A Body of Practical Divinity

Use 2. Is God the Holy One, and is his Holiness his Glory? Then how impious are they, 1. That are Haters of Holiness, as the Vulture hates Perfumes: so they hate this sweet Perfume of Holiness in the Saints; their Hearts rise against Holiness as a Man's Stomach at a Dish he hath an Antipathy against. There is not a greater sign of a Person devoted to Hell, then to hate one for that thing wherein he is most like God, his Holiness. 2. That are Despisers of Holiness; they despise the Glory of the Godhead, Glorious in holiness; the despising of Holiness is seen in the deriding of it; Is it not sad Men should deride that which should save them? Sure that Patient will dye that derides the Physic? The deriding the Grace of the Spirit comes near to the despiting the Spirit of Grace: Scoffing Ishmael was cast out of Abraham's House, Gen. 21.9. Such as scoff at Holiness shall be cast out of Heaven.

Use 2. Is God the Holy One, and is his Holiness his Glory? Then how impious are they, 1. That are Haters of Holiness, as the Vulture hates Perfumes: so they hate this sweet Perfume of Holiness in the Saints; their Hearts rise against Holiness as a Man's Stomach at a Dish he hath an Antipathy against. There is not a greater sign of a Person devoted to Hell, then to hate one for that thing wherein he is most like God, his Holiness. 2. That are Despisers of Holiness; they despise the Glory of the Godhead, Glorious in holiness; the despising of Holiness is seen in the deriding of it; Is it not sad Men should deride that which should save them? Sure that Patient will dye that derides the Physick? The deriding the Grace of the Spirit comes near to the despighting the Spirit of Grace: Scoffing Ishmael was cast out of Abraham's House, Gen. 21.9. Such as scoff at Holiness shall be cast out of Heaven.

Use 2. of Exhortation: Is God so infinitely holy, then let us endeavour to imitate God in Holiness, 1 Pet. 1.16. Be ye holy for I am holy. There's a twofold Holiness, An Holiness of Equality, and an Holiness of Similitude: An Holiness of Equality no Man or Angel can reach to: Who can be equally Holy with God? Who can parallel him in Sanctity? But, 2. there is an Holiness of Similitude, and that we must aspire after, to have some Analogy and Resemblance of God's Holiness in us; be as like him in Holiness as we can: though a Taper doth not give so much Light as the Sun, yet it doth resemble it. We must Imitate God in Holiness.