A53708:414
Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ
Meditations and discourses on the glory of Christ, in his person, office, and grace with the differences between faith and sight applied unto the use of them that believe / by the late Reverend John Owen, D.D.
London: printed by B.A., 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 11: The Glory of Christ in the Recapitulation of all things in him.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
GOD alone hath all being in him. Hence he gives himself that Name, I AM, Exod. 3. 14. He was eternally All; when all things else that ever were, or now are, or shall be, were nothing. And when they are, they are no otherwise, but as they are of him, and from him, and to him, Rom. 11. 36. Moreover his Being and Goodness are the ⟨p. 129⟩same. The Goodness of Good is the Meetness of the Divine Being to be communicative of it self in its Effects. Hence this is the first Notion of the Divine Nature, Infinite Being and Goodness in a Nature intelligent and self-subsistent. So the Apostle declares it, He that cometh unto God must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder, Heb. 11. 6.
2. IN this State of Infinite, Eternal Being and Goodness antecedent unto any Act of Wisdom or Power without himself, to give Existence unto other Things, God was, and is eternally in himself all that he will be, all that he can be, unto Eternity. For where there is Infinite Being and Infinite Goodness, there is Infinite Blessedness and Happiness, whereunto nothing can be added. God is always the same. That is his Name [Greek or Hebrew] Psal. 102. 27. Thou art he, always the same. All things that are, make no addition unto God, no change in his State. His Blessedness, Happiness, Self-satisfaction, as well as all other his Infinite Perfections, were absolutely the same before the Creation of any thing, whilst there was nothing but himself, as they are since he hath made all things. For the Blessedness of God consists in the Ineffable mutual Inbeing of the Three holy Persons in the same Nature, with the immanent reciprocal Actings of the Father and the Son in the eternal Love and Complacency of the Spirit. Hereunto nothing can be added, herein no Change can be made by any external Work or Effect of Power. Herein doth God act in the perfect Knowledge, and perfect Love of his own Perfections unto an infinite Acquiescence therein, which is the Divine Blessedness. This gives us the true Notion of the Divine Nature antecedent unto the Manifestation of it made by any outward Effects. Infinite Being and Goodness eternally blessed in the Knowledge and Enjoyment of it self by inconceivable, ineffable, internal Actings answering the manner of its Subsistence, which is in three distinct Persons.