Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

4. The fourth thing propounded, is some Propositions to clear this Unchangeableness of God, from any thing that seems contrary to it.

4. The fourth thing propounded, is some Propositions to clear this Ʋnchangeableness of God, from any thing that seems contrary to it.

First, There was no change in God when he began to create the World in Time. The Creation was a real change, But the change was not subjectively in God, but in the Creature; the Creature began to be what it was not before. Creation is considered as active or passive^*; active Creation is the Will and Power of God to create; this is from Eternity, because God willed from Eternity to create in Time; This never had beginning, for God never began in time to understand any thing, to will any thing, or to be able to do any thing; but he alway understood, and alway willed those things which he determined from Eternity to produce in Time. The Decree of God may be taken for the Act decreeing, that is eternal and the same; or for the Object decreed, that is in Time: So that there may be a change in the Object, but not in the Will whereby the Object doth exist.

First, There was no change in God when he began to create the World in Time. The Creation was a real change, But the change was not subjectively in God, but in the Creature; the Creature began to be what it was not before. Creation is considered as active or passive^*; active Creation is the Will and Power of God to create; this is from Eternity, because God willed from Eternity to create in Time; This never had beginning, for God never began in time to understand any thing, to will any thing, or to be able to do any thing; but he alway understood, and alway willed those things which he determined from Eternity to produce in Time. The Decree of God may be taken for the Act decreeing, that is eternal and the same; or for the Object decreed, that is in Time: So that there may be a change in the Object, but not in the Will whereby the Object doth exsist.