The absolute immutability of the Divine Nature is by a comparison declared in Scripture: God is styled, The Father of Lights, in whom there is no 1variableness nor shadow of change. The great Luminary of Heaven has various Aspects and Appearances in its Rising and Meridian, and Setting; is changeable in its Approaches and Recesses, from whence different Shadows are cast: But the Father of Lights has an invariable tenor of Glory, he is without motion and mutation. God is absolutely ⟨p. 4⟩exempt from all change in his Nature, and from all accidental change. The Reason of this is evident from the consideration of his necessary self-existence, and from the absolute simplicity of his Being. Self-existence is the intrinsical Property of Gods Nature: He defines himself by it, I am that I am. He directs Moses to tell the Israelites, I am hath sent 2me unto you. This and the Wonder working Rod were his Credentials to authorize and dignify him in their esteem, and to induce them to believe his Message. Jehovah, which is the same with I am, is the essential, supreme, and singular Name of God, whereby he is distinguished from all Created Beings: It exhibits the clearest Character of the Deity. There are other Divine Titles that signify particular Attributes, but Jehovah declares his Being from himself, independent upon any cause; his necessary Eternal Nature the Root (if I may so speak) from which his Perfections spring and flourish. All other things are from his Causality; every spark of Life, every degree of Being is from him: But the most excellent Creatures compared to him, are but as dark shadows without reality. Therefore God assumes to himself, I am, and there is none besides me. 'Tis said the whole World compared to him, is like a drop of the bucket to the sea, or the dust of the balance to the globe of the earth; nay, is less than nothing. There is a greater distance between God and the Angels, than between the Angels and their native nothing: For they have derived, and dependent, limited Beings, but God is all Perfection, all Greatness and Goodness from himself.
The absolute immutability of the Divine Nature is by a comparison declared in Scripture: God is stiled, The Father of Lights, in whom there is no 1variableness nor shadow of change. The great Luminary of Heaven has various Aspects and Appearances in its Rising and Meridian, and Setting; is changeable in its Approaches and Recesses, from whence different Shadows are cast: But the Father of Lights has an invariable tenour of Glory, he is without motion and mutation. God is absolutely ⟨p. 4⟩exempt from all change in his Nature, and from all accidental change. The Reason of this is evident from the consideration of his necessary self-existence, and from the absolute simplicity of his Being. Selfexistence is the intrinsical Property of Gods Nature: He defines himself by it, I am that I am. He directs Moses to tell the Israelites, I am hath sent 2me unto you. This and the Wonder working Rod were his Credentials to authorize and dignifie him in their esteem, and to induce them to believe his Message. Jehovah, which is the same with I am, is the essential, supream, and singular Name of God, whereby he is distinguished from all Created Beings: It exhibits the clearest Character of the Deity. There are other Divine Titles that signifie particular Attributes, but Jehovah declares his Being from himself, independent upon any cause; his necessary Eternal Nature the Root (if I may so speak) from which his Perfections spring and flourish. All other things are from his Causality; every spark of Life, every degree of Being is from him: But the most excellent Creatures compared to him, are but as dark shadows without reality. Therefore God assumes to himself, I am, and there is none besides me. 'Tis said the whole World compared to him, is like a drop of the bucket to the sea, or the dust of the ballance to the globe of the earth; nay, is less than nothing. There is a greater distance between God and the Angels, than between the Angels and their native nothing: For they have derived, and dependent, limited Beings, but God is all Perfection, all Greatness and Goodness from himself.
- 1Isa. 44. 6.
- 2Exod. 3.
