more.

Purity and Holiness, as well as Justice, Truth, and Goodness. The Purity of God, is a term now understood to express the perfection of the divine nature in general, both in principle or rule of acting, and perfect equity of conduct, But among the Hebrews it implied something As the Jewish nation was surrounded with Paganism, and deities were worshipped, to whom were ascribed, without a blush, the im moralities and propensities of wicked men, the Purity of the one spiritual Being and the true God, was often placed in contrast to the imputed characters and conduct of these imaginary beings. Since the establishment of Christianity, the gods of our ancestors are almost effaced from the me mory. Our conceptions of superior intelligences are now sublimated from the grossness of matter; and we reject, with disgust and hor ror, every idea of corporeality and depraved affections, when we contemplate the divine Being. The terms Purity and Impurity now relate to Mind alone; and we can form no other conceptions of the divine Purity, than as implying a total exemption from every thing that is inconsistent with a perfection of character; as perfect rectitude, or an infinite superiority to every unworthy principle, improper motive, and

false disguise, which are so frequently blended with the moral characters of men, and sully their most splendid actions.

Holiness, when applied to God, conveys similar ideas in more solemn language. The word expresses a consecration of whatever belongs to Deity; and as every thing which relates to religion is expressed in select terms, our imagination has annexed to it peculiar solemnity. The term Holiness is devoted to religious subjects exclusively; and when applied to the divine Majesty it suggests the idea of a sacred purity. It is thus employed to inspire frail and imperfect creatures with deep humility; and it is calculated to augment the devotion of the Pious, by marking the awful distance subsisting between this great Being, and the sincerest of his worshippers.

When the term Holiness is applied to man, it connects the religious principle with the laws of morality. It consecrates Virtue by rendering the practice of it a religious service. It extends to that self-dedication to the worship and service of God, which constitutes the sublimity of a pious character. But when the holiness of God is recommended to our imitation, the idea is necessarily confined to that moral rectitude which never deviates from the path of right;

and to the beneficence and mercy which he perpetually exercises towards all his creatures.

"The stars

Innumerable are the passages in which the purity and holiness of God are asserted in the most majestic and awful manner. are not pure in his sight." "Shall mortal man be more pure than his Maker?" "The words of the Lord are pure words; the commandment of the Lord is pure." "Every word of the Lord is pure; he is a shield to them that put their trust in him." "I the Lord your God am holy." "For there is none holy as the Lord." "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praise of Israel." "The earth is his footstool, for he is holy." "And one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

The display of this purity and holiness, in the divine conduct towards his creatures, is often expressed by Righteousness, Justice, Truth, Goodness. "Oh Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous.' "The righteous God trieth the heart and reins." "The judgments of the Lord are righteous." "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return." "There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour, there is none beside me.

It is consoling to observe that the passages in sacred writ, proclaiming the goodness of God in all its modifications, are the most abundant. They pervade every part, whether it be historical, poetical, or prophetic. They all declare that," the Lord God is abundant in mercy and truth that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good," says the Psalmist. "Praise the Lord for his goodness." "The Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, his truth endureth to all generations. He is slow to anger and plenteous in merey. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord." "Mercy and truth shall go before thy face." The application of the word Truth in this passage, is connected with the display of the Divine Mercy. Hence it obviously refers to the fulfilment of his promises. His veracity is pledged, as it were, for the accomplishment of the designs of his mercy. As the judgments threatened, may always be avoided by true penitence, thus have the righteous, and the penitent, a claim upon the divine veracity. The instinctive love of parents for their offspring, is also adduced, as an emblem of the divine commiseration. "As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." "Can a woman forget her suckling

child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."

Nothing can manifest the deep impression which the divine perfections, and a conviction of his universal government, made upon the sacred writers of the Old Testament, in a stronger manner, than the triumphant exclamations with which they call upon the whole creation, to unite in the celebration of his praises. In this, the psalmist David eminently excels. "Oh clap your hands all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph for the Lord most high is terrible, he is a great king over all the earth." "Oh give thanks unto the Lord for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men," &c. "Praise ye the Lord, praise ye the Lord from the heavens."

From the above cursory survey of the religious principles of the Jewish nation, we perceive, that they were exactly the same with those which we have proved to be conformable to the dictates of reason, in its severest scrutinies; and so essential to the interests of man