Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. This would be repugnant to the Wisdom and Omniscience which belongs to the Notion of a Deity. That cannot be God, that is not infinitely wise; that cannot be infinitely wise, that is either ignorant of, or mistaken in his apprehension of any one thing. If God be changed in knowledge, it must be for want of wisdom; all change of this nature in Creatures, implies this defect preceding or accompanying it: Such a thought of God, would have been unworthy of him that is only wise; that hath no Mate for Wisdom^*; none wise besides himself: If he knew that thing this day which^* he knew not before, he would not be an only wise Being; for a Being that did know every thing at once, might be conceived, and so a wiser Being be apprehended by the ⟨p. 212⟩mind of man. If God understood a thing at one time, which he did not at another, he would be changed from Ignorance to Knowledge; As if he could not do that this day which he could do to morrow, he would be changed from Impotence to Power: He could not be always Omniscient, because there might be yet something still to come which he yet knows not, though he may know all things that are past. What way soever you suppose a change, you must suppose a present or a past Ignorance; If he be changed in his knowledge for the perfection of his understanding, he was ignorant before; If his understanding be impaired by the change, he is ignorant after it.

1. *1 Tim. 1.17.
2. *1 Tim. 1.17.

2. If God were changeable in his Knowledge, it would make him unfit to be an Object of Trust to any rational Creature. His Revelations would want the due ground for entertainment, if his Understanding were changeable; for that might be revealed as truth now which might prove false hereafter, and that as false now which hereafter might prove true; and so God would be an unfit Object of Obedience in regard of his Precepts, and an unfit Object of confidence in regard of his Promises: For if he be changeable in Knowledge, he is defective in Knowledge, and might promise that now which he would know afterwards was unfit to be promised, and therefore unfit to be performed: It would make him an incompetent Object of dread, in regard of his threatenings; for he might threaten that now, which he might know hereafter were not fit or just to be inflicted. A changeable mind and understanding cannot make a due and right judgment of things to be done, and things to be avoided. No wise man would judge it reasonable to trust a weak and flitting person.