Chap. 6. An Expofition upon the Book of OB. VerC to. 469 confirmed and though at the prefent,the Saints are not,yet,when Chri!t thail fet them up,' in that glorious eltate,they (hall keep the fame trame for ever. But the Saints uponearth are unequally holy; For, full, they aregrowing,- their etlate here is an encrealing e- fiate, they are more holy one year then another as they grow more in knowledge, fo in every grace : And then, in regard of theexercife,they are more holy at one time,then at another which of the Saints hath not found, or doth not find much variety in his fpirit? Now a heart enlarged in prayer, and anon ílraightned ; now a. heart beleiving,andanon doubting; nowhumble anon lift- ed up with pride, &c. But as the holy One, is, perfec ly and abfolutely holy, fo, he is {ever equally in the famedegree,and tenor of holinefs,not the leaf . variety or Ihadow of turning in him. Put all thefe together, and the title is clear, how God by an excellency is called, The.holy One. As he is fo firong, that all the power of the creature, compared ion&ttar di.. with his,is weaknèfs,and fowife, that all the wifdomofthe crea- cfturper qua: ture compared with his, eis folly : 'So he is fo holy, that comps mens fe ipfu i red with him, all holinefs, is unholy, and he alone, Theholy One. &fuos,aflso Obferve, hence, appltcat Dec, Firft, That the bolinefs ofmanconfifts in his conformity untoGod.. Holinefs is our likenefs to God, or the application ofour minds and aEtions to God, as theScholars define it. God, The holy One, is, (if we may fo fpeak.) the Ilandard, the pattern, and the ob- je& of all holinefs. There is a twofold conformity to God in holinefs. Firft, a conformity to the nature of God. Secondly,a conformity to the will ofGod,or to that which God: wills. There make rap the total holinefs ofthe creature. Firti, Holinefs is our conformity to the nature of God. And therefore beleivers are Paid to be partakers of the divine nature,. (2 Pet.t.ç.) This participation,is our analogical refemblance un to the divine nature : Firtt,in his attributes. Secondly, in his of-- fe&ions. In his attributes, when we are patient, merciful, jug; faithful, true, loving, as God is.Thefe are the imageof God in us, and by thefe God becomes(as it were) vifible in man.As thofe in- vifible thingsof God, even his eternal power and Godhead are feen in the things which are created,fo thofe other invifible thins of God, even his eternal holinefs and purity,are feen in thofe,who, are fanC ified. And in the fame fenfe that God (peaks of Mag,; flute>)
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