Attributes of God - Charnock - XXXI - Chapter 10 (God's power) commenced

Required reading
Attributes of God by Charnock (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Chapter 10 (A discourse upon the power of God) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'III. The third general thing is to declare how the power of God appears in creation, in government, in redemption.'

My summary
Today we begin a new chapter on the power of God.

To start the chapter Charnock gives a quick exposition of Job.

Then we read his first main point which is on the nature of God's power.  We see that God's power is:
(i) authoritative;
(ii) absolute and ordinate;
(iii) the strength whereby he can bring to pass whatsoever he please;
(iv) of a distinct conception from the wisdom and will of God;
(v) a power that gives activity to all the other perfections of his nature;
(vi) originally and essentially in the nature of God and not distinct from his essence;
(vii) infinite;
(viii) not infringed by the impossibility of God's doing some things.

Then we read Charnock's second main point which gives us reasons that prove God is omnipotent.  We see God's power is proven by:
(i) the power that is in creatures;
(ii) that if there were not an incomprehensible power in God he would not be infinitely perfect;
(iii) the simplicity of God;
(iv) the miracles that have been in the world.

What grabbed me
An important point was made that some things are impossible for God: 'Some things are impossible to the glorious perfections of God. God cannot do anything unbecoming his holiness and goodness, anything unworthy of himself, and against the perfections of his nature. God can do whatsoever he can will. As he doth actually do whatsoever he doth actually will, so it is possible for him to do whatsoever it is possible for him to will. He doth whatsoever he will, and can do whatsoever he can will, but he cannot do what he cannot will. He cannot will any unrighteous thing, and therefore cannot do any unrighteous thing. God cannot love sin, this is contrary to his holiness ; he cannot violate his word, this is a denial of his truth ; he cannot punish an innocent, this is contrary to his goodness ; he cannot cherish an impenitent sinner, this is an injury to his justice ; he cannot forget what is done in the world, this is a disgrace to his omniscience ; he cannot deceive his creature, this is contrary to his faithfulness. None of these things can be done by him, because of the perfection of his nature. Would it not be an imperfection in God to absolve the guilty, and condemn the innocent ? Is it congruous to the righteous and holy nature of God to command murder and adultery, to command men not to worship him, but to be base and unthankful ? These things would be against the rules of righteousness. As when we say of a good man, he cannot rob or fight a duel, we do not mean that he wants a courage for such an act, or that he hath not a natural strength and knowledge to manage his weapon as well as another, but he hath a righteous principle strong in him which will not suffer him to do it ; his will is settled against it. No power can pass into act unless applied by the will. But the will of God cannot will anything but what is worthy of him, and decent for his goodness. '

I'm so thankful that sin is beyond God's power!

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 10 (A discourse upon the power of God) by reading up to the paragraph commencing '3. The power of God appears in redemption.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.