Of GOD’s BEING

1. What is understood by God’s [being]?

It is what is usually called his essence.

2. What is the divine essence?

It is the glorious and transcendent nature of God, whereby he is what he is, infinitely blessed in himself, and comprehended by none but himself.

3. What is the highest perfection of Being?

That to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken, and is independent on all things else.

4. Can being itself, or being in a proper and strict sense, be attributed to any, but to God only?

No; for though the heavens and the earth, angels and men, have a being; yet there is no infinite, eternal, and unchangeable being, but God only. It is God alone that can say, I AM.

5. What is the import of that name, I AM?

It is of the same import with the name JEHOVAH: as if he had said, I am being itself, the author and fountain of all beings, in heaven or earth.

6. What are all other beings, in comparison with the being of God?

All other beings are but created, contingent, and shadowy beings, if compared with his, who spoke them into being.

7. What says God concerning these that are taken up with created beings, without ever reflecting upon the supreme, infinite, and eternal Being?

That they are brutish among the people; fools, destitute of wisdom; Psalm 94:8 more brutish than the ox that knoweth his owner. Isaiah 1:3

8. Are not all created beings, with their perfections, originally in God, and from him?

Yes; as is evident from the unanswerable reasoning of the Spirit of God, “He that planted the ear, shall not he hear? He that formed the eye, shall not he see?—He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?”

9. What may we learn from God’s being?

That as he gave being to all the creatures, so he will give being to all his promises, in their full accomplishment.