John Calvin on Three Main Attributes of God

"God, the Creator of heaven and earth, governs the world which was made by him.  In every part of Scripture we meet with descriptions of his paternal kindness and readiness to do good, and we also meet with examples of severity which show that he is the just punisher of the wicked, especially when they continue obstinate notwithstanding all his forbearance.

"Assuredly, the attributes [of God] which it is most necessary for us to know are these three: loving-kindness, on which alone our entire safety depends; judgment, which is daily exercised on the wicked, and awaits them in a severer form, even for eternal destruction; righteousness, by which the faithful are preserved, and most benignly cherished.  The prophet declares, that when you understand these, you are amply furnished with the means of glorying in God.  Nor is there here any omission of his truth, or power, or holiness, or goodness.  For how could this knowledge of his loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness exist, if it were not founded on his [incorruptable] truth?" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin).