Attributes of God - Charnock - XLVII - Chapter 13 (God's dominion) commenced

Required reading
Attributes of God by Charnock (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Chapter 13 (A discourse upon God's dominion) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'III. The third things is the nature of this dominion'.

My summary
Today we commence Charnock's teaching on the dominion of God.

Initially Charnock gives an exposition of Psalm 103.

Then he begins to explain the doctrine by firstly laying down some general propositions for the clearing and confirming God's dominions:
(i) we must know the difference between the might and power of God and his authority;
(ii) all the other attributes of God refer to the perfection of dominion;
(iii) this dominion, as well as that of power, hath been acknowledged by all;
(iv) this notion of sovereignty is inseparable from the notion of a God.

Then Charnock's second main point explains wherein the dominion of God is founded on:
(i) the excellency of his nature;
(ii) his act of creation;
(iii) his being the final cause or end of all;
(iv) his preservation of things;
(v) the innumerable benefits he bestows upon his creatures.

What grabbed me
I thought Charnock's explanation of the difference between God's omnipotence and dominion was helpful: 'We must know the difference between the might or power of God and his authority. We commonly mean by the power of God the strength of God, whereby he is able to effect all his purposes; by the authority of God, we mean the right he hath to act what he pleases: omnipotence is his physical power, whereby he is able to do what he will; dominion is his moral power, whereby it is lawful for him to do what he will. Among men, strength and authority are two distinct things; a subject may be a giant, and be stronger than his prince, but he hath not the same authority as his prince: worldly dominion may be seated, not in a brawny arm, but a sickly and infirm body. As knowledge and wisdom are distinguished; knowledge respects the matter, being, and nature of a thing; wisdom respects the harmony, order, and actual usefulness of a thing; knowledge searcheth the nature of a thing, and wisdom employs that thing to its proper use: a man may have much knowledge, and little wisdom; so a man may have much strength, and little or no authority; a greater strength may be settled in the servant, but a greater authority resides in the master; strength is the natural vigour of a man: God hath an infinite strength, he hath a strength to bring to pass whatsoever he decrees; he acts without tainting and weakness (Isa. xl . 28), and impairs not his strength by the exercise of it: as God is Lord, he hath a right to enact; as he is almighty, he hath a power to execute; his strength is the executive power belonging to his dominion: in regard of his sovereignty, he hath a right to command all creatures; in regard of his almightiness, he hath power to make his commands be obeyed, or to punish men for the violation of them: his power is that whereby he subdues all creatures under him; his dominion is that whereby he hath a right to subdue all creatures under him. This dominion is a right of making what he pleases, of possessing what he made, of disposing of what he doth possess; whereas his power is an ability to make what he hath a right to create, to hold what he doth possess, and to execute the manner wherein he resolves to dispose of his creatures.'

Thankfully God has both omnipotence and dominion.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 13 (A discourse upon God's dominion) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'IV. Whereing this dominion and sovereignty consists, and how it is manifested.'

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