perceives the secret thoughts and intentions of his intelligent creatures. "The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts," &c;"" neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. "7" Such are the declarations of Scripture respecting what are called the natural attributes of Jehovah. His moral attributes are displayed, in the same book, with equal clearness. God is holy. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."8 "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works."9 purer eyes then to behold evil.” 9 1 Tim. vi, 16. 1 Jer. xxiii, 24. He is "of "All that Comp. 1 Tim. i, 17. John i, 18. 2 Ps. cxxxix, 7—10. do unrighteously are an abomination unto the Lord thy God."2 He is just, the moral Governor of the world, rewarding virtue and punishing vice. "Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” In the present world there are many apparent interruptions of God's retributive justice; but the Scriptures teach us that in the world to come, it will operate without hindrance and through all eternity. "He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit, reap life everlasting.' "And these (the wicked) shall go away into everlasting punish ment; but the righteous into life eternal."5 "4 God is equal." Without respect of persons," he "judgeth according to every inan's work."6 "Is not my way equal, saith the Lord ?"7 "God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him."8 The servant who " knew his Lord's will" and did it not," shall be beaten with many stripes, but he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."9 2 Deut. xxv, 16. 4 Gal. vi, 8. 6 1 Pet. i, 17. 3 Isa. iii, 10, 11. ."9 He is also omni man hath seen or can see.' present. "Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord ? "1 "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there," &c.2 3 He knows all things-the past, the present, and the future; "known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." "His understanding is infinite." "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." He perceives the secret thoughts and intentions of his intelligent creatures. "The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts," &c; "neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. "7 6 Such are the declarations of Scripture respecting what are called the natural attributes of Jehovah. His moral attributes are displayed, in the same book, with equal clearness. God is holy. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."8 "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works."9 He is "of purer eyes then to behold evil.” "All that 9 1 Tim. vi, 16. Comp. 1 Tim. i, 17. John i, 18. |