CHAP. II.
Of God and of the Holy Trinity.
1. The Lord our God is but (a)
one only living, and true God; whose (b)
subsistence is in and of himself, (c)
infinite in being, and perfection, whose Essence cannot be comprehended
by any but himself; (d) a most pure
spirit, (e) invisible, without body,
parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, which
no man can approach unto, who is (f)
immutable, (g) immense, (h)
eternal, incomprehensible, (i) Almighty,
every way infinit, (k) most holy,
most wise, most free, most absolute, (l)
working all things according to the councel of his own immutable, and most
righteous will, (m) for his own glory,
most loving, gracious, merciful, long suffering, abundant in goodness and
truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, (n)
the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withall most just, (o)
and terrible in his judgements, (p)
hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the (q)
guilty.
a 1 Cor. 8.4 6. Deut. 6.4.
2. God having all (r)
life, (s) glory, (t)
goodness, blessedness, in and of himself: is alone in, and unto himself
all-sufficient, not (u) standing
in need of any Creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from
them, but onely manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them,
he is the alone fountain of all Being, (x)
of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most soveraign
(y) dominion over all creatures,
to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in
his sight (z) all things are open
and manifest, his knowledge is (a) infinite,
infallible, and independant upon the Creature, so as nothing is to him
contingent, or uncertain; he is most holy in all his Councels, in (b)
all his Works, and in all his Commands; to him is due (c)
from Angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience as Creatures
they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require
of them.
r Joh. 5.26.
3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three
subsistences, (d) the Father the Word (or
Son) and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and Eternity, each having
the whole Divine Essence, (e) yet the Essence
undivided, the Father is of none neither begotten nor proceeding, the Son
is (f) Eternally begotten of the Father,
the holy Spirit (g) proceeding from the
Father and the Son, all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one
God, who is not to be divided in nature and Being; but distinguished by
several peculiar, relative properties, and personal relations; which doctrine
of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God, and comfortable
dependance on him.
d 1 Joh. 5.7. Mat. 28.19. 2 Cor. 13.14.
