Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. There can be no Reason for any change in the Will of God. When men change in their minds, it must be for want of foresight, because they could not foresee all the Rubs and Bars which might suddenly offer themselves; which if they had foreseen, they would not have taken such measures; hence men often will that which they afterwards wish they had not willed, when they come to understand it clearer, and see that to be injurious to them which they thought to be good for them; or else the change proceeds from a natural instability without any just cause, and an easiness to be drawn into that which is unrighteous; or else it proceeds from a want of power, when men take new Counsels, because they are invincibly hindered from executing the old. But none of those can be in God.

3. There can be no Reason for any change in the Will of God. When men change in their minds, it must be for want of foresight, because they could not foresee all the Rubbs and Barrs which might suddenly offer themselves; which if they had foreseen, they would not have taken such measures; hence men often will that which they afterwards wish they had not willed, when they come to understand it clearer, and see that to be injurious to them which they thought to be good for them; or else the change proceeds from a natural instability without any just cause, and an easiness to be drawn into that which is unrighteous; or else it proceeds from a want of power, when men take new Counsels, because they are invincibly hindred from executing the old. But none of those can be in God.

1. It cannot be for want of foresight. What can be wanting to an infinite Understanding? How can any unknown event defeat his Purpose; since nothing happens in the world but what he wills to effect, or wills to permit; and therefore all future events are present with him? Besides, it doth not consist with Gods Wisdom to resolve any thing, but upon the highest reason; and what is the highest and infinite reason, cannot but be unalterable in it self; for there can be no Reason and Wisdom higher than the highest. All Gods purposes are not bare acts of Will, but acts of Counsel,