7 Our Saviour Christ giveth two notable titles and commendations to the exercises of the Church, Matthew chapter 7. verse 6. he calleth them, holy, and precious. First for holiness, we know there is no sound holiness, but in the Lord, or of the Lord, and therefore it was said, holiness to the Lord; it was the inscription of Aaron's mitre. And it is said in the Gospel, that none is good but God, that is, none is essentially good but God: the word, the Angels & so forth, are holy, but in respect rather of some thing received than of their own nature; ⟨p. 738⟩and so the word is holy after a double manner, either for that it cometh from God, who is perfectly holy, and it is of the nature of him; or else for that by it we receive holiness and are made holy. For the first it is sure, that the law-giver doth always impart to the law something of his own nature, and therefore among the heathen, look what kind of men set down the laws, the law had a smack of their disposition. Solon a very moderate man, his laws were very moderate, and tasted much that way. Draco his laws were severe like to himself, and therefore they were said to be written with blood: So are the Lord his ordinances, they coming from the holiest of all, carry from him in them a sensible relish of holiness, and are united to the nature of God. And as the law cometh from one holy, and so teacheth holy things, likewise cometh holiness into our hearts by applying them thereunto, our hearts of themselves not being holy; and so the law having a quality of God himself, it hath it not for it self alone, but for us. In this respect as the law is lively, so it is a quickening law making alive; as the word is wise, so it maketh wise; as it is holy, so it is a sanctifying law making us wise. For preciousness the Scriptures stick not and cease not to set a price of the word, as Psalm 19. and 119. David compares it to spoils, a thing full of precious things, wherein are things of great price. And yet for that in spoils are things of all value, some more, some less precious, after he compares it to gold, then to fined gold, afterward to much fined gold, yea to thousands of gold and silver: and not contenting himself he joineth to gold, precious stones; and least yet he might say too little, he compares it to all manner of riches.
7 Our Sauiour Christ giueth two notable titles and commendations to the exercises of the Church, Matthew chapter 7. verse 6. he calleth them, holy, and precious. First for holines, we know there is no sound holines, but in the Lord, or of the Lord, and therefore it was said, holines to the Lord; it was the inscription of Aarons miter. And it is said in the Gospell, that none is good but God, that is, none is essentially good but God: the word, the Angels & so forth, are holy, but in respect rather of some thing receiued than of their own nature; ⟨p. 738⟩and so the word is holy after a double manner, either for that it commeth from God, who is perfitly holy, and it is of the nature of him; or else for that by it we receiue holines and are made holy. For the first it is sure, that the law-giuer doth alwaies impart to the lawe something of his owne nature, and therefore among the heathen, looke what kind of men set downe the lawes, the law had a smacke of their disposition. Solon a very moderate man, his lawes were very moderate, and tasted much that way. Draco his lawes were seuere like to himselfe, and therefore they were said to be written with blood: So are the Lord his ordinances, they comming from the holiest of all, carie frō him in them a sensible rellish of holines, and are vnited to the nature of God. And as the law commeth from one holy, and so teacheth holy things, likewise cōmeth holines into our hearts by applying them therevnto, our hearts of themselues not being holy; and so the law hauing a qualitie of God himselfe, it hath it not for it selfe alone, but for vs. In this respect as the law is liuely, so it is a quickning law making aliue; as the word is wise, so it maketh wise; as it is holy, so it is a sanctifying law making vs wise. For preciousnes the Scriptures sticke not and cease not to set a price of the word, as Psalme 19. and 119. Dauid compares it to spoiles, a thing full of precious things, wherein are things of great price. And yet for that in spoiles are things of all value, some more, some lesse precious, after he compares it to gold, then to fined gold, afterward to much fined gold, yea to thousands of gold and siluer: and not contenting himselfe he ioyneth to gold, precious stones; and least yet he might say too little, he compares it to all manner of riches.
