2d. Our holiness consists in our subjec- tion to the will of God : as God's nature is file pattern of holiness, so his will is the rule of holiness. This is our holiness, 1. When we do his will. Acts xiii. 22. 2. UHien we bear his will, Micah vii. 9., what he inflicts wisely, we suffer willingly. This is our holiness, when we are suitable to God's nature, and submissive to his will ; this should be our great care, to be like God In holiness ; our lioliness should be so qua- fied as God's ; God's is a real holiness,
such should ours be, Eph. iv., 24. " Righ- teousness and true holiness." It should not be only the paint of holiness, but the life of holiness ; it should not only be ilke the Egyptian temples, beautifiod without, but like Solomon's temple, gold within, Ps. xlv. 13., " The king's daughter is all glorious within" That I' may jness you to resemble God in holiness, consi(h?r,
1. How illustrious every holy person is; he is a fair glass in which some of the beams of God's holiness shines forth. We read, Aaron put on liis garments for glory and beauty, Exod. xxviii. 2. AVlien we wear the embroidered garment of holiness, it is for glory and beauty. A good Christian is ruddy, being sprinkled with Christ's blood ; and white, being adorned with ho- liness. As the diamond to a ring, so is ho- liness to the soul, that, as Chrysostom saith, they that o])pose it cannot but admire it.
2. It is the great design God carries on in the world to make a people like himself in holiness ; what are all the showers of the ordinances for, but to rain down righ- teousness upon us, and make us holy ? What are the promises for, but to encoiu*- age holiness? What is the sending of the Spirit into the world for, but to anoint us with the holv unction? 1 John ii. 20. What are all afflictions for, but to make us partakers of God's holiness? Heb. xii. 10. Wliat are mercies for, but loadstones to draw us to holiness ? What is the end of Christ's dying, but that his blood might wash away our unholiness ? Tit. ii. 14., " Who gave himself for us, to purify unto himself a peculiar people." So that if we are not holy, we cross God's great design in the world.
3. It is our lioliness draws God's heart tons. Holiness is God's image; God can- not choose but love his image where he sees it. A king loves to see his eflij^es upon a piece of coin : Ps. xlv. v. T., " Thou lovest righteousness." And where doth righteousness grow, but in an holy heart ? Isa. Ixii. !., " 'Diou shalt be called Heph- zibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee." It was her holiness drew God's love to her. V. 12., " lliey shall call them the holy peo- ple" God values not any by their high birth, but their hoUness.
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OF THE HOLINESS OF GOD.
4. Holiness is the only thing that differ- enceth us from tlie reprobate part of the world. God's peoi)le have his seal upon them, 9 Tim. ii. 19., " The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the liord knoweth them that are his. And let all that name the name of Christ, depart from iniquity." The people of God are sealed with a double seal: 1. Election, " The Lord knows who are his." 2. Sanc- tification, *' Let every one depart from ini- quity." As a nobleman is distinguished from another by his silver star, — as a vir- tuous woman is distinguished from an har- lot by her chastity, — so holiness distin- guisheth between the two seeds : all that are of God, as they have Christ for their captain, Heb. ii. 10., so holiness is the white colour they Avear.
5. Holiness is our honour. Holiness and honour is put together, 1 Thess. iv. 4. Dignity goes along with sanctification. Rev. i. 5, 6., " He hath washed us from our sins in his blood, and hath made us kings unto God." When we are washed and made holy, then we are kings and priests to God. The saints are called ' ves- sels of honour ;' they are called ' jewels,' for the sparkling of their holiness, because filled with wine of the Spirit; this makes them earthly angels.
6. Holiness gives us boldness with God, Job xxii. 26., " Thou shalt put away ini- quity far from thy tabernacle, and shalt lift up thy face unto God." Lifting up the face is an emblem of boldness. Noth- ing can make us so ashamed to go to God, as sin : a wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face. When Adam h.ad lost his holiness, he lost his confidence, — he hid himself. But the holy person goes to God, as a child to his father ; his conscience doth not upbraid hint with allowing any sin, therefore he can go boldly to the throne of gjace, and have mercy to help in time of need, Heb. iv. 16,
7. Holiness gives peace : sin raiscth a
storm in the conscience, iibi peccatum ibi procella : Isa. Ivii. 21., '■ There is no peace saith my God to the wicked." Righteous- ness and peace are put together. Holiness is the root which bears this sweet fruit of peace; righteousness and peace kiss each other.