Out of this literal interpretation of the kingdom of God ariseth also the true interpretation of the word holy.For it is a word which in God's kingdom answereth to that which men in their kingdoms use to call public,or the king's.
The king of any country is the public person,or representative of all his own subjects.And God the king of Israel was the Holy One of Israel.The nation which is subject to one earthly sovereign is the nation of that sovereign,that is,of the public person.So the Jews,who were God's nation,were called a holy nation.For by holy is always understood either God Himself or that which is God's in propriety;as by public is always meant either the person or the Commonwealth itself,or something that is so the Commonwealth's as no private person can claim any propriety therein.
Therefore the Sabbath (God's day)is a holy day;the Temple (God's house),a holy house;sacrifices,tithes,and offerings (God's tribute),holy duties;priests,prophets,and anointed kings,under Christ (God's ministers),holy men;the celestial ministering spirits (God's messengers),holy angels;and the like:and wheresoever the word holy is taken properly,there is still something signified of propriety gotten by consent.In saying "Hallowed be thy name,"we do but pray to God for grace to keep the first Commandment of having no other Gods but Him.Mankind is God's nation in propriety:but the Jews only were a holy nation,.Why,but because they became his propriety by covenant?
And the word profane is usually taken in the Scripture for the same with common;and consequently their contraries,holy and proper,in the kingdom of God must be the same also.But figuratively,those men also are called holy that led such godly lives,as if they had forsaken all worldly designs,and wholly devoted and given themselves to God.In the proper sense,that which is made holy by God's appropriating or separating it to his own use is said to be sanctified by God,as the seventh day in the fourth Commandment;and as the elect in the New Testament were said to be sanctified when they were endued with the spirit of godliness.And that which is made holy by the dedication of men,and given to God,so as to be used only in his public service,is called also sacred,and said to be consecrated,as temples,and other houses of public prayer,and their utensils,priests,and ministers,victims,offerings,and the external matter of sacraments.
Of holiness there be degrees:for of those things that are set apart for the service of God,there may be some set apart again for a nearer and more especial service.The whole nation of the Israelites were a people holy to God;yet the tribe of Levi was amongst the Israelites a holy tribe;and amongst the Levites the priests were yet more holy;and amongst the priests the high priest was the most holy.So the land of Judea was the Holy Land,but the Holy City wherein God was to be worshipped was more holy;and again,the Temple more holy than the city,and the sanctum sanctorum more holy than the rest of the Temple.
A sacrament is a separation of some visible thing from common use;and a consecration of it to God's service,for a sign either of our admission into the kingdom of God,to be of the number of his peculiar people,or for a commemoration of the same.In the Old Testament the sign of admission was circumcision;in the New Testament,baptism.The commemoration of it in the Old Testament was the eating (at a certain time,which was anniversary)of the Paschal Lamb,by which they were put in mind of the night wherein they were delivered out of their bondage in Egypt;and in the New Testament,the celebrating of the Lord's Supper,by which we are put in mind of our deliverance from the bondage of sin by our blessed Saviour's death upon the cross.
The sacraments of admission are but once to be used,because there needs but one admission;but because we have need of being often put in mind of our deliverance and of our allegiance,the sacraments of commemoration have need to be reiterated.And these are the principal sacraments and,as it were,the solemn oaths we make of our allegiance.There be also other consecrations that may be called sacraments,as the word implieth only consecration to God's service;but as it implies an oath or promise of allegiance to God,there were no other in the Old Testament but circumcision and the Passover;nor are there any other in the New Testament but baptism and the Lord's Supper.
