The Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines/Chapter 2

1465489The Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines — Chapter 2: Of God, and of the holy Trinity.Westminster Assembly

Chap. II.

Of God, and of the holy Trinity.

THere is but one only[1], living, and true God [2]: who is infinite in Being and Perfection[3], a most pure Spirit[4], invisible[5] without body, parts[6], or passions[7], immutable[8], immense[9], eternal[10], incomprehensible[11], almighty[12], most wise[13], most holy[14], most free[15], most absolute[16], working all things according to the Counsel of his own immutable and most righteous wil[17], for his own glory[18], most loving[19], gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin[20], the rewarder of them that diligently seek him[21]; and withall, most just and terrible in his iudgmens[22], hating all sin[23], and who wil by no means cleer the guilty[24].

II. God hath all life[25], glory[26], goodness[27], blessedness[28], in, and of himself, and is alone in, and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made[29], nor deriving any Glory from them[30], but only manifesting his own glory, in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone Fountain of all Being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things[31]; and hath most Soveraign Dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth[32]. In his sight all things are open and manifest[33], his knowledg is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature[34], so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain[35]. He is most holy in all his councels, in all his works, and in all his commands[36]. To him is due from Angels and Men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them[37].

III. In the Unity of the God-head there be Three Persons, of one substance, power and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost[38]. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding: The Son is eternally begotten of the Father[39]: the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son[40].