Part 63 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 64 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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[1.] First, That holiness is man's greatest honor and excellency—and this I have made evident at large in the third motive to holiness. Yes, holiness is the crown, excellency, and glory of all a man's excellencies and glories—as has been fully proved in the fifth motive to holiness. Yes, and that which is yet more, holiness reflects honor, not only upon a man's own person—but it reflects honor also upon a man's near and dear relations, yes, upon the very country, city, or town where he was born—as is made good at large in the sixth motive to holiness, to which I refer you for more full and complete satisfaction to this objection. [In the other motives you will find holiness to be the honor of God, Christ, and angels, etc.] But,
[2.] Secondly, Ah, how is man fallen from his primitive glory, that looks now upon holiness as his disgrace, as his discredit and dishonor, which in innocency was the top and crown of all his glory and felicity! Ah, how has sin blinded, bebeasted, and besotted the sons of men—that they should look upon that to be their reproach which is their highest honor in this world; and to look upon that to be their disgrace which alone puts a grace upon them; and to look upon that to be their discredit which can only bring them into credit with God, angels, and godly men! Augustine confesses that it was just thus sometimes with him, for he was stricken with such blindness, that he thought it a shame unto him to be less vile and wicked than his companions, whom he heard boast of their lewdness, and boast so much the more, by how much they were the more filthy. "Therefore," says he, "lest I should be of no account, I was the more wicked, and when I could not otherwise match others, I would pretend that I had done those things which I never did, lest I should seem so much the more abject by how much I was the more innocent, and so much the more vile by how much I was the more chaste."
Ah, what will not a soul blinded by sin say and do, when the work of holiness is not formed in him! Sin has certainly cast that sinner into a woeful lethargy, who is the father of this objection. Now, it is observed of those who are fallen into a lethargy, that their bodies are subject to a continual drowsiness, and their memories are so weak that they cannot remember anything that they speak or do; nay, it does so far debase them that they forget the very necessary actions of life. And just so has sin dealt with these objectors' souls, it has cast them under such a spiritual drowsiness, yes, it has cast them into such a deadly and fearful sleep, that it makes them forget the one thing necessary—namely, holiness.
Souls under a spiritual lethargy forget their lost and lamentable condition, they forget how far off they are from God, Christ, heaven, and salvation, and they forget how near they are to hell, to ruin, to everlasting burnings, and to utter perdition and destruction. It is observable of the blacksmith's dog, that neither the noise of hammers by him, nor the sparks of fire flying about him, nor those which land upon him, do any whit awaken him—but he snorts and sleeps on securely in the midst of all. Just so, sin has cast the sinner into so deep a sleep, that though the sparks of hell-fire in the threatenings fly about him, and the hammers of God's judgments make a noise on all sides of him—yet he is so stupefied and benumbed that nothing will awaken him to behold his spiritual and eternal hazard—but he sleeps on securely, and so will continue, if infinite grace and mercy does not prevent, until he awakes with everlasting flames about his ears.
When a man is in a deep lethargy, if you pinch him with pincers, or prick him with needles, he feels it not; if you scourge him he cries not, if you threaten him he fears not, etc. Now this is the condition of such who are in a spiritual lethargy; let the judgments of God be denounced, and let the terrors of the law be preached, they tremble not; let the flames of hell-fire flash upon their souls, they regard it not, for they are sermon-proof, and judgment-proof, and hell-proof. Now this is your very case, O sinner! who cry out that the pursuit of holiness will turn to your disgrace and discredit in the world; for were your eyes but open to see the necessity, beauty, and excellency of holiness, oh, then you would call for holiness, and cry for holiness, and search for holiness, and press for holiness, as that which is the chief ornament, and the only honor and glory of the creature. But,
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Part 64 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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