HOLY, Holiness. By these words is sometimes meant Holiness and outward Purity, and sometimes they are taken in the sense of Holiness merely internal; God is Holy in a transcendent and infinitely perfect manner. He is the Fountain of Holiness, Purity, and Innocency. He sanctifies his Saints, his People, his Priests. He requires perfect Holiness in those who approach him; and to be sanctified and honoured by his servants. He rejects all worship which is not found and pure. In order to come near to his Altars, it is not sufficient to have inward Holiness. He demands of the Israelites an exemption from legal pollutions. Be holy, says he to them, for I am holy.
Isai. i. 4. v. 9. x. 20. xxix. 19. xxxvii. 27. xli. 14, 16, &c.The Prophets call the Lord, The Holy one of Israel, as if the name of Holy were synonymous with that of God. They provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger; and in another place, Let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and Psal. xvi. 10. Isai. xli. 14. Luke iv. 34. Luke i. 35. Acts iii. 14.come: and again, The poor man shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. The Messiah in like manner is called the Holy One; Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. And in Isaiah, Thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. And in the Gospel, I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And again, The Holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Jesus Christ is called simply, the Holy One in the Acts; Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you. Lastly, Holy is the common Epithet given to the third Person of the Trinity, Holy Ghost.
The Israelites are generally called Holy in the Scripture, because they are the Lord’s, who sanctifies them; they profess the true Religion, are called to Holiness, which they should labour to acquire, and which many in reality did attain to under Exod. xix. 6. Exod. xxii. 31. Levit. xi. 44, 45. Numb. xvi. 3. Tobit ii. 18.the old Law. Ye shall be an holy Nation. Ye shall be holy Men unto me. And again, Be holy, for I am holy; and elsewhere, All the Congregation are holy every one of them. We are, said Tobit to his son, filii sanctorum.
From the infinite Holiness of God, it naturally followed, that every thing belonging to him should be styled Holy; his Temple, his Ministers, his Solemnities, the Country which he gave to his people; we every moment find expressions to this purpose: This day is holy and solemn; holy Garments, holy Oil, holy Field, holy Land, holy City, holy Day, holy Name, holy Souls, &c.
Acts ix. 13. Acts ix. 31, 41.Christians are still more particularly declared Holy, as being called to, and designed for a more holy Perfection, and a more excellent Holiness, they having received the Earnests of the Holy Spirit in a more plentiful and perfect manner. St. Luke in the Acts, and St. Paul in his Epistles generally describe Christians under the name of Saints: Lord, I have heard, by many of this man, how much evil he hath done thy Saints. St. Peter came down to the Saints which dwelt at Lydda; he raised Tabitha from the dead, and presented her to the Saints. St. Paul directs his Epistle to the Romans, To the beloved of God called to be Saints. St. Paul speaks in twenty places of his gatherings for the Saints.
The Holy is used sometimes for the whole Temple, and even for Heaven; which is the place of the Almighty’s abode. For example; Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the Holy place; ye should indeed have eaten it in the Holy place: where Holy place signifies the Temple, or the Court of the Priests, which is called Holy compared with the Court of the people; as in Ezek. xlii. 14. The Priests shall not go out of the holy place into the utter court. And in 1 Macc. iv. 36. Ascendamus nunc mundare sancta: Let us go and purify the Temple.
By Holy are likewise understood in general all things holy, and consecrated to God; and Holy of Holies, such things as are in a particular manner consecrated to him: for example, The Altar of Burnt-offerings is called Sanctum Sanctorum, the most Holy, Exod. xxix. 36. In like manner, the perfumed oil with which Aaron anointed the Altar, and sacred Vessels, Ex. xxx. 10. In a word, all the utensils of the Holy and the Sanctuary are mentioned in the same style; as are the Offerings and Sacrifices, the use whereof was reserved to Aaron and his sons. See Exod. xxx. 36. Levit. ii. 3, 10. vi. 17, 25. and in other places.
Holy is used sometimes for Heaven; The Lord send thee help from the Holy, the Sanctuary, Psal. xx. 2. from Heaven. As for thee, O Lord, thy dwelling is in the Holy: Tu autem in sancto habitas, Psal. xxi. 4. He hath looked down from the height of his Holy, his Sanctuary; from Heaven did he behold the Earth, &c.