Of the Freedom of God

15. There are yet divers subordinate attriputes of God, that being comprised in the forementioned, may be passed over with the briefer touch. And the next that I shall speak of, is, his freedom. And God is free in more senses than one; but for brevity, I shall speak of all together.

1. And first, God hath a natural freedom of will, being determined to will by nothing without him, nor liable to any necessity, but what is consistent with perfect blessedness and liberty. His own being, and blessedness, and perfections, are not the objects of his election; and therefore not of that which we call free will: but all his works without, as creation, providence, redemption, &c. are the effects of his free will: not but that his will concerning all these, hath a necessity of existence; for God did from eternity will the creation, and all that is done in time; and therefore from eternity that will existing, had a necessity of existence: bat yet it was free, because it proceedeth not necessarily from the very nature of God: God was God before he made the world, or redeemed it, or did the things that are daily done. And therefore one part of the schoolmen maintain, not only that there is contingency from God, but that there could be no contingency in the creature, if it had not its original in God: the liberty of God being the fountain of contingency.

2. There is also an eminency both of dominion and sovereignty in God, according to which he may be called free. His absoluteness of propriety freeth him from the restraint of any obligation, but what floweth from his own free will, from disposing of his own as he pleases. And his absolute sovereignty freeth him from the obligation of his own laws as laws, though he will still be true to his promises and predictions. Let man therefore take heed how he questioneth his maker, or censureth Jiis laws, or works, or ways.