Section 2: Of the Order wherein this Knowledg may be considered.

Book 2 Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 2 (p. 38-40)
Of the Order wherein this Knowledg may be considered.

Thus then we approach to consider, what may be known of God, according to that Revelation which it hath pleased him to give us of himself, either by his Holy Writing, or by his Works, and continual Providence. All which we are under strict obligation to take notice of, that we may know him, Isa. 40.26. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things. For as it is said in David, Psal. 19. The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth his Handywork. And the Apostle, Rom. 1.20. "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." So that we shall rather shun, as an idle vanity, this Question, i.e. Whether there be any God? than vouchsafe to answer it, lith they that make such Demands, fight against Heaven and Earth; yea, the worst of Men, and Devils themselves, are constrained to believe and acknowledg that there is a God, and tremble for fear of him, Jam. 2.19. But our Business is to set forth the Knowledg of the only true God, to which purpose we descend to these Particulars.

1. That God is One, or there is One only true God; best known to Mankind now, by the Appellation of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. His Essence, or Being, is Spiritual, or Incorporeal.
3. That he is Eternal, without Beginning, without End.
4. He is Omnipotent, He doth whatsoever he pleaseth.
5. He is Omniscient, nothing can be hid from him.
6. He is Just, there is no Unrighteousness in him.
7. He is Good and Holy, there is nothing corrupt in him.
8. He is very Gracious, full of Mercy, no Cruelty is in him.
9. He only is Perfect, so as no Imperfection is in him.
10. His place of residence is in Heaven, yet not confin'd to place.
11. Nothing can be done without his Providence, though contrary to his Will.
12. It is unlawful for Men to form any Shape or Image of him, so much as in our thoughts.

Touching the first Particular, That God is One, &c. It is considerable which is said by some, That Infinity admit not of Plurality, sith only one thing can truly be said to be Infinite. Wherefore the Holy Scripture doth with great perspicuity set forth this Truth, that God is One: for if a plurality of Gods be admitted, the number of them cannot be determined; for why there may not be two thousand as well as two, no reason can be shewed: and the experience of those that have been destitute of the knowledg of the One God, in multiplying their [They are noted by some to be 12000] Gods, from time to time, (of which we read at large in Aug. de Civit. Dei.) sufficiently shews, there is (in a manner) no end of their number; and consequently no certainty whom to worship, or which to give a precedency unto in adoration. Whether the Sun, Moon, Stars, Angels, Men, four-footed Beasts or creeping things, all which have been adored by deluded Men, Rom. 1.25. "Who changed the Truth of God into a Lye, and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator, who is God blessed for ever." To divert us from which gross darkness, thus saith the Lord, Isa. 45.22. "I am God, and there is none else": And this he speaks to controul the vanity of worshipping or depending upon Idols, or any created thing, vers. 20, 21. How strictly God by Moses recommended this Verity to Israel, we may not be ignorant, Deut. 6.4. "Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord." Exod. 20.3. "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." To which agreeth that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 8.4, 5, 6. "We know - that there is no other God but One. For though there be that are called Gods, whether in Heaven or in Earth, (as there be Gods many, and Lords many); But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus, by whom are all things, and we by him." Now if these words, "There be Gods many", &c. be taken in a good sense, yet the Phrase is used figuratively, not properly, and they are so called, upon the account of some Power or Office committed to them, as we find it Exod. 22.28 & 4.16. & 7.1. So that they are only (as the Apostle saith) called Gods. But if we take the words on the worst part, as that is the most agreeable to the scope of the place, sith Idolatry is there the thing opposed, then its evident that these words, "There are God many", &c. are spoken after the manner of Men only, or according to the foolish concerts of Men. Our Lord Christ, the great Apostle of Christianity, deliver this truth very clearly, when he calls his Father, John 17.3. "The only true God". And confirms the Doctrine of Moses in that behalf, Mark 12.29. "Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord"; making it a part of that greatest and first Commandment, that we hearken diligently to that particular.