334 NEChssITY OF HOLINESS FROM THE of holiness, which loth not contain in itself an encou aging motive unto it. To declare it necessary for us, and at the same time impossible unto us, is not to pro- mote its interest. They understand neither the holiness of God nor man, who suppose that they are absolutely and immediately suited unto one another, or that, under that notion of it, we can take any encouraging motive unto our duty herein. Nay, no creature is capable of such a perfection in holiness, as absolutely to answer the infinite purity of the divine nature, without a cove- nant-condescension, Job iv. 18. chap. xv. 15. But it is the holiness of God, as he is in Christ, and as in Christ represented unto us, that gives us both the ne- cessity and motive unto ours. Sect. 6.Wherefore God, in dealing with his peo- ple of old in this matter, did not propose unto them to this end the absolute perfection of his own nature, but his being holy, as he dwelt among them, and was their God, that is, ih covenant; both which had respect unto Jesus Christ. In him all the glorious perfections of God are so represented unto us, as we may not thence only learn our duty, but also be encouraged unto it; For, (1.) All the properties df God, as so represented un- to us, are moreconspicuous, resplendent, alluring, and attractive, than as absolutely considered. I know not what light into, and knowledge of the divine perfections, Adam had in his state of innocency, when God had declared himselfonly in the works of nature; sufficient, no doubt, it was toguide him in his love and obedience, or that life which he was to live unto him. But I know that now, all our knowledge of God, and his proper- ties, unless it be that which we have in and by Jesus Christ, is insufficient to lead or conduct us in that life of faith and obedience, which is necessary unto us. He therefore gives us the light oftheknowledge ofhis glory in the face ofJesus Christ, 2 Cor. iv. 6. that is, clear manifestations of his glorious excellencies. 'l'he light of the knowledge hereof is a clear, useful, saving per- ception and understanding of them. And this is not only directive unto holiness, but also effectiveof it; For thus beholding the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image,from glory toglory, chap. iii. 18. (2.) In particular, the fiery holiness of God is repre- sented unto us in Christ, so, as that although it lose nothing of declaring the indispensable necessity of boll- ------ ness in all that draw nigh tohim, yet under such a con- temperation with goodness, grace, love, mercy, conde- scension, as may invite and encourage us to endeavour after a conformity thereunto. Sect. 7. (8.) Together with a representation of the holiness of God in Christ, there is a revelation made of what holiness in us he doth require, and will accept. As was observed before, the consideration of it, abso- lutely, neither requires nor admitsof any but that which is absolutely perfect; and where there is any one failing, . the wholeof what we do is condemned, James ii. 10. This thereforecan only perplex and torture the soul of a sinner, by pressing on him at the same time the ne- cessity and impossibility of holiness, Isa. xxxiii. ii. But now, as God is in Christ, through his interposition and mediation, he accepts of such an holiness in us, as we are capable of, and which no man hath anydiscour- agement from endeavouring to attain. Sect. 8. (4.) There is in and by Christ declared and administered, a spiritual power of grace, which shall work this holiness in us, or that conformity unto the holiness of God which he doth require. From this fountain, therefore, we draw immediately, as the res. sons of the necessity, so prevalent motives unto holiness in our souls, Hence some things may be inferenced; As, (First,) That the mediation of Christ, and in parti- cular his satisfaction, is so far from being an hinderance of, or a discouragement unto holiness, assome blasphe- mously.pretend, that the great fundamental reasonof it in us, namely, the holiness of Godhimself, can have no influence upon us, without the supposition of it, and faith in it; unless faith be built hereon, no sinner, upon a view of God's holiness, as absolutely considered, can have any other thoughts but those of Cain, My sin is great, it cannot be pardoned. God is an holy God; I cannot serve him, and therefore will depart out of his presence. But the holiness of God, as manifested in Jesus Christ, including a supposition of satisfaction made unto what is required by its absolute purity, and a con- descension thereon to accept in him, that holiness of truth and sincerity which we arecapable o, doth equally maintain the indispensable necessity of it, and encour- age us unto it. And we may see what contrary conclu- sions will be made on these different considerations of it. Those who view it only in the first way, can come to no other issue in their thoughts but that which they
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