Part 149 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 150 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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2. Holiness rises by degrees; it rises gradually in the souls of the saints. Though the first Adam was made a man, a holy man, yes, a man perfectly holy, and all at once—yet the holiness of all who are interested in the second Adam rises by degrees. [Job 17:9; Psa 92:12; Mal. 4:2; Hosea 14:5-7.] It is true, in the creation of the world all the creatures were made in their full and perfect growth and strength at once; but in the new creation, holiness, which is God's own creature, is carried on by degrees, Luke 2:52. Look! as Christ increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man by degrees—just so, that babe of grace, holiness, increases in the soul by degrees. Look! as the seed which is sown in the furrows of the earth first springs into a blade, and then into an ear, and then into ripe grain, Mat. 13:23; Mark 4:28—just so, that immortal seed, holiness, which is sown in the furrows of a Christian's soul, springs and grows by degrees. Look! as the waters in the sanctuary rise first to the ankles, then to the knees, then to the loins, then to the chin, and then to a river that was not passable, Ezek. 47:3-5—just so, holiness rises higher and higher in the soul by degrees.
Look! as the morning light shines more and more unto the perfect day, Proverbs 4:18—just so, the light of holiness shines more and more clear, and more and more bright, until all darkness and imperfection be swallowed up in perfection. Look! as the body of a man grows and increases by degrees in stature and strength, until it comes to its full growth and perfection, Eph. 4:16—just so, grace and holiness will grow and increase by degrees, until grace is turned into glory, until holiness be turned into everlasting happiness.
Though the ocean is full—yet the bottle cannot be filled but by degrees. We are poor narrow-mouthed bottles, and therefore what we take in of holiness must be by degrees. Our incapacity is so great, that at present we are in no way able to take in a fullness of holiness; and therefore God drops in now a drop and then a drop, now a little and then a little—as we are able to take it in.
Indeed, to difference the state of grace from the state of glory, the state of holiness from the state of everlasting happiness, it is necessary that holiness should be communicated to us by degrees. An absolute fullness of holiness will make an absolute fullness of happiness. When our holiness is perfect, our happiness shall be perfect; and if this were attainable on earth, there would be but little reason for men to long to be in heaven.