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The Existence and Attributes of God: Volumes 1 & 2 Complete & Unabridged
In this seminal work by the renowned 17th century Puritan writer Stephen Charnock, the existence and attributes of God are laid out in successive chapters. Topics range from God's omnipotence, omniscience and omnipotence to chapters dealing with His character, being and mind. There is also a chapter dealing with practical atheism, which will be of great interest to anyone studying the topic of theology.
Originally in two volumes this impressive work is now combined into one complete and unabridged edition.
Originally in two volumes this impressive work is now combined into one complete and unabridged edition.
1803 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2022
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About the author
Stephen Charnock
208 books38 followersStephen Charnock (1628–1680), Puritan divine, was an English Puritan Presbyterian clergyman born at the St Katherine Cree parish of London.
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July 27, 2024
A "CLASSIC" OF PURITAN THEOLOGY
Stephen Charnock (1628-1680) was an English Puritan Presbyterian clergyman.
He states early in the book, "The apostles spent little time in urging this truth (of the innate knowledge of God); it was taken for granted all over the world, and they were generally devout in the worship of those idols they thought to be gods: that age run from one God to many, and our age is running from one God to none at all." (Pg. 26) He adds, "All that (the atheist) gains is a liberty to defile himself here, and a certainty to be despised hereafter, if he be in an error, as he undoubtedly is." (Pg. 83)
He addresses issues of anthropomorphism, "But God accommodates himself in the Scripture to our weak capacity. God hath no more of a proper repentance, than he hath of a real body; though he, in accommodation to our weakness, ascribes to himself the members of our bodies to set out to our understanding the greatness of his perfections, we must not conclude him a body like us; so, because he is said to have anger and repentance, we must not conclude him to have passions like us." (Pg. 341) Thus, "A change of laws by God argues no change in God, when God abrogates some laws which he had settled in the church, and enacts others." (Pg. 346)
He asserts, "For it is an unworthy notion of God to ascribe to him a conjectural knowledge; if there were only a conjectural knowledge, he could but conjecturally foretell anything; and then it is possible the events of things might be contrary to his predictions." (Pg. 436) Nevertheless, "God's foreknowledge of man's voluntary actions doth not necessitate the will of man" (pg. 446), and "God's foreknowledge is not, simply considered, the cause of anything." (Pg. 448) He then reassures, "From this infiniteness of power in God, we have ground of assurance for perseverance." (V2, Pg. 100)
He suggests that "The goodness of God appears in shortening temptations." (V2, Pg. 311) "Yet (God's) dominion, though it be absolute, is not tyrannical, but it is managed by the rules of wisdom, righteousness, and goodness." (V2, Pg. 377) Furthermore, "His sovereignty is manifest in disposing the means of grace to some, not to all." (V2, Pg. 403) He laments, "When God doth punish he doth it with some regret. When he hurls down his thunders, he seems to do it with a backward hand, because with an unwilling heart." (Pg. 493)
This book has been continuously in print for 350 years for a reason. It should be part of any serious theological library.
Stephen Charnock (1628-1680) was an English Puritan Presbyterian clergyman.
He states early in the book, "The apostles spent little time in urging this truth (of the innate knowledge of God); it was taken for granted all over the world, and they were generally devout in the worship of those idols they thought to be gods: that age run from one God to many, and our age is running from one God to none at all." (Pg. 26) He adds, "All that (the atheist) gains is a liberty to defile himself here, and a certainty to be despised hereafter, if he be in an error, as he undoubtedly is." (Pg. 83)
He addresses issues of anthropomorphism, "But God accommodates himself in the Scripture to our weak capacity. God hath no more of a proper repentance, than he hath of a real body; though he, in accommodation to our weakness, ascribes to himself the members of our bodies to set out to our understanding the greatness of his perfections, we must not conclude him a body like us; so, because he is said to have anger and repentance, we must not conclude him to have passions like us." (Pg. 341) Thus, "A change of laws by God argues no change in God, when God abrogates some laws which he had settled in the church, and enacts others." (Pg. 346)
He asserts, "For it is an unworthy notion of God to ascribe to him a conjectural knowledge; if there were only a conjectural knowledge, he could but conjecturally foretell anything; and then it is possible the events of things might be contrary to his predictions." (Pg. 436) Nevertheless, "God's foreknowledge of man's voluntary actions doth not necessitate the will of man" (pg. 446), and "God's foreknowledge is not, simply considered, the cause of anything." (Pg. 448) He then reassures, "From this infiniteness of power in God, we have ground of assurance for perseverance." (V2, Pg. 100)
He suggests that "The goodness of God appears in shortening temptations." (V2, Pg. 311) "Yet (God's) dominion, though it be absolute, is not tyrannical, but it is managed by the rules of wisdom, righteousness, and goodness." (V2, Pg. 377) Furthermore, "His sovereignty is manifest in disposing the means of grace to some, not to all." (V2, Pg. 403) He laments, "When God doth punish he doth it with some regret. When he hurls down his thunders, he seems to do it with a backward hand, because with an unwilling heart." (Pg. 493)
This book has been continuously in print for 350 years for a reason. It should be part of any serious theological library.
Displaying 1 of 1 review