I. He hath a sovereign right and autho- rity over man. He can do with his crea- tures as he j>leases. Who shall dispute with God ? who shall ask him a reason of his do- ings ? Dan. iv. 35., " He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and a- mong the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him. What doest thou ?" God sits judge in the highest court, he calls the monarchs of the earth to the bar, and is not bound to give a reason of his proceedings, Ps. Ixxv. 5, 7., " He put- teth down one, and st-tteth up another." He hath salvation and damnation in his power. He hath the key of justice in his hand, to lock up whom he will in the fiery prison of hell ; and he hath the key of mercy in his hands, to open lieaA'on's gate to whom he pleases. This is tlu; name engraven upon his vesture, " King of kings, and l-ord of lords," Rev. xix. 16. He sits Lord j)ara- mount, and who can call him to an account? Isa. xlvi. 10., " I will do all my pleasure" The world is God's diocese, and shall not he do what he will in his own diocese ? He it WJis that turned king Nebuchadnezzar to eat grass, and threw the angels to hell when they sinned ; that broke the head of the Ba- bylonish empire, Isa. xiv. 11., " How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer ! Thy pomp is brought down to the grave ;" who sets bounds lo the sea, and bridles the j)roud waves. Job. xxxviii. 1 1. God is the su])reme monarch, all power is seated originally in liim ; " The j)owers that be are ordained of God," Rom. xiii. 1. Kings hold tlieir
crowns of him, Prov. viii. 15., ** By me
kings reign." ^
II. As God hath authority, so he hath in- finite power. What is authority without power ? " He is mighty in strength," Job. L\. 4. This power of God is seen,
1. In the creation. To create, requires infinite power ; all the world cannot make a fly. God's power in creating is evident: 1. Because he needs no instruments to work with ; it is proper to God to work \vithout tools. — 2. He needs no matter to work upon ; first, he creates matter, and then works upon it. — 3. He works without labour, Ps. xxxiii. 9., ' He spake and it was done.'
2. The power of God is seen in the con- version of souls. Surely a mighty power went to raise Christ from the grave, Eph. i. 20. 1. The same power goes to draw a sinner to God, as drew Christ out of the gi-ave to heaven. Greater power is put forth in conversion, than in creation. When God made the world, he met with no oppo- sition ; as he had nothing to helj) him, so he had nothing to hinder him ; but Avlien he comes to convert a sinner, here he meets with opposition, — Satan opposeth him, and the heart opposeth him ; a sinner is angry with converting grace. — 2. The world was the " Work of God's fingers," Ps. viii. 3. Conversion is the " Work of God's arm," Lukei. 5. — 3. In the creation. God wrought but one miracle, he spake the word ; but, in conversion, he works many miiacles, — the blind is made to see, — the dead is raised, — the deaf hears the voice of the Son of God, O the infinite ])ower of Jehovah ! Before his sceptre, angels vail and j)rostraie them- selves ; kings cast their crowns at his feet. Amos ix. .*>., " He toucheth the land, and it shall melt;" Job ix. 6., " Whieh shaketh the earth out of her j)lace." An earthcjuake makes the earth tremble u))on her ])illars, but God shakes it out of its place ; he can remove the earth from its centre. God can do what he will, his j)ower is as large as his will. Were men's power as large as their will, what work would they make in the world ! God's power is of equal extent AWth
OF GODS POWER.
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