Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

———————————–

We have seen the importance of fearing God’s Voice.  We have seen the importance of listening and obeying the right voice.  We may try (and should try) out of our own alleged “free-will”, wisdom, sense of duty, and even gratitude, to fear God’s voice, listen and obey God’s voice, but we will still not be able to follow Him without the irresistible grace of God’s voice toward His sheep, the elect.

Here is part of what Scriptures (with added emphasis) state about this irresistible grace which causes us to follow.

^“1  The LORD is my shepherd,
         I shall not want.
    ²  He makes me lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside quiet waters.
    ³  He restores my soul;
         He guides me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:1-3.

Ezekiel 36:27
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;  and I will raise him up on the last day.  “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’  Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”  John 6:44-45.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10. 

Hebrews 8:10
“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:  I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.  AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

Here is part of what The Canons of Dordt state about this irresistible grace which cause us to follow.

Article 10.  But that others who are called by the gospel, obey the call, and are converted, is not to be ascribed to the proper exercise of free will, whereby one distinguishes himself above others, equally furnished with grace sufficient for faith and conversions, as the proud heresy of Pelagius maintains;  but it must be wholly ascribed to God, who as he has chosen his own from eternity in Christ, so he confers upon them faith and repentance, rescues them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of his own Son, that they may show forth the praises of him, who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light;  and may glory not in themselves, but in the Lord according to the testimony of the apostles in various places.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

Article 12.  And this is the regeneration so highly celebrated in Scripture, and denominated a new creation:  a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid.  But this is in no wise effected merely by the external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of operation, that after God has performed his part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to continue unconverted;  but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable; not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the author of this work declares;  so that all in whose heart God works in this marvelous manner, are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do actually believe.  – Whereupon the will thus renewed, is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this influence, becomes itself active.  Wherefore also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received.

———————————–

There are 382 verses with the word “voice” in it.  Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: voice    As I started with Genesis 3:17, I quickly began to understand the importance of listening to the right voice.  Some say:  Just listen!  But, Scripture, quickly and from the very beginning, contrasts the dangers and curses of listening and following the wrong voice compared to the blessings of listening and obeying the right voice.  Here are just a few examples from the first two books of the Bible. 

See what happens when one listens and follows the wrong voice.  

Genesis 3:17
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;  Cursed is the ground because of you;  In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.

Genesis 16:2
So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children.  Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.”  And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

But, see what happens when one listens and obeys the right voice.

Genesis 22:18
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

———————————–

There are 382 verses with the word “voice” in it.  Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: voice    As I began to read these verses, I quickly began to understand that there were a number of very important messages that should be treated separately.

For the message today, I thought we should start with Deuteronomy 4:31-40, because, first of all, it fills us with the fear of hearing His voice, because we know:  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10

So, first, here is the fear of hearing God’s voice.  As stated in verse 33, “Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived?”  Deuteronomy 4:33.

After Moses spoke the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel, Moses reminded the people of Israel of their own words about the fear of hearing God’s voice:  “You said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire;  we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives.  ‘Now then why should we die?  For this great fire will consume us;  if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we will die.  ‘For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?”  Deuteronomy 5:24-26.   

But, there is hope!  This Deuteronomy 4:31-40 Scripture also teaches us the compassion of God and the overall importance of listening to the voice of the LORD.

“For the LORD your God is a compassionate God;  He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.  “Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other.  Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?  

“Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived?  “Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?  

“To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God;  there is no other besides Him.  “Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.  

“Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them.  And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today.  

“Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.  “So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”  Deuteronomy 4:31-40.

 ²  “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.

 ³  “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  John 10:1-3.

———————-

What is the door?

When I did a keyword search of the word “door”, I found an amazing number of verses (217) which had the word “door” in it.  Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: door  I gained insight from some of the verses of the importance of “door” in Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament, and why the word “door” was used in the Scripture for today.

Here are verses in the Old Testament which speak about the importance of “door”.

Exodus 12:23
[A Memorial of Redemption ]  “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.”

Exodus 21:6
“then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.”

Exodus 26:36
“You shall make a screen for the doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver.”

Exodus 29:11
“You shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting.”

Exodus 29:42
“It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.”

Exodus 40:6
“You shall set the altar of burnt offering in front of the doorway of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.”

Exodus 40:12
“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.”

 ³⁷  Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”

 ³⁸  And he said, “Lord, I believe.”  And he worshiped Him.

 ³⁹  And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

 ⁴⁰  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”

 ⁴¹  Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin;  but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”  John 9:35-41.

————————————

“Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP” admits:  “We do not see.  We do not understand.  We do not seek God.  We are not good.  In fact, we are dead in our sins.”

“Total Depravity” is important, because it is the truth of Scripture. 

“¹⁰  as it is written,
         “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
    ¹¹  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
         THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
    ¹²  ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
         THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
         THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-13.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,”  Ephesians 2:1.

“Total Depravity” is important, because it is evidence of humility which leads to grace.

James 4:6
But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ” GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

And, “Total Depravity” is important, because today’s Scripture states:  “but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  Proverbs 26:12.

But, there is hope for those who admit that they are blind (“total depravity”)! 

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:21.

This message (and this hope) is “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”.

 ²⁰  His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

 ²¹  but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know.  Ask him;  he is of age, he will speak for himself.”

 ²²  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.

 ²³  For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

 ²⁴  So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.”

 ²⁵  He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know;  one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

 ²⁶  So they said to him, “What did He do to you?  How did He open your eyes?”

 ²⁷  He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen;  why do you want to hear it again?  You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”

 ²⁸  They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

 ²⁹  “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.”

 ³⁰  The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.

 ³¹  “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.

 ³²  “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.

 ³³  “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

 ³⁴  They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?”  So they put him out.”  John 9:18-34.

———————————-

“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.  “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”  Luke 6:22-23.

“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”  1 Peter 4:14.

“They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.”  John 16:2.

“but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy.”  2 Chronicles 36:16.

“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?  They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;”  Acts 7:52.

Whatever suffering we encounter, God gives us grace to deal with it. 

“in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.  For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”  Philippians 1:28-30.

Mark 13:11
“When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour;  for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.”

 ¹⁵  Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight.  And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

 ¹⁶  Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath ”  But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?”  And there was a division among them.

 ¹⁷  So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?”  And he said, “He is a prophet.”  John 9:13-17.

————————————

Indeed, Jesus is a prophet.

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”  Deuteronomy 18:15.

“And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  Matthew 21:11.

One of the purposes of the miracles of Jesus, such as this miracle of healing the blind man, was to attest to Jesus, His authority, power, and standing as a prophet of God.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words:  Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know– ”  Acts 2:22.

But, we should not be dependent on receiving signs.  Jesus reprimanded the people. 

John 4:48
“So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

Even, to His disciple Thomas, “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  John 20:29

Although we will not witness the Jesus and His miracles as the people did of that day, we will encounter Jesus through God’s Word, and we will witness both spiritual and earthly blessings of Jesus that should cause us too to attest to Jesus (“He is a prophet.”) and that should cause us to listen to Him.

For example, this Sunday, when we hear the sermon and other parts of the worship service, will we joyfully glean what we can from the sermon, or will we just complain about anything that we think is a deficiency in the sermon and other parts of the worship service?

Will we reserve our faith and our testimony until we see something more?

In conclusion, in response to what we receive this Sunday, even what “manna” we receive each day, let us be joyful with what we get and exclaim:  “Jesus is a prophet!  Listen to Him!”

 ⁸  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?”

 ⁹  Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.”  He kept saying, “I am the one.”

 ¹⁰  So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?”

 ¹¹  He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’;  so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”

 ¹²  They said to him, “Where is He?”  He said, “I do not know.”  John 9:6-12.

—————————-

Why didn’t Jesus just heal this blind man without making and applying a spit clay paddy?  This does seem a little gross.  Jesus did not even need to touch the blind man.  But, if Jesus did want to touch him for some reason, Jesus could have healed him by just touching his eyes.

We are reminded of a similar healing by Jesus in Mark 7:33-35.  “Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting,  He touched his tongue with the saliva;  and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”  And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.”  Why didn’t Jesus heal this mute man without spitting and without touching the blind man’s tongue with the saliva? 

The Scripture for today also reminds of the healing of Naaman, the Syrian captain of the army. 

“Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”  But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’  “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and went away in a rage.

Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”  2 Kings 5:10-14.

And, how about Passover?  Was it really necessary for the LORD to require the people of Israel to apply blood to the lintel and doorposts in order to save them?  But, here  was the LORD’s provision.  “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians;  and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.”  Exodus 12:23.

Here is what Scripture states about the necessity of blood.  “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  Hebrews 9:22  “…the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

The Scripture for today, and these other similar Scriptures, teach us at least three lessons. 

First, God’s grace is particular.  God does not show grace to everyone.  In a sense, God treats objects of His grace as, well, objects, particular objects.

Although Jesus did heal many, He did not heal everyone.  In fact, Scripture emphasized the very particular nature of healing.  “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet;  and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”  Luke 4:27

Although the LORD saved the people of Israel, He did not save everyone.  Only those had the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts were saved.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14

Second, God gives grace to the humble.  By doing these miracles in this way, using spit and blood (and the unclean waters of the Jordan), Jesus built up humility in these people.  “But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ” GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  James 4:6 

Third, God intimately and fully handles those whom He saves.  “You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.”  Psalm 139:3

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28-32.

 ³  Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;  but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

 ⁴  “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day;  is coming when no one can work.

 ⁵  “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”  John 9:1-5. 

——————————-

This is the meaning of life – that “the works of God might be displayed”.  This is the meaning of creation.  This is also the meaning of our personal lives. 

This understanding should help give us patience and help us not be too critical of ourselves or others.  We may think that our life (or others’ lives) will only be a success if we (or they) do something great in our own eyes.  But, we understand from this Scripture that this blind man was severely limited by his blindness as to what he could personally accomplish.  We too may be severely limited by what we can personally accomplish.  However, the blind man’s purpose and our purpose (the meaning of our lives) are to serve as objects upon which “the works of God might be displayed” in us.

However, like Christ, we are not just passive objects.  We also have the active duty to “work the works of Him who sent” us.  We love to quote Philippians 2:13:  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  But, what does the prior verse state?  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”  Philippians 2:12.

As Jesus is “the Light of the world”,  we are to imitate Jesus and also be light in this world.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

Using verses such as Matthew 5:16, we can add God’s glory to the meaning of life.  What does “the works of God” do?  They bring glory to God.  Thus, the meaning of life is that “the works of God might be displayed to bring glory to God”.

Here is what the Reformed Confession The Westminister Confession of Faith states:

Question 1:  What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer:  Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

 ⁵⁰  “But I do not seek My glory;  there is One who seeks and judges.

 ⁵¹  “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

 ⁵²  The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon Abraham died, and the prophets also;  and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’

 ⁵³  “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died?  The prophets died too;  whom do You make Yourself out to be?”

 ⁵⁴  Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing;   it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;

 ⁵⁵  and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him;  and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.

 ⁵⁶  “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

 ⁵⁷  So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

 ⁵⁸  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

 ⁵⁹  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.”  John 8:48-59.

————————–

In the November 17, 2010 devotion, “What did Jesus testify about Himself?“,

Click here: What did Jesus testify about Himself? « Reformed Doctrine Blog 

we considered some of the “I am” descriptions that Jesus gave to us in this Book of John.  Here is another “I am” description through which Jesus testifies to His eternal and divine nature.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

This is what the Reformed Confession The Belgic Confession speaks about Jesus’ eternal and divine nature.

Article 10:  That Jesus Christ is true and eternal God.

We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only begotten Son of God, begotten from eternity, not made nor created (for then he should be a creature), but co-essential and co-eternal with the Father, the express image of his person, and the brightness of his glory, equal unto him in all things.  He is the Son of God, not only from the time that he assumed our nature, but from all eternity, as these testimonies, when compared together, teach us. Moses saith, that God created the world;  and John saith, that all things were made by that Word, which he calleth God.  And the apostle saith, that God make the worlds by his Son; likewise, that God created all things by Jesus Christ.  Therefore it must needs follow, that he, who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ, did exist at that time, when all things were created by him.  Therefore the prophet Micah saith, His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. And the apostle: He hath neither beginning of days, nor end of life.  He therefore is that true, eternal, and almighty God, whom we invoke, worship and serve.