Part 137 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 138 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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O sirs, there are no men's names written in the book of life but theirs who by grace and holiness have subdued and brought under their sinful selves, and who have conquered the corruptions which are in their own bosoms, that is, in respect of their dominion. There are many who are exceeding 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! [Phil. 4:3; Heb. 11:38.]
Again, 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. 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.. But the truth is, he is the best grammarian, who has learned to speak the truth from his heart; and he is the best astronomer, who has his thoughts in heaven; and he is the best musician, who has learned practically to sing out the praises of God; and he is the best arithmetician, who knows how to number his days; and he is the best philosopher, who every day grows holier and holier; and he is the best skilled in economics, who trains up his family in the fear of the Lord; and he is the best politician, who is as good at taking and giving Scriptural counsel; and he is the best linguist, who speaks the language of Canaan; and therefore God cannot but take the greatest contentment and satisfaction in such.
Again, the holy Christian is the only man for whom God has wrought the greatest miracles. He can tell you that he was blind—but now God has given him eyes to see sin to be the greatest evil, and Christ to be the choicest good. He can tell you that once he was so deaf—that though God called very often and very loud upon him, by his word and by his works, by his rods at home and by his judgments abroad, and by his Spirit and conscience that were still a-preaching in his bosom—sometimes life, sometimes death, sometimes heaven, and sometimes hell—yet he could not hear! But now God has given him a hearing ear, so that now he can with delight hear the sweet music of the promises on the one hand; and with a holy trembling listen to the voice of divine threatenings on the other hand. He can tell you that once he was so dumb—that if he might have had the whole world, he could not have spoke a good word for God, nor for his ways, nor for his people, nor for his ordinances, nor for any of his concernments in the world. Oh! but now his tongue is as the pen of a ready writer, Psalm 45:1, and he is never better than when he is a-speaking either of God, or for God and his concerns. Now he can contend for the faith, and speak for saints, and plead for ordinances; and though in some cases he may lack power to act for God—yet he never lacks a tongue to speak for God. The spouse's lips drop honeycombs, in Canticles 4:11; "And the tongue of the just is as choice silver," in that Proverbs 10:20. Yes, his tongue is a tree of life, whose leaves are medicinal, in that Proverbs 12:18. He can tell you that once he was so lame—that he was not able to move one foot heavenwards or Christ-wards, or holiness-wards, etc. But now his feet delight, not only to go—but to run in all the ways of God's commands, Psalm 119:32. Yes, he can tell you that once he was dead—as to all his soul-concerns—but now he is alive, and the life that he leads in the flesh, is by faith in the Son of God, who has loved him and given himself for him, Gal. 2:20.
It was by a miracle that the river Jordan was driven back; and it is no less a miracle to see a sinner that was accustomed to do evil, habituated now to do good. That the tide of sin, which before did run so strong, should be so easily turned, that the sinner who, a little before was sailing hellward, and lacked neither wind nor tide to carry him there—should now suddenly alter his course, and tack about for heaven—what a miracle is this! To see the earthly man become heavenly, a carnal man become spiritual, a loose man become precise, a proud man become humble, a covetous man become liberal, and a harsh man become meek, etc., is to behold no less than miracles. To see a vile sinner, begin to live cross and contrary to himself in the ways of Christ and holiness, should be as astonishing in our eyes—as to see the sun go backward—or the dead to raise themselves! Now how can God but take infinite delight and pleasure in his holy ones, considering the many miracles that he has wrought both in them and for them?
Again, there are no people under heaven, who take any real pleasure, delight, contentment and satisfaction in God—but those who are genuinely holy. "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10
The covetous man takes pleasure and delight in his money-bags. The ambitious man takes pleasure and delight in his honors. The voluptuous man takes pleasure and delight in his lusts. The malicious man takes pleasure and delight in his revenge. The envious man takes pleasure and delight in the harms which befall others. The drunkard takes pleasure and delight in his cups. The adulterer takes pleasure and delight in his harlots. The gamester takes pleasure and delight in his shifts and tricks. The worldling takes pleasure and delight in his fopperies and fooleries. It is only the holy man who takes pleasure and delight in God. To delight and take pleasure in God, is a work too high, too hard, too spiritual, and too noble--for any but holy people! [Job 22:25-26; Cant. 2:3, and 7:6; Pa. 33:2, and 48:11; Isaiah 41:16; Joel 2:23; Hab. 3:18; Zech. 10:7.] To delight and take pleasure in God, is a work too high, too hard, too spiritual, and too noble—for any but holy people. There are none headed, nor hearted, nor spirited, nor anointed, nor principled, for taking pleasure in God—but holy ones.
Abraham did not take more pleasure in his Isaac, nor did Jacob take more delight in his Joseph, nor did David take more satisfaction in his Absalom, nor did Jonah take more contentment in his gourd—than a holy man—when he is himself—takes pleasure, delight, satisfaction, and contentment in God; and therefore how can God but take pleasure and delight in him? Shall the child take delight in the father, and shall not the father delight again in the child? and shall the wife take pleasure and satisfaction in the husband, and shall not the husband take pleasure and satisfaction again in her?
Look! as God hates those who hate him—just so, he takes pleasure in those who take pleasure in him. Now what a singular cordial and comfort is this to all God's holy ones, that God takes singular pleasure, delight, satisfaction, and contentment in them! What though the world hates you, and scorns you, and despises you, and prefers every Barabbas and Judas before you—yet cheer up your spirits with this cordial, and warm your hearts at this fire—that God takes singular pleasure and delight in you! What does the child care—though others slight him—so long as his father at home delights in him? What does the wife care—though others despise her—as long as her husband at home honors her, and takes pleasure in her him? What does the innocent person care—though the malefactor at the bar rails upon him—as long as the judge upon the bench acquits him him? What should a Christian care—though all the world should abhor him—as long as the Lord takes singular pleasure and delight in him? But,
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Part 138 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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