"BE YE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY."
By E. Goodrich
There are many good reasons why men should be holy; yet there are none like this, for this is the foundation and sum of the entire.53 And this reason is founded on the great fundamental law of all worship; namely, that as is the God worshiped, such necessarily is homage paid. And as is the homage paid, such also is the character of the worshipers. And the object and direct tendency of all worship is that the worshipers may assimilate the character of the God worshiped. And since that God is holy it is evident that that which is unholy and defiled is necessarily an abomination in the sight of God. And he can only approbate that which is congenial to him; and that only is congenial that is like his nature. And as God cannot approbate that which is unholy, because uncongenial to his nature, how can we if unholy in heart and in life expect to enter into his presence and enjoy his smiles forever? Verily we cannot. And this is just what the Apostle declares when he says that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." The Saviour also, speaking upon the same things says: "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." The Saviour and the Apostle each express a great moral truth founded in the very nature of things. Neither do those reasons apply to the attributes of holiness alone, but to every attribute of the divine mind. God's government over man is a moral necessity founded on the nature and attributes of God, and embodies his creatures' highest good. And all the progression that we can have in the scale of being is on this principle; namely, that the God we worship is every way exalted, and hence the more Godlike we are, the more exalted we shall be. And these are the reasons also why we should humble ourselves; because as we have lived in open rebellion against his character and government, and as God cannot approbate that which is in opposition to himself, and cannot encourage or exalt that which he cannot approbate, unless we humble ourselves by taking our proper position as creatures before him, and ground the weapons of rebellion by breaking off our sins by righteousness and our iniquities by turning unto God, he cannot extend mercy or exalt us. And with this view let us read the language of the Saviour, Matt. xxiii. 12, and see how plain it is, "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." "Be ye holy for I am holy." This solemn fact should strike terror to every unholy person, and serve as a warning to be wise in seeking that preparation of heart that alone can recommend us in the presence of such a God. Marshall, Mich., June 22nd 1859.