Study Notes on Psalm 109 and Matthew 5 verse 44

32 20 OF THE HOLINESS OF GOD. redundancy, an overflow of it; it is hearty and sincere, is them are or can be exercised in a wrong manner, or to the strength and security of the saints, and will remain any bad purpose. And as it is his nature and essence, it for ever (Neh. 8:10; Zeph. 3:17). is infinite and unbounded; it cannot be greater than it Chapter 20 is, and can neither be increased nor diminished; when, OF THE HOLINESS OF GOD. therefore, men are exhorted to “sanctify” the Lord, and Having considered those attributes of God which are directed to pray that his “name” may be “hallowed”, bear a likeness to affections in men; I proceed to con- or sanctified, (Isa. 8:13; Matthew 6:9) the meaning is not sider those which in them may be called virtues; as ho- as if he was to be, or could be made more holy than liness, justice, or righteousness, truth, or faithfulness; he is; but that his holiness be declared, manifested, and and shall begin with the holiness of God. And, celebrated more and more; it is so perfect that nothing First, show that it is in God, and belongs to him, can be added to it. And as it is his nature and essence, it and what it is. The scriptures most abundantly ascribe it is immutable and invariable; the holiness of a creature to him; he is very frequently called “holy”, and “the Holy is changeable, as the holiness of angels and men; which One”; this title he takes to himself, (Isa. 40:25; Hoses has appeared by the apostasy of the one, and the fall of 11:9) and is often given him by others, angels and men; the other; and the holiness of saints, though its principle and, indeed, without holiness he would not be that per- is the same, the acts and exercises are variable. But God fect being he is; unholiness is the imperfection of every is always the same holy Being, without any variableness, rational being in whom it is; it is what has made angels or shadow of turning. He is originally holy, he is so in and men both impure and imperfect; and since no men, and of himself, and of no other; there is none prior and even the best, are without sin; therefore none are in superior to him, from whom he could derive or receive themselves perfect. But as for God, his ways and works any holiness; as his Being is of himself, so is his holiness, are perfect, and so is his nature; being just and true, and which is himself: the holiness of angels and men is not without iniquity (Deut. 32:4). Holiness is the purity and of themselves, but of God; he is the fountain of holiness rectitude of his nature; whose nature is so pure, as to be to all rational creatures that partake of it; it is peculiar to without spot or stain, or anything like it: he is light and him, yea, only in him; Hannah says, in her song, “There purity itself, and in him is no darkness or impurity at is none holy as the Lord”, (1 Sam. 2:2). In another song all; as “he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity”, so yet to be sung, the song of Moses and of the Lamb, it is he is of a purer heart and mind than to have one sin- said, “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy ful thought in it: his thoughts are not as ours; he is the name? for thou only art holy” (Rev. 15:4). The holiness pattern of purity and holiness, and to be copied after: of creatures is but a shadow of holiness, in comparison men should be holy, as and because he is holy; it is one of the holiness of God; the holy angels are chargeable of the imitable perfections of God, in which he is to be with folly in his sight, and they cover their faces with followed; though it cannot be attained to, as it is in him, their wings, while they celebrate the perfection of God’s (Lev. 11:44, 45, 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15, 16). holiness; as conscious to themselves, that theirs will not Holiness is an essential attribute of God; it is his na- bear to be compared with his (Job 4:17,18; Isa. 6:2, 3). ture and essence; it is himself; he is holiness itself; “he God only is essentially, originally, underivatively, perswears by himself, because he can swear by no greater”; fectly, and immutably holy. and he will not swear by any less, and yet he swears by This must be understood not of one person in the his holiness, (Heb. 6:13; Ps. 89:35; Amos 4:2, 6:8) which Deity, to the exclusion of the rest; as not of the Spirit, places put and compared together show that the holi- though he is peculiarly called the “Holy Ghost”, and the ness of God is himself; and it has been thought to be not Holy Spirit, yet not to the exclusion of the Father and so much a particular and distinct attribute of itself, as Son; so not of the Father, to the exclusion of the Son the lustre, glory, and harmony of all the rest; and is what and Spirit; for as they are the one God, who is a Spirit, is called “the beauty of the Lord”, (Ps. 27:4) as it is the they partake of the same common and undivided nabeauty of the good angels, and of regenerate men; and, ture, and all the perfections of it, and of this with the indeed, what is wisdom or knowledge, without holiness, rest. Hence we read of the holy Elohim, or divine Perbut craft and cunning? or what is power, without it, but sons, in the plural number; and of the Holy Ones, the tyranny, oppression, and cruelty? but God is “glorious Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, (Josh. in holiness”, (Ex. 15:11) this dives a lustre to all his per- 24:19; Prov. 30:5; Dan. 4:17). And no doubt respect is fections, and is the glory of them; and therefore none of had to the holiness of the three divine persons, by the