A body of divinity by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read '11. The unity of God' and '12. The trinity'.
Firstly Watson makes the following points about God's unity:
(i) there is but one First Cause that has its Being of itself, and on which all other beings depend;
(ii) there is but one infinite Being, therefore there is but one God;
(iii) there is but one Omnipotent Power.
Then he gives us uses of the doctrine of God's unity. Uses of:
(i) information;
(ii) caution;
(iii) reproof;
(iv) exhortation;
(v) gratitude.
The other half of the reading is concerned with Question VI of the catechism: 'How many persons are there in the Godhead? A. Three persons, yet but one God.'
Firstly in this chapter Watson makes the following points about the trinity:
(i) there is unity in trinity;
(ii) there is trinity in unity.
Then he applies his teaching with uses of:
(i) confutation;
(ii) exhortation.
What grabbed me
I liked this application of God's oneness: 'If there be but one God, who is ‘above all,’ Eph 4:6, then he must be loved above all. We must love him with a love of appreciation; set the highest estimate on him, who is the only fountain of being and bliss. We must love him with a love of complacency. Amor est complacentia amantis amato [The lover’s effort to please the beloved, this is love]. Aquinas. Our love to other things must be more indifferent. Some drops of love may run beside to the creature, but the full stream must run towards God. The creature may have the milk of our love, but we must keep the cream for God. He who is above all, must be loved above all. ‘There is none on earth whom I desire in comparison of thee.’ Psa 73:35.'
God is above all and deserves love that is above all other loves.
Next week's reading
Read '13. The creation' and '14. The providence of God'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment