1st. Negatively, that he does not possess bodily parts or pas- sions ; that he is composed of no material elements ; that he is not subject to any of the limiting conditions of material exist- ence ; and, consequently, that he is not to be apprehended as the object of any of our bodily senses.
2d. Positively, that he is a rational being, who distinguishes with infinite precision between the true and the false ; that he is a moral being, who distinguishes between the right and the wrong; that he is a free agent, whose action is self-determined by his own will ; and, in fine, that all the essential properties of our spirits may truly be predicated of him in an infinite degree. — Johniv., 24; Chap. I., questions 23, 24, 27, 30.
god's relation to space.
14. What is meant by the immensity of God ?
The immensity of God is the phrase used to express the fact that God is infinite in his relation to space, i. e., that the entire indivisible essence of God is at every moment of time cotempo- raneously present to every point of infinite space.
This is not in virtue of the infinite multiplication of his Spirit, since he is eternally one and individual ; nor does it result from the infinite diffusion of his essence through infinite space, as air is diffused over the surface of the earth, since, being a Spirit, he is not composed of parts, nor is he capable of extension, but the whole Godhead in the one indivisible essence is equally present in every moment of eternal duration to the whole of infinite space, and to every part of it.
15. How does immensity differ from omnipresence ?
Immensity characterizes the relation of God to space viewed abstractly in itself. Omnipresence characterizes the relation of
108 THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.
God to his creatures as they severally occupy their several posi- tions in space. The divine essence is immense in its own being, absolutely. It is omnipresent relatively to all his creatures.
16. What are the different modes of the divine presence, and how may it be proved that he is everywhere present as to his
essence ?
God may be conceived of as present in any place, or with any creature, in several modes, first, as to his essence ; second, as to his knowledge ; third, as manifesting that presence to any intelli- gent creature ; fourth, as exercising his power in any way in or upon the creature. As to essence and knowledge, his presence is the same everywhere and always. As to his self-manifestation and the exercise of his power, his presence differs endlessly in different cases in degree and mode. Thus God is present to the church as he is not to the world. Thus he is present in hell in the manifestation and execution of righteous wrath, while he is present in heaven in the manifestation and communication of gracious love and glory.
That God is everywhere present as to his essence is proved, first, from Scripture (1 Kings viii., 27 ; Ps. cxxxix., 7-10 ; Isa. lxvi., 1 ; Acts xvii., 27, 28) ; second, from reason. (1.) It follows necessarily from his infinitude. (2.) From the fact that his knowledge is his essence knowing, and his actions are his essence acting. Yet his knowledge and his power reach to all things.
17. State the different relations that bodies created spirits and God sustain to space.
Turretin says : Bodies are conceived of as existing in space circumscriptively , because occupying a certain portion of space they are bounded by space upon every side. Created spirits do not occupy any portion of space, nor are they embraced by any, they are, however, in space definitely, as here and not there. God, on the other hand, is in space repletively, because in a tran- scendent manner his essence fills all space. He is included in no space ; he is excluded from none. Wholly present to each point, he comprehends all space at once.
RELATION TO TIME. 109
THE RELATION OF GOD TO TIME.
18. What is eternity ?
Eternity is infinite duration ; duration discharged from all limits, without beginning, without succession, and without end. The schoolmen phrase it punctum stans, an ever-abiding present.
We, however, can positively conceive of eternity only as du- ration indefinitely extended from the present moment in two directions, as to the past and as to the future. These are im- properly expressed as eternity a parte ante, or past, and eternity a parte post, or future. The eternity of God, however, is one and indivisible.
19. What is time ?
Time is limited duration, measured by succession, either of thought or motion. It is distinguished in reference to our per- ceptions into past, present, and future,
20. What relation does time bear to eternity ?
Eternity, the unchanging present, without beginning or end, comprehends all time, and co-exists as an undivided moment, with all the successions of time as they appear and pass in their order.