PSA L. cxlv. 17.

The Lord is Righteous in all his Ways.

Queft. 1.

צדיק יהוה בכל דרכיו

is Righteousness as attributed unto God?

WHAT

It is that Perfection whereby we apprehend God as pure and free from Sin, hating Iniquity, and giving to every One according to their Deferts, Pfal. xi. 7. Deut. xxxii. 4. 2 Tim. iv. 8. Gen. xviii. 25. Indeed, he is fo Righteous, that his Will and Nature is, that eternal Law of Righteoufnefs, which is the Rule of all Juftice and Goodness in the Creatures; fo that it cannot be fo properly faid, That he Wills a Thing because it is Juft and Good, as that it is therefore Juft and Good because he Wills it.

Queft. 2. How is this Juftice of God to be diftinguished in our Apprehenfion?

1. There is his difpofing Juftice, whereby, as God, he orders and difpofeth all Things juftly and exactly, according to his own Will and Wisdom.

2. His diftributing Juftice, whereby he diftributeth his Rewards and Punishments according to every ones Deferts, loving Goodnefs, and hating Iniquity, Hab. i. 13.

Affectus attribuuntur Deo fecundum effectus, Ezek. xviii. 25.

Queft. 3

Queft. 3. How doth it appear, that God in his own Nature is fo Righteous that he cannot but punish Sin?

1. From Scripture, Exod. xxxiv. 7. Pfal. xlv. 78 Pfal. v. 5. Pfal. vii. 11, 12.

2. From Reason.

1. Sin is contrary to his Nature, and therefore he cannot but naturally hate and punish it, Ifai. i. 13, 14.

2. Reason, and the Light of Nature, dictates this to all Mankind, even to the Heathens themselves, Rom. ii. 15.

3. His Judgments upon wicked Men in all Ages do demonftrate it; as his drowning the Old World, deftroying Sodom and Gomorrah, &c.

4. This appears alfo from the Image of God enftamped upon Mankind, Epb. iv. 24. 5. From the Laft Judgment, Acts xvii. 31. 2 Thessal. i. 7, 8, 9. Acts xxiv. 25.

6. From the Death of Chrift, which fhews, That he would not pardon Sin without Satisfaction made to his Juftice for it, Matt. xx. 28. Rom. iv. 25. c. v. 10. 1 Job. ii. z.

Cueft. 4. Why is God faid to be Righteous in all bis Ways? Because he is Righteous in all he Wills, Speaks, or Doth.

1. In his Will. Whatfoever he Wills is Juft; yea, therefore Juft, because he Wills it. Epb. i. 11.

In

2. In his Word.

1. Delivering nothing in it but what is cer
tainly true.

2. Fulfilling whatsoever he there,
i. Foretells, Matt. v. 18.

2. Threatens, Fer. li. 29.

3. Promises. In which there being an Obligation, tho' not of God to us, yet of God to himself, so that he is fibi debitor, he will moft certainly and juftly perform them all, 1 John i. 9. Heb. vi. 10. 2 Theff. i. 6, 7.

3. In his Works.

I. In punishing the Wicked, Pfal. li. 5.
2. In rewarding the Righteous.

OBJECT. But how comes it to pass then, that the Wicked are often in a better outward Condition than the Righteous?

ANS w. This hath been a great ftumbling Block in all Ages, Pfal. Ixxiii. 2, 3. John xii. 1. But is certainly a great Inftance of God's Juftice and Fidelity to his Promife, and an Argument of his Love to them, Heb. xii. 6. Pfal. cxix. 71.

We shall certainly have Caufe to blefs God to Eternity for our Afflictions, as much, if not more than for all our Profperity.

Queft. 5. What Ufe to be made of this?.

1. Then we fhould not repine at any Providence of God, Lam. iii. 39.

2. Have a care of Sin, as that which God will one Day moft certainly punish, Ecclef.

xi. 9.

3. Truft and Believe in the Promises of God, for they will most certainly be fulfilled, Tit. i. 2. Heb. vi. 18. c. xiii. 6.

4. Imitate God in being Righteous your Selves, Pfal. xi. 7.

Queft. 1.TN what Senfe is God Jaid to be Al

1

"I mighty?

1. Because he hath all Power or Authority over all Things, isola, poteftas, as Luk. xii. 5. ἐξεσίαν ἔχοντα, Αtt. 1. 7. ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐξεσίᾳ. Hence he is called, *178, Kʊu☺, Naowths. Пarrones, the Word in the Creed.

In this Senfe, God is Almighty:

1. In refpect of the Object. He hath Power and Authority over all Things, Deut. x. 14. 1 Chron. xxix. II, 12.

2. In respect of the Manner. As he hath Power over all Things, fo he hath all Power over every Thing, Jer. xviii. 6. Rom. ix. 20, 21.

3.

In re pect of the Duration. He hath all
Power over all Things at all Times, yea

before

before, in, and after all Times, 1 Tim. i. 17. Pfal. cxlv. 13.

2. He is faid to be Almighty, because he can do all Things whatsoever himself pleafelf.

Qui certe non ob aliud vocatur omnipotens, nifi quod quicquid vult poteft. Aug.

Deo nihil eft impoffibile nifi quod non vult. Tertull.

This is plain,

1. From Scripture. Pfal. cxxxv. 6. Luke i. 37 Matt. xix. 26. Apoc. iv. 8. c. xix. 6.

2. From Reason.

1. He muft needs be Almighty, feeing he is the Fountain of Might. There is no Power but what comes from him; therefore none but what is in him, Rom, xiii. 1. Jobn xix, ri. As xvii. 18.

2. There can be no Refiftance, no Oppofition made against him, to hinder what he defigns, 2 Chron. xx. 6. Fob ix. 12. Isa. xiv. 27. Dan. iv. 34, 35

·3.

There is no End, no Limits of his Power, but whatsoever he doth or hath done, he is ftill able to do infinitely more, Fob xlii. I, 2.

He could create New Worlds; make more Stars or Creatures.

Of Stones, raife up Children to Abraham, Luke 3. 8.

Send Legions of Angels, Matt. xxvi. §3. Subdue all Things to himfelf, Phil. iii. 21. Epb. iii. 20.