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If God loves holiness in a lower measure, much more will he love it in a higher degree, because then his image is more illustrious and beautiful, and comes nearer to the lively lineaments of his own infinite purity. Perfection in anything is more lovely and amiable than imperfection in any state, and the nearer anything arrives to perfection, the further are those things separated from it which might cool an affection to it. An increase in holiness is attended with a manifestation of his love: John 14:21, ‘He that hath my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me, and he shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and I will manifest myself to him.’ It is a testimony of love to God, and God will not be behind hand with the creature in kindness; he loves a holy man for some resemblance to him in his nature, but when there is an abounding in sanctified dispositions suitable to it, there is an increase of favour; the more we resemble the original, the more shall we enjoy the blessedness of that original; as any partake more of the divine likeness, they partake more of the divine happiness.