Part 26 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 27 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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(2.) Secondly, If ever you would be holy, you must seek the HOLY SPIRIT. The Spirit is the efficient cause of all the holiness which is in the world. The Spirit of God is a spirit of holiness, Romans 1:4; he is frequently called the Holy Spirit: "Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your Holy Spirit from me," Psalm 51:11; "But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit," Isaiah 63:10; "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption," Eph. 4:30; "God, who has also given unto us hisHoly Spirit," 1 Thes. 4:8; "In whom also, after that you believed, you were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise," Eph. 1:13.
To make a man holy—is greater than to create a world; it is a work too high and too hard for angels or men; it can be done by none but by the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is made the Spirit's personal operation, 2 Thes. 2:13, 1 Pet. 1:2. It is the great work of the Spirit—to shape, form, and fashion the new creature holiness, in all the vessels of glory. The Spirit is theroot of all holiness; and therefore the several parts of holiness are called the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5:22. It is true, God purposes holiness to his people, and Christ has purchasedholiness for his people; but it is only the Spirit that is the efficient cause or worker of holiness in his people. Though the Father, Son, and Spirit has designed to re-imprint holiness upon man's heart—yet the Spirit has the greatest hand in that work. When man was in his primitive glory, holiness was his loveliness and his likeness to God; but being now fallen, that image is so broken and marred, that no hand can repair it or restore it but the hand of the Spirit.
The great principle of holiness which was in Christ, as to his human nature, was the Holy Spirit, which he had above measure; for he was anointed with the unction of the Spirit above his fellows. Just so, that, look which way you will, the Spirit still appears to be the great principle of holiness. Holiness is the very picture of God, and certainly no hand can carve that excellent picture but the Spirit of God. Holiness is the divine nature, and none can impart that to man but the Spirit.
"When He comes, He will convict the world about sin." John 16:8. A man never comes to see his sins, nor to be sick of his sins, nor to loathe his sins, nor to arraign his sins, nor to condemn his sins, nor to judge himself for his sins, evangelically—until he comes to be possessed of the Holy Spirit. A man never comes to spit out the sweet morsels of sin, he never comes to make a sacrifice of his only Isaac, and to hack his trembling Agag in pieces, and to strangle his Delilah, and in good earnest to set upon an utter extirpation of those sins that his constitution, inclination, custom, calling, and interest does most incline him to—until the Spirit of holiness comes upon him. Until the Holy Spirit falls upon the hearts of sinners, they will never be fired out of their pride, formality, carnality, sensuality, and security.
When the Holy Spirit comes as a spirit of glory and power to change your heart, to destroy your sins, to reform your ways, and to save your soul, etc., oh, then cry out, "Let him still go on conquering and to conquer, until all his enemies are made his footstool. Oh, let him cut off every right hand, and pluck out every right eye, etc., which offends! Oh, let him do justice upon every sin—upon every open sin, upon every secret sin, upon every bosom sin, upon every pleasing sin, and upon every gainful sin!"
Oh, set yourselves under the celestial influences and sweet distillings of the Holy Spirit! Oh, prize his motions! Oh, welcome his motions! Oh, comply with his motions! Oh, follow his motions, so that you may be holy and happy forever. When David asked counsel of God, whether he should go up against the Philistines or not, he received this answer: "When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the balsam trees, attack! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistines," 2 Sam. 5:24. Just so, should everyone wisely observe, when the Spirit sweetly and strongly moves them to mind holiness, to fall in love with holiness, to press after holiness; when the Spirit moves them to leave off their sins, to turn to God, to embrace Christ, to tremble at threatenings, and to embrace promises; oh, make much of these holy motions! Oh, cherish these divine breathings! Oh, don't quench these heavenly sparks, lest the Spirit never more moves you, nor ever more strives with you, Gen. 6:3.
Oh, when you hear a voice within you, or a voice behind you, saying, "Come with me from Lebanon, my sister, my spouse," etc., Isaiah 30:21, and Cant. 4:8, "Come away from your cups—you drunken wretch! Come away from your wanton Delilahs—you unclean wretch! Come away from your sinful pleasures—you voluptuous wretch! Come away from your money bags—you worldly wretch! Come away from your honors—you ambitious wretch! Come away from your fraud—you cheating wretch!" Oh hearken to this voice! oh obey this voice, that it may go well with your soul forever! If now you strike while the iron is hot, if now you hoist up sail while the wind is fair—you may be made happy forever.
In John 5:4, there were certain times when the angel came down and troubled the waters, and whoever did then step in, was healed of whatever disease he had. Just so, there are certain times and seasons wherein the Spirit of holiness stirs the heart and affections, and moves and breathes upon the soul. Now if men were wise to observe these times and seasons, they might be happy forever. The time of the Spirit's moving is the acceptable time; if you observe it you are made, if you neglect it you are marred. All the movings and motions of the Spirit are in order to an eternity of felicity and glory. Oh, therefore don't grieve the Spirit! Don't cross the Spirit! Don't vex the Spirit! Don't tempt the Spirit! Don't quench the Spirit! Don't oppose the Spirit! Don't resist the Spirit! Don't deal harshly or unkindly with the Spirit—by sinning against illumination, conviction, resolutions and promises of reformation.
Oh, be more tender of the gracious motions of the Spirit, than you are of your name, your estate, your liberty, your life; for he designs your internal good in this world, and your eternal good in the eternal world; and therefore don't affront him, nor behave unworthily towards him. If you should, it may be at the cost of your life and your soul! If a man misses the opportunity of a favorable gale, his ship will lie still. When the Spirit moves salvation, and all the glory of heaven stands waiting at your door, if now you will but open, the King of glory will enter in, and bless you forever. Saul, by neglecting his opportunity, lost an earthly kingdom. Take heed lest you, by slighting the motions of the Spirit, come to lose a heavenly kingdom. The letting slip one season when the Spirit moves may undo a man in both worlds—as Felix found it so. Well, sirs, as ever you would be holy, you must labor for a spirit of holiness; and for your encouragement remember this, that though the Holy Spirit is the great jewel of glory—yet God is more ready to give Him, than you are to ask; witness that 11th of Luke, from the 9th to the 14th verse. But,
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Part 27 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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