not of supreme and infinite power, the peculiar attribute of God Thus, whilst we believe God to be omnipotent, we exclude from him whatever is not intimately connected, and entirety consistent with the perfection of his nature.
But the pastor should point out the propriety and wisdom of having omitted all other names of God in the Creed, and of having proposed to us that alone of " Almighty" as the object of our belief; for by acknowledging God to be omnipotent, we also necessity acknowledge him to be omniscient, and to hold all things in subjection to his supreme authority and dominion. When we doubt not that he is omnipotent, we must be also convinced of every thing else regarding him, the absence of which would render his omnipotence altogether unintelligible. Besides, nothing tends more to confirm our faith, and animate our hope, than a deep conviction that all things are possible to God: for whatever may be afterwards proposed as an object of faith, however great, however wonderful, however raised above the natural order, is easily and at once believed, when the mind is already imbued with the knowledge of the omnipotence of God. Nay more, the greater the truths which the divine oracles an nounce, the more willingly does the mind deem them worthy of belief; and should we expect any favour from heaven, we are not discouraged by the greatness of the desired boon, but are cheered and confirmed by frequently considering, that there is nothing which an omnipotent God cannot effect.
With this faith, then, we should be specially fortified whenever we are required to render any extraordinary service to our neighbour, or seek to obtain by prayer any favour from God. Its necessity in the one case, we learn from the Redeemer him self, who, when rebuking the incredulity of the Apostles, said to them, "If you have faith as a mustard-seed, you shall say to this mountain, remove from hence thither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you:"[1] and in the other, from these words of St. James, " Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind. Therefore, let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." [2] This faith brings with it also many advantages. It forms us, in the first place, to all humility and lowliness of mind, according to these words of the Prince of the Apostles: " Be you humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of God." [3] It also teaches us not to fear where there is no cause of fear, but to fear God alone, [4] in whose power we ourselves and all that we have are placed; [5] for our Saviour says, "I will show you whom you shall fear; fear ye him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell." [6] This faith is, also, useful to enable us to know and exalt the infinite mercies of God towards us: he who reflects on the omnipotence of God, cannot be so
