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THat God is Omnipotent, may appear by divers Reasons.
Reason. 1. It is evident from the Creation of the World; to create the least creature is an act of Omni∣potency, incommunicable to any creature. Angels are mighty in power, yet cannot they create the least contemptible worm; if to create, demonstrates an Almighty power, then much more the cre∣ation of this vaste world, with all creatures within it, sheweth God to be Omnipotent; lift up your
eyes to Heaven, cast them upon the earth, behold all creatures in it, and all are the work of his fin∣gers, Psa. 8. 3. As Nebuchadnezzar in his pride boasted; (Is not this great Babel that I have built, for the house of my Kingdom, by the might of my power, and honour of my Ma∣jesty?) may much better be spoken by the Lord of the world; Is not this great Heaven above, this great Earth below, that which I have builded, which I have created by the might of my power, and for the honour of my Majesty? Ex¦pede Herculem, you may guess at the giant like stature of Hercules, by the length of his foot: you may see what an Almighty God I am, by the world which I have made, which in comparison of my Almighty power, is but as a drop of a Bucket to the vast O∣cean.
2. As the creation, so the up∣holding and preservation of the
whole world, sheweth his Almighty power; the same power is required to uphold, which is to make it: he made the world by the word of his power, so he upholds all things by the word of his power, Heb. 1. 3. therefore the conservation of the world is, Creatio continuata, a continued creation: and the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Omnipotent, im∣porteth him that upholdeth, guid∣eth, and governeth all things; if the same hand did not uphold this glorious fabrick, it would in a mo∣ment be turned into its first no∣thing.
Reas. 3. That the strong and mighty creatures are all subject to him, ruled and ordered by him, are at his beck, and cannot but execute his will, argues his Al∣mighty power. The Angels are great in power; the good Angels flye from Heaven to do his will, if he commandeth. The principa∣lities and powers of Hell cannot
stir an inch, but at his pleasure; if he saith to the deep, be dry, the Seas are dry; if he saith to the Earth, open, it openeth its mouth; if he commandeth the Mountains to remove, they are gone; if he smites the Rocks, they become dust; if millions of Men should op∣pose him, he can destroy them in a moment: As the men of Beth∣shemesh cried out, who is able to stand before the mighty God of Hea∣ven? so the world of creatures may cry, tis not this world, nor a thousand more can stand before this mighty God.
Reas. 4. If all the power of all creatures in Heaven, Earth, and Hell could meet in one creature, yet all would be but as a drop in comparison of Gods Almighty power, yet there is much power in the creatures, all is derived from him, even the great power of the Angels: Now he that hath given to thousands of creatures great
power, he is much more powerful who is the Almighty God; if An∣gels be great in power, if beasts be so powerful, if Rocks and Mountains be so strong, what is God the giver of this power? if drops of power be so great, what is the Sea?
Reas. 5. Gods power is infinite, therefore Omnipotent, natura sua, in his nature; because his Omnipotency is his very essence, infinite in respect of his nature, by which he doth whatsoever he doth; his action is never so great, but it can be greater, more intended, infinite in respect of the objects; there can be no end of his works; he can make infinite more creatures then he hath made; A Limner or Painter that can draw one Picture, can make more, he that can fansie a Palace, and according to the idea of it in his mind can build it, can build more: God that hath made one World, can with as
much ease create many more.
Reas. 6. As Gods understanding, knowledge, or wisdom is, so is his power; whatsoever Gods infinite understanding can conceive to be done, that can his power do: A Painter can outwardly draw what he inwardly imagineth: So saith the Apostle, God can do more a∣bundantly for us then we can ask or think, Ephes. 3. 20. It is impossi∣ble for us to conceive what God can do.