Hitherto we have spoken of the perfection of Gods nature: Now followeth the life of GOD, by which the Divine Nature is in perpetual action, living, and moving in it self. Psal. 42. 2. My soule thirsteth for God, even for the living God, when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God? Heb. 3. 12. See there be not at any time in any of you an evel heart to depart [note] from the living God.

The divine Nature, is especially in perpetual operation by three attributes, the which do manifest the operation of God towards his creatures. These are his Wisdom, Will, and Omnipotency.

The wisdom or knowledge of God, is that by the which God doth, not by certaine notions abstracted from the things themselves, but by his own essence: nor successively and by discourse of reason, but by one eternal and immutable act of understanding, distinctly and perfectly know himself, and all other things, though infinite, whether they have been or not. Mat. 11. 27. No man knoweth the son but the Father, nor the Father but the [note] Son, and he to whom the Son will reveale him. Heb. 4. 13. There is nothing created, which is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open to his eyes, with whom we have to do, Psal. 147. 5. His wisdom is infinite.

—William Perkins, A Golden Chaine (1616), 12.

Post authored by:

• R. Scott Clark

  

  R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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