Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

But certainly since unchangeableness in knowing, and willing goodness is a perfection, An adoration and admiration is due to God, upon the account of this excellence. If he be God he is to be reverenced, and the more highly reverenced, because he cannot but be God.

But certainly since unchangeableness in knowing, and willing goodness is a perfection, An adoration and admiration is due to God, upon the account of this excellence. If he be God he is to be reverenced, and the more highly reverenc'd, because he cannot but be God.

Again what comfort could it be to pray to a God, that like the Chameleon changed colours every day, every moment? What encouragement could there be to lift up our eyes to one that were of one mind this day and of another mind to morrow? Who would put up a Petition to an Earthly Prince that were so mutable, as to grant a Petition one day, and deny it another, and change his own act? But if a Prince promise this or that thing upon such or such a condition, and you know his promise to be as unchangeable as the Laws of the Medes and Persians, would any Man reason thus? because it is unchangeable we will not seek to him, we will not perform the condition, upon which the fruit of the Proclamation is to be enjoyed. Who would not count such an inference ridiculous? What blessings hath not God promised upon the condition of seeking him? Were he of an unrighteous nature, or changeable in his mind, this would be a bar to our seeking him, and frustrate our hopes: But since it is otherwise, is not this excellency of his nature the highest encouragement, to ask of him the blessings he hath promised, and a beam from Heaven to fire our zeal in asking? If you desire things against his Will, which he hath declared he will not grant; Prayer then would be an act of disobedience and injury to him, as well as an act of folly in it self; his unchangeableness then might stifle such desires: But if we ask according to his Will and according to our reasonable wants, what ground have we to make such a ridiculous argument? He hath Willed every thing that may be for our good, if we perform the condition he hath required; and hath put it upon record, that we may know it and regulate our desires and supplications according to it: If we will not seek him, his immutability cannot be a bar, but