Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

For the second, that this understanding in God everlastingly acts or works, is very clear; for that understanding (which is the nature, essence, and being of God) is a mere act, or the first act, it is all one with the life of God; now as all life is active in it self, so the chief life (such as in the highest degree is to be attributed to God) must needs be active; what is the life of God, but an essential property, whereby the Divine nature is in perpetual action, living and moving in it self? and hereof is that speech in Scripture so often used,¹ the Lord liveth; hereof likewise is that asseveration or oath so often used by God, as the Lord liveth, and As I Live saith the Lord; well then, the understanding of God being active, or working from all eternity, it must needs have some eternal object on which it acts or works; every action requires a suitable object, about which it must act, or be exercised: so then if Gods understanding act eternally, it must have some eternal object; and if Gods understanding act most perfectly, it must have some most perfect object to act upon; and what is that but only God himself? that Gods understanding should act out of himself, would argue his understanding to act upon that which is finite and imperfect: Certainly nothing is infinite, eternal, and perfect, but only himself; and therefore if his understanding will act upon any suitable object, he must act upon nothing but himself.

For the second, that this understanding in God everlastingly acts or works, is very clear; for that understanding (which is the nature, essence, and being of God) is a meer act, or the first act, it is all one with the life of God; now as all life is active in it self, so the chief life (such as in the highest degree is to be attributed to God) must needs be active; what is the life of God, but an essential property, whereby the Divine nature is in perpetual action, living and moving in it self? and hereof is that speech in Scripture so often used,¹ the Lord liveth; hereof likewise is that asseveration or oath so often used by God, as the Lord liveth, and As I Live saith the Lord; well then, the understanding of God being active, or working from all eternity, it must needs have some eternal object on which it acts or works; every action requires a sutable object, about which it must act, or be exercised: so then if Gods understanding act eternally, it must have some eternal object; and if Gods understanding act most perfectly, it must have some most perfect object to act upon; and what is that but onely God himself? that Gods understanding should act out of himself, would argue his understanding to act upon that which is finite and imperfect: Certainly nothing is infinite, eternal, and perfect, but onely himself; and therefore if his understanding will act upon any sutable object, he must act upon nothing but himself.