What is the first article in the Apostle's Creed? "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." What it is to believe in God has been before considered, under the chapter on Faith. It will now be necessary to inquire into the object of Faith-God. Who is God? A spiritual being existing of himself, from whom all things proceed, on whom all things depend, and who governs all. The Heathen almost all acknowledged a God; indeed, the works of creation most clearly declare his existence. The heavens declare the glory of God. Ps. xix. 1. He left not himself without witness, in that he gave us rain from heaven, &c. Acts xiv. 17. For the invisible things of him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; even his eternal power and Godhead. Rom. i. 20. Is the knowledge of God necessary? Yes. This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God. John xvii. 3. What are the distinguishing attributes of God? He is ETERNAL, having neither beginning nor end. Abraham called on the name of the everlasting God. Gen. xxi. 33. I lift up my hand, and say, I live for ever. Deut. xxxii. 40. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God. Ps. xc. 2. Thy name is from everlasting. Isa. lxiii. 16. According to the commandment of the everlasting God. Rom. xvi. 26. Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Heb. i. 12. No man hath seen God at any time. John i. 18. 1 John iv. 12. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible. 1 Tim. i. 17. Whom no man hath seen nor can see. 1 Tim. vi. 16. Him, who is invisible. Heb. xi. 27. He is INCOMPREHENSIBLE. I am that I am. Exod. iii. 14. Who will say unto him, What doest thou? Job ix. 12. Canst thou, by searching, find out God? Job xi. 7. He giveth not account of any of his matters. Job xxxiii. 13. Behold God is great, and we know him not. Job xxxvi. 26. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out. Job xxxvii. 23. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. Ps. cxxxix. 6. Great is the Lord: his greatness is unsearchable. Ps. cxlv. 3. None can stay his hand, or say, What doest thou? Dan. iv. 35. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Rom. xi. 33. His being and his ways are incomprehensible to those who curiously inquire into what God has not revealed; yet every humble inquirer after truth, who desires to practise what he knows, shall obtain from the Scripture all the knowledge which is necessary to make him wise unto salvation. 6 In the Athanasian Creed, he is called not only the Father eternal,' the Father uncreated,' but the Father incomprehensible.' He is OMNIPRESENT, or everywhere present, to protect his servants, and to observe the actions of those who sin against him. The heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. 1 Kings viii. 27. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. 2 Chron. xvi. 9. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there, &c. Ps. cxxxix. 8-10. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Jer. xxiii. 24. He is OMNISCIENT; he knows all things, past, present, and future. He knows the secrets of all hearts, and can tell whether our professions of serving him be sincere or insincere. "Be not deceived: God is not mocked." For the Lord searcheth all hearts. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. There is not a word in my tongue but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Ps. cxxxix. 4. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Ps. cxxxix. 23. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Prov. xv. 3. I the Lord search the heart. Jer. xvii. 10. O the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Rom. xi. 33. To God only wise. Rom. xvi. 27. After that in the wisdom of God, &c. 1 Cor. i. 21. Might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him. Heb. iv. 13. He giveth wisdom unto the wise. Dan. ii. 20, 21. Ask it then "in faith, nothing wavering." James i. 5. Like Solomon, (1 Kings iii. 9,) say, "Give thy servant an understanding heart." He is ALMIGHTY. "God the Father Almighty." I am the Almighty God. Gen. xvii. 1. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? Gen. xviii. 14. I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. Gen. xxxv. 11. For the Lord your God is a mighty God. Deut. x. 14. 17. Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. Deut. xxxii. 39. Thine is the greatness, &c. and the majesty. 1 Chron. xxix. 11. Ps. His kingdom ruleth over all. Ps. ciii. 19. I will work, and who shall let it? Isa. xliii. 13. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Matt. xi. 25. With God nothing shall be impossible. Luke i. 37. Fear him who hath power to cast into hell. Luke xii. 5. Seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth. Acts xvii. 24. He giveth to all life and breath, &c. In him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts xvii. 25. 28. The blessed and only Potentate-King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 1 Tim. vi. 15. To him be dominion and power, both now and for ever. Jude 25. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Rev. iv. 8. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto him. Rev. v. 13. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Rev. xix. 6. This view of the irresistible power and infinite dominion of the Lord of Hosts, ought to produce awe and resignation. David, when cursed by Shimei. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace. Ps. xxxix. 2. It should also encourage us to put our whole trust in him. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Eph. iii. 20. Rely on him then as Abraham did, (Rom. iv. 21,) fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. There are many striking instances of the interference of this great POWER against his enemies. The flood. Gen. vii. 10. 21. Canst thou, by searching, find out God? Job xi. 7. He giveth not account of any of his matters. Job xxxiii. 13. Behold God is great, and we know him not. Job xxxvi. 26. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out. Job xxxvii. 23. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. Ps. cxxxix. 6. Great is the Lord: his greatness is unsearchable. Ps. cxlv. 3. None can stay his hand, or say, What doest thou? Dan. iv. 35. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Rom. xi. 33. His being and his ways are incomprehensible to those who curiously inquire into what God has not revealed; yet every humble inquirer after truth, who desires to practise what he knows, shall obtain from the Scripture all the knowledge which is necessary to make him wise unto salvation. 6 In the Athanasian Creed, he is called not only the Father eternal,' the Father uncreated,' but the Father incomprehensible.' He is OMNIPRESENT, or everywhere present, to protect his servants, and to observe the actions of those who sin against him. The heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. 1 Kings viii. 27. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. 2 Chron. xvi. 9. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there, &c. Ps. cxxxix. 8-10. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Jer. xxiii. 24. He is OMNISCIENT; he knows all things, past, present, and future. He knows the secrets of all hearts, and can tell whether our professions of serving him be sincere or insincere. "Be not deceived: God is not mocked." For the Lord searcheth all hearts. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. There is not a word in my tongue but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Ps. cxxxix. 4. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Ps. cxxxix. 23. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Prov. xv. 3. I the Lord search the heart. Jer. xvii. 10. O the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Rom. xi. 33. To God only wise. Rom. xvi. 27. After that in the wisdom of God, &c. 1 Cor. i. 21. Might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him. Heb. iv. 13. He giveth wisdom unto the wise. Dan. ii. 20, 21. He is HOLY. Ye shall be holy, for I am holy. Lev. xi. 45; xix. 2. 1 Pet. 15, 16. He is an holy God; he is a jealous God. Josh. xxiv. 19. Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness. Ps. v. 4. One cried, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. Isa. vi. 3. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Rev. iv. 8. He is JUST. John Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Gen. xviii. 25. Just and right is he. Deut. xxxii. 4. Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Ps. lxxxix. 14. The Lord is righteous in all his ways. Ps. cxlv. 17. I the Lord, a just God and a Saviour. Isa. xlv. 21. He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Matt. xxv. 32, 33. God is no respecter of persons. Acts x. 34. Vengeance is mine; will repay, saith the Lord. Rom. xii. 19. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. 1 John i. 9. He is a God of LOVE. He hateth nothing that he hath made, and loveth his people with an everlasting love. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God. Ps. xxxvi. 7. The Lord is good to all, &c. Ps. cxlv. 9. I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Jer. xxxi. 3. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. John iii. 16. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John xv. 13. God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. v. 8. The God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Cor. xiii. 11. His great love wherewith he loved us. Eph. ii. 4, 5. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. 1 John iii. 1. God is love. 1 John iv. 8. 16. In this was manifested the love of God, &c. 1John i. 8, 9. He is MERCiful. The Lord God, merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thousands. Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. Thou art a God ready to pardon, a gracious and merciful God. Neh. xi. 17. 31. His mercy is everlasting. Ps. c. 5. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Ps. ciii. 11. |