(3.) If he created all things in the beginning, then he was before the beginning of time, that is, from eternity: thus it is said, _In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth_, Gen. i. 1. this is very evident, for time is a successive duration, taking its rise from a certain point, or moment, which we call the beginning: now that duration, which was before this, must be from eternity, unless we suppose time before time began, or, which is all one, that there was a successive duration before successive duration began, which is a contradiction. Therefore, if God fixed that beginning to all things, as their Creator, and particularly to time, which is the measure of the duration of all created beings, then it is evident that he was before time, and consequently from eternity. (4.) This also appears from scripture; as when it is said, _The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms_, Deut. xxxiii. 27. and when we read of his _eternal power and Godhead_, Rom. i. 20. and elsewhere, _Art not thou from everlasting O Lord, my God?_ Hab. i. 12. _Thy throne is established of old; thou art from everlasting_, Psal. xciii. 2. so his attributes and perfections are said to have been from everlasting, _The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting_, Psal. ciii. 17. And this may be argued from many scripture-consequences: thus, there was an election of persons to holiness and happiness, _before the foundation of the world_, Eph. i. 4. and Christ, in particular, was fore-ordained to be our Mediator, before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. i. 20. and _set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was_, Prov. viii. 23. From hence it follows, that there was a sovereign will that fore-ordained it, and therefore God, whose decree or purpose it was, existed before the foundation of the world, that is, from everlasting. Moreover, there were grants of grace given in Christ, or put into his hand, from all eternity: thus we read of _eternal life, which God promised before the world began_, Tit. i. 2. and of our being _saved, according to his purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began_, 2 Tim. i. 9. It hence follows, that there was an eternal giver, and consequently that God was from everlasting. 2. God shall be to everlasting; thus it is said, _The Lord shall endure forever_, Psal. ix. 7. and that he _liveth for ever and ever_, Rev. iv. 9, 10. and that his _years shall have no end_, Psal. cii. 27. and _the Lord shall reign for ever_, Psal. cxlvi. 10. therefore he must endure for ever. Again, it is said, that _the Lord keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him_, to a thousand generations, Deut. vii. 9. and _he will ever be mindful of his covenant_, Psal. cxi. 5. that is, will fulfil what he has promised therein: if his truth shall not fail for ever, then he, who will accomplish what he has spoken, must endure to everlasting.