90 Pfalm, out of which they are cited, for a thousand years in thy fight are but as yesterday, when it is past, and as a watch in the night; that is, as the time paft, as a few hours flept away, for that is the meaning of a watch in the night, that is as nothing; now St. Peter's converfion of the words, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, only fignifies this, that the longeft duration of time is fo inconfiderable to God, that it is as the fhorteft, that is, bears no proportion to the Eternity of God. But Directly, the Scripture frequently mentions this attribute, He's called the everlasting God, Gen. 21. 33. The Eternal God, Deut. 33. 27. and which is to the fame purpofe, he that inhabiteth Eternity, Ifa. 57. 15. And this as -it is attributed to him in respect of his Being, fo in refpect of all his other Perfections, Pfal. 103. 17. the mercy of the Lord is from everlafting, to everlasting. Rom. 1. 20. his Vol. VII. Vol. VII. 20. his eternal power. 1 Tim. r. 17. the King eternal. Thofe Doxologies which the Scripture ufeth, are but acknowledgments of this Attribute, Bleffed be the Lord for e ver and ever. Neh. 9. 5. To whom be glory, and honour, and dominion, for ever and ever. Gal. 1. 5. and in many other pla ces. 2. Hither we may refer all those places which speak of him as without beginning; Pfal. 93. Thou art from everlasting, Mich. 5. 2. Whofe goings forth have been from everlasting. Hab. 1. 12. Art not thou from everlasting? O Lord! And those which speak of the perpetual continuance of his duration; Pfal. 102. 24, 25, 26, 27. Thy years are throughout all generations; of old thou hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they fhall perish, but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like á garment, and as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be chang ed; ed; but thou art the Jame, and thy Vol.Vũi. years shall have no end. And those which speak of him as the first and the laft; Ifa. 43. 10. Before me there was no God formed, neither ball there be any after me. I am the first, and I am the last, and befides me there is no God. And to mention no more, those which speak of his Being, as coexiftent to all difference of time, paft, prefent, and to come, Rev. 1. 8. I am Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the ending, faith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come. Thirdly, I fhall from hence draw, I. Some Doctrinal Corollaries. II. Some Practical Inferences. I. Doctrinal Corollaries, that you may fee how the Perfections of God depend one upon another, and 6 Vol. VII. and may be deduced one from a nother. 1. Corol. From the Eternity of God we may infer that he is of himself. That which always is, can have nothing before it to be a caufe of its Being. 2. Corol. We may hence infer the neceffity of his Being. 'Tis neceffary every thing fhould be, when it is; now that which is always, is abfolutely neceffary, because always fo. 3. Corol. The Immutability of the Divine Nature; for being always, he is neceffarily, and being neceffarily, he cannot but be what he is; a change of his Being is as impoffible as a ceffation. Therefore the Pfalmift puts his Immutability and Eternity together. Pfal. 102. 27. But thou art the fame, and thy years shall have no end. II. By way of Practical Inference or Application. VOL VIL 1. The confideration of God's Vol. VIL Eternity may ferve for the fupport of our Faith. This Mofes here useth as a ground of his Faith; Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place, in all generations, before the mountains were brought forth, &c. Pfal. 62. 8. Trust in him at all times, ye people. His Immenfity is an Argument why all fhould truft in him, he is a prefent help to all; and why they should truft in him at all times, his Eternity is an Argument, Deut. 33. 27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. There are two Attributes which are the proper Objects of our Faith and Confidence, God's Goodness, and his Power, both these are Eternal; the goodness of the Lord endureth for ever, as it is frequently in the Pfalms: And his Power is Eternal; the Apoftle fpeaks of his Eternal Power, as well as Godhead; Rom. 1. 20. Ifa. 26. 4. Truft je in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlafting B b : |