Part 66 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 67 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Secondly, They of all men have more time, leisure, and advantages to hear much that they may be holy, and to read much that they may be holy, and to pray much that they may be holy, and to confer much with all sorts and ranks of men, that they may be holy; and therefore it concerns them above all other men in the world to be holy. Other men have neither the time nor the advantages to gain holiness as these men have.
But thirdly, Their examples are most powerful and prevalent with the people, either for much good, or for much evil, Proverbs 29:12. If the mountains overflow with waters, the valleys are the better; and if the head is full of disease, the whole body fares the worse. The actions of rulers are most commonly rules for the people's actions, and their examples pass as current as their coin. [Esther. 1:10-11, 15-18. It is noted in King Alphonsus's sayings, that "a great man cannot commit a small sin."] If their examples are evil, there are none so dangerous as theirs. Jeroboam the son of Nebat is never mentioned in the Scripture, nor ever read of in the chronicles of Israel—but he draws a tail after him, like a blazing star, "who made Israel to sin."
A sick head disorders all the other parts, and a dark eye benights the whole body. The evil examples of great men corrupts the air round about. The common people are like soft wax, easily receiving impressions from the seals of great men's vices. If a peasant meets with luxury in a scarlet robe, he dares be like such, having so fair a cloak for it. If the common people meet with drunkenness of a great public person, they dare be such themselves; they make no bones to sin by prescription, and to damn themselves with authority. Austin brings in some excusing their compliances with the sinful customs of those times thus, "Great personages urged it, and it was at the king's banquet." They thought it a sufficient excuse to plead the examples of great men.
And if the examples of great men are virtuous, there are none so winning and drawing as theirs. [Carus the Roman emperor used to say, "A good leader makes a good follower."] Men who are high and eminent in authority, power, and dignity, and eminent also in grace and holiness—they carry the inferior people by their examples to a liking of holiness, and to a loveof holiness, and to a pursuit after holiness. As the biggest stars in the skies are always the brightest, and give the greatest luster to those of a lesser magnitude—just so, those who, in respect both of greatness and grace, are so many shining stars—they give the greatest light and luster to others by their shining lives. Oh, what a world of good will the gracious example of a good prince provoke others unto! It was the saying of Trajanus, "Subjects prove good by a good king's example."
Stories tells us of some who could not sleep when they thought of the trophies of other worthies who went before them. The gracious examples of great men are very awakening, quickening, and provoking to that which is good, as is most evident in all those kingdoms, countries, cities, and villages where such men live. And therefore great men are the more obliged to be godly men, and honorable men to be holy men.
But, fourthly, of all men under heaven, you will have the greatest accounts to make up with God; and therefore you have the more cause to seek after holiness. Where God gives much there he looks for much, Luke 48. [It was excellent counsel that the heathen orator gave his hearers—"Let us so live as those who must give an account of all at last."] O sirs, God will bring you to an account for that talent of honor, and that talent of wealth, and that talent of birth, and that talent of power, and that talent of authority, and that talent of interest, and that talent of time, etc., that he has entrusted you with! How will you be able to stand in the day of account without holiness in your hearts?
King Philip the Third of Spain, whose life was free from gross evils, professed that he would rather lose all his kingdoms than offend God willingly; yet, being in the agony of death, and considering more thoroughly of his account that he was to give to God, fear struck into him, and these words broke from him: "Oh, would to God I had never reigned! Oh, that those years I have spent in my kingdom I had lived a private life in the wilderness! Oh, that I had lived a solitary life with God! How much more securely should I have now died! How much more confidently should I have gone to the throne of God! What does all my glory profit me—but that I have so much the more torment in my death!"
Well, gentlemen, there is a day a-coming wherein the Lord will call you to a strict account, both for the principal, and also for the interest of all those talents of honor, riches, and greatness, etc., that he has put into your hands! How will you be ever able to hold up your heads in this day of account, unless you experience principles of holiness in your hearts, and hold forth the power of godliness in your lives? If Saul was astonished when he heard Jesus of Nazareth but calling upon him, Acts 22:7-8; if Herod was affrighted when he thought that John Baptist was risen from the dead, Mark 6:16; if the Philistines were afraid when they saw David's sword, 1 Sam. 21:9; if the Israelites were appalled when they saw Aaron's rod, Num. 7:10; if Judah was ashamed when he saw Thamar's signet ring and staff, Gen. 38:25-26; and if Belshazzar was amazed when he saw the handwriting on the wall, Dan. 5:9—oh, how astonished, how affrighted, how ashamed, and how amazed will the great ones of the world be—who live and die without holiness, when God shall bring them to the judgment bar, and command them to give an account of all the talents that he has put into their hands!
If the Carthaginians were troubled when they saw Scipio's sepulcher; if the Saxons were terrified when they saw Cadwallon's image; and if the Romans were astonished when they saw Caesar's bloody robe; ah! how will all the great unholy ones of the earth be troubled, terrified, and astonished in the great day of their accounts! There are none who will have such large accounts to give—as the great ones of the world, and therefore there are none who stand so strongly engaged to look after holiness as they do.
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Part 67 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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