02.07a. Holiness contd
"The heart of fools is in the house of pleasure." Ecc 7:4
A fool prefers toys and trifles—above things of greatest worth. Just so, wicked and ungodly men prefer their lusts before the Lord. Upon choice, they prefer the honors, the riches and glory of the world—above their own souls and the great concerns of eternity.
I have read of the foolish people of Ceylon, who preferred a consecrated ape’s tooth—above an incredible mass of treasure. Such fools are all unholy people, who prefer the toys, the trifles of this world—above the pleasures and treasures which are at God’s right hand. The world is full of such fools.
Says one—"If you behold the lives of men, you will judge the whole world to be
a dream of pleasure, a wedge of gold, a Babylonish garment, and such like transitory trifles and trash—before a blessed eternity!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ No dirty dogs shall ever trample upon that golden pavement
Throughout the Scriptures, unholy people are branded, to their everlasting contempt—with the worst appellations. They are the most dangerous, and the most harmful beings in the world, and therefore are emblemized . . .by lions—for they are cruel, Psa 22:21; by bears—for they are savage, Isa 11:7;
by dragons—for they are hideous, Eze 29:3; by wolves—for they are ravenous, Eze 22:27; by dogs—for they are snarling, Rev 22:15; by vipers and scorpions—for they are stinging, Mat 12:34, Eze 2:6; by spiders and cockatrices—for they are poisoning, Isa 59:5; by swine—for they are intemperate, Mat 7:6.
Remember this—that all these stinging expressions and appellations which disgrace and vilify unholy people, were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and published in His holy Word.
The glutton is depicted as a swine; the fraudulent person is depicted as a fox; the lustful person is depicted as a goat; the backbiter is depicted as a barking cur; the slanderer is depicted as an asp; the oppressor is depicted as a wolf; the persecutor is depicted as a tiger; the seducer is depicted as a serpent.
Do you think that God will admit such vermin as unholy people are—to eternally inhabit His holy heaven? Surely not! God has long since resolved upon it—that no unclean beasts shall enter into heaven—that
"Nothing impure will ever enter it." Rev 21:27
"Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." Rev 22:15
All in heaven are holy: the angels holy, the saints holy—but the Lord Himself above all, is most glorious in holiness. Now certainly it would be a hell to these holy ones to have unholy wretches to be their eternal companions! When the holy angels fell from their holiness—heaven was so holy that it spewed them out! Certainly there will be no room in heaven for such filthy beasts as unholy people are! ’Jerusalem above’ is too glorious a habitation for beasts—or for men of beastly spirits, or beastly principles, or beastly practices. The city of the great God was never built for beasts. A wilderness and not a paradise—is fittest for beasts.
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A preacher’s life should be a commentary upon his doctrine; his practice should be the counterpart of his sermons. Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life.
Where there is no serious, sincere, faithful, and powerful preaching—there the people grow abominably wicked, and will certainly perish, and go tumbling to hell.
Pastors! Either preach as the ministers of Jesus Christ ought to preach—plainly, spiritually, powerfully, feelingly, fervently, frequently; and live as the ministers of Jesus Christ ought to live—heavenly, graciously, holily, humbly, righteously, harmlessly, exemplary—or else lay down your names of being the ministers of Jesus Christ. Do not any longer cheat upon yourselves, nor upon the people—by making them believe that you are ministers of Jesus Christ, when you have nothing of the spirit of Christ, nor of the anointings of Christ, nor of the grace of Christ, nor of the life of Christ in you.
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"The wicked freely strut about, when what is vile is honored among men." Psa 12:8
"They love to indulge in evil pleasures." 2Pe 2:13.
"Their souls delight in their abominations." Isa 66:3
Pro 10:23, "A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct." Evil conduct is
Sin and wickedness are a sport or recreation to a fool. It is a great pleasure and merriment to a fool—to do wickedness.
Pro 14:9, "Fools make a mock of sin." They make a jeer of sin—which they should fear more than hell itself!They make a sport of sin—which will prove a matter of damnation to them. They make a pastime, a game of sin—which will make them miserable to all eternity. They make a mock of sin on earth—for which the devil will mock and flout them forever in hell.
Justice will at last turn over such fools to Satan, who will be sure to return mock for mock, jeer for jeer, and flout for flout. Those who love such kind of pastime, shall have enough of it in hell. All unbelievers are such fools—for they delight and take pleasure in sin, which is the most corrupting and dangerous thing in the world. "And so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth, but have delighted in wickedness." 2Th 2:12
Well, sirs! Sin is the poison of the soul, the nakedness of the soul, the disease of the soul, the burden of the soul—and if God in mercy does not prevent it—sin will prove the eternal bane of the soul. Oh, then, how great is their folly, who delight in sin, and who make a sport of it!
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It is not valor in war—but righteousness; it is not policy in government—but righteousness; it is not wittiness of invention—but righteousness; it is not civility in behavior—but righteousness; it is not antiquity of laws—but righteousness; it is not largeness of dominion—but righteousness; it is not greatness of command—but righteousness —which is the honor and the safety, the renown and the security of a nation.
It is not rich mines of gold and silver, nor armies, nor councils, nor fleets, nor forts—but justice and righteousness which exalts a nation; and which will make a lowly people to become a great, a glorious, and a famous people in the world. That nation which exalts righteousness—that nation shall be certainly exalted by righteousness.
Ah! England, England! If injustice shall grow rampant, and you shall brandish the sword of protection to the desperate swearer, and to the cruel oppressor, and to the roaring drunkard, and to the cursing monster; and shall be a devouring sword to the upright and godly in the land—divine vengeance will dig your grave, and divine justice will tumble you into it!
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"Without holiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14
"Oh no! this cannot be good! for the very thoughts of these things are enough to raise a hell on this side hell—in our hearts!"
Oh then, with all your might press after holiness, and pursue hard after holiness—as after the one thing necessary; for without holiness you shall as certainly go to hell—as holy people shall certainly go to heaven! Oh that you would forever remember this—that without all question, you shall never be saved, unless you are sanctified; you shall never be truly and eternally happy, unless you are truly holy!
"Without holiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14
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"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us—that we should be called the sons of God." 1Jn 3:1
It is an infinite condescension in God, to honor us with the title of sons, and therefore we should never think of it, nor ever speak of it—but with much admiration. O sirs! what matter of admiration is this—that the great and glorious God, who has many millions of glorious angels attending Him—that He should . . .look upon all holy people as His sons, and love them as His sons, and delight in them as His sons, and clothe them as His sons, and feed them as His sons, and protect them as His sons, and stand by them as His sons, and lay up for them as His sons, and lay out Himself for them as His sons; that those who have not deserved . . .a smile from God, a good word from God, a bit of bread from God, or a good look from God, should be made the sons of God!
What manner of love is this—that those who have . . .so highly provoked God,
walked so cross and contrary to God, were so exceedingly unlike God, preferred every lust, and every toy and vanity before God, fought many years under Satan’s banner against God, refused all the offers of mercy that have been made by God,—that those who have deserved to be reprobated by God, damned by God, and to be thrown to hell by God—that these should be made the sons of God!
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O sirs, all our pious works and services must be wrought . . .from God, for God, in God, and according to God—or else they will be but
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"And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire!" Rev 20:15
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It is matter of the greatest joy in the world, for a man to have his name enrolled in heaven. Look! as it is the sinner’s hell that his name is engraved in the book of damnation; just so, it is the believer’s heaven that his name is engraved in the book of election.
There are many who are exceedingly inquisitive to know whether their names are written in heaven or not. I would say to such—there is no such way to know this—as by your holiness. Have you broken off your sins by sound repentance? Has the gospel changed your inside and your outside? Has it made you a new creature, and turned you from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to Jesus Christ? etc. Then, without all question, your name is written in heaven, and you are the person who has the greatest cause in the world to rejoice!
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Many there are, who are accounted . . .deep scholars, great linguists, profound philosophers, good grammarians, excellent mathematicians, sharp logicians, cunning politicians, fine rhetoricians, sweet musicians, etc.
The holy Christian is the best man in the world, nay, he is such a one "of whom this world is not worthy," and therefore God cannot but take singular pleasure and delight in him.
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"Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?" Job 31:4
The eye of God had so strong an influence upon Job’s heart and life, that it wrought him up to a very high pitch of holiness. The scholar writes most exactly while his teacher’s eye is upon him; and the child walks most exactly while his father’s eye is upon him; and the servant works most exactly while his master’s eye is upon him; and so certainly all the sons and servants of the most high God do hear most exactly, and pray most exactly, and walk most exactly—when they see themselves as in the presence of the great God—who is all sight, who is all eye!
Ah friends! as ever you would be high in holiness, have a serious apprehension of God’s presence; set yourselves daily as in His sight, as under His eye. Remember, though a man may easily baffle his conscience, and deceive the world—yet he shall never be able to baffle or deceive God’s omniscient eye! God has
If the serious consideration of His sharp, piercing, all-seeing eye will not influence us to labor after the highest degrees of holiness, I know not what will.
"I have kept Your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before You." Psa 119:168
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A holy life affords the greatest ground of rejoicing. There is no pleasure nor felicity compared to that which flows from the ways of sanctity.
The sweetest roses, the strongest comforts, and the greatest pleasantness—is to be found in the ways of holiness. Oh the joy, the peace, the tranquility, the
serenity—which attends the ways of purity! Christians have
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"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." 2Co 6:10
Godly sorrow is the parent of holy joy; a godly man’s mourning time is his most joyful time. Tears are the breeders of spiritual joy. A holy man’s heart is usually fullest of joy—when his eyes are fullest of tears. The bee gathers the best honey from the bitterest herbs. Christ made the best wine from water; the best, the purest, the strongest, and the sweetest joys—are made from the purified waters of evangelical repentance.
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"Turn to the Lord with weeping and with mourning." Joe 2:12
Oh, who can look upon sin . . .as an offence against a holy God, as the breach of a holy law, as the wounding and crucifying of a holy Savior, as the grieving and saddening of a holy Sanctifier, as an eternal loss and undoing of his own soul—and not mourn over it?
Oh, who can cast a serious eye . . .upon the nature of sin, upon the exceeding sinfulness of sin, upon the aggravations of sin—and not have . . . his heart humbled, his soul grieved, and his spirit melted for sin?
Oh, who can look upon sin as it strikes at . . .the honor of God, the name of God, the being of God, the glory of God, the design of God—and not have . . .
his mouth full of penitential confessions, his eyes full of penitential tears, and
his heart full of penitential sorrow?
The Christian mourns that he has sinned against . . .a God so great, a God so gracious, a God so bountiful, a God so merciful.
Oh, how should a sinner fall a-weeping when he looks upon the greatness of his wickedness and his lack of holiness! As ever you would be holy, mourn over your own unholiness.
Those who weep not for sin here—shall weep out their eyes in hell hereafter. It is better to weep bitterly for your sins on earth, than to weep eternally for your folly in hell.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Mat 5:4
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"As He is—so are we in this world." 1Jn 4:17
To be a holy person is to know a holy Christ, to be in love with a holy Christ, and to imitate the virtues of a holy Christ.
"Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness." John 1:16
There is no grace in Christ—which is not in some degree formed in a holy heart, and therefore the work of grace and holiness is called a forming of
Christ in the soul, Gal 4:19. Holy hearts have the very prints, stamps, and impressions of the graces of Jesus Christ upon them!
of a Christian’s glory to tread in the virtuous steps of his dearest Lord.
The Christian labors to resemble Christ in all things, especially in those holy virtues which were most shining in the heart and life of Christ.
"Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1Jn 2:6
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"Man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!" Job 15:16
A wicked man is a sin-lover; he is a sin-maker, he lives in sin upon choice.
All profane people . . .give up themselves to wickedness, wallow in all ungodliness, delight themselves in all manner of filthiness, commit wickedness with greediness, draw iniquity and sin with cords of vanity, weary themselves to commit iniquity, are so desperately set upon wickedness, that neither the rod of God, the lashes and checks of their own consciences, nor the flashes of hell upon their souls—can stop them. They are resolved that they will gratify their lusts—though they damn their souls; and that will live wickedly—though they perish eternally!
By custom in sin, they have destroyed all conscience of sin, and contracted such desperate hardness upon their own hearts, as neither . . .God’s smiles nor frowns, God’s promises nor threatenings, life nor death, heaven nor hell, can possibly hinder them.
The hearts and ways of wicked men are full of hells; and therefore to fill heaven with such, would be
Certainly God will shut the gates of glory upon such workers of iniquity. These souls are . . .sadly abandoned by God, and woefully blinded by Satan, and fully ripened for ruin.
"All will be damned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." 2Th 2:12
"Unless you are converted . . . you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Mat 18:3
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Natural fools make the most stupid and injurious exchanges. They will exchange a pearl—for a pin; things of greatest worth and value—for a feather, a ribbon, a toy, a trifle. The foolish Indians prefer every toy and trifle—above their mines of gold.
All unholy people are spiritual fools. They will exchange spirituals—for carnals; and eternals—for temporals. They will exchange God, Christ, the gospel, heaven, and their souls—for a lust, for a little of the world’s smiles, pleasures, or profits. They will exchange their eternal soul—
"What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mat 16:26
His treasured possession
"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people,
God makes . . .many rich, and many great, and many honorable, and many mighty, and many wise, and many noble, and many beautiful, and many successful—whom He will never make holy.
But in making you holy—God has made you spiritually great, rich, honorable, wise, and beautiful, etc. Holiness is a singular fruit of God’s special favor and love.
God has a common favor and love for all men, yes, for the worst of men; witness that common preservation, and common protection, and common provision—which He grants to them. But God has a special love and favor—and this runs out only to His holy ones.
Holiness is a divine beam, a heavenly drop, a choice pledge of God’s special favor and love.
O sirs! though the world may slight you, and enemies revile you, and friends disfavor you—yet let this support you, let this rejoice you—that you are God’s treasured possession!
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A man may be visibly holy—who is not inwardly holy. A man may have an outward dress of holiness upon him—who has not the spirit and vitality of holiness in him.
They say of
"In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous; but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Mat 23:28
They were outwardly religious—but inwardly wicked; they had the semblance of sanctity—but inwardly very full of impurity; they were fair professors—but foul sinners; they were gracious without—but impious within. Look! as those are the worst of vices which are covered over with the show of virtue; so they are the worst of sinners, who cover over their inward filthiness with the disguises of outward holiness.
The Egyptian temples were fair on the outside—but foul and filthy within. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ’s days—and such are many professors in our days.
God will at last hate that man to hell, yes, cast him into the hottest place in hell—who has a form of godliness upon him; but nothing of the reality and power of holiness in him.
"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Mat 23:33
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"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Gal 5:22-23
All holy habits must be brought forth into holy acts. All gracious habits must be attended with gracious motions, gracious operations, and a gracious life. Outward works must be suitable to inward habits. It is with spiritual habits as it is with natural habits—the more they are acted and exercised—the more they are increased and strengthened. Holy habits are golden talents that must be employed and improved. Where there is holiness of disposition, there must be, there will be—holiness of living.
Where there are the seeds of holiness, there will be the flowers of holiness.
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"Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity." Psa 39:5
By Adam’s fall, man has become a pile of dust, a puff of wind; a dream; a shadow; a puff of smoke; a poor silly flea, a worm, a debased soul, a curious nothing. Yes, man having fallen from his primitive glory, has become altogether vanity, says the prophet in Psa 39:5, "Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity." Truly, every man—not some man, but every man at his best state, when he is in the height and perfection of all creature comforts and contentments, is altogether, not in some measure—but altogether, vanity—all vanity. Since the fall of Adam every natural man in his best estate is vanity; nay, every man is every vanity. Imagine whatever vanity you will—fallen man is that. He is a comprehensive vanity—he is
Man in honor, before his fall, was the best of creatures; but since his fall, he has become the worst of creatures. By his fall he is fallen below the very beasts which perish. He who was once the image of God, the glory of paradise, the world’s ruler, and the Lord’s darling—has now become a burden to heaven, a burden to himself.
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God suddenly casts sinners to hell—He suddenly sweeps them away—He cuts them off suddenly. When they say, "Surely the bitterness of death is past, and everlasting wrath is past, and hell is past, and eternal ruin is past," then suddenly God cuts them off, and gives them their portion with devils and damned spirits!
"Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." Pro 6:15
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Xerxes, when he viewed his almost innumerable army of men, fell a-weeping, saying, "
Ah, what cause of weeping is there, when we behold the multitudes in the world, considering that within a few years—most of them may be in hell!
"As He approached and saw the city, He wept over it." Luk 19:41
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Different measures and degrees of holiness
All saints are not alike holy. Some are more holy, and others are less holy; in some saints the springs of holiness runs low, in others the springs of holiness rise very high. Holiness thrives not alike in all saints. God never distributes holiness alike to all. To some He gives more, to others less, according to the good pleasure of His grace.
All saints are equally justified, and equally pardoned, and equally reconciled, and equally accepted—but all saints are not equally sanctified.
Christ has not work alike for all saints to do, nor burdens alike for all saints to bear, nor mercies alike for all saints to improve, nor temptations alike for all saints to resist, nor difficulties alike for saints to grapple with, nor dangers alike for all saints to encounter with, therefore He gives not a like measure of holiness to all—but to some more, to others less, according as their condition requires. Some saints stand in need of a great deal more grace and holiness than others do.
God gives
All that holiness which any man has, whether it is little, or whether it is much—is all of grace, it is all of free-grace. Therefore let every Christian . . .improve it, be thankful for it, and walk humbly under it.
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"We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Rom 8:28.
When a man’s heart is once sanctified, then all things are sanctified to him. O sirs! this is so great and so glorious a privilege, that it is more worth than a world, yes, than many worlds. It is a great mercy—that all things may be sanctified to him—that is, that all things may so work, as to make him more and more holy: that every cross may make him more holy, and that every comfort may make him more holy; that every mercy may make him more holy, and that every misery may make him more holy; that every ordinance may make him more holy, and that every providence may make him more holy; that every affliction at home may make him more holy, and that every judgment abroad may make him more holy.
Every condition is sweet when it is sanctified to us: sickness is as sweet as health when it is sanctified to us: weakness is as sweet as strength when it is sanctified to us; poverty is as sweet as riches when it is sanctified to us; disgrace is as sweet as honor when it is sanctified to us; bonds are as sweet as liberty when they are sanctified to us; death is as sweet as life when it is sanctified to us.
Look! as no condition can be a happy condition which is not a sanctified condition—just so, no condition can be a miserable condition, which is a sanctified condition. Now this is only the holy man’s privilege, the holy man’s mercy—to have every estate and every condition sanctified unto him; and this indeed is the cream and crown of all our mercies—to have them sanctified unto us, ay, and every bitter will be sweet, yes very sweet, when it is sanctified unto us.
What though your mercies, O Christian, are fewer than others’, and lesser than others’, and leaner than others’, and shorter than others’—yet you have no reason to complain, as long as your mercies are sanctified mercies.
What though . . .your trials are greater than others’, and your burden is heavier than others’, and your sorrows are deeper than others’, and your crosses comes thicker than others’—yet you have no cause to complain, as long as they are sanctified.
Are you a holy person? Oh then remember for your comfort, that . . .every bit of bread you eat is sanctified, and every draught you drink is sanctified, and every suit of clothes you wear is sanctified; the beds you lie on are sanctified, and the stools you sit on are sanctified; the very air you breathe in is sanctified, and the very ground you tread on is sanctified; every penny in your purse is sanctified, and every dollar in your shop is sanctified; whatever you have at home is sanctified, and whatever you have abroad is sanctified.
Oh! how should the sense of these things . . .
turn your hell into heaven, and wipe all tears from your eyes, and turn your sighing into singing, and your mourning into rejoicing, etc.
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Christians who have but small measures of grace and holiness; and hypocrites and formalists who have not the least measure of true grace and holiness—these are most commonly exercised and busied about the external duties and services of religion; but very seldom, very rare, shall you find them in the more
The external duties of religion are . . .hearing the word preached, reading the word, fasting, singing of psalms, Christian fellowship, and receiving the Lord’s supper.
The internal and spiritual duties of religion are . . .self-examination, self-resignation to God, self-loathing, self-judging, divine meditation, praying in the Spirit, watchfulness over the heart, making application of . . . the blood of Christ, the death of Christ, the grace of Christ, the love of Christ, the word of Christ—to one’s own soul.
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Ah, how lively, how warm, how enlarged, how holy, how humble, how heavenly, how spiritual, how serious, how zealous, how pious, how gracious are many—in pious duties; but ah! how dead, how cold, how straitened, how unholy, how proud, how worldly, how carnal, how slight, and how irreligious are they
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The more a man conflicts with heart sins, with spiritual sins, with invisible sins—with sins which lie most hidden and obscure from the eyes of the world—and the more spiritual victories and conquests a man obtains over
them—the greater measure of holiness that person has certainly attained to.
A little grace, a little holiness, will work a man to conflict with gross sins, with outward sins, with bodily sins, with open sins, which everyone may set their eyes on.
Yes, where there is no grace, no holiness at all, the light of nature, the common convictions of the Spirit, the laws of men, the eyes of men, the threats of men, the examples of men, the smarting rod, or a good education, may work men to conflict with such sins.
Oh, but when all the strength and might of the soul is engaged against those very sins that lie not within the sight or reach of the most sharp and piercing men in the world—but in the heart, and about the heart, and are only obvious to God’s omniscient eye—this argues
When the heart rises with all its strength and might against . . .secret pride, secret self-love, secret bubblings of lusts, secret carnal confidence, secret murmuring, secret hypocrisy, secret envy, secret self-applause, secret malice, secret hatred, secret snares, secret temptations, etc., it is an evidence that holiness has grown up to some considerable height there! It is not an easy thing, to overcome those flaming lusts and corruptions which are in our own hearts. Only grace, only holiness, can enable us to overcome our lusts—our heart lusts.
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That those who have . . .most of hell in their mouths, and most of hell in their hearts, and most of hell in their lives—should have
at last, is but justice.
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"Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites, for you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore you shall receive the greater damnation." Mat 23:14
Hypocrites shall be double damned!
For number and weight, there are no torments in hell, compared to the torments of hypocrites. Counterfeit sanctity is double iniquity—and therefore it is but justice that the hypocrite should have double torment.
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"Pursue . . . holiness—without it no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14
O sirs, shall the ambitious person pursue after his honors, and the voluptuous person after his pleasures, and the worldling pursue after his gain, and the wanton pursue after his harlots, and the drunkard pursue after his full cups, etc.; and shall not Christians much more
O sirs, the way of holiness is . . .the safest way, the noblest way, the sweetest way, the cleanest way, the pleasantest way, the happiest way; therefore hold on, and hold up in that way. "Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace." Pro 3:17
We hold on in a way of holiness, notwithstanding all the rocks and obstacles and difficulties that we meet with in that way.
O sirs, in the face of all your sins and unworthiness, God holds on in ways of mercy towards you; and why then should not you hold on in ways of sanctity towards Him? Shall Satan persevere in his enmity against holiness? And shall wicked men persevere in their opposition to holiness? And shall formalists persevere in their neglect of holiness? And will not you persevere in your pursuit of holiness?
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The condition of God’s people in this life is
It is true, in heaven there is . . .all joy and no sorrow, all gladness and no sadness; and in hell there is . . .all sorrow and no joy, all grief and no gladness, all howling and no singing, all madness and no mirth.
But in this present life it is otherwise, for if there would be nothing but joy, many would look for no other heaven; and if there should be nothing but sorrow, most would look for no other hell. If men should have nothing but joy—how sadly would they be puffed up! And if they should have nothing but sorrow—how easily would they be cast down! But now, by a divine hand, our sorrows being mixed with our joys—our hearts come to be the more effectually weaned from the vanities of this life, and to long more earnestly after the pure and unmixed joys in the world of glory.
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Think on the brevity, shortness, and preciousness of time.
Time is so precious a thing, that mountains of gold and rocks of pearl, cannot redeem one lost moment!
Ah, what a precious commodity would time be in hell, where for one day to repent, yes, for one hour to seek after holiness—a man would give ten thousand worlds, were they in his hands to dispose of.
Time is so costly a jewel that few know how to value it and prize it at a due rate. Most are lavishly and profusely wasteful of that precious time which is their greatest interest to redeem! Time is a precious talent, yet most trifle away, play away, idle away, yes, grossly sin away their precious time!
He who makes no conscience of trifling away his precious time, shall one day experience the terribleness of eternal darkness.
The poets paint time with wings—to show the rapidity and swiftness of it. O sirs, if the sense of the brevity, shortness, and preciousness of time did but lie in its full weight upon your spirits, it would certainly put you upon a speedy and earnest pursuit after holiness!
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pray, for that holiness, without which there is no happiness, yes, without which hell and destruction will be forever your portion?
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"She stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil." Luk 7:38
The myth tells of Lycaon being turned into a wolf; but when a worldling is made holy, there is
Therefore the Holy Spirit, speaking of Zaccheus, who had long been bewitched by the world, brings him in with a "Behold!"—as if it were a wonder of wonders that ever such a worldling should be made holy.
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Men bewitched with the world will prefer a Barabbas before a Jesus. They will with Judas betray Christ, and with Pilate condemn Christ, and with the Scribes and Pharisees they will cry out, "Crucify him! crucify him! Away with this Jesus! Away with this Jesus! Let Barabbas live—but let Jesus die! Let Barabbas be saved—but
Ah, what incarnate devils will such men prove, who are bewitched with this world!
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"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now I tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame—who mind earthly things." Php 3:18-19
Who were those who walked disorderly? why, those who minded earthly things.
Who were those who fetched tears from the apostle’s eyes? why, those who minded earthly things.
Who were those who were enemies to the cross of Christ? why, those who minded earthly things.
Who were those whose end is destruction? why, those who minded earthly things.
Who were those whose God was their belly? why, those who minded earthly things.
Who were those whose glory was their shame? why, those who minded earthly things.
The world proves silken halters to some, and golden fetters to others.
If ever you would be holy—oh, then
Many are so bewitched with the profits, pleasures, and honors of the world, that they mind not holiness, they regard not holiness, they care not for holiness.
The flowers of this world, are surrounded with many briers. The world is all shadow and vanity; it is like Jonah’s gourd—you may sit under its shadow for a while, but it soon decays and dies. He who shall but weigh . . .man’s pains with his pay, his miseries with his pleasures, his sorrows with his joys, his crosses with his comforts, his needs with his enjoyments, etc., may well cry out, "Vanity of vanity, and all is vanity."
The whole world is circular, the heart of man is triangular, and we know a circle cannot fill a triangle. If the whole earth were changed into a globe of gold, it could not fill your heart.
O sirs, if your hearts are not filled with holiness—they will be filled with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Either holiness or Satan must possess you.
Is it not infinitely better to have holiness without the world, and so be happy forever—than to have much of the world without holiness, and so be damned forever?
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"Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall." Eze 18:30
True repentance is a turning, not from some sin—but from every sin. Every sin strikes at the law of God, the honor of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore the penitent must strike at all. Every sin fetches blood from the heart of Christ, and every sin is a grief and vexation to the Holy Spirit—and therefore the penitent must set upon crucifying of all.
Herod turned from many sins—but not from his Delilah, his Herodias, which was his ruin! Judas, you know, was
He who had the spot of leprosy in any one part of his body was accounted a leper, although all the rest of his body were sound and whole, Lev 13:1-59. Just so, he who has but one spot, one sin which he does not endeavor to wash out in the blood of Christ, and in the tears of true repentance—he is a leper in the account of God.
The true penitent is for the mortifying of every lust which has had a hand in crucifying of his dearest Savior.
The sin-sick soul must break, not some—but all its idols in pieces, before a cure will follow. It must deface its golden idols, its most costly idols, its most darling idols! The returning sinner must make headway against all his sins, and trample upon all his lusts—or else he will die and be undone forever!
"Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them—Away with you!" Isa 30:22
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"The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp." Acts 25:23. That is, with great phantasy or vain show. All the honor, pomp, and accolade of this world is but a phantasy. Worldly honor is but
Great swelling titles are but as so many rattles, or as so many feathers in men’s caps. Worldly honor is but a wind, which will blow a man the sooner to hell.
Adonibezek, a mighty prince, is quickly made to eat scraps from under the table with the dogs. Jdg 1:7.
Nebuchadnezzar, a mighty conqueror, turned a-grazing among the oxen. Dan 4:28.
Herod is reduced from a conceited god—to be the most loathsome of men, a living carrion attacked by worms, the vilest of creatures. Acts 12:23.
Great Haman feasted with the king one day, and made a feast for crows the next day. Est 7:10.
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"Without holiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14
O, do not deceive your own souls! Holiness is of absolute necessity; without it you shall never see the Lord!
There are many thousand thousands now in heaven—but
Heaven is only for the holy man—and the holy man alone, is for heaven.
Without holiness here—no heaven hereafter! "And there shall never enter into it, anything that defiles." Rev 21:27. God will at last shut the gates of glory against every person who is without heart-purity.
If a man had . . .the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Samson, the courage of Joshua, the policy of Ahithophel, the power of Ahasuerus, and the eloquence of Apollos; yet all these without holiness would never save him.
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A true Christian will be holy among the unholy. He will retain and keep his holiness, let the times be ever so unholy.
If you take him among unholy friends—you shall find him holy.
If you take him at his table—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his shop—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his family—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his closet—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his journeyings—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his recreations—you shall find him holy.
A holy Christian is like gold. Cast gold into the fire, or into the water; cast it upon the ash-heap, or into the pleasant garden; cast it among the poor or among the rich, among the religious or among the licentious—yet still it is gold, still it retains its purity and excellency. Just so, cast a holy Christian—
The godly man is four square. Cast him where you will, like a dice, he always falls sure and square. Just so, cast a holy man where you will, and into what company you will—yet still he falls sure and square for holiness. True holiness is a part of the divine nature; it is of such a heavenly complexion, that it will never alter.
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A holy minister aims at the glory of God in all that he does. He labors to hide and conceal all his human excellencies, which may in any way tend to obscure, eclipse, or darken the glory of God.
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power." 1Co 2:4-5
Mr. Dod was accustomed to say that "so much
Silly, ignorant people are very apt to dote upon that most, and admire that most—which they understand least! But prudent Christians judge of ministers . . .not by their throats—but by their hearts and lives; not by their voices and tones—but by the plainness, spiritualness, suitableness, and usefulness of their matter.
There are three things in a holy heart, which strongly incline it to persevere when all outward encouragements fail.
The first is a forcible principle—divine love.
The second is a mighty aid—the Spirit of God.
The third is a high aim—the glory of God.
But it is otherwise with those who have only a show of godliness. Let but their outward encouragements fail them; let but the eye, the ear, the applause of the creature fail them; if they cannot make some gain of their godliness, some profit of their profession, some advantage of their religion—they are ready, with Demas, to throw off all! Profit and applause are usually
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"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." Rom 14:7-8.
A genuine Christian ordinarily has holy aims and ends in his actings and undertakings. The glory of God is the mark—
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do—do it all for the glory of God." 1Co 10:31
Holy hearts habitually eye the glory of Christ in all things. When they eat—they eat to His glory; when they drink—they drink to His glory; when they sleep—they sleep to His glory; when they buy—they buy for His glory; when they sell—they sell for His glory; when they give—they give for His glory; when they recreate themselves—they recreate for His glory; when they hear preaching—they hear for His glory; when they pray—they pray for His glory; when they fast—they fast for His glory; when they read Scripture—they read for His glory; when they come to the Lord’s table—they come to His glory.
In all secular and pious actions—holy hearts have a habitual eye to divine glory. Selfish and base ends and aims, will too often creep into the holiest hearts, but holy hearts sigh and groan under them; and it is the strong and earnest desires of their souls to be rid of them. But take a holy Christian in his ordinary, usual, and habitual course—and he will have holy aims and ends in all his actions and undertakings.
"To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever! Amen." 1Pe 4:11
"
The heart of a holy man rises against secret sins, against such as lie furthest off from the eye of man. What is more secret than vain thoughts? And yet
against these, the heart of a holy man rises.
Hezekiah humbled himself for "the pride of his heart." Heart-sins lie most hidden and secret; and yet for these, a holy man humbles himself.
A holy man knows that secret sins are sins—as well as those which are open. He knows that secret sins must be repented of—as well as others. He knows that God takes notice of secret sins—as well as of open sins. He knows that secret sins—like secret diseases and secret wounds—do oftentimes prove most dangerous and pernicious. He knows that secret sins are the price of Christ’s blood—as well as open sinnings. He knows that secret sins are a grief to the Spirit—as well as those which are manifest. Upon all which accounts—a holy
heart rises in a detestation of secret sins.
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He who is truly holy will be still a-reaching and stretching himself out after higher degrees of holiness. Yes, a man who is truly holy can never be holy enough; he sets no bounds nor limits to his holiness; the perfection of holiness
is the mark that he has in his eye; he hears, and prays, and mourns, and studies, and strives—that he may come up to the highest pitch of holiness.
Received measures of holiness will not satisfy a holy soul; so much holiness as will keep hell and his soul asunder—will not satisfy him; nor will so much holiness as will bring him to eternal happiness satisfy him. He will be still reaching and stretching out after the highest measures of holiness; his desires are for more holiness. The beauties of holiness do so affect him and inflame him, that he cannot but desire to be more and more holy. "Lord," says the soul, "I desire to be more holy, that I may glorify Your name more. Lord, I desire to be more holy, that I may sin less against You, and that I may enjoy more of You! I would be more holy, that I may be more victorious over all earthly vanities."
A holy man earnestly prays for more holiness. He prays that his spark of holiness may be turned into a flame, his drop of holiness into a sea, and his mite of holiness into a rich treasury.
I dare boldly to say, that that man was never truly holy, who does not endeavor to get up to the highest pitches of holiness. True holiness knows no restrictions nor limitation. True holiness makes a man
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"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!" Isa 6:3
Certainly there is nothing which renders God so formidable and dreadful to unholy people—as His holiness does. "Leave this way, get off this path—and
"Oh that you would not preach so much, nor talk so much to us—of the Holy One of Israel! Oh that you would cease from molesting and vexing us with message upon message from the Holy One! Why can’t you talk and preach to us of the merciful One, the compassionate One, the affectionate One, the pitiful One, etc., and not be still a-talking to us of the Holy One, the Holy One! Oh, we do not like to hear it! Oh, we cannot bear it!"
Nothing strikes the sinner into such a terror as a discourse on the holiness of God; it is as the handwriting upon the wall, Dan 5:4-6. Nothing makes the head and heart of a sinner to ache like a sermon upon the Holy One. Nothing galls and gripes, nothing stings and terrifies unsanctified ones—like a lively setting forth of the holiness of God, Hab 1:13.
But to holy souls, there are no discourses which more suit them and satisfy them, which more delight and content them, which more please and profit them—than those do, which most fully and powerfully reveal God to be glorious in holiness. Well, this is an everlasting truth—he who truly loves the holiness of God, and loves God for His holiness—is certainly made partaker of His holiness.
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"And they were calling to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is full of His glory." Isa 6:3
The more holy any are, the more deeply are they affected and captivated with the holiness of God. The holy seraphim, by trebling the acclamation of His holiness, "Holy, holy, holy," denote not only the superlative eminency, glory, and excellency of God’s holiness—but also they reveal how greatly, how abundantly they are affected and captivated with the holiness of God. To the holy angels, the holiness of God is
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"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Mat 5:8
A pure heart is
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"Having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2Ti 3:5
All formalists have only a form, a show, a profession of holiness—but have nothing of the reality, spirit, life, or power of holiness in them. They have a face, a cloak, a mask, a show of godliness—but they have nothing of the pith, sap, life, or marrow of godliness. Their devotion, their godliness, lies in good words. If you hearken to their voice, you would think that they were men of much godliness; but if you look into their hearts and lives, you will find them to be great renouncers and deniers of godliness. They have . . .the semblance of godliness—but not the substance; the lineaments of godliness—but not the life; the face of godliness—but not the heart; the form, the shadow of godliness—but not the power.
They are like a well-drawn picture, which has all the lineaments of a man—but lacks life, lacks a principle of motion and operation.
The form of godliness is common—but the power of godliness is rare. The form of godliness is easy—but the power of godliness is difficult. The form of godliness exists with secret and with open wickedness—as you see in Saul, Jehu, Judas, Simon Magus, Demas, and the Scribes and Pharisees—but the power of godliness will not. The power of godliness lays the axe to the very root of all sin, both secret and open.
Rachel was very fair and beautiful to the eye—but she was barren—and that marred all. Just so, the formalist, he is a very fair and beautiful professor to the eye—but he is barren Godwards, and Christwards, and heavenwards; he is fruitless, sapless, and lifeless—and that mars all.
A formalist is . . .more light than life, more notion than motion, more head than heart, more outside than inside, more leaves than fruit, more shadow than substance.
A formalist is . . .a blazing comet, a painted tomb, a stage-player, a white devil, or
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"Do not be misled—Bad company corrupts good character." 1Co 15:33
As he who walks in the sun will be tanned, and he who touches pitch will be defiled; so he who associates himself with the wicked will be tainted and polluted.
By bad company Christians come to lose much of the sweetness, seriousness, goodness, and graciousness of their spirits. Familiarity with vain people has much worn off the spiritual luster, beauty, and glory—which has been upon many Christians. Bad company will prove a very great hindrance to you in your Christian course.
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"We urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle!" 1Th 5:14
The hour of idleness is the hour of temptation. An idle person is
Among the Egyptians idleness was a capital crime. Among the Lucans, he who lent money to an idle person was to lose it. Among the Corinthians idle people were delivered to the prison. By Solon’s law idle people were to suffer death. The ancients call idleness the burial of a living man. Seneca had rather be sick than idle.
Now shall nature do more than grace? Shall poor blind heathens be so severe against idle people—and shall Christians embrace them? Shall they not rather turn their backs upon them, and have no communion with those who think themselves too great or too good to hold the plough?
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And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry!" But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. Luk 12:19-21
Every man in the world is a fool—who heaps up treasure to himself—and is not rich towards God. This age is full of such
Such fools only mind and care for the things of this life—as what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and what they shall put on. They are all for their bodies, their bellies, their backs. They take no care, they make no provision for their immortal souls. So fools look only to their bodies; and have no concern for their souls. Only let them have but food for their bodies—and they care
not what becomes of their souls! Surely no fools like these fools!
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