2. THE BEAUTY OF
HOLINESS
"Who else among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is glorious in holiness
like you—so awesome in splendor, performing such wonders?" Exodus 15:11
"Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before
him." Psalm 96:9
If the external evidences of Christianity prove the truth of its being a
divine revelation, how much more do the internal evidences attest its divine
origin. From the period of the Fall to the Prophet Malachi, promises and
prophecies were proclaimed, types and ordinances were instituted, to
foretell and prefigure the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the Lamb
of God, who, in the fullness of time, should take away the sin of the world.
Holiness is the grand characteristic of the gospel of Christ- and all who
are interested in its blessings are a holy people; for the announcement to
Joseph by the angel was, "You shall call his name JESUS, for he shall save
his people from their sins." "Be holy, for I am holy," is the command of
God. "Be holy in all manner of conversation," is the apostolic injunction.
Believers are described by Peter, as, a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that they should show forth
the praises of him who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous
light."
There is a beauty in holiness which as far surpasses the rude features of
the world's morality, as the dazzling brightness of the sun outshines the
glowworm's light. The morality of the world consists in outward decency, and
in rectitude of conduct towards our neighbor, while the heart is wholly
estranged from God. Holiness has a special regard to God, and consists in
purity of heart, and in a conformity to the divine image. This is what God
demands. To this, a promise is annexed: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God." This is what God works in believers by his Spirit; and
without this, no man shall see the Lord. All religion is vain, if inward
purity be lacking. No outward morality- no speculative knowledge of divine
Truth- no formal observance of religious duties- can ever be accepted as a
substitute for holiness by Him who has said: "My son, give me your heart."
Oh! my, soul, have you been born again? Has this divine change passed upon
you? Are you renewed in righteousness and true holiness? Can you rejoice at
the remembrance of God's holiness? Are you laboring daily, through the
Spirit, for greater purity of heart, more heavenly-mindedness, chasteness of
affection, and rectitude of intention? Is love to God, your principle of
action? Is his glory, your end and aim?
Oh! blessed Jesus, I have no strength in myself to do these things. Put
forth your saving, sanctifying power. Breathe, oh vivifying Spirit, breathe
on the dry bones, and they shall live. Shine, oh Sun of Righteousness on my
barren soul, that heavenly graces may blossom and bear fruit to your praise.
Angels will then rejoice over another sinner that repents; and another jewel
will be added to your crown.
Give me grace to hate even the garment spotted by the flesh, to loathe sin,
as I should a garment in which is the plague of leprosy. Preserve me from
the lustings of carnal nature, from inordinate desires, irregular
propensities, and sinful thoughts, those seeds in the soul, from where
spring so many poisonous weeds. Purify every imagination of the thoughts of
my heart; give me, holy Savior, the victory over myself, that every thought
may be brought into captivity to a willing obedience to you. Oh! may I daily
worship You in the beauty of holiness, in spirit and in truth, that "with
angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, I may laud and
magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you, and saying- Holy, holy,
holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be
to you, O Lord most High."
I am now living in an enemy's country. My heart, like a besieged city, has
to contend with foes without, and traitors within. Watchfulness and prayer
are the sentinels which guard the holy principle within; while
circumspection watches the motions of the enemy without. If I sleep at my
post, or relax in my vigilance, my soul would soon be overpowered by
indwelling corruptions, and be vanquished by the powers of darkness. How
earnest is the exhortation of Peter: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking those whom he
may devour: resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." How
encouraging is his prayer, "But the God of all grace, who has called us unto
his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you
perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion
forever and ever, Amen."
Self-examination, and prayer for divine illumination, are powerful
auxiliaries in the Christian warfare. The Christian soldier must pray with
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, that he may be endued with
strength in the inner man. He must search into his heart, and learn to know
himself, that he may not be surprised by the secret machinations of
indwelling sin. Oh! how arduous is the life of the believer. The 'mere
formalist' knows nothing of his conflicts or his comforts. "See, then," says
Paul, "that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the
time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, do not be unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is."
Enable me, O Lord, to examine myself, whether I be in the faith; to prove my
own self. Many deceive themselves by not scrutinizing their principles of
action. Preserve me, your unworthy servant, from this fatal neglect; lest,
judging from external performances, and disregarding the motives from where
they proceed, I should be found, at last, to be only as reprobate silver in
your sight.
Am I in the faith? True saving faith is a living, loving principle in the
heart. As life manifests itself by action, so does a living faith- it works
by love, it purifies the heart, it overcomes the world, it unites the soul
to Christ, it apprehends his merits, and puts on his righteousness, it lives
upon the promises, it realizes celestial glories, it raises the believer
above the cares of life, the sorrows of the world, and all the gloomy
horrors of the grave; it resists sin, it applies the death of Christ as a
powerful corrosive to eat out the gangrene of corrupted nature, it raises
the dead soul, by virtue of the Savior's resurrection, from the grave of
spiritual death to newness of life, it enables the believer to walk with
God, to worship him in the beauty of holiness, in the spirit of adoption,
until he attain to the temple above, where his services and praises shall be
perfected and eternal.
Have I this precious faith, this faith of God's elect, which is according to
godliness? It is the gift of God; it is of the operation of the Spirit;
Jesus is the author and finisher of it. Oh! blessed Trinity in unity, three
persons in one Divine Essence, undivided, immutable, self-existent, and
eternal; grant unto me this invaluable, indispensable blessing. Without it,
I cannot please you. Without it, I cannot approach unto you with acceptance.
If in Christ, I shall be precious in your sight, for his dear sake who lived
and died for me. If out of Christ, I shall be viewed as a vessel of wrath,
as fuel for the everlasting burning! Delay not, then, blessed Lord, delay
not, to impart this precious gift of grace- a justifying faith working by
love. Speak the word only, and the blessing will descend. Work in me all the
good pleasure of your goodness, and the work of faith with power, that,
going on from strength to strength, from conquering to conquer, I may rise
superior to all my foes, glorify you here in the beauty of holiness, and
shine forever as the sun in the kingdom of my Father.