Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Sometimes this Eternity is expressed by parts, as looking backward and forward; by the differences of time, past, present and to come, ^*which was, and is, and is to come. Though this might be spoken of any thing in being, though but for an hour; it was the last minute, it is now, and it will be the next minute; yet the Holy-Ghost would declare something proper to God, as including all parts of time; He always was, is now, and always shall be; It might always be said of him he was, and it may always be said of him he will be: There is no time when he began, no time when he shall cease. It cannot be said of a Creature he always was, he always is what he was, and he always will be what he is: But God always is what he was, and always will be what he is; so that it is a very significant expression of the Eternity of God, as can be suited to our capacities.

Sometimes this Eternity is exprest by parts, as looking backward and forward; by the differences of time, past, present and to come, ^*which was, and is, and is to come. Though this might be spoken of any thing in being, though but for an hour; it was the last minute, it is now, and it will be the next minute; yet the Holy-Ghost would declare something proper to God, as including all parts of time; He always was, is now, and always shall be; It might always be said of him he was, and it may always be said of him he will be: There is no time when he began, no time when he shall cease. It cannot be said of a Creature he always was, he always is what he was, and he always will be what he is: But God always is what he was, and always will be what he is; so that it is a very significant expression of the Eternity of God, as can be suted to our capacities.

1. *Revel. 1.8. Revel. 4.8. Crellius weakens this argument De Deo. cap. 18. p. 42.