Lec 4:1a Having shown in the third lecture, that correct ideas of the character of God are necessary in order to the exercise of faith in him unto life and salvation,

Lec 4:1b and that without correct ideas of his character, the minds of men could not have sufficient power with God to the exercise of faith necessary to the enjoyment of eternal life,

Lec 4:1c and that correct ideas of his character lay a foundation as far as his character is concerned for the exercise of faith, so as to enjoy the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even that of eternal glory;

Lec 4:1d we shall now proceed to show the connection there is between correct ideas of the attributes of God, and the exercise of faith in him unto eternal life.

Lec 4:2a Let us here observe that the real design which the God of heaven had in view in making the human family acquainted with his attributes, was that they through the ideas of the existence of his attributes, might be enabled to exercise faith in him, and through the exercise of faith in him, might obtain eternal life.

Lec 4:2b For without the idea of the existence of the attributes which belong to God, the minds of men could not have power to exercise faith in him so as to lay hold upon eternal life.

Lec 4:2c The God of heaven understanding most perfectly the constitution of human nature, and the weakness of men, knew what was necessary to be revealed, and what ideas must be planted in their minds in order that they might be enabled to exercise faith in him unto eternal life.

Lec 4:3a Having said so much, we shall proceed to examine the attributes of God, as set forth in his revelations to the human family, and to show how necessary correct ideas of his attributes are, to enable men to exercise faith in him.

Lec 4:3b For without these ideas being planted in the minds of men, it would be out of the power of any person or persons to exercise faith in God so as to obtain eternal life.

Lec 4:3c So that the divine communications made to men in the first instance, were designed to establish in their minds the ideas necessary to enable them to exercise faith in God, and through this means to be partakers of his glory.

Lec 4:4 We have in the revelations which he has given to the human family, the following account of his attributes:

Lec 4:5a Acts 15:18, "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."

Lec 4:5b Isaiah 46:9-10, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."

Lec 4:6a Heb. 11:3, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God."

Lec 4:6b Gen. 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

Lec 4:6c Isaiah 14:24, 27, "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand . . . For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"

Lec 4:7a Ps. 89:14, "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne."

Lec 4:7b Isaiah 45:21, "Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour."

Lec 4:7c Zeph. 3:5, "The just Lord is in the midst thereof."

Lec 4:7d Zech. 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation."

Lec 4:8a Ps. 89:14, "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne."

Lec 4:8b Deut. 32:4, "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

Lec 4:8c Ps. 9:7, "But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment."

Lec 4:8d Ps. 9:16, "The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth."

Lec 4:9a Ps. 89:14, "Mercy and truth shall go before thy face."

Lec 4:9b Exodus 34:6, "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious."

Lec 4:9c Neh. 9:17, "But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful."

Lec 4:10a Ps. 89:14, "Mercy and truth shall go before thy face."

Lec 4:10b Exodus 34:6, "Long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."

Lec 4:10c Deut. 32:4, "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

Lec 4:10d Ps. 31:5, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth."

Lec 4:11a By a little reflection it will be seen that the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity is necessary to enable any rational being to exercise faith in him.

Lec 4:11b For without the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, men could not exercise faith in him for life and salvation;

Lec 4:11c seeing that without the knowledge of all things, God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures; for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures, by which they are made partakers of eternal life;

Lec 4:11d and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge, it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him.

Lec 4:12a And it is not less necessary that men should have the idea of the existence of the attribute power in the Deity.

Lec 4:12b For unless God had power over all things, and was able by his power to control all things, and thereby deliver his creatures who put their trust in him from the power of all beings that might seek their destruction, whether in heaven, on earth, or in hell, men could not be saved;

Lec 4:12c but with the idea of the existence of this attribute planted in the mind, men feel as though they had nothing to fear who put their trust in God, believing that he has power to save all who come to him, to the very uttermost.

Lec 4:13a It is also necessary in order to the exercise of faith in God, unto life and salvation, that men should have the idea of the existence of the attribute justice in him.

Lec 4:13b For without the idea of the existence of the attribute justice in the Deity, men could not have confidence sufficiently to place themselves under his guidance and direction;

Lec 4:13c for they would be filled with fear and doubt, lest the Judge of all the earth would not do right; and thus fear, or doubt, existing in the mind, would preclude the possibility of the exercise of faith in him for life and salvation.

Lec 4:13d But when the idea of the existence of the attribute justice in the Deity, is fairly planted in the mind, it leaves no room for doubt to get into the heart, and the mind is enabled to cast itself upon the Almighty without fear and without doubt, and with most unshaken confidence, believing that the Judge of all the earth will do right.

Lec 4:14a It is also of equal importance that men should have the idea of the existence of the attribute judgment in God, in order that they may exercise faith in him for life and salvation;

Lec 4:14b for without the idea of the existence of this attribute in the Deity, it would be impossible for men to exercise faith in him for life and salvation, seeing that it is through the exercise of this attribute that the faithful in Christ Jesus are delivered out of the hands of those who seek their destruction;

Lec 4:14c for if God were not to come out in swift judgment against the workers of iniquity and the powers of darkness, his saints could not be saved; for it is by judgment that the Lord delivers his saints out of the hands of all their enemies, and those who reject the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lec 4:14d But no sooner is the idea of the existence of this attribute planted in the minds of men, than it gives power to the mind for the exercise of faith and confidence in God.

Lec 4:14e And they are enabled by faith to lay hold on the promises which are set before them, and wade through all the tribulations and afflictions to which they are subjected by reason of the persecution from those who know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Lec 4:14f believing that in due time the Lord will come out in swift judgment against their enemies, and they shall be cut off from before him, and that in his own due time he will bear them off conquerors and more than conquerors in all things.

Lec 4:15a And again it is equally important that men should have the idea of the existence of the attribute mercy in the Deity, in order to exercise faith in him for life and salvation.

Lec 4:15b For without the idea of the existence of this attribute in the Deity, the spirits of the saints would faint in the midst of the tribulations, afflictions, and persecutions which they have to endure for righteousness' sake;

Lec 4:15c but when the idea of the existence of this attribute is once established in the mind, it gives life and energy to the spirits of the saints;

Lec 4:15d believing that the mercy of God will be poured out upon them in the midst of their afflictions, and that he will compassionate them in their sufferings, and that the mercy of God will lay hold of them and secure them in the arms of his love, so that they will receive a full reward for all their sufferings.

Lec 4:16a And lastly, but not less important to the exercise of faith in God, is the idea of the existence of the attribute truth in him.

Lec 4:16b For without the idea of the existence of this attribute, the mind of man could have nothing upon which it could rest with certainty.

Lec 4:16c All would be confusion and doubt, but with the idea of the existence of this attribute in the Deity in the mind, all the teachings, instructions, promises, and blessings become realities, and the mind is enabled to lay hold of them with certainty and confidence.

Lec 4:16d Believing that these things, and all that the Lord has said, shall be fulfilled in their time;

Lec 4:16e and that all the cursings, denunciations, and judgments pronounced upon the heads of the unrighteous will also be executed in the due time of the Lord;

Lec 4:16f and by reason of the truth and veracity of him, the mind beholds its deliverance and salvation as being certain.

Lec 4:17a Let the mind once reflect sincerely and candidly upon the ideas of the existence of the before-mentioned attributes in the Deity, and it will be seen that as far as his attributes are concerned, there is a sure foundation laid for the exercise of faith in him for life and salvation.

Lec 4:17b For inasmuch as God possesses the attribute knowledge, he can make all things known to his saints necessary for their salvation;

Lec 4:17c and as he possesses the attribute power he is able thereby to deliver them from the power of all enemies;

Lec 4:17d and seeing also, that justice is an attribute of the Deity, he will deal with them upon the principles of righteousness and equity, and a just reward will be granted unto them for all their afflictions and sufferings for the truth's sake.

Lec 4:17e And as judgment is an attribute of the Deity also, his saints can have the most unshaken confidence that they will, in due time, obtain a perfect deliverance out of the hands of all their enemies, and a complete victory over all those who have sought their hurt and destruction.

Lec 4:17f And as mercy is also an attribute of the Deity, his saints can have confidence that it will be exercised toward them; and through the exercise of that attribute toward them, comfort and consolation will be administered unto them abundantly, amid all their afflictions and tribulations.

Lec 4:17g And lastly, realizing that truth is an attribute of the Deity, the mind is led to rejoice amid all its trials and temptations, in hope of that glory which is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Lec 4:17h and in view of that crown which is to be placed upon the heads of the saints in the day when the Lord shall distribute rewards unto them, and in prospect of that eternal weight of glory, which the Lord has promised to bestow upon them, when he shall bring them into the midst of his throne to dwell in his presence eternally.

Lec 4:18a In view, then, of the existence of these attributes, the faith of the saints can become exceedingly strong, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God,

Lec 4:18b and can exert its mighty influence in searching after wisdom and understanding, until it has obtained a knowledge of all things that pertain to life and salvation.

Lec 4:19a Such then is the foundation which is laid through the revelation of the attributes of God for the exercise of faith in him for life and salvation;

Lec 4:19b and seeing that these are attributes of the Deity, they are unchangeable - being the same yesterday, today and forever - which gives to the minds of the Latter Day Saints the same power and authority to exercise faith in God which the Former Day Saints had.

Lec 4:19c So that all the saints in this respect have been, are, and will be alike until the end of time; for God never changes, therefore his attributes and character remain forever the same.

Lec 4:19d And as it is through the revelation of these that a foundation is laid for the exercise of faith in God unto life and salvation.

Lec 4:19e The foundation, therefore, for the exercise of faith was, is, and ever will be the same. So that all men have had, and will have, an equal privilege.