Category: Reformed Faith

“God is wholly one Deut. 6. 4. Gal. 3. 20. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Hos. 13. 4. Mal. 2. 10. All creatures are subject to multiplication; there may be many of them and are many; many Angels, men, starres, and so in the rest. Not one of them is singular and onely one so; but one might conceive that there should be more; for he that made one of them, can make another and another, and as many as he pleaseth; but God is simply one, singular, and sole essence; there neither is, nor can be more then one God, because he is the first and best essence; and there can be but one first, and one best. He is Infinite, and there cannot be but one Infinite because either one of them should include the other, and so the included must needs be finite, or not extend to the other, and so it self not be Infinite. There was a first man, and a first in every kind of creature, but not any absolute first save God: one Eternall, and one Incomprehensible, saith Athanasius in his Creed.”

-Edward Leigh (1602-1671)

II. God has all life,[25] glory,[26] goodness,[27] blessedness,[28] in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto he himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he has made,[29] nor deriving any glory from them,[30] but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things;[31] and has most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleases.[32] In his sight all things are open and manifest,[33] his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,[34] so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain.[35] He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands.[36] To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.[37]

–Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), 2.2