MEDITATIONS ON CHRISTIAN DOGMA TREATISE I. 7. THE IMMENSITY OF GOD.
CALVAERT, Denys
Saint Michael the Archangel
1570-72
MEDITATIONS ON CHRISTIAN DOGMA
TREATISE I.
7. THE IMMENSITY OF GOD.
I. Immensity is an aspect of God s Infinity; it is the
boundless diffusion of the Divine Essence ; and in virtue of
this, God is ubiquitous or actually present in all created
space. Consequently God does not move from place to
place. To do so would be to change, which is contrary to
His immutability ; and it would be acquiring something,
certain relations for instance, not already possessed. God
is not comprised within the dimensions of space, but He is
at once in the whole of creation. In those great expanses
beyond our solar system which surpass the capacity of
arithmetic to describe, and which the swift rays of light take
thousands of centuries to traverse, God is present throughout. He is above all things, not as being locally elevated,
but as presiding over all : He is under all things, not as
being abased, but as sustaining all : He is within all, not as
being enclosed, but as filling them : He is outside all things,
not as being excluded, but as enveloping them. Most
literally then " in Him we live and move and be " (Acts xvii.
28). The whole of visible creation up to the remotest
nebula is overwhelmed and lost in His immensity, like a
microscopic animalcule in the depths of the ocean. Re
member always this all-absorbing presence of the infinite
God, and be ever full of respect for Him in all your words
and thoughts and actions. What an outrage it is to sin
against Him when actually living by His support and in
Him!
II. God may be considered as universally present in
three different ways. 1. He is present substantially, by
His Divine Essence actually being here and everywhere. 2.
He is present everywhere, in that He sees and knows all
things ; and nothing escapes His watchfulness, even to
the most secret thoughts of our souls. 3 He is present
as ruling and guiding all things irresistibly, and operating
in them by His power. Further, God is specially present
with His elect. 1. The Apostle says : " Know you not that
you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor. iii. 16). 2. There is a special
watchful providence over the just, and predestination of
them to grace and glory. 3. There is a special supernatural
operation of God in the soul, including justifying grace,
and the infusion of virtues, and help in all natural and
spiritual duties. How wonderful it is that you should thus
possess the kingdom of God within you ! This presence of
God is your greatest treasure ; it gives you strength for
every emergency, companionship in loneliness, cheerfulness
as against depression, indomitable faith and confidence ; it
is your happiness and your glory. Value it as such.
III. Although God is actually present in every place and
is a witness of every event, yet He contracts no defilement
from scenes of sin, He is not hurt by any outrage, He is
not dishonoured by any blasphemy on earth or in hell. It
is with Him as with the bright, pure rays of sunlight ; they
shine upon every kind of foulness, but never become unclean
or contaminated. God is present to all our sins, yet " He
inhabiteth light inaccessible " (1 Tim. vi. 16) at the same
moment. He is with us by His immensity and is far above
us by His infinity. Nothing can pain Him. Nothing can
touch His sanctity, His beauty, His perfect felicity. It is
only God who can know of evil and not suffer the penalty of
knowledge. We cannot pass through it or live amongst it
without imminent peril, if not actual corruption. Keep far
away from evil ; else, it is tempting God to ask Him to preserve you from it. You must encounter evil, but you need
not therefore fall. If God be with you, you can do your
duty in the world and still keep yourself unspotted from it.
" I set the Lord always in my sight : for He is at my right
hand, that I be not moved " (Ps. xv. 8).
MEDITATIONS ON CHRISTIAN DOGMA BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES BELLORD, D.D.
Comments
Post a Comment