Part 121 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to Part 120 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 122 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Sixthly, As God is originally, radically, and fundamentally holy—just so, God is INDEPENDENTLY holy, Isaiah 44:24; Rev. 1:18. The holiness of God depends upon nothing below God.
God is the Alpha, the fountain from whence all holiness springs, and he is the Omega, the sea to which all glory runs. As all our holiness is from God—just so, all our holiness must terminate in the honor and glory of God.
It is God alone, who is independently holy. All that holiness that is in angels and men is a dependent holiness; it depends upon the holiness of God, as the streams depend upon the fountain, the beams upon the sun, the branches upon the root, and the members upon the head. God is One beginning, upon whom all things depend.
God has his being only of himself, and it is he alone who gives being unto all other things. God is the first cause, and without all causes himself. The very beings which angels and men have, they have by derivation from God. And it is the first cause that gives unto all causes their proper operations: Isaiah 44:6, "I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God."
God never had a cause of his being, as all other creatures have. He is a glorious being, a holy being, without all causes, either efficient, or formal, or material, or final; and therefore he must needs be independently holy.
Look! as the power of God is an independent power, and the wisdom of God an independent wisdom, and the goodness of God an independent goodness, and the righteousness of God an independent righteousness—just so, the holiness of God is an independent holiness. And as it is the glory of his power—that his power is an independent power, and the glory of his goodness—that his goodness is an independent goodness—just so, it is the glory of his holiness—that his holiness is an independent holiness.
And look, as all that power which angels and men have, depends upon the power of God; and as all that wisdom which angels and men have, depends upon the wisdom of God; and as all that goodness which angels and men have, depends upon the goodness of God—just so, all that holiness that angels and men have depends upon the holiness of God, etc.
Philo could say that God is such a fountain that he breaks forth with the streams of his goodness upon all things—but receives nothing back again from any to better himself therewith. There are none in heaven, nor any on earth, who are absolutely independent—but God alone.
Back to Part 120 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 122 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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