Jeremiah 23:23-24 Am I a God at hand, said the LORD, and not a God afar off?… There are three ways of discoursing upon the perfections of God. 1. We prove that there is a God, and that He must have these powers and qualities which we ascribe to Him. 2. Supposing that God is, and that He possesses all perfections, we explain them as far as the sublimity of the incomprehensible subject permits, and confute the wrong opinions which have been entertained concerning them. 3. Supposing that they to whom we address ourselves have just and honourable notions of all God's perfections, and confining ourselves chiefly to practical truths, we show the effects which such a belief and such knowledge ought to produce, and endeavour to excite in them a behaviour suitable to their faith. I. GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE, UNLISTED KNOWLEDGE, AND IRRESISTIBLE POWER. 1. God is present everywhere. A proof of this may be taken from the creation. The world is plainly the offspring of one great and wise mind, which produced it, and disposed all its parts in that beautiful order in which they continue, and gave them those regular motions which they preserve, and by which they are preserved. Now God must of necessity be present with the things that He made and governs. 2. He is present everywhere in knowledge. This perfection is united with the former: for, if God be everywhere, everything must be known to Him. 3. God is also present everywhere in power. He is the only independent being, He is before all things, He made all things, He upholds and governs all things; from Him all powers are derived, and therefore nothing is able to resist or defeat His will II. WHAT EFFECTS THE FORE-MENTIONED TRUTHS SHOULD PRODUCE IN US. 1. We should endeavour to resemble God in these perfections, and in the manner in which He exerciseth them. 2. This consideration should deter us from sin. 3. This consideration should teach us humility. Pride is a very unfit companion for poverty and dependence; and vain men should remember that they receive all from God, and that they can acquire and preserve neither strength nor skill unless by His blessing, by His appointment or permission. 4. A particular encouragement to reliance and contentment, to faith and hope. (J. Jortin, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?WEB: Am I a God at hand, says Yahweh, and not a God afar off? |
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