按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
would be idle if he did not dread discovery。 I mean rather the fear of
a child； who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his
father s face； because he loves him。 What a noble example Nehemiah
gives us of this！ When he became Governor at Jerusalem he might have
been chargeable to the Jews and required of them money for his support。
The former Governors had done so。 There was none to blame him if he
did。 But he says； 〃So did not I； because of the fear of God。〃 （Nehem。
v。 15。）
（j） A holy man will follow after humility。 He will desire； in lowliness
of mind； to esteem all others better than himself。 He will see more
evil in his own heart than in any other in the world。 He will
understand something of Abraham's feeling； when he says； 〃I am dust and
ashes；〃and Jacob's； when he says； 〃I am less than the least of all
Thy mercies；〃and Job's； when he says； 〃I am vile；〃and Paul's； when
he says； 〃I am chief of sinners。〃 Holy Bradford； that faithful martyr
of Christ； would sometimes finish his letters with these words； 〃A most
miserable sinner； John Bradford。〃 Good old Mr。 Grimshaw's last words；
when he lay on his death…bed； were these； 〃Here goes an unprofitable
servant。〃
（k） A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and
relations in life。 He will try； not merely to fill his place as well as
others who take no thought for their souls； but even better； because he
has higher motives； and more help than they。 Those words of Paul should
never be forgotten； 〃Whatever ye do； do it heartily； as unto the
Lord；〃〃Not slothful in business； fervent in spirit； serving the
Lord。〃 （Col。 iii。 23； Rom。 xii。 11。） Holy persons should aim at doing
everything well； and should be ashamed of allowing themselves to do
anything ill if they can help it。 Like Daniel； they should seek to give
no 〃occasion〃 against themselves； except 〃concerning the law of their
God。〃 （Dan。 vi。 5。） They should strive to be good husbands and good
wives； good parents and good children； good masters and good servants；
good neighbours； good friends； good subjects； good in private and good
in public； good in the place of business and good by their firesides。
Holiness is worth little indeed； if it does not bear this kind of
fruit。 The Lord Jesus puts a searching question to His people； when He
says； 〃What do ye more than others？〃 （Matt。 v。 47。）
（l） Last； but not least； a holy man will follow after spiritual
mindedness。 He will endeavour to set his affections entirely on things
above； and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand。 He will not
neglect the business of the life that now is； but the first place in
his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to e。 He will aim to
live like one whose treasure is in heaven； and to pass through this
world like a stranger and pilgrim travelling to his home。 To mune
with God in prayer； in the Bible； and in the assembly of His
peoplethese things will be the holy man's chiefest enjoyments。 He
will value every thing and place and pany； just in proportion as it
draws him nearer to God。 He will enter into something of David's
feeling； when he says； 〃My soul followeth hard after Thee。〃 〃Thou art
my portion。〃 （Psalm lxiii。 8； cxix。 57。）
Such is the outline of holiness which I venture to sketch out。 Such is
the character which those who are called 〃holy〃 follow after。 Such are
the main features of a holy man。
But here let me say； I trust no man will misunderstand me。 I am not
without fear that my meaning will be mistaken； and the description I
have given of holiness will discourage some tender conscience。 I would
not willingly make one righteous heart sad； or throw a stumbling…block
in any believer's way。
I do not say for a moment that holiness shuts out the presence of
indwelling sin。 No： far from it。 It is the greatest misery of a holy
man that he carries about with him a 〃body of death；〃that often when
he would do good 〃evil is present with him〃； that the old man is
clogging all his movements； and； as it were； trying to draw him back at
every step he takes。 （Rom。 vii。 21。） But it is the excellence of a holy
man that he is not at peace with indwelling sin； as others are。 He
hates it； mourns over it； and longs to be free from its pany。 The
work of sanctification within him is like the wall of Jerusalemthe
building goes forward 〃even in troublous times。〃 （Dan。 ix。 25。）
Neither do I say that holiness es to ripeness and perfection all at
once； or that these graces I have touched on must be found in full
bloom and vigour before you can call a man holy。 No： far from it。
Sanctification is always a progressive work。 Some men's graces are in
the blade； some in the ear； and some are like full corn in the ear。 All
must have a beginning。 We must never despise 〃the day of small things。〃
And sanctification in the very best is an imperfect work。 The history
of the brightest saints that ever lived will contain many a 〃but；〃 and
〃howbeit；〃 and 〃notwithstanding；〃 before you reach the end。 The gold
will never be without some drossthe light will never shine without
some clouds； until we reach the heavenly Jerusalem。 The sun himself has
spots upon his face。 The holiest men have many a blemish and defect
when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary。 Their life is a continual
warfare with sin； the world； and the devil； and sometimes you will see
them not overing； but overe。 The flesh is ever lusting against
the spirit； and the spirit against the flesh； and 〃in many things they
offend all。〃 （Gal。 v。 17； James iii。 2。）
But still； for all this； I am sure that to have such a character as I
have faintly drawn； is the heart's desire and prayer of all true
Christians。 They press towards it； if they do not reach it。 They may
not attain to it； but they always aim at it。 It is what they strive and
labour to be； if it is not what they are。
And this I do boldly and confidently say； that true holiness is a great
reality。 It is something in a man that can be seen； and known； and
marked； and felt by all around him。 It is light： if it exists； it will
show itself。 It is salt： if it exists； its savour will be perceived。 It
is a precious ointment： if it exists； its presence cannot be hid。
I am sure we should all be ready to make allowance for much
backsliding； for much occasional deadness in professing Christians。 I
know a road may lead from one point to another； and yet have many a
winding and turn； and a man may be truly holy； and yet be drawn aside
by many an infirmity。 Gold is not the less gold because mingled with
alloy； nor light the less light because faint and dim； nor grace the
less grace because young and weak。 But after every allowance； I cannot
see how any man deserves to be called 〃holy；〃 who wilfully allows
himself in sins； and is not humbled and ashamed because of them。 I dare
not call anyone 〃holy〃 who makes a habit of wilfully neglecting known
duties； and wilfully doing what he knows God has manded him not to
do。 Well says Owen； 〃I do not understand how a man can be a true
believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden； sorrow； and
trouble。〃
Such are the leading characteristics of practical holiness。 Let us
examine ourselves and see whether we are acquainted with it。 Let us
prove our own selves。
II。 Let me try； in the next place； to show some reasons why practical
holiness is so important。
Can holiness save us？ Can holiness put away sincover iniquitiesmake
satisfaction for transgressionspay our debt to God？ No： not a whit。
God forbid that I should ever say so。 Holiness can do none of these
things。 The brightest saints are all 〃unprofitable servants。〃 Our
purest works are no better than filthy rags； when tried by the light of
God's holy law。 The white robe which Jesus offers； and faith puts on；
must be our only righteousnessthe name of Christ our only
confidencethe Lamb's book of life our only title to heaven。 With all
our holiness we are no better than sinners。 Our best things are stained
and tainted with imperfection。 They are all more or less inplete；
wrong in the motive or defective in the performance。 By the deeds of
the law shall no child of Adam ever be justified。 〃By grace are ye
saved through faith； and that not of yourselves； it is the gift of God：
not of works； lest any man should boast。〃 （Ephes。 ii。 8； 9。）
Why then is holiness so important？ Why does the Apostle say； 〃Without
it no man shall see the Lord〃？ Let me set out in order a few reasons。
（a） For one thing； we must be holy； because the voice of God in
Scripture plainly mands it。 The Lord Jesus says to His people；
〃Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees； ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 20。） 〃Be ye perfect； even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect。〃 （Matt。 v。 48。） Paul tells the Thessalonians； 〃This
is the will of God； even your sanctification。〃 （1 Thess。 iv。 3。） And
Peter says； 〃As He which hath called you is holy； so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation；〃 because it is written； 〃Be ye holy； for I am
holy。〃 （1 Peter i。 15； 16。） 〃In this；〃 says Leighton； 〃law and Gospel
agree。〃
（b） We must be holy； because this is one grand end and purpose for
which Christ came into the world。 Paul writes to the Corinthians； 〃He
died for all； that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves； but unto Him which died for them and rose again。〃 （2 Cor。
v。 15。） And to the Ephesians； 〃Christ loved the Church； and gave
Himself for it； that He might sanctify and cleanse it。〃 （Ephes。 v。 25；
26。） And to Titus； 〃He gave Himself for us； that He might redeem us
from all iniquity； and purify unto Himself a peculiar people； zealous
of good works。〃 （Titus ii。 14。） In short； to talk of men being saved
from the guilt of sin； without being at the same time saved from its
dominion in their hearts； is to contradict the witness of all
Scripture。 Are believers said to be elect！it is 〃through
sanctification of the Spirit。〃 Are they predestinated？it is 〃to be
conformed to the image of God's Son。〃 Are they chosen？it is 〃that
they may be holy。〃 Are they called？is it 〃with a holy calling。〃 Are
they afflicted？it is that they may be 〃partakers of holiness。〃 Jesus
is a plete Saviour。 He does not merely take away the guilt of a
believer's sin； He does moreHe breaks its power； （1 Peter i。 2； Rom。
viii。 29； Eph。 i。 4； Heb。 xii。 10。）
（c） We must be holy； because this is the only sound evidence that we
have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ。 The Twelfth Article of
our Church says truly； that 〃Although good works cannot put away our
sins； and endure the severity of God's judgment； yet are they pleasing
and acceptable to God in Christ； and do spring out necessarily of a
true and lively faith； insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as
evidently known as a tree discerned by its fruits。〃 James warns us
there is such a thing as a dead faitha faith which goes no further
than the profession of the lips； and has no influence on a man's
character。 （James ii。 17。） True saving faith is a very different kind
of thing。 True faith will always show itself by its fruitsit will
sanctify； it will work by love； it will overe the world； it will
purify the heart。 I know that people are fond of talking about
death…bed evidences。 They will rest on words spoken in the hours of
fear； and pain； and weakness； as if they might take fort in them
about the friends they lose。 But I am afraid in ninety…nine cases out
of a hundred such evidences are not to be depended on。 I suspect that；
with rare exceptions； men die just as they have lived。 The only safe
evidence that we are one with Christ； and Christ in us； is holy life。
They that