Well, but as to this decree of God's, for making
things perceptible, what say you, Philonous? Is it not plain, God
did either execute that decree from all eternity, or at some
certain time began to will what He had not actually willed
before, but only designed to will? If the former, then there
could be no creation, or beginning of existence, in finite
things. If the latter, then we must acknowledge something new to
befall the Deity; which implies a sort of change: and all change
argues imperfection.
. Pray consider what you are doing. Is it not evident
this objection concludes equally against a creation in any sense;
nay, against every other act of the Deity, discoverable by the
light of nature? None of which can conceive, otherwise than
as performed in time, and having a beginning. God is a Being of
transcerident and unlimited perfections: His nature, therefore,
is incomprehensible to finite spirits. It is not, therefore, to
be expected, that any man, whether Materialist or Immaterialist,
should have exactly just notions of the Deity, His attributes,
and ways of operation.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182