A. The second natural perfection of God is his IM MUTABILITY. Q. 315. What duty do you infer from this? A. I infer the duty of cultivating a spirit of holy awe and reverence, as it respects the provocation of his anger; (a) and of trust and filial confidence, as it respects the purposes of his love. (b) (a) Ps. iv. 4. Stand in awe, and sin not.-Num. xxiii. 19. God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?Is. xiv. 27. For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (ver. 21–24; Ps. xxxiii. 8; Ecc. iii. 14.) (b) Is. xlvi. 10. My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. Rom. xi. 29. For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.—John xiii. 1. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (2 Tim. i. 9; Hos. xiii. 14; Mal. iii. 6.) Q. 316. What comfort do we derive from this attribute? A. The assurance of persevering unto the end in the hope of the gospel, and of our final salvation. (a) (a) Phil. i. 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.-Heb. vi. 17, 18. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. (Is. li. 6—8; Mal. iii. 6; Lam. iii. 22; Cor. xiii. 12; xv. 2 Tim. 1, 9; Rom. v. 2; viii. 39; N 51-58; 2 Cor. iv. 14; v.1—8; 1 Tim. iv. 8; 1 Sam. xii. 22; Is. liv. 7-10.) Q. 317. What is the third natural perfection of God, before mentioned ? A. The ETERNITY of God. Q. 318. What duty do you infer from this? A. I infer, that it is our duty to trust always in the eternal God, for his never-failing aid; (a) that we should fear and tremble before his divine Majesty ; (b) and that we should render him due homage and worship. (c) (a) Is. xxvi. 4. Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. (Ps. lxii. 8; cxxv. 1; Is. xii. 2; xl. 28-31.) (b) Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.-Dan. vi. 26. I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. (c) Rom. i. 20, 21. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God.1 Tim. i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Ps. xc. 1, 2, 4; cii. 25—27; Hab. i. 12.) Q. 319. What comfort does this perfection of God afford? A. To the impenitent and ungodly, it is a source of the greatest terror; (a) but to the people of God, it affords the strongest assurance that God is their constant refuge; (b) that his love is perpetual; (c) and that their portion is imperishable. (d) (a) Matt. xxv. 46. These shall go away into everlasting punishment.-Is xxxiii. 14. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire, who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (6) Deut. xxxiii. 27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (2 Sam. xxii. 2, 3; Ps. xci. 2.) (c) Jer. xxxi. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.— 2 Thess. ii. 16, 17. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (d) Matt. xxv. 46. But the righteous shall go into life eter- Q. 320. What is the fourth attribute of God? Q. 321. What are the principal duties resulting from his attribute? A. The principal duties to be learned from this * In this attribute is included the infinite wisdom of God. attribute are the following; viz. to dread secret sin ; (a) to avoid ostentation and hypocrisy ; (b) to worship God in spirit and in truth; (c) to depend on him for wisdom to conduct ourselves aright; (d) to rely on him for the supply of all our temporal wants; (e) and to confide in him for the guidance and government of all our concerns. (ƒ) (a) Jer. xvii. 5, 9, 10. Thus saith the Lord; the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.-(Ps. xliv. 20, 21; xciv. 7—11; cxxxix. 23, 24; Acts viii. 18—22; Ter. xxiii. 23, 24; Josh. vii. 1-18; Job. xi. 11.) (b) Matt. vi. 3—8, 16—18. eous, (c) Ps. xxxiv. 15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the rightand his ears are open unto their cry. (Ecc. v. 2; Matt. vi. 6; Ps. cxxxvi. 1, 5; Rom. xvi. 27; 1 Tim. i. 17; Jude 25; Dan. ii. 19-23.) (d) Dan. ii. 20, 21. Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.—(Is. xxviii. 29; Jer. x. 23; xxxii. 18, 19; Job xii. 13; xxxviii. 36; Prov. ii. 6, 7; James i. 5; iii. 17, 18; 1 Kings iii. 7-9.) (e) Matt. vi. 31, 32. Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly. Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.-(Ps. lv. 22.) (ƒ) Ps. xvi. 11. Thou wilt show me the path of life.xxxvii. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.-1 Pet. v. 7. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. Q. 322. Can you now state the principal consolations this attribute affords? A. The principal consolations to believers to be derived from this attribute are these, viz. that whatever befals them must tend to promote their best interests; (a) that the plans and purposes of God's love to them are infallible; (b) that God fully understands the secret desires, prayers, and sorrows of their hearts; (c) that he is able to give them secret and unerring counsel; (d) and that he knows how to frustrate and defeat the wisest plans devised against them by their enemies; (e) and how to conduct them safely and securely to the glory and felicity of heaven; (f) and that, in their way thither, they may enjoy the privilege of appealing to the omniscient God for their sincerity and integrity. (g) (a) Rom. viii. 28. All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Heb. xii. 11; Lam. iii. 33; 2 Cor. iv. 15, 17; Rom. xi. 33; Job xxiii. 10; v. 18, 19.) my sheep, and am (b) 2 Tim. ii. 19, The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.John x. 14, 27, 28. I am the good Shepherd, and know known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. (c) Ps. xxxviii. 9. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee.-1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.-Ps. cxlv. 18, 19. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.-Ex. iii. 7. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and |