Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. Nor can it proceed from a natural Instability of his Will, or an easiness to be drawn to that which is unrighteous: If his Will should not adhere to his Counsel, 'tis because it is not fit to be followed, or because it will not follow it; If not fit to be followed, 'tis a reflection upon his Wisdom; if it be established and he will not follow it, there is a contrariety in God, as there is in a fallen Creature, Will against Wisdom: That cannot be in God, which he hates in a Creature, viz. the disorder of faculties, and being out of their due place. The Righteousness of God is like a great Mountain, Psal. 36.6. The rectitude of his Nature is as immovable in it self, as all the great Mountains in the World are by the strength of Man. He is not as a Man, that he should repent or lye, Numb. 23.19. who often changes, out of a perversity of Will, as well as want of wisdom to foresee, or want of ability to perform. His eternal Purpose must either be righteous or unrighteous; if righteous and holy, he would become unholy by the change; if not righteous nor holy, then he was unrighteous before the change; which way soever it falls, it would reflect upon the Righteousness of God, which is a blasphemous imagination.^* If God did change his Purpose, it must be either for the better, then the Counsel of God was bad before; or for the worse, then he was not wise and good before.

2. Nor can it proceed from a natural Instability of his Will, or an easiness to be drawn to that which is unrighteous: If his Will should not adhere to his Counsel, 'tis because it is not fit to be followed, or because it will not follow it; If not fit to be followed, 'tis a reflection upon his Wisdom; if it be establisht and he will not follow it, there is a contrariety in God, as there is in a fallen Creature, Will against Wisdom: That cannot be in God, which he hates in a Creature, viz. the disorder of faculties, and being out of their due place. The Righteousness of God is like a great Mountain, Psal. 36.6. The rectitude of his Nature is as immoveable in it self, as all the great Mountains in the World are by the strength of Man. He is not as a Man, that he should repent or lye,