A brief commentary upon the CIII Psalme with the severall axiomes or doctrines therein conteined [sic], and uses thereupon inferred.

2 Doctrine. The LORDS Name is holy.

1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Name.]* 1.1 The Name of the LORD is here (as often elswhere in Scripture) put for the LORD Himself. Hence that saying of the Hebrews 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 God Himself is His Name, and His Name is Him∣selfe.

2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Holy.] Gods holinesse is the same with His universall justice, or righteousnesse. And as in other things, so much more in God (by Whom all other things are sanctified or made holy) it imports a separation, as of that which is pure and excellent from that which is either unclean and vile, or at the best common and vulgar. Hence Gods Holi∣nesse, and His Glory are near akin; and Hal∣lowing Gods Name is all one with Glorify∣ing it, Ezek. 36.20, &c. & 38.23. & 28.22. Levit. 10.3. Isa. 6.3. & Exod. 29.43. it shall be sanctified by My glory.

This Attribute is frequently in Scripture given both to the Name of God,* 1.2 (as Psal. 33.21. & 99.3. & 105.3. & 106.47. & 145.21, &c.) and, which is all one, to God Him∣self, as Psal. 22.3. & 99.5, 9. Jos. 24.19. Yea 1 Sam. 2.2. There is none holy as the LORD. The faithfull in this life are holy but imperfectly; and both they and the An∣gels in the life to come, though perfectly in their kinde, yet finitely and derivatively:

God onely is holy infinitely, originally, es∣sentially. Hence He is called, as by His pro∣per Name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (which is more emphaticall then if it were with the article 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) the Holy one, Isa. 40.25. Iob 6.10. Hos. 11.9. Habak 3.3. And Isa 6.3. it is three times repeated, Holy, Holy, Holy, (or the Holy one, the Holy one, the Holy one) the LORD of hosts. So Revel. 4.8. where according to some Greek copies it is nine times (that is, thrice three times) repeated. In relation to His people also He is called their Holy one, Isa. 43.15. & 49.7. and, the Holy one of Ja∣cob, Isa. 29.23. and above 30 times the Holy one of Israel.

Reason,* 1.3 why God is holy, none other can be given, but because He is God; this, as all the rest of His Attributes, being essentiall to Him, yea His very essence.

Uses.

This affords us divers instructions.* 1.4 1 Here∣by we in part understand the nature of God: Whom to know is so behoofefull unto us, that therein consists eternall life, Joh. 17.3. so necessary, that vengeance in flaming fire is taken on all them that know Him not, 2 Thess. 1.8. For the summe of religion con∣sists in a right understanding of God, and

a due observance of Him, which affective knowledge includes. The knowledge there∣fore of this Attribute of God doth not a lit∣tle promote piety, and further our salvation, as will appeare in that which followes. In the mean time this should beget in us humi∣lity and holy feare, chiefly when we draw near unto God, Isa. 6.2, 5. 1 Sam. 6.20. Luk. 5.8. So also godly sincerity, especially in matter of religion.

2 If God be holy, then whatsoever pro∣ceeds from Him, is holy. Holinesse in mor∣tall men is imperfect (as was said before) and the most holy of them working according to the reliques of corruption bring forth some∣thing that is evil. In which regard both al men ought to pray, Forgive us our trespasses, and every one ought to take heed that he doe not follow others further then they are followers of Christ. Yea even Adam in his innocence, though he had no corruption, yet was mutably holy, and so by the abuse of his free will might commit evill, which also he did. But God being perfectly and essenti∣ally holy, all his works are necessarily holy. And so all His lawes or commandements, Rom. 7.12. Psal. 19.7, 8, 9. Therefore we must not murmur against God when He af∣flicts us or our friends, or suffers us to be un∣justly

afflicted by men; or when He spares or does good to our enemies. Neither must we doubt or delay to obey any of His com∣mandements; seeing, if it appeare to be a command proceeding from God, there is no question to be made but it is most holy, and just, and good.

3. If God be holy, then also He loves holinesse and righteousnesse in men, and hates iniquity, Psal. 5.4, 5. & 11.7. Habak. 1.13. Wouldst thou therefore know whether thou beeft in the favour of God or no? say not, Who shall ascend into heaven to search the secrets of God, and certifie me of mine ele∣ction? Neither consider the affluence of tem∣porall things. But descend into thy self, and consider whether thou beest truly and sin∣cerely holy. If so, thou needest not doubt of Gods love and favour.

4. Hereby we see how necessary Christ is for them that would come unto God. For as we are altogether polluted and unclean, till we be sprinkled and washed with the blood of Christ; so the best works that can proceed from us in our best estate in this life, would stink in the nostrils of the most holy God, if they were not accepted in and for Christ.

This also reproves divers sorts of men,* 1.5 as offending against Gods holinesse. 1. Them

that make so holy a God the author of sin. It is true indeed there is scarce any to be found that dares averre this in direct terms. The Ma∣nichees themselves would rather feigne ano∣ther principle, an evil god, then make the good and holy God the authour of sinne. But neither can they be excused from this blasphemy, who embrace and stifly maintain such opinions, from whence this followes by necessary consequence.

2. All that live impurely; whether they do it openly, as profane persons; or closely, as hypo∣crites. These surely are either atheists denying God, or His omniscience or His hatred of sin; or else they are notoriously hardened, that they dare commit such things before His most ho∣ly eyes, which they would be ashamed to commit before any ordinary honest man. Let such men know, that the Holy one of Israel hates iniquity, and will without respect of persons render to wicked men the wages of their sinne, that is, eternall death. The ho∣linesse of God urges their damnation in a double regard; namely, both in regard of His hatred of sinne, as directly contrary to holinesse, and in regard of His truth, in exe∣cuting his threatnings.

3. More specially such as offend against the 3^d Commandement by taking this holy 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

and imperate the performance of it; the Affections of Love, Desire, Joy, Hope, &c. to carry it on amain through all obstacles or impediments.

Thus Psal. 9.1.* 1.6 I will praise the LORD with my whole heart (or with all my heart.) Here is the heart, and the whole heart, or all the heart. So Psal. 86.12.

For he knew,* 1.7 1 That God requires this integrity of all, and intensnesse of every part of man in His service, Dent. 6.5. 2 That Gods infinite excellency, and namely His holinesse (Psal. 99.3, 5.9.) His beneficence also, and His having made all that is within us, and that for this end, abundantly deserves this. 3 That these faculties of the soul are so linked together, that, unlesse they all con∣curre, none of them can be rightly exercised. The Apprehension, though never so clear, yet without a sutable motion of the heart, is idle. On the other side, there can be no mo∣tion of the heart at all without some appre∣hension going before: Every affection pre∣supposes some act of the understanding, an orderly affection a distinct act, a vehement affection a presse and intense act.

Uses.

Here then we see of how great moment* 1.8

this work of blessing God is, to which all that is within us is required.

But how farre are they from this duty,* 1.9 who call together all that is within them to doe the works of the flesh, the world, and the devil!

Now as before for the thing,* 1.10 so here for the manner and degree, David's example should excite us to imitate him.

Motives. See the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Meanes. 1 By way of removing impe∣diments: Away with all things that may overcharge the soul (Luke 21.34.) or hin∣der us from lifting it up to God as we ought (1 Tim. 2.8.) or which may divert any fa∣culty of the soul another way. So in the act of blessing God we must watch over our thoughts that they wander not after other objects: for then they will draw the affe∣ctions after them, and so make them cold and slack in the performance of this duty. 2 Direct. When we are about this work, consider Gods speciall presence, and the weightinesse of the businesse.

Notes

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