Attributes of God by Charnock (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Chapter 6 (A discourse upon the immutability of God) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'II. The second thing propounded is the reasons to prove God immutable.'
Today we begin to look at another attribute of God: immutability.
To open the chapter Charnock gives us a brief exposition on Psalm 102:26-27: They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psa 102:26-27).' In this Charnock spends a fair amount of time teaching us that the world will not be annihilated at the end of this age, but changed into a new creation.
Charnock then proceeds to state his doctrine of the chapter: 'God is unchangeable in his essence, nature and perfections' and gives us three premises before his main arguments:
(i) immutability is a perfection;
(ii) immutability is a glory belonging to all the attributes of God;
(iii) immutability doth necessarily pertain to the nature of God.
Then he begins his first major point of the chapter by teaching us in what regards God is immutable. God is unchangeable in his:
(i) essence;
(ii) knowledge;
(iii) will and purpose;
(iv) place (location).
I liked seeing how the immutability of God underpins God's other attributes: 'Immutability is a glory belonging to all the attributes of God. It is not a single perfection of the Divine nature, nor is it limited to particular objects thus and thus disposed. Mercy and justice have their distinct objects, and distinct acts; mercy is conversant about a penitent, justice conversant about an obstinate sinner. In our notion and conception of the Divine perfections, his perfections are different; the wisdom of God is not his power, nor his power his holiness; but immutability is the centre wherein they all unite. There is not one perfection but may be said to be, and truly is immutable; none of them will appear so glorious without this beam, this sun of immutability, which renders them highly excellent without the least shadow of imperfection. How cloudy would his blessedness be, if it were changeable! How dim his wisdom, if it might be obscured! How feeble his power if it were capable to be sickly and languish! How would mercy lose much of its lustre if it could change into wrath; and justice much of its dread, if it could be turned into mercy; while the object of justice remains unfit for mercy, and one that has need of mercy continues only fit for the Divine fury? But unchangeableness is a thread that runs through the whole web; it is the enamel of all the rest; none of them without it could look with a triumphant aspect.'
Understanding the immutability of God help us to understand how glorious God's other attributes are!
Continue Chapter 6
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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