CHAPTER 2.–Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

I. There is but one only[a] living, and true God,[b] who is infinite in being and perfection,[c] a most pure spirit,[d] invisible,[e] without body, parts,[f] or passions,[g] immutable,[h] immense,[i] eternal,[k] incomprehensible,[l] almighty,[m] most wise,[n] most holy,[o] most free,[p] most absolute,[q] working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will,[r] for his own glory;[s] most loving,[t] gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;[u] the rewarder of them that diligently seek him;[w] and withal most just and terrible in his judgments;[x] hating all sin,[y] and who will by no means clear the guilty.[z]

[a] Deut. 6:4. 1 Cor. 8:4,6.

[b] 1 Thess. 1:9. Jer. 10:10.

[c] Job 11:7,8,9. Job 26:14.

[d] John 4:24.

[e] 1 Tim. 1:17.

[f] Deut. 4:15,16. John 4:24 with Luke 24:39.

[g] Acts 14:11,15.

[h] James 1:17. Mal. 3:6.

[i] 1 Kings 8:27. Jer. 23:23,24.

[k] Ps. 90:2. 1 Tim. 1:17.

[l] Ps. 145:3.

[m] Gen. 17:1. Rev. 4:8.

[n] Rom. 16:27.

[o] Isa. 6:3. Rev. 4:8.

[p] Ps. 115:3.

[q] Exod. 3:14.

[r] Eph. 1:11.

[s] Prov. 16:4. Rom. 11:36.

[t] 1 John 4:8,16.

[u] Exod. 34:6,7.

[w] Heb. 11:6.

[x] Neh. 9:32,33.

[y] Ps. 5:5,6.

[z] Nah. 1:2,3. Exod. 34:7.

II. God hath all life,[a] glory,[b] goodness,[c] blessedness,[d] in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made,[e] nor deriving any glory from them,[f] but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things;[g] and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth.[h] In his sight all things are open and manifest;[i] his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,[k] so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain.[l] He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands.[m] To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them.[n]

[a] John 5:26.

[b] Acts 7:2.

[c] Ps. 119:68.

[d] 1 Tim. 6:15. Rom. 9:5.

[e] Acts 17:24,25.

[f] Job 22:2,3.

[g] Rom 11:36.

[h] Rev. 4:11. 1 Tim. 6:15. Dan. 4:25,35.

[i] Heb. 4:13.

[k] Rom. 11:33,34. Ps. 147:5.

[l] Acts 15:18. Ezek. 11:5.

[m] Ps. 145:17. Rom. 7:12.

[n] Rev. 5:12,13,14.

III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.[o] The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;[p] the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.[q]

[o] 1 John 5:7. Matt. 3:16,17. Matt. 28:19. 2 Cor. 13:14.

[p] John 1:14,18.

[q] John 15:26. Gal. 4:6.