3. The eternity of God, as being to everlasting, affords matter of terror to his enemies, and comfort to his people, and, as such, should be improved for the preventing of sin. (1.) It affords matter of terror to his enemies. For, _1st._ He ever lives to see his threatenings executed, and to pour forth the vials of his fury on them: thus the prophet speaking of God, _as the everlasting King_, adds, that _at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation_, Jer. x. 10. Therefore the eternity of God argues the eternity of the punishment of sin, since this great Judge, who is a consuming fire to impenitent sinners, will live for ever to see his threatenings executed upon them. This appears, if we consider, _2dly_, That since he is eternal in his being, he must be so in his power, holiness, justice, and all his other perfections, which are terrible to his enemies: thus the Psalmist says, _Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath_, Psal. xc. 11. and the apostle says, _It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God_, Heb. x. 31. (2.) It affords matter of comfort to believers, as opposed to the fluctuating and uncertain state of all creature-enjoyments; it is an encouragement to them in the loss of friends and relations, or under all the other losses or disappointments they meet with as to their outward estate in this world. These are, at best, but short-lived comforts, but God is the _eternal portion_ and happiness of his people, Psal. lxxiii. 26. and, from his eternity, they may certainly conclude, that the happiness of the heavenly state will be eternal, for it consists in the enjoyment of him, who is so; which is a very delightful thought to all who are enabled by faith to lay claim to it. VI. God is immutable: thus it is said, that _with him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning_, James i. 17. This is sometimes set forth in a metaphorical way, in which respect he is compared to _a rock_, Deut. xxxii. 4. which remains immoveable, when the whole ocean, that surrounds it, is continually in a fluctuating state; even so, though all creatures are subject to change, God alone is unchangeable in his being, and all his perfections. Here we shall consider, 1. How immutability is a perfection; and how it is a divine perfection peculiar to God. (1.) It must be allowed that immutability cannot be said to be an excellency or perfection, unless it be applied to, or spoken of what is good; an immutable state of sin, or misery, is far from being an excellency, when it is applied to fallen angels, or wicked men: but unchangeable holiness and happiness, as applied to holy angels, or saints in heaven, is a perfection conferred upon them; and when we speak of God’s immutability, we suppose him infinitely blessed, which is included in the notion of a God; and so we farther say, that he is unchangeable in all those perfections in which it consists.