Third Division.—Perfection, and attributes therein involved

By perfection we mean, not mere quantitative completeness, but qualitative excellence. The attributes involved in perfection are moral attributes. Right action among men presupposes a perfect moral organization, a normal state of intellect, affection and will. So God’s activity presupposes a principle of intelligence, of affection, of volition, in his inmost being, and the existence of a worthy object for each of these powers of his nature. But in eternity past there is nothing existing outside or apart from God. He must find, and he does find, the sufficient object of intellect, affection, and will, in himself. There is a self-knowing, a self-loving, a self-willing, which constitute his absolute perfection. The consideration of the immanent attributes is, therefore, properly concluded with an account of that truth, love, and holiness, which render God entirely sufficient to himself.

Mat. 5:48—“Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”; Rom. 12:2—“perfect will of God”; Col. 1:28—“perfect in Christ”; cf. Deut. 32:4—“The Rock, his work is perfect”; Ps 18:30—“As for God, his way is perfect.”