Wesley Corpus

58. The unchangeableness of God, we allow likewise. “In Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” But you seem to lie under a mistake concerning this also, for want of observing the scripture account of it. The Scripture teaches, (1.) That God is unchangeable with regard to his decrees. But what decrees? The same that he has commanded to be preached to every creature: “He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.” The Scripture teaches, (2.) That God is unchangeable with regard to his love and hatred. But how? Observe this well; for it is your grand mistake, and the root of almost all the rest. God unchangeably loveth righteousness, and hateth iniquity. Unchangeably he loveth faith, and unchangeably hateth unbelief. In consequence hereof he unchangeably loves the righteous, and hateth the workers of iniquity. He unchange ably loves them that believe, and hates wilful, obstinate unbe lievers. So that the scripture account of God’s unchangeable ness with regard to his decrees, is this: He has unchangeably decreed to save holy believers, and to condemn obstinate, impenitent unbelievers. And according to Scripture, his unchangeableness of affection properly and primarily regards tempers and not persons; and persons (as Enoch, Noah, Abraham) only as those tempers are found in them. Let then the unchangeableness of God be put upon the right foot; let the Scripture be allowed to fix the objects of it, and it will as soon prove transubstantiation, as unconditional election. 59. The faithfulness of God may be termed a branch of his truth. He will perform what he hath promised. But then let us inquire of the oracles of God, To whom are the promises made? the promises of life and immortality? The answer is, “To Abraham and his seed;” that is, to those who “walk in the steps of that faith of their father Abraham.” To those who believe, as believers, are the gospel promises made. To these hath the faithful God engaged, that he will do what he hath spoken. “He will fulfil his covenant and promise which he hath made to a thousand generations:” The sum of which is, (as we find it expressly declared by the Spirit of God,) “The Lord will give grace” (more grace) “and glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that live a godly life.” 60.