EXISTENCE OF GOD.
Theplain argument for the existence of the Deity, obvious to all, and carrying irresistible conviction with it, is the evident contrivance and fitness of things for each other which we meet with throughout all parts of the universe. There is no need of subtile reasonings in this matter. A manifest contrivance immediately suggests a contriver. It strikes us like a sensation, and artful reasonings against it may puzzle us, but they do not shake our belief. No person who knows the principles of optics and the structure of the eye believes that it was formed without a knowledge of that science, or that the ear was formed without a knowledge of sounds, or that male and female in animals were not formed for each other and for continuing the species. All accounts of nature are full of instances of this kind. The admirable and beautiful structure of things for final causes exalts our idea of the contriver, and the unity of design shows him to be one. The great motions in the systems, performed with the same facility as the least, suggests his almighty power, which gave motion to the earth and the celestial bodies with equal ease as to the minutest particles. The subtility of the motions and actions in the internal partsof bodies shows that his influence penetrates the inmost recesses of things, and that he is equally active and present every-where. The simplicity of the laws that prevail in the world, and the excellent disposition of things in order to obtain the best ends, and the beauty which adorns the works of nature, far surpassing any thing in art, suggests his consummate wisdom. The usefulness of the whole scheme, so well contrived for the intelligent beings who enjoy it, with the internal dispositions and moral structure of those beings themselves, shows his unbounded goodness. These are arguments which are sufficiently open to the views and capacities of the unlearned, while at the same time they acquire new strength and luster from the discoveries of the learned.
The existence of God is the basis of religion. This truth will be evident if we remember that the word religion always denotes either a system of truths of which God is the great subject, or a system of affections and conduct of which he is the supreme object. Were there no such being, there could be no such relations and duties. Were the existence of such being incapable of proof, the existence of the relations and duties would be equally incapable of being proved. But God has not left himself without ample witness.
Because something exists, something must have existed always. The mind can not realize the fact that existence or change can take place without a cause. If nothing had originally existed, we can not possibly conceive that any thing could ever have existed. Causes absolutely the same must, in the same circumstances, produce absolutely the same effects. This, I think, is self-evident, and admitted as such. An absolute want of cause involves an absolute sameness of anopposite kind, and must, with nearly the same evidence, continue forever. The necessity of causes to all the changes of being is universally admitted. No absurdity can be greater than to argue with a man who denies the connection between cause and effect. He himself, in speaking, admits himself to be the cause of the words he utters, and of the opinions he communicates, and the act of arguing admits you to be a similar cause. If his body be not a cause, and your eyes another cause, you can not see him. If his voice and your ears be not causes, you can not hear him. If your mind and his be not causes, you can not understand him.
Mr. Locke presents the argument substantially as follows: Every man knows with absolute certainty that he himself exists. He knows, also, that he did not always exist, but began to be. It is clearly certain to him that his existence is caused, and not casual, and was produced by a cause adequate to the production. By an adequate cause is invariably intended a cause possessing and exerting an efficacy to bring any effect to pass. In the present case an adequate cause is one possessing and exerting all the understanding necessary to contrive and the power necessary to create such a being as the man in question. This cause is what we are accustomed to call God.
The understanding necessary to conceive and the power necessary to create a being compounded of the human soul and body admit of no limits. He who can contrive and create such a being can contrive and create any thing. He who actually contrived and created man certainly contrived and created all things. This argument is conclusive. It has not been nor will it ever be answered except with sophistry or sneers. Ido not affirm that every step of it is attended with what logicians call intuitive evidence, nor that it amounts to what is, in the logical sense, an absolute demonstration. But it is in every step attended with such evidence as excludes all rational doubt, and approaches so near the character of a demonstration as to leave the mind completely satisfied. At the same time it is opposed to no counter evidence.
The state of existing things completely proves the being of a God. The argument derived from this source is presented by Bishop Berkley in a clear and forcible manner, and is substantially as follows:
We acknowledge the existence of each other to be unquestionable, and when called upon for evidence on which this acknowledgment is founded allege that of our senses; yet it can by no means be affirmed with truth that our senses discern immediately any man. We see, indeed, a form, and we hear a voice communicating to us the thoughts, emotions, and volitions of an intelligent being. Yet it is intuitively certain that neither the form, the motions, the actions, the voice, the thoughts, nor the volitions are that intelligent being, or the living, acting, thinking thing which we call man. On the contrary, they are merely effects of which that living, active, acting thing denominated by the word man is the cause. The existence of the cause, or, in other language, of the man, we conclude from the effects which he thus produces. In the same manner, and with the like certainty, we discover the existence of God.
In the universe without us, and in the little world within us, we perceive a great variety of effects produced by some cause adequate to their production. Thus the motions of the heart, arteries, veins, andother vessels; of the blood and other juices; of the tongue, the hands, and other members; the perceptions of the senses and the actions of the mind; the storm, the lightning, the volcano, and the earthquake; the reviviscence and growth of the vegetable world; the diffusion of light and the motions of the planetary system—are all effects, and effects of a cause adequate to their production. This cause is God, or a being possessed of intelligence and power sufficient to contrive and bring them to pass. He, with evidence from reason equally clear with the testimony of the Scriptures, thundereth marvelously with his voice, holdeth the winds in his fists, sendeth lightnings with rain, looketh on the earth and it trembleth, toucheth the hills and they smoke, melteth the mountains like wax at his presence, causeth the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice, and maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good. Him also we are bound to praise, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by him. Our substance was not hid from him when we were made in secret. His eyes saw our substance, yet being imperfect, and in his book all our members were written, which in continuance were fashioned by him, when as yet there was none of them. He also breathed into our nostrils the breath of life, and the inspiration of the Almighty hath given us understanding. Should it be said that these are the natural and necessary results of certain inherent powers of matter and mind, and therefore demand no extrinsic agency, I answer that this objection affects the conclusion only by removing it one step further back in the course of reasoning. That matter should have possessed these powers eternally without exerting them is impossible, and that it should have exerted them from eternity isequally impossible. It then follows that the properties and exertions of matter are derived from an extrinsic cause, and that that cause is possessed of intelligence and power to which no bounds can be assigned. The same argument may be stated in a more general and popular manner. The agency of God is clearly and certainly seen in the preservation and government of all things. The existence of all the forms and states of being which we behold in the universe is plainly derived, because it is a change in the former state of things, communicating, continuing, and terminating, and, as it is impossible that any thing should commence its own existence, derived certainly from an extrinsic and adequate cause. This cause can be none other than God.
EveryScripture that speaks of God implies his existence. The common interpretation makes "Lord"—Heb., Yehovah—mean the Existing One; as,
ExodusIII, 14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
JohnV, 26. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.
JohnVI, 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Jer.X, 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
ActsXVII, 24. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25. Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.
1 Tim.VI, 15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
Deut.VI, 4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.
Deut.XXXII, 39. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Deut.IV, 35. Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.
MarkXII, 32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God: and there is none other but he.
Eph.IV, 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Cor.VIII, 4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
IsaiahXLIII, 10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.
12. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange God among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
13. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it.
PsalmLXXXVI, 10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
2 KingsXIX, 15. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
Neh.IX, 6. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee.
IsaiahXLIV, 6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
IsaiahXLV, 5. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.
JohnX, 30. I and my Father are one.
JohnXVII, 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
1 Cor.VIII, 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Gal.III, 20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
1 Tim.I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
JamesII, 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.
JohnIV, 24. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Col.I, 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature.
1 Tim.I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Heb.XI, 27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
PsalmXC, 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
PsalmXCIII, 2. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
IsaiahLXIII, 16. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Deut.XXXIII, 27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Rom.I, 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
1 Tim.I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Tim.VI, 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
IsaiahLVII, 15. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
PsalmCII, 27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
IsaiahXLIV, 6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Hab.I, 12. Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Rev.I, 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
2 Cor.IV, 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
IsaiahXL, 28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, theLord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Dan.IV, 3. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
Lam.V, 19. Thou, O Lord, remainest forever; thy throne from generation to generation.
PsalmIX, 7. But the Lord shall endure forever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
PsalmCII, 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26. 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:
27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
PsalmXXXIII, 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Mal.III, 6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
JamesI, 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Num.XXIII, 19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
1 Sam.XV, 29. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
JobXXIII, 13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Heb.XIII, 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.
Gen.I, 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
IsaiahXL, 28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
IsaiahXLII, 5. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Rev.IV, 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Heb.III, 4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
JohnI, 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Neh.IX, 6. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee.
PsalmXXXVI, 6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
Col.I, 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
Gen.II, 1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
PsalmXCII, 5. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
PsalmIII, 2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Rev.XV, 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
JobIX, 8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
JobXXXVII, 14. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
PsalmXL, 5. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they can not be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Gen.I, 14. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.
18. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Jer.XXXI, 35. Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name.
IsaiahXL, 12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
13. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him?
14. With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
15. Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
JobXXXVIII, 8. Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9. When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10. And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11. And said, Hitherto shaltthou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
JobXXVIII, 24. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25. To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder.
JobXXVI, 10. He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
PsalmXXXIII, 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
PsalmCIV, 2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5. Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed forever.
JobXXXVII, 14. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17. How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18. Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking-glass?
Jer.X, 13. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
1 Chron.XXIX, 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
JobXXVI, 6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they are exalted.
8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9. Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14. They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
JobIX, 5. Which removeth the mountains, and they know not; which overturneth them in his anger;
6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars;
8. Which alone spreadeth outthe heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
PsalmLXXVII, 16. The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
PsalmCXIV, 3. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7. Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.
JobXI, 7. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8. It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
JobXXXVII, 22. Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23. Touching the Almighty, we can not find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
IsaiahXLIII, 16. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17. Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
IsaiahL, 2. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can not redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
IsaiahXL, 22. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23. That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
PsalmLXXV, 7. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
PsalmXXII, 28. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
2 PeterII, 4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6. And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.
Dan.IV, 34. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
IsaiahXL, 26. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
IsaiahXLVIII, 13. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
Gen.XVII, 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
JobIX, 12. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
IsaiahXLIII, 13. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Jer.XXXII, 17. Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
Matt.XIX, 26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Rev.I, 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Rev.XI, 17. Saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev.XIX, 6. And I heard as it were the voices of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluiah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
PsalmXCIII, 1. The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it can not be moved.
PsalmLXII, 11. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
PsalmLXXXIX, 13. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
Ex.VI, 3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Gen.VII, 1. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Jer.XXXII, 18. Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: The Great, The Mighty God, The Lord of hosts, is his name.
Jer.X, 6. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord;thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
Deut.III, 24. O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
1 Chron.XXIX, 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
IsaiahXXVI, 4. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
1 Chron.I, 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Jer.XXIII, 23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
IsaiahLXVI, 1. Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me, and where is the place of my rest?
1 KingsVIII, 27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
AmosIX, 2. Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
3. And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them.
PsalmCXXXIX, 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
ActsXVII, 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Matt.XVIII, 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Eph.I, 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23. Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
ActsXV, 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
PsalmCXXXIX, 1. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off.
3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, and I can not attain unto it.
7. Whither shall I go from thyspirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
15. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Heb.IV, 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
PsalmXXXIII, 13. The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
1 Chron.XXVIII, 9. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.
Prov.XV, 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
PsalmXCIV, 8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
PsalmCXLVII, 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
1 Sam.II, 3. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
JobXXXVII, 16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
IsaiahXL, 28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Rom.II, 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God? how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Dan.II, 22. He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
1 JohnIII, 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1 KingsVIII, 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest: (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.)
JobXXIV, 1. Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
PsalmXLIV, 21. Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Prov.V, 21. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
Jer.XXIII, 23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Ezek.XI, 5. And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O houseof Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
ActsI, 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.
PsalmCIV, 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
1 Tim.I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Jude25. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Rom.XVI, 27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
1 Cor.I, 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Eph.I, 8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
Eph.III, 9. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.
Col.II, 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Love—Kindness—Long-Suffering—Mercy—Compassion—Forgiveness, etc.
PsalmLXXXVI, 5. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
PsalmCIX, 68. Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes.
PsalmCVI, 1. Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
JamesI, 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
PsalmXXV, 8. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Matt.XIX, 17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
2 Chron.V, 13. It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord.
PsalmXXXIV, 8. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
PsalmC, 5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Ex.XXXIV, 6. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
PsalmXXXI, 19. O how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
1 JohnIV, 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.
PsalmXXV, 6. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving-kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
IsaiahLXIII, 7. I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses.
Ex.XXXIV, 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Num.XIV, 18. The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
PsalmXXIII, 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
PsalmLXII, 12. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
LukeI, 72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73. The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.
Jer.III, 12. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever.
PsalmLXXXVI, 15. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Rom.II, 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2 PeterIII, 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, bediligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.
Deut.XIII, 17. And there shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
18. When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God.
PsalmLXXVIII, 38. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
PsalmXCIX, 8. Thou answerdest them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
PsalmCXXX, 4. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Dan.IX, 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.
Rom.III, 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
2 Chron.XXX, 18. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one.
IsaiahXXV, 7. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
Jer.XXXIII, 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned, against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
MicahVII, 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.
PsalmLI, 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
IsaiahXLIV, 21. Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
2 KingsXIX, 22. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
1 Sam.II, 2. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none besides thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
Ex.XV, 11. Who is like untothee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Heb.I, 13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
IsaiahVI, 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Rev.IV, 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev.XV, 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
JamesI, 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God can not be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
Lev.XIX, 2. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.
JoshuaXXIV, 19. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye can not serve the Lord: for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
PsalmXXII, 3. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Rev.III, 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.
PsalmV, 4. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
IsaiahXLIII, 15. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
Deut.XXXII, 4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Heb.VI, 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
1 JohnI, 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
JobVIII, 3. Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
JobXXXIV, 12. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
ActsX, 34. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
Eph.VI, 9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Deut.X, 17. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.
JobXXXIV, 19. How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
PsalmXXV, 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
PsalmXIX, 9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever:the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
PsalmLVII, 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
Heb.VI, 18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
Deut.VII, 9. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
10. And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
2 Tim.II, 13. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he can not deny himself.
PsalmIII, 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
IsaiahXXVIII, 17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
Rom.II, 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5. But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:
8. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10. But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11. For there is no respect of persons with God.
PsalmVII, 11. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Heb.X, 30. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.