Part 134 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 135 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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[12.] Twelfthly and lastly, The more a man can deny himself—when he has an opportunity, power, and authority to raise himself, to greaten himself, to seek himself, and to lift up himself—the greater measure of holiness that man has attained to. Providence put many a rare and fair opportunity into Moses' hand, whereby he might have raised himself, and have greatened himself in the world—and yet then, even then, he denies himself. "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:24-27. [Exod. 32:9-15; Deut. 9:13-14, 18-20]
Nehemiah was a man of the same mind and mettle. He stood upon the advantage ground to have greatened himself, and to have lifted up himself as others had done before him. But instead of this, he lessens himself, he denies himself, he degrades himself, and being of a very noble, generous, public spirit, he turns his back upon his own worldly interest, and keeps a very free and bountiful table, upon his own expense, and not upon the account of a public purse. "I would like to mention that for the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. This was quite a contrast to the former governors who had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides a pound of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because of my fear of God, I did not act that way. I devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my officials to spend time working on the wall. I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! The provisions required at my expense for each day were one ox, six fat sheep, and a large number of domestic fowl. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor's food allowance because the people were already having a difficult time." Nehemiah 5.
And so Daniel was one in spirit with the former: Dan. 1:8-11, When God had brought him into high favor with the prince of the eunuchs, and given him a great deal of heart-room there—yet upon no terms would he defile himself with the king's food, or comply with the requests of the prince. It argues a great deal of holiness for a man to deny his temporal self, to dethrone his temporal self—when he stands upon the advantage ground to advance his temporal self, and to enthrone his temporal self in the world, Rev. 4:10-11.
I have read of Trajan the emperor, how he sent Eustochius, one of his chief captains against the barbarians, who having vanquished them, returned home. The emperor being very joyful at this good news goes to meet him, and brings him gloriously into the city. Now Eustochius being high in the emperor's favor, it was but ask and have, speak and speed; but on this very day of pomp, triumph, and glory, he chose rather to suffer the martyrdom of himself, his wife, and children—than to offer sacrifice to Apollo; and so denies himself, and all his present pomp and glory, when he might greatly have enriched himself and advanced himself. Nothing speaks out greater measures of holiness, than for a man to deny himself—when he may seek himself, and exalt himself.
I have read of a godly man, who was much in pious duties; who being sorely tempted by Satan, and to whom Satan said, "Why do you take such pains? you watch, and fast, and pray, and abstain from the sins of the times. But, O man! what do you do, more than I do? Are you no drunkard?—neither am I! Are you no adulterer?—neither am I! Do you watch? why, let me tell you, I never sleep! Do you fast? why, I never eat nor drink. What do you do, more than I do?" "Why, I will tell you, Satan," said the holy man, "I pray, I serve the Lord, nay, more than all this, I deny myself!" "Nay, then," says Satan, "you go beyond me, for I am proud, and I exalt myself." And so he vanished.
Oh the excellency of self-denial! and oh the holiness and the happiness of that man who can deny himself, who can debase himself, who can even trample upon himself—when he has power and authority in his own hand to greaten himself and to exalt himself! Power and authority will try what mettle men are made of. Ah, how many have there been among us, who, when they have had no power nor authority in their hands to help themselves, have seemed to be great deniers of themselves; but no sooner had they power and authority in their hands—but ah, what self-love, what self-interest, what self-seeking, and what self-exalting was to be found among them! Oh, how have many among them, instead of loving God to the contempt of themselves—have loved themselves to the contempt of God! And who, instead of debasing themselves that they might exalt God—have debased God that they might exalt themselves! And who, instead of losing themselves that they might find God—have lost God that they might find themselves!
These put me in mind of the abbot, who lived strictly, and looked demurely, and walked humbly—so long as he was but a monk. But when, by his seeming sanctity and humility, he had got to be abbot, he grew most intolerable proud and insolent, etc. And being asked the reason of it, he confessed that his former humble demeanor was but to see if he could find the keys of the abbey. How many such abbots we have had among us—you all know! Ah, how rare is it to find a man to deny himself, when he is advantaged to seek himself. Such a man is worth gold—but this iron age affords few such golden men. Where this frame of spirit is—there the streams of holiness runs deep.
And thus much for this use of trial and examination.
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Part 135 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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