A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…

V. GOD's Sufficiency (or his All-sufficiency) is his Divine Fullness, by virtue whereof he hath enough in himself, to answer all his own ends. A man is then said to be self-sufficient, when he hath not only enough for himself personally, but for all them too that have their dependence upon him; when he is able to live upon his own, without being beholding to others, and maintain his post, and do all that belongs to him, and his estate will bear it out without impairing the principal. Hence we make our guesses at God's All-sufficiency, by conceiving him to be such a Being, but after a more transcendent manner. In the description two things may be observed.

V. GOD's Sufficiency (or his Alsufficiency) is his Divine Fulness, by vertue whereof he hath enough in himself, to answer all his own ends. A man is then said to be self-sufficient, when he hath not only enough for himself personally, but for all them too that have their dependence upon him; when he is able to live upon his own, without being beholding to others, and maintain his post, and do all that belongs to him, and his estate will bear it out without impairing the principal. Hence we make our guesses at God's Alsufficiency, by conceiving him to be such a Being, but after a more transcendent manner. In the description two things may be observed.

(1.) THE general nature of it, viz. it is his fullness, or his perfection. For the fullness of a thing is its perfection, by virtue whereof there is nothing wanting to it: and it is opposed to emptiness or vanity; which is a defect. Now there is a double fullness or perfection considerable, the one belongs to the Creature; the other is proper to the Creator. 1. THERE is an inferior and limited fullness, or perfection: and it is when there is nothing wanting to the thing, which properly belongs to such a Species, or is due to such a kind of Being. There are other perfections which it hath not, but all that belongs to its Existence, Integrity, and Ornament of Nature, it hath that fully. A Beast having all things suitable for a sensitive life, is perfect in its kind, tho' it hath not attained to the perfection of a man; and still the higher rank or order of being, the Creature is placed in, the more is requisite to denominate it perfect. 2. THERE is a simple & absolute perfection, which comprehends in it the whole and universal fullness of all perfection to the utmost latitude of possibility: and this is the fullness of God. He hath in him, all kinds of goodness in the highest degree, without defect or possibility of it: hence is he said to be all in all, (