THE WILL OF GOD,
AND
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
ALMIGHTY GOD’S WILL.
…
Having considered
The Attributes of God
which belong to
ALMIGHTY GOD’S Understanding,
as an Intelligent Spirit,
ALMIGHTY GOD’S Knowledge
and
Wisdom,
we now proceed to consider
ALMIGHTY GOD’S
SOVEREIGN Will.
…
And we will,
1. Prove that there is a Will in God.
…
In all Intelligent beings
there is a will,
as well as an understanding.
…
As there is a will,
and an understanding
in Angels and men,
so
there is a Will,
and
an Understanding
in God.
…
ALMIGHTY GOD
has an Understanding
which is Infinite
and
Unsearchable.
…
So, THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
has a
WILL,
to Do What He Knows
is Most Suitable to Be Done.
…
GOD’S Understanding
Influences and Guides His Will,
and
GOD’S Will Determines
All His Actions.
…
SINCE,
GOD’S Understanding
Influences and Guides His Will,
then His Will
Being thus Wisely Directed,
is called,
“the Counsel
of His Will”
(Ephesians 1:11).
…
A Will is frequently Ascribed to God
in Scripture;
“The Will
of the Lord
Be Done”
(Acts 21:14).
…
“Who has resisted
His Will” ?
(Romans 9:19).
…
“Having Made Known to us
the Mystery of His Will”,
(Ephesians 1:9)
and in many other places.
…
The Will of God
is no other than
God Himself Willing.
…
The Will of God
is Essential to Him,
AS GOD.
…
The Will of God
is GOD’S Nature and Essence.
…
The Will of God
is not to be separated,
or to be considered as distinct
from
GOD’S Nature and Essence,
or
The Will of God
as a part of
GOD’S Nature and Essence,
or
The Will of God
being part of which
GOD’S Nature and Essence
is Composed;
which would be contrary
to the Simplicity of God.
…
FOR THE TRIUNE GODHEAD
to be a Simple,
Uncompounded Spirit;
The Will of God
is GOD’S Nature and Essence.
which has been established.
…
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
ALMIGHTY GOD’S WILL
is Ascribed to Each
of the Three Divine Persons,
in The TRIUNE GODHEAD.
…
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
ALMIGHTY GOD’S WILL
is Ascribed to
GOD the FATHER,
in John 6:39, 40;
“And this is
The Father’s Will
Which Has Sent Me
( JESUS ),
that of all which
He Has Given Me
I Should Lose Nothing,
but
Should Raise It Up Again
at
The Last Day.
…
“And this is
The Will of Him
( GOD the FATHER )
that Sent Me
( JESUS ),
that every one
which Sees the Son,
and
Believes on Him,
May Have Everlasting Life:
and
I Will Raise Him Up
at The Last Day.”
…
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
ALMIGHTY GOD’S WILL
is Ascribed to
JESUS, GOD the SON,
as a Divine Person,
in John 5:21;
“Because as the Father
Rraises Up the Dead,
and
Quickens them;
even so the Son Quickens
whom
He Will.”
( JESUS WILL )
&
In John 17:24;
Father,
I ( JESUS ) Will
that they also,
whom You Have Given Me,
( JESUS )
be with Me
Where I Am;
“that they may
Behold My Glory,
which
You Have Given Me:
…
“because You Loved Me
before
The Foundation
of the World.”
and
JESUS Who also, as man,
Has a Will
distinct from that,
though subjected to it,
in John 6:38;
“Because
I Came Down from Heaven,
not to Do My Own Will,
( JESUS’ )
but the Will of Him
( GOD the FATHER )
that Sent Me.”
…
& in Luke 22:42;
“Saying, Father,
if You Be Willing,
Remove this Cup from Me:
…
“Nevertheless
Not My Will,
( JESUS’ )
but Yours, Be Done.”
and
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
ALMIGHTY GOD’S WILL
is Ascribed to
GOD the HOLY SPIRIT,
Who is said to Forbid,
and
Not to Permit
some things to be done.
…
That is,
THE WILL
of
GOD the HOLY SPIRIT
Did Not Allow them;
and
to Not Allow
is an Act of the Will,
as well as to Will,
in Acts 16:6, 7;
“Now when they
had gone throughout Phrygia
and the region of Galatia,
and were
Forbidden of the Holy Ghost
to Preach the Word in Asia,
…
“After they were come to Mysia,
they assayed to go into Bithynia:
but the Spirit
Did Not Permit them.”
and
GOD the HOLY SPIRIT
is said to Divide His Gifts
to each men,
as
GOD the HOLY SPIRIT
“Will”
in 1 Corinthians 12:11;
“But all these Work that One
and
The Selfsame Spirit,
Dividing to every man
Variously
as He Will.”
( GOD the HOLY SPIRIT )
…
And These Three Divine Persons
in The TRIUNE GODHEAD,
since they are
The One God,
They Agree as One,
in One Mind
and Will.
*****
A Body of Doctrinal Divinity
Book 1—Chapter 11
*****
Aware of The Godhead 