Eternal; fo, in refpect of Greatness, itSER M. muft likewise be immenfe. Otherwife, VIII. its Perfections will be limited; which is the Notion of Imperfection: and, by being supposed to be Finite in Extent, the Perfection of its Power will as totally be destroyed, as it would be, fuppofing it to be Temporary in Duration. For as Any Being, which is not Always; at the time when it is not, is as if it never was; fo whatever Being is not every-where; in thofe places where it is not, is (to all the purposes of Power and Activity) as if it had no Being in any place at all. For no Being can act Where it is not, any more then When it is not. Power, without Existence, is but an empty word without any reality; and the fcholaftick Fiction of a Being acting in all places, without being present in all places, is either making the Notion of God an express contradiction, or else a fuppofing him fo to act by the miniftry of Others, as not to be Himself Prefent to underftand and know what they Do. He therefore that will frame to Himself a true Idea of this Divine Attribute, (fo far as finite Understanding SER M. ftanding can comprehend what is Infi- divine Perfections, form in his Mind, the fent fent with all things, and infinitely beyond S ER M. ; For Again: IT cannot but be evident, e- equally likewife his actual Omnipre- Laftly: HE who exifts by Neceffity of at SER M. at all times and in all places the fame. VIII. Whatever can be abfent at any time, may be abfent at all times; and whatever can be abfent from one place, may be abfent from another; and confequently can have no Neceffity of exifting at all. He therefore, who exifts neceffarily, muft neceffarily exift Always and Every-where that is, as he muft in duration be Eternal, fo he muft alfo in Immenfity be Omniprefent. THE Truth of the Doctrine itself, that God muft of Neceffity be Immense or Omniprefent, being thus briefly proved by fuch Arguments as are moft obvious and univerfally intelligible; I proceed now in the IId place, To offer fome particular Obfervations, concerning the Nature and Circumstances of this divine Attribute. And ift. 'Tis to be observed, that this Attribute of Omniprefence, as 'tis conftantly afcribed to God in Scripture, fo is it in Reafon likewife fo plain and obvious, that the generality of Moral Writers even among the Heathens themselves, have not been 1 been wanting to affert it clearly and with-SER M. out hesitation. The only difficulty has VIII. been, in explaining the particular Manner of our apprehending or conceiving it. - Concerning which, the Schoolmen have prefumed to affert with great Confidence, that the Infinity of God is a Point only, and not a proper Immenfity; juft as they fancy his Eternity to be an Inftant only, and not a proper everlafting Duration. But thefe Notions of theirs, as they are abfurd and unintelligible, fo they are frivolous and vain. For the Excellency of the Perfections of God, does not confift in impoffible and contradictory Notions ; but in true Greatnefs, Dignity, Majefty, and Glory. And vain men, while they have affected to clog Religion with Abfurdities which could not be understood, have made its Doctrines, (as far as in Them lay,) not venerable, but ridiculous. The Eternity of God, does not confift in making time paft to be ftill prefent, and future Time to be already come, (which is a manifeft Inconfiftency, and Impoffibility;) but it confifts in a true proper everlafting duration, without Begin |