A Body of Divinity, Vol. 1 (of 4): Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger CatechismRidgley, Thomas
Religion
A Body of Divinity, Vol. 1 (of 4): Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism
As knowledge is a faculty of which wisdom is the due exercise, the
proofs of divine wisdom are so many evidences of the knowledge of God.
Wisdom consists in the choice of the best ends, and the selection of
means most suitable to attain them. The testimonies of the wisdom of
God must therefore be as numerous and various, as the works of his
creation. The mutual relations and subserviency of one thing to
another; as the heat of the sun, to produce rain; both, to produce
vegetation; and all, to sustain life; ensation, digestion, muscular
motion, the circulation of the fluids, and, still more, intelligence,
and above all, the moral faculty, or power of distinguishing good and
evil, are unequivocal proofs of the wisdom, and consequently of the
knowledge, of God.—_He that formed the eye, doth he not see: he that
planted the ear, &c._
Mortal artificers are deemed to understand their own work, though
ignorant of the formation of the materials and instruments they use:
but the Creator uses no mean or material which he has not formed. He
therefore knows, from the globe to the particle of dust or fluid, and
from the largest living creature to the smallest insect. He has
knowledge equally of the other worlds of this system, and every
system; of all things in heaven, earth, and hell.
Our knowledge is conversant about his works; he knows all things which
are known to us, and those things which have not come to our
knowledge.
He formed and sustains the human mind, and knows the thoughts: this is
necessary to him as our Judge. He knows equally all spiritual
creatures, and sustains his holy spirits in holiness.
Our knowledge springs from things; but things spring from his
purposes: they are, because he knows them; otherwise they existed
before his knowledge, and so independently of him.
We know but the external appearances, he the intimate nature of
things. We inquire into the properties of things by our senses, by
comparing them, by analizing, &c: but nothing possesses a property
which he did not purpose and give; otherwise his hands have wrought
more than he intended. We look up through effects unto their causes:
he looks down through intermediate causes, and sees them all to be
effects from him.
We are furnished with memories to bring up ideas, being only able to
contemplate a part at a time; but his comprehension embraces all
things.
He never changes; his purposes of the future embrace eternity: all
things that are really future are certain, because his purposes cannot
fail of accomplishment. But all future things to us are contingent,
except as he has revealed their certainty. That the future is known to
him, also appears by the accomplishment of every prophecy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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