Part 72 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 73 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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[2.] Secondly, Evidence and declare the truth and reality of your holiness—by your cordial thankfulness for so rare a jewel, and for so great a mercy. [Psalm 103:1-5, or, as the original will bear, "bow the knee, O my soul."] O sirs, one drop, one spark of holiness is more worth than heaven and earth, and how then can you but be thankful for it? Will you be thankful to that God that made you a man? and will you not be thankful to the same God that made you a saint? Will you bless him who made you a creature? and will you not bless the same God who has made you a new creature? Will you praise him for the heavens which are but the workmanship of his hands? and will you not praise him for holiness, which is the workmanship of his heart? Psalm 8. Tell me, O Christian, is not holiness a soul-mercy? and what mercies will you be thankful for, if not for soul-mercies?
Tell me, O Christian, is not holiness of all mercies the most necessary mercy? The lack of other mercies might have troubled you, ay—but the lack of holiness would have damned you; and will you not be thankful for holiness, which is the one thing necessary? Tell me, O Christian, is not holiness an incomparable mercy? What is your health, your wealth, your wit, compared to holiness? Dare you mention your birth, your breeding, your arts, your parts, your honor, your greatness, or your advancement in the world, in that day wherein holiness is spoken of? Surely not! And will you not then be thankful for such an incomparable mercy as holiness is?
Tell me, O Christian, is not holiness a special mercy, a peculiar treasure which God entrusts but few men with? Does not the world lie in wickedness? 1 John 5:19. Are not the multitude in all places strangers, yes, enemies to holiness? And how then can you but be thankful for holiness?
Yes, once more tell me, O Christian, is not holiness a mercy-sweetening mercy? Is it not the beauty of holiness, which puts a beauty upon all your mercies? Is it not holiness, which bespangles all your comforts and contentments? Oh, how sour would all your mercies taste, and how pale and ashen would all your mercies look—were it not for holiness! It is the lack of holiness which makes all a man's mercies look as ill-favored as Pharaoh's lean cows, and it is the fruition of holiness which makes all a man's mercies look as well-favored as Pharaoh's fat cows, Gen. 41:2-4; it is holiness that both puts a color upon all our mercies, and that gives a taste and a relish to them.
All our mercies, without holiness, will be but as the waters of Marah—bitter, Exod. 15:23-25; it is only holiness, which is the tree that will make every bitter sweet, and every sweet more sweet. So how then can you but be thankful for holiness? Oh, remember how far off you were from God, and Christ, and the promise, and heaven, and happiness—when you were without holiness in this world, Eph. 2:12. Oh, remember what a child of wrath, what a bond-slave to Satan, what an enemy to God, and what an heir to hell you were—when you were an opposer of holiness, and a secret despiser of holiness—and then be unthankful for holiness if you can!
Oh, remember that now by holiness, of a slave you are made a son; and of an heir of wrath you are made an heir of heaven. And instead of being Satan's bondman, you are now made Christ's freeman; your iron chains are now knocked off, as sometimes Joseph's were, and the golden chain of holiness is now put upon you, John 8:36. And what does all this call aloud for, but thankfulness?
Thales, a heathen, gave thanks to God for three things: 1. That he had made him a man, and not a beast; 2. That he had made him a man, and not a woman; 3. That he was born a Greek, and not a barbarian. And, oh then, what cause of thankfulness have you for your supernatural being, and for all those noble principles of holiness that the Lord has stamped upon your soul! etc. Shall the farmer be thankful for a plentiful harvest, and the merchant for large returns, and the shopkeeper for a full trade, and the mariner for a good voyage—and will not you be much more thankful for holiness? Shall the beggar be thankful for a crust to feed him, and shall the blind be thankful for a dog to lead him, and shall the naked be thankful for rags to cover him, and shall the aged be thankful for a staff to support him, and shall the diseased be thankful for a cordial to raise him—and will not you be thankful for holiness, yes, for that holiness which is bread to strengthen you, and a guide to lead you, and raiment to clothe you, and a staff to support you, and a cordial to comfort you? Oh, remember that ingratitude is a monster in nature, a faux-pas in manners, and a paradox in grace—damming up the course of all donations, both divine and human.
Lycurgus, as Musculus observes, among all his laws, made none against the ungrateful, because ingratitude was thought a thing so vile, as not to be committed by man. The Persians and Athenians condemned the ungrateful to death. Ah, unthankful Christians, how can you think of these heathens, and not blush! Shall they bless God for crumbs—and will not you bless God for crowns? Shall they bless God for the gifts of nature, and will not you bless God for the gifts of grace? etc. Next to a holy Christ, holiness is the greatest gift which God can give, and therefore be thankful for it, etc. But,
[3.] Thirdly, Evidence and declare the truth and reality of your holiness—by the reality of your constant pursuit after holiness—by your holding up and holding on in a way of holiness—by your perseverance in holiness. This exhortation, "Pursue with all men, and holiness," Heb. 12:14, was given forth to such as had a spirit of holiness, and principles of holiness in them; and these are the men who the holy apostle presses to press after holiness. [Hosea 6:3; 1 Thes. 3:12-13; 2 Pet. 1:5-10; Phil. 3:14-16; 2 Pet. 3:17-18.] "Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You are doing this already, and we encourage you to do so more and more." 1 Thessalonians 4:1
That holiness will do us no good, which is not made good by perseverance. O sirs, shall the ambitious person pursue after his honors, and the voluptuous person after his pleasures, and the worldling pursue after his gain, and the wanton pursue after his harlots, and the drunkard pursue after his full cups, etc.; and shall not Christians much more pursue after holiness? Not to go forward is to go backward; and not to grow better is to grow worse; and not to grow more holy is to grow less holy. The crown, the new name, and the white stone—is for him who holds out, and who holds on in his pursuit after holiness. [Rev. 2:10,17; Jude 20; 1 Cor. 9:24; Heb. 12:1, 4.]
Progress in holiness is fitly compared to a building, to a race, to the morning light, and to the increasing moon. Now, you know, houses are raised from the foundations to the walls, and from the walls to the first story, and then to the second story, and then to the third, and so higher and higher, until you come up to the roof. And in a race, you know, men run on until they come to the goal. And the morning light shines brighter and brighter until it becomes perfect day. And the moon increases more and more until it comes to the full moon. Just so, must Christians persevere and hold on in adding grace to grace. O Christians! you must not be like to a morning cloud, nor to the early dew; you must not stand still in the ways of holiness, as the sun stood still in Gibeon, Josh. 10:13; much less are you to go back, like the sun on Ahaz's dial, 1 Kings 10:11; but as a bridegroom which comes out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run his race, Psalm 19:5. Just so, must you delight to run the ways of God's commands, Psalm 119:32; you must maintain your progress in piety, whatever comes of it.
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Part 73 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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