Of GOD’s HOLINESS

1. What is the [holiness] of God?

It is that essential rectitude or integrity of his nature, whereby he infinitely delights in his own purity, and in every thing agreeable to his will; Habakkuk 1:13 and hath a perfect hatred and abhorrence of every thing contrary thereunto. Jeremiah 44:4

2. Is God necessarily holy?

Holiness is as necessary to him as his being: he is as necessarily holy, as he is necessarily God: “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord?—for thou only art holy,”

3. What peculiar honour doth God put upon his own holiness?

He singles it out as the attribute to swear by, for the accomplishment of his promises and threatenings, “Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David.” Psalm 89:35 “The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness—that he will take you away with hooks.” Amos 4:2

4. Are finite creatures able to behold the brightness of God’s holiness?

No: for when the angels themselves view his infinite holiness, as manifested in Christ, they are represented as covering their faces with their wings.

5. How are sinners of mankind made partakers of his holiness?

By regenerating grace, and spiritual ingraftment into a second Adam; John 15:4–5 by faith’s improvement of the great and precious promises; 2 Peter 1:4 and by beholding the glory of this attribute, as it shines in the person and sufferings of the Son of God, presented to our view in the glass of the gospel-revelation. 2 Corinthians 3:18

6. Doth every thing pertaining to God, bear a stamp and impress of his holiness?

Yes: he is holy in all his works; Psalm 145:17 his word is holy; Romans 1:2 his covenant or promise is holy; Psalm 105:42 his Sabbath is holy; Isaiah 58:13 his people are holy; Isaiah 62:12 his ministering spirits are the holy angels; Revelation 14:10 and the place where he dwells, is the high and holy place. Isaiah 57:15

7. Wherein did the holiness of God appear in the creation of man?

In making him upright, Ecclesiastes 7:29 after his own image; Genesis 1:27 and writing a law upon his heart, which was the transcript of his holiness. Romans 7:12

8. How hath God discovered his holiness in his providential procedure?

In not sparing the angels who sinned; and in the visible and remarkable judgments, which he has inflicted upon notorious offenders in this life.

9. What was the highest display of God’s holiness, and detestation of sin?

His hiding his face from his own beloved Son, as bearing our iniquity.

10. What is the greatest opposite of the holiness of God?

Sin: therefore called that abominable thing which God hates.

11. How doth God hate sin?

He hates it necessarily, and with a perfect hatred.

12. Since God thus hates sin, how doth his permission thereof consist with his holiness?

It fully consists therewith, because his permission of sin hath no influence upon the commission thereof, which entirely flows from the free-will of the sinner. James 1:13–14 Besides, God thereby takes occasion to give a brighter display of his holiness and detestation of sin, than though Adam had continued in innocency; when he spared not his own Son, but gave him unto death on account of it. Romans 8:32

13. What improvement ought we to make of the holiness of God?

To give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness; Psalm 30:4 to proclaim the glory thereof; Exodus 15:11 and to study holiness in all manner of conversation. 1 Peter 1:15

14. How may we know if we have suitable impressions of God’s holiness?

If we stand in awe to offend him, Genesis 39:9 and have an habitual desire after more conformity unto him. 1 John 3:3