Part 120 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to Part 119 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 121 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Fifthly, As God is infinitely holy, transcendently holy, superlatively holy—just so, God is originally, radically, and FUNDAMENTALLY holy. The divine nature is the root, original, and spring of all holiness and purity. All that holiness which is in angels and men flows from God, as the streams from the fountain, as the beams from the sun, as the branchesfrom the root, and as the effect from the cause. There is no holiness to be had, but from the Holy One. He is the author and original of all the holiness that ever was, or that is this day in the world. All the seeds of holiness, and all the roots of holiness which are to be found in angels or men, are of the Lord's sowing and planting, Phil. 1:11. All that holiness that the angels had in heaven, and all that holiness that Adam had in paradise, and all that holiness that Christ had in his human nature, and all that holiness that ever any saints have had, wasfrom God; and all that holiness that any saints now have is from God. The divine nature is the first root and original fountain of all sanctity and purity, James 1:17.
Ministers may pray that their people may be holy, and parents may pray that their children may be holy, and masters may pray that their servants may be holy, and husbands may pray that their wives may be holy, and wives may pray that their husbands may be holy; but none of these can give holiness, none of these can communicate holiness to their nearest and dearest relations. God alone is the giver and the author of all holiness. If holy people could convey holiness into others' souls, they would never allow them to go to hell for lack of holiness. To hand out holiness to others is a work too high for angels, and too hard for all mortals; it is only the Holy One who can cause holiness to flow into sinners' hearts; it is only he who can form, and frame, and infuse holiness into the souls of men.
A man shall sooner make a man, yes, make a world, and unmake himself, than he shall make another holy. It is only a holy God, who can enlighten the mind, and bow the will, and melt the heart, and raise the affections, and purge the conscience, and reform the life, and put the whole man into a holy gracious frame and temper. But,