Ver. I . the i7tb Chapter of St. J O H NT, 139 this hatred, we would more loath and abhor our (elves, we would be more afhamed than we are id our Confeffions : to (peak thus much of our felves to a Man, would make us blulh ; and yet Man path but a Drop of Indignation againft Sin, God bath anOcean. God's Children have a daunting Power in their appearance : guilty Con - fciences, when they come into the prefence of one that walketh clofely with God, are terrified. Herod feared John Baptift, knowing that he war a fug Man, and an Hoy. Mark 6. 20. 2. To make us prize Chrift. Our bell Works would flink in the Noftrils of the moft Holy God, if they were not accepted in and for Chrift. Nothing can be accep- table to infinite Purity, but what is pure. Habbak. t. 13. Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Evil, and canfl not look on Iniquity. We fhould not have one good look from God, were it not for Christ. To falve this Attribute, was Jefus Chrift lent into the World : We think that Chrift was only lent to fatisfy Juillet ; God hateth Sin out of Holinefs, punilheth it out of Juftice, and executeth that Punifhment by his Maje- fly and Power; fo that we dread God for his Wrath, Power, and Juaice 5 but all thefe are awakened by his Holinefs, there is the Root of all. So that the confederation of God's Holinds, maketh us to prize Chrift. Alas, what fhould vile Creatures do be- fore an Holy God, out of Chrift 3. it is Gods principal Glory. Exod. 15. it. Thon art glorious in Holinefs. God í3 mighty in Power, rich in Grace, glorious in Holinef. It is good to mark the di- flin&nefs of Expreffion in all the Attributes. God, that he might Phew us how much we fhould prize Grace, would be glorious in nothing fo much as in Holi- nefs. This is Seraphical Divinity, the Angels would teach us no other Divini- ty, and Notions of God ; but Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hofs, Ifa. 6. 3. this is molt pleating to God, profitable to Men. Chrift taught us to pray firft of all, Hallowed be thy Name. This fhould be the chiefeft thing that we fhould think of in our Addrefles to God. So when the Angel Gabriel tame to give notice of Chrift 3 Luke t. 35. That Holy Thing that flail be born of thee, ¡hall be called the Son of God'; Priùs fancTum quàns Dei Filium nominavit, faith one of the Fathers. You cannot call God nor Chrift by a better Title, it is his darling Attribute. So the Saints in Heaven; Rev. 4. 8. They refi not day and night, flying, H*, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty ; it is nine times in Plamius's Edition, as if they were delighted with the mention of it ; they take a fweet content in the Work, Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit. In Hea- ven they blefs and penile God ; praife himfor his Excellencies, beefs him for his Bene- fits: We praife him for his Holinefs; we biers him for his Mercy in Chrift; this will be our Employment in Heaven, P»!. 99. 5. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and :toilful, at his Footflool; for he is Holy. God counteth it his chiefeft Glory, that he might teach the Creature, that Moral Perfe&ions are Labe preferred before Natural t it is better to be Wife than Strong, to be Holy than Wife. III: Why efpecially mutt we thus look upon him, when we deal with him for Grace and Sanftification ? a. Becaufe it is a Relief to Faith, when we reprefent God to our (elves as the Foun- tain of Holinefs. He is the Holy Ono of Ifrael, and Chrift calls him Holy Father, Jude t. To them that arefanblifted by God the Father. There is enough in God : when we' come for Pardon, he is rich in Mercy ; when we come for Holinef, he is glorious in Holinefs: he is the God of Grace ; you may have enough, if you be not wanting to your felves. Men are willing to (pare out of their Fulnefs ; the Holy God is as able as willing to fanflify you, it isa Work that he delighteth in, Joab interceded for Abfalons, when heperceived the King's Heart war towards Abfalom, 2 Sam. 14. I. 2. It may be a means to enlarge your Spiritual Délires. You ate to be holy as he is holy, r Pet. e. 15. The Children, if they be of the right Stock, they fhould have Come Refemblance of their Father. Now you ask Holinefs of God, that you may be as God in force degree of Conformity, tho not in exalt Equality t Af qui non pliant", falter nunquam fequi d fnamns; we cannot overtake God, but we fhould never ceaf tò follow him: We have an high Patent, that we mighr not be content with any low meafuresof Grace. When you are asking, it is good to be thinking of your Patern, that you may inlarge your Spiritual Defires : Lord, wafh me ehroughly ; Lord, make me holy, as thou art holy; I forget the thugs that are behind, it is nothing that I have already. S f f 2 pfe;,
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