Part 153 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 154 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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6. There will come a time when in this world, holiness shall be more general, and more eminent, than ever it has been since Adam fell in paradise. The Scripture speaks clearly, roundly, and fully to this: Deut. 30:5, 6, 8, "The Lord your God will bring you into your own land, and the Lord your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul—and you shall return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments."
This gracious promise was made to the Jews over two thousand years ago—and yet to this very day it has not been fulfilled; and therefore there will certainly come a time wherein God will make it good. Isaiah 11:6, "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, etc., and they shall not hurt, etc., for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
This glorious promise has not been made good to this day—but there is a time a-coming wherein it shall be accomplished. Isaiah 35:8, "There shall be a highway, and it shall be called a way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it." Isaiah 59:21, "This is my covenant, my word and my spirit shall never depart from you forever."
Isaiah 60:21, "Your people shall be all righteous." Jer. 32:40-41, "I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and whole soul." Just so, Ezek. 36:23-30; Mal. 4:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:13.
And so the prophet Ezekiel, speaking of the glorious state of the church in the last days, Ezek. 44:7, 9, adds, "Thus says the Lord, no stranger uncircumcised in heart shall enter into my sanctuary." Zeph. 13, "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths."
Now the context clearly shows that these words relate to the glorious state of the church on earth, and they have never yet received their accomplishment—but shall in the last days, for he is faithful who has spoken it: Zech. 14:20-21, "Upon all shall be holiness to the Lord." I have opened this text pretty fully to you already in my former discourses on holiness, and therefore shall pass it by now.
Rev. 21 verse the first and verse the last, "And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth, and I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, etc., and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, etc.—but those who are written in the Lamb's book."
I have formerly proved by several arguments, that this chapter cannot be understood of heaven—but must necessarily, and beyond all dispute, be understood of the glorious state of the saints on earth, which they shall certainly enjoy in the last days.
By all these scriptures it is most evident that there will come a time when holiness shall be more general, and at a fuller height than ever yet it has been since man fell from his original holiness; and therefore pray and wait, and wait and pray, look and long, and long and look—for the breaking forth of this day of glory upon the world.
Back to Part 152 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 154 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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