Part 157 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to Part 156 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 158 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
[4.] When people who are under a great profession, or in church communion, shall fall presumptuously and scandalously, when they shall not only do weakly—butwickedly, when not only infirmities—but enormities may be justly and righteously charged upon them; when such people walk so loosely, and vainly, as that they occasion the name of God to be blasphemed, religion to be scorned, the gospel to be despised, profession to be abhorred, the saints to be reviled, and new believers to be discouraged, and the ungodly in their wickedness to be hardened and confirmed; oh, this is a time wherein God calls aloud upon his people to be holy! Oh, now God expects an extraordinary measure of holiness in his people!
Oh, now he looks that his people should rather walk like angels, than live like saints, so that they may in some measure repair and make up the sad breaches that have been made upon his honor, and the credit of religion; and that they may live profession into honor and esteem once more in the world.
Such blessed effects as these, the horrid sin of the incestuous person did work in the hearts and lives of the Corinthians, as you may see by comparing these scriptures together. [1 Cor. 5:1-3; 2 Cor. 2:4-8, and 7:11.]
O sirs! in these days are there not many who have made a very high profession, who have shined as the stars in the skies—who are now fallen from their profession, from their principles, and from all things which are godly? How many now do build the things that they have destroyed? What betraying of Christ, what betraying of truth, and what betraying ofsaints is there this day among many who have pretended very high to religion!
How many now approve of those things which before they would never own; and who justify those things now, which they have formerly condemned; and who comply with those things now, which formerly they have abhorred; yes, who contend for those things now, for which they have formerly suffered? And, therefore, certainly these are the very times wherein God calls aloud upon his people to be holy, yes, to be eminently holy, etc. But,