PROPOSITION VIII. 1357 4. The attribute of eternity; or without, beginning or end; is also a peculiar distinguishing perfection of ;God ; Ps. xc. 2. "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." The eternity of God is also denoted by that title of his, °" I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God ;" Is. xliv. 0., Now our Lord Jesus Christ has this same eternity, for he is that God, "whose throne is for ever and ever ;" lieb, i. 8. He is " the alpha and omega, the first and the l sf;. Rev. i. 11: and ii. 8. And the historical eternity of Melchisedeck, whose begin- ning of days and end of life are not mentioned in history, renders him a proper typeof Christ, "the Son of God, who has no be -. ginningof days, or end of life," and who must have real and true eternity to answer this type ; Heb. vii. 3. 5. The last attribute I shall mention is, Immutability, or unchangeableness. This God assumes to himself as a peculiar. glory. SeeMal. iii. 6. " I am the Lord, .I change not." So is Christ unchangeable. Heb. i. 12. The heavens and earth, shall be changed, but thou art the same, and thy yearsshall not fail." . Heb. xiii. 8. " Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to- day, and for ever. IV. Divine works, or operations ascribed toChrist. The creation of the world, isa work of almightypower, and belongsonly to God ; Gen. i. 1. " In the beginningGod created the heavens and the earth." It is ascribed tohim in scripture as a distinguishing character of godhead ; lieb. iii. 4, " He that built all things is God." The Lord himself maintains this as his Own prerogative ; Is. xliv. 24. " I am the Lord that maketh all things, that stretcbeth forth the heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself ;" yetthis almighty work is attribut- ed to Christ ; John i. 1, 3. " In the beginning was the Word; and the Wordwas with God, and theWordwas God. All things were made by him, and without himwas nothing made that was made ;" and verse 10. " The worldwas made by him." Ps. cii. 25, 26, 27. "-Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands : They shall perish, but thou shalt endure, &c." All which three verses are spoken concerning Christ, as appears in lieb. i. 10, &c. " Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands, &c." And here it is proper to take notice of four things t I. That the way whereby God creates all things, is by his word, to shewwith what ease almighty power performs so divine a work ; Gen. i. 3. " And God said, let there be light, and there was light." Ps. xxxiii. 9. " He spake, and it wasdone; he commanded, and it stood fast." And, lieb. xi. 3. " The worlds were framed by the word of God." And it is in the same [Wanner that our Lord Jesus Christ is said to upholdall things,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=