The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. IV. Concerning Gods Omnipo∣tence and will.

DOCT. I. That God is so Omnipotent that he can do more then he will.

WE believe that God is so Omnipotent or Almightie, that he hath not onely done and also still doeth whatsoever it was, or is his will to do: but also that he can both will and do infinitely more then he will do. And our be∣liefe one this part is grounded upon the doctrine of St. Iohn, who said, God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham;* 1.1 and the do∣ctrine of the Apostle, who wrote thus concerning God, speaking unto Mo∣ses.* 1.2 I will have mercy one whom I will

have mercy (whereas he might have said, I will have mercy on all men) and again, he hardneth (not all, as he might, but) whom he will:* 1.3 So then it is more then impious, for a man from God's Omnipotence one∣ly, without declaring it to be his will, once to presume to conclude that any thing hath been, is, or should be done by God.

DOCT. II. That it is not repugnant to Gods Omni∣potence, to say that there are some things which God cannot do.

SEeing that the Apostle writes that God cannot deny himself:* 1.4 we believe that there is no wrong done to Gods Omnipotence, if we say that there are many things which God cannot do: viz. such as are repugnant to his nature, and imploy a contradiction.

DOCT. III. The confirmation of the foregoing.

FOr seeing that God is the chief and soveraigne Good; he can neither become evil, nor do that which is evil. Seeing that he is the

chief and Soveraigne Truth; he can∣not lie: Seeing that he is the chief and Soveraigne Iustice: He can do nothing unjustly ▪ Seeing that he is Life it self; How can he die? And (to conclude) seeing that he is but one onely true God uncreated, eter∣nall, subsisting in three persons one∣ly; We believe and confesse that he cannot assume any creature to him∣self in such manner as to make it co∣essentiall with him, and such alto∣gether as he is, or constitute any fourth person: and we are fully per∣swaded that by this our confession we derogate or detract nothing from Gods Omnipotence. As surely what hath been, God cannot cause not to have been; what formerly hath been done, he cannot cause now not to have been done: For it is most cer∣tain, that he who is Truth it self can∣not do any thing which implies a contradiction. For to say, He can, is openly to deny his Omnipotence, by which he hath done, whatsoever hath been done.

DOCT. IV. That we are to search for the Will of God onely in the holy Scripture

FUrthermore seeing that the coun∣sels of God are infinite and se∣cret, and such as are not made known,* 1.5 no not to the Angels themselves; We believe, that, when there is any que∣stion concerning the will of God,* 1.6 we are to search for it no where else, but in the holy Scriptures: where God of his great goodness hath made known unto us,* 1.7 by his Spirit, what is his will; and hath abundantly and perspi∣cuously declared and afforded unto as whatsoever is necessarie unto sal∣vation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat••. 3.••.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 9.••••.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tertul••. contra Prax.
• * 1.4

  2 Tim. 2.13.
• * 1.5

  Mark 13.32.
• * 1.6

  Iohn 5.39.
• * 1.7

  Iohn 15 15, 17, 29.