In a word, study an holiness that knows no limits, but what it shall have in Heaven; an holiness without any stint, still pressing after further degrees of conformity unto Jesus Christ; unless your holiness be of this impression, you can never hope to see Gods face, and if your hope be a true Scripture hope, your holiness will be a right Scripture-holiness; 1He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure: Where ever you stick you perish: Labour for such an holiness as will give you admittance not into the Church only, but into Heaven, without which no man shall see God; no men of what classis or form soever they be, whether such as have no holiness and care for none, all profane persons; Shall eyes full of adultery ever see God? the holy God? Shall eyes full of anger and revenge see God! the meek, merciful God? Et sic in caet. All such as deride holiness, or despise holiness, or persecute holiness, such as have neither name nor thing, yea, that perfectly hate both, shall they enjoy God? The Apostle ⟨p. 45⟩sends them this word expressly, There is no room for them in Heaven. And indeed, what should such do there? There is nothing in Heaven but what is holy, holy Angels, and holy Saints, and above all a thrice holy Trinity, Father, 2Son and Holy Ghost; Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty, the beauty of whose face is holiness, alas! there is nothing for them to see or hear, but what is an abomination to their souls! Holy words, yea, the very word (Holiness) they now stop their ears at it, it is vinegar to their teeth, they make faces at it; holy Ordinances, they cannot bear them; the impurer the Ordinance is, the better they like it; An Holy God, they say of him, 3Cause the holy One of Israel to depart from before us; preach as much as you will of the merciful One of Israel, and of the bountiful One of Israel, &c. but tell us not so much of the holy One of Israel. Molest us no more with messages of holiness, and the severities thereof; yea, 4they say not only so of God, but they say as much to God to his very face, They say to the Almighty, depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; they say so by interpretation, if not in words at length; he that can expound actions as well as language, tells us, they say so;
In a word, study an holiness that knows no limits, but what it shall have in Heaven; an holiness without any stint, still pressing after further degrees of conformity unto Jesus Christ; unless your holiness be of this impression, you can never hope to see Gods face, and if your hope be a true Scripture hope, your holiness will be a right Scripture-holiness; 1He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure: Where ever you stick you perish: Labour for such an holiness as will give you admittance not into the Church only, but into Heaven, without which no man shall see God; no men of what classis or form soever they be, whether such as have no holiness and care for none, all profane persons; Shall eyes full of adultery ever see God? the holy God? Shall eyes full of anger and revenge see God! the meek, merciful God? Et sic in caet. All such as deride holiness, or despise holiness, or persecute holiness, such as have neither name nor thing, yea, that perfectly hate both, shall they enjoy God? The Apostle ⟨p. 45⟩sends them this word expresly, There is no room for them in Heaven. And indeed, what should such do there? There is nothing in Heaven but what is holy, holy Angels, and holy Saints, and above all a thrice holy Trinity, Father, 2Son and Holy Ghost; Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty, the beauty of whose face is holiness, alas! there is nothing for them to see or hear, but what is an abomination to their souls! Holy words, yea, the very word (Holiness) they now stop their ears at it, it is vinegar to their teeth, they make faces at it; holy Ordinances, they cannot bear them; the impurer the Ordinance is, the better they like it; An Holy God, they say of him, 3Cause the holy One of Israel to depart from before us; preach as much as you will of the merciful One of Israel, and of the bountiful One of Israel, &c. but tell us not so much of the holy One of Israel. Molest us no more with messages of holiness, and the severities thereof; yea, 4they say not only so of God, but they say as much to God to his very face, They say to the Almighty, depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes; they say so by interpretation, if not in words at length; he that can expound actions as well as language, tells us, they say so;
- 11 John 3.3 S• diaeeru fot est, periisti.
- 2Rev. 4.8.
- 3Isai. 30.11
- 4See learned Gataker in loc.
