A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God Quotes

“From hence it follows, that though God is both perfectly free and also infinitely powerful, yet cannot possibly do anything that is evil. The reason of this is also evident, Because, as it is manifest infinite power cannot extend to natural contradictions which imply a destruction of that very power by which they must be supposed to be effected, so neither can it extend to moral contradictions which imply a destruction of some other attributes as necessarily belonging to the divine nature as power...justice, goodness and truth are necessarily in God...It is, therefore, as impossible and contradictory to suppose his will should choose to do anything contrary to justice, goodness or truth as that his power should be able to do anything inconsistent with power. It is no diminution of power not to be able to do things which are no object of power. And it is in the like manner no diminution either of power or liberty to have such a perfect and unalterable rectitude of will as never possibly to choose to do anything inconsistent with that rectitude.”
― Samuel Clarke, A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God