Part 154 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness

Back to Part 153 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness

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Part 155 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness

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Back to HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness

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[7.] Though the people of God ought to be holy at all times—yet there are some special times and seasons wherein God calls aloud for holiness, more than he does at other times, and wherein he looks, and expects that his people should be eminently holy, as well as genuinely holy.

Question. But what are those special times and seasons wherein God calls loudest for holiness and most for holiness?

I answer, they are these:

[1.] First, After great and sore FALLS. Oh, now God calls aloud for holiness. David after his great falls, greatly humbles himself before the Lord, Psalm 51. Job after his bitter cursing and heavy complaining, abhors himself in dust and ashes, Job 3 and Job 42:4-5. Hezekiah, after his great miscarriage, did chatter like a crane and mourn as a dove. Isaiah 38:14.Peter after his hellish cursing, his desperate swearing, and his hideous lying—goes out and weeps bitterly, Mat. 26. Just so, Origen, after he had denied the truth, and sacrificed to an idol, he came to Jerusalem, and being desired to preach, and having opened his Bible, the first scripture that his eye was fixed upon was that Psalm 50:16-17, "What have you to do to take my word into your mouth, seeing you hate to be reformed?" whereupon he shut his book, sat down, and fell into a passion of weeping, and so came out of the pulpit, as not being able to speak to the people.

After great falls God expects and looks that his people should be more fearful of sin than ever, and more careful of pleasing and honoring of him than ever, and more resolute in resisting of temptations than ever, and more constant and abundant in a way of duty than ever, and more thankful and fruitful under mercies than ever, and more quiet and silent under afflictions than ever, and more stout and courageous in the face of all opposition than ever, and more wise and circumspect in their walkings than ever, and more vigilant and diligent to prevent and avoid future falls than ever. How else will the honor of God be repaired, and the glory of religion be vindicated, and the credit of the gospel be raised, and the grieved saints be rejoiced, and young beginners in religion be afresh encouraged, and secure sinners be awakened, convinced, and converted? But,