Attributes of God by Charnock (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Chapter 7 (A discourse upon God's omnipresence) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'III. The third thing is, propositions for the further clearing this doctrine from any exceptions.'
Now we begin to examine the doctrine of God's omnipresence: God is essentially everywhere present in heaven and earth.
Firstly Charnock puts forth some propositions concerning the doctrine:
(i) it is negatively to be understood;
(ii) there is an influential omnipresence of God;
(iii) there is an essential presence of God in the world;
(iv) God is present beyond the world;
(v) this is the property of God, incommunicable to any creature.
Secondly Charnock raises reasons to prove God's essential presence:
(i) Because he is infinite;
(ii) Because of the continual operation of God in the world;
(iii) Because of his supreme perfection;
(iv) Because of his immutability;
(v) Because of his omnipotency.
But I also liked today that Charnock was careful to avoid the heresy of pantheism: 'But now this essential presence is (1) Without any mixture. 'I fill heaven and earth', not, I am mixed with heaven and earth; his essence is not mixed with the creatures; it remains entire in itself. The sponge retains the nature of a sponge, though encompassed by the sea, and moving in it; and the sea still retains its own nature. God is most simple; his essence therefore is not mixed with any thing. The light of the sun is present with the air, but not mixed with it; it remains light, and the air remains air: the light of the Sun is diffused through all the hemisphere, it pierceth all transparent bodies, it seems to mix itself with all things, yet remains unmixed and undivided; the light remains light, and the air remains air; the air is not light though it be enlightened. Or take this similitude; when many candies are lighted up in a room, the light is all together, yet not mixed with one another; every candle hath a particular light belonging to it, which may be separated in a moment, by removing one candle from another; but if they were mixed, they could not be separated, least so easily. God is not formally one with the world, or with any creature in the world, by his presence in it; nor can any creature in the world, no, not the soul of man, or an angel, come to be essentially one with God, though God be essentially present with it.'
The doctrine is that God is everywhere. Not God is everything.
Conclude Chapter 7
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment