Part 2
John the Baptist was a burning and a shining light, as well as a voice. His sermons were stuffed with divine and weighty matter, etc., and not filled up with big words or strains of wit. Many there are, who
have John's voice in the ministry, that have not that heat and life that John had in his ministry. That great orator—Demosthenes—himself could say, "that the riches of Greece did not consist in words." It is not for ministers to use golden sentences, strong lines, frothy wit, in winning of souls to Christ; for it is iron, and not gold—which kills in the encounter; it is the steel sword, and not the golden sword—which wins the field. Woe to such preachers that darken counsel by words without knowledge, Job 38:2, that affect sublime notions, obscure expressions, uncouth phrases, making plain truths difficult, and easy truths hard; who seek abstrusities, and love to soar aloft in dark expressions, and take pleasure to shoot their arrows over their hearers' heads.
The heathenish priests had their mythologies and strange canting expressions of their imaginary inaccessible deities to amaze and amuse their blind superstitious followers, and thereby to hold up their Popish and apish idolatries in greater veneration. And is not this spirit now revived among many? Certainly men of abstracted conceits, and sublime speculations—are but wise fools; and commonly they are as erroneous as they are curious. Such as mind more the humoring of their hearers' fancies, than the saving of their souls, do little consider that saying of Seneca, "Sick men are not bettered by physicians' sugared words—but by their skillful hands." The sword of the Spirit never wounds deep, until it be plucked out of the gaudy scabbards of human eloquence.
Mr. Greenham, speaking of ministers, wishes that this motto might be written on their study-doors without, and walls within, on all their books they look on, on all the beds they lie on, and on all the tables they sit at, etc.: "The price of blood, the price of blood, the price of blood!" A preacher's life should be a commentary upon his doctrine; his practice should be the counterpart of his sermons. Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life.
"Preachers are the glass, the school, the book, Where people's eyes do learn, do read, do look."
Gentlemen, by these short hints you may see, as in a glass, if you will not put a cheat upon your own souls, how unlike to the true, holy, and faithful ministers of Jesus Christ you are. O sirs, do not you know that the Holy Scriptures, which always speak truth, do clearly evidence that an ignorant, profane, scandalous, superstitious, inefficient, and soul-flattering clergy are the greatest pest, plague, affliction, judgment, etc., which can befall a people, as you may easily see by comparing these scriptures together—Micah 2:11; Isaiah 30:10-11; Jer. 5:31; Lam. 2:14; Isaiah 9:16; Ezek. 3:18; Jer. 23:9, 18; Ezek. 13:22; Jer. 6:14, and 27:14, 16; 1 Thes. 5:3; Jer. 14:13-16; Isaiah 28:7-8; Ezek. 34 throughout; Romans 2:21-24. Other judgments, as war, famine, pestilence, burning fevers, plagues, etc., cannot separate between God and men's souls; for men may have very sweet and high communion with God under the sorest of those judgments. Other afflictions and judgments may spring from the fatherly love of God, and from a gracious design of good to his people: Rev. 3:19; Proverbs 3:11; Heb. 12:5-8; Psalm 89:30, 35; Job 7:17-18; but this is a sad fruit of God's judicial anger and severe indignation against a people. Other judgments often issue in men's seeking of the Lord, and in men's returning to the Lord. Isaiah 26:16-17; Hosea 5:14-15, compared with chapter 6:1-3, and chapter 2:6-7; but this judgment frequently issues in men's forsaking of the Lord, and in their running from God, and in their walking contrary to God, and in the hardening of them against God, and in an everlasting shutting of them out from the presence of the Lord: as you may see by comparing of these scriptures together—Mat. 15:14; Luke 6:39; 1 Thes. 5:3; 2 Thes. 1:710; Mat. 23:13.
Do not you know that where there is no vision, the people perish? Proverbs 29:18: The word, that is here rendered perish, signifies to be made naked, to be made bare and uncovered. They are naked as people who are stripped of their garments, and exposed to perish by cold in the winter, or to be scorched or roasted by heat in the
summer; or they are naked, that is, they are made the objects of shame and contempt to all that look upon them: or they are made naked, that is, of the grace, blessing, and protection of God: or they are naked, that is, say others, they are forsaken and cast off; for everyone forsakes and casts off people who will not wear clothes, they will have nothing to do with them, Exod. 32:25. Others thus, "The people shall be stripped naked, they shall be left as a city without walls, exposed to the fury of the enemy, as a body without clothes, open to wind and weather." Others thus, "The people shall be unveiled; it will then appear what is within, whether grace or sin; it will then be discovered what pantings, breathings, hungerings, and longings there be in souls after God, and Christ, and holiness, and ordinances." Pagnine thus, "The people will grow barbarous, rebellious, etc., as experience in all ages has fully demonstrated." Others thus, "The people shall be of no esteem, of no repute; nobody will prize them, nobody will value them, nobody will regard them; men set no price, no value upon naked people." Others thus, "The people shall be dispersed, scattered, shivered and shattered;" and this in all ages has been too apparent. Others thus, "They shall be drawn away with errors: they shall either be starved, or else poisoned with God-dishonoring, Christ-denying, scripture-debasing, conscience-destroying, life-polluting, and soul-damning opinions."
It is concluded on all hands, that it shall go ill, very ill, with that people who lack vision—who lack serious, sincere, faithful, and powerful preaching; for where there is no vision, no serious, sincere, faithful, and powerful preaching, there the people perish certainly, undoubtedly, there they go tumbling to hell; and this is evident in the text, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." He does not say they may perish—but they do perish; or they are in danger of perishing—but they do certainly perish. Where there is no serious, conscientious, faithful, powerful preaching, there the people grow abominably wicked, as woeful experience tells us: and what the outcome of that will be, you may see in Psalm 9:17, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God;" or as the Hebrew has it, the wicked shall be turned into hell, that is, they shall
certainly be turned into hell; yes, they shall be turned into the nethermost hell, into the lowest dungeon in hell. See Psalm 11:6.
Where vision fails, there men perish temporally. When vision, when preaching ceased among the Jews, oh the dreadful calamities and miseries that came upon that people! how soon did God burn up all their outward comforts, contentments, and enjoyments on every hand, 2 Chron. 15:3, 5-6, compared with chapter 13:9-11, and chapter 36:15 seq.; Mat. 23:37-38. They shut their eyes against all that light that Christ and his apostles brought among them: and what was the outcome of this? Why, about forty years after Christ's ascension, the Romans came and took away their city, and sold thirty of them for a penny, as Josephus writes, etc.; and ever since that time, which is above sixteen hundred years ago, they have been scattered as dung over the face of the whole earth.
Where vision fails, there men perish totally: both the bodies, and the souls of men perish, where serious, conscientious preaching fails; Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The Chaldee renders it, they are besotted, and so fitted for destruction. The Papists say that ignorance is the mother of devotion; but this text tells us that ignorance is the mother of destruction. The heathens were accustomed to say that when their god Jupiter would destroy one—he would first besot him. So these people were first besotted, and then destroyed, Romans 6:16-19.
Where vision fails, there the people perish insensibly and unexpectedly. The ungodly flatter themselves that God is made up all of mercy, and believe that they shall go to heaven--until they awake with everlasting flames about their ears--as you may see in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Where vision fails, there men perish suddenly: in a moment they go down to hell, Job 21:13-15. As the travail of a woman comes suddenly upon her when she least expects it, so everlasting pains and torments come suddenly upon poor sinners when they least expect them,
Proverbs 24:22; Deut. 7:4; 1 Thes. 5:3. As God suddenly rained hell out of heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 18; and as he suddenly swept away the old world, Mat. 24:37-39; and as Samuel suddenly cut off Agag, when he concluded that the bitterness of death was past, 1 Sam. 15:32: so God suddenly casts sinners to hell— he suddenly sweeps them away—he cuts them off suddenly; and when they say, "Surely the bitterness of death is past, and everlasting wrath is past, and hell is past, and eternal ruin is past," then suddenly God cuts them off, and gives them their portion with devils and damned spirits, etc.
Where vision fails, there men perish inevitably, irrecoverably: 1 Thes. 5, And they shall not escape. "Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy." Proverbs 6:15. Here is their dismal doom: They shall not be only bruised—but broken; yes, they shall be suddenly broken when they least look for it, when they do not at all dream of it, or dread it, and this without remedy. They shall be so broken, as that there shall not be so much as a possibility of making them up again. If a man loses his estate, his friend, his child, this loss may be made up again; but if a man once lose his soul, there is no repairing nor making up of that loss.
Where there is no vision, there men perish everlastingly, there they perish eternally, 2 Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 7.
Do not you know that God will require the blood of all their souls at your hands, who perish either by your insufficiency, or neglect, or bad examples Ezek. 3:18-20, "You shall surely die," in dying you shall die; that is, you shall certainly die, you shall eternally die. The ancients commonly interpret it of the death of the soul.
Do not you know that a minister were better have the blood of all the men in the world upon him—than the blood of one soul upon him? For there is no blood that cries so loud, that will lie so heavy, and
which will sink a man so deep in hell, as the blood of souls—I say, as the blood of souls!
Do not you know that there are no men upon the face of the earth who are by office so strictly, so strongly, so universally, so indispensably, and so signally engaged to prize holiness, to countenance holiness, to encourage holiness, to promote holiness, and to practice holiness—as the ministers of Jesus Christ are?
Do not you know that ministers are called angels, in respect of their offices? Rev. 2. Now angels are spiritual creatures; their communion is spiritual, their food is spiritual, their delights are spiritual, their minds are spiritual, their affections are spiritual, and their exercises are spiritual, Psalm 104:4; and in all these respects ministers should be like to the angels. But are not many of them spiritual madmen in these days?—being nothing less than what they profess to be? They are spiritual men in a mockery. So these have no substantial goodness, no substantial holiness at all in them; whereas in holiness they should as far exceed all other men, as the angels in holiness do exceed them.
Do not you know that there is no rank nor order of men on earth, who have so enriched hell, who have been such benefactors to hell— as the ignorant, insufficient, profane, scandalous, and superstitious clergy? In times of Popery letters were written and published as sent from hell, wherein the devil gave the carnal, ignorant, insufficient, scandalous, and superstitious clergy of those times great thanks for so many millions of souls as by their means were daily sent to hell.
Do not you know that all the true faithful prophets, apostles, and ministers of Jesus Christ, who are mentioned in the Old and New Testament, were men of the greatest holiness; [2 Chron. 36:15; Jer. 7:25; 25:4; 35:15; 11:7, etc.; 2 Cor. 11, etc.] and men who made it their greatest business and work to keep down a spirit of profaneness and wickedness; and to countenance, encourage, and promote holiness? Oh, how diligent! oh, how frequent! oh, how abundant! oh, how
constant were they in the work of the Lord—that profane people might be made holy, and that those who were holy might be made more and more holy, yes, that they might perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord! etc.
If a man might eat the sweet and never sweat, it would be an easy matter to be a preacher. But every clergyman is, or ought to be, a steward and overseer in God's house; and that is an office of great labor, trust, and employment. Stewards and overseers commonly eat their bread in the sweat of their brows, and after much beating of their brains; but how unlike to such stewards and overseers the clergy are, who I am now expostulating with, I must leave the Christian reader to judge.
Ernestus, Duke of Lunebury, caused a burning lamp to be stamped on his coin, with these four letters, A. S. M. C., by which was meant, "Aliis Serviens Meipsum Contero." That is—by giving light to others, I consume myself. And such were the Lord's faithful prophets, apostles, and ministers of old: and such are all his faithful, laborious, and conscientious ministers now. But how unlike to the one or the other they are, that now I am reasoning with, you may easily perceive, by comparing them together.
I have read of the nobles of Polonia, that when the gospel is read, they clap their hands upon their swords, and begin to draw them out, intimating by that ceremony their resolution to defend the faith, and their willingness to hazard their lives for the gospel's safety. The faithful prophets, apostles, and ministers of old, were willing to sacrifice themselves for the gospel's sake: but how many are there in these days who are more ready and willing to make a sacrifice of the gospel for profit sake, and preferment sake, and honor sake, and lust's sake, etc., than they are to make themselves a sacrifice for the gospel's sake! How unlike these are to the faithful, conscientious ministers of Jesus Christ that have been in all ages, I must leave you to judge.
Do not you know that Pharaoh had that tender regard of his cattle, as that he thought none fit to be their ruler, their overseer—but such as were known men of activity? Gen. 47:6-7. Pharaoh would have none to be his cow-herders but men of activity, men of skill—men who were prudent and diligent, ingenuous and industrious. Shall Pharaoh be so careful for his cows—and shall not ministers be as careful for souls? What man is there under heaven, who has the use of his reason, his wits, etc., that when he is to travel, would take a fool, an ignoramus, for his guide; and that when he is sick, would send for a charlatan to be his physician; or that when he is to ride a dangerous way, would make choice of a coward to defend him; or that when he has a lawsuit, would make use of a dunce to plead it; or that when he has a suit of clothes to make, would send for a bungling tailor to make it? Surely none! And why then should not men be as wise for their souls?
Unholy ministers have been the greatest instruments of bringing the greatest calamities and miseries, and the sorest desolations and destructions, which ever have been brought upon cities, nations, kingdoms, and countries? Compare these scriptures together, and then let conscience speak. [Jer. 26:8-9, 11, 14, 15; Lam. 4:11-13; Amos 7:10-11; 1 Kings 22; 2 Chron. 18.] And who does not know that it was the high-priests, scribes, and Pharisees, who brought the innocent blood of our Lord Jesus Christ upon that once great and glorious nation of the Jews, to their utter destruction and desolation, about forty years after Christ's ascension, when the Romans came and took their city, and practiced the greatest severity and cruelty imaginable upon them, as Josephus and other historians show?
In the Marian days, and in the massacre of the Protestants in France, how great a hand this sort of men had, that I am now a-reasoning with, all the world knows. And so the pagan priests stirred up the pagan emperors to be desperate persecutors of the people of God that were within their empires; which occasioned Tertullian to give that good counsel to Scapula, a pagan persecutor; "God," says he, "will surely make inquisition for our blood, and therefore if you will
not spare us—yet spare yourself: if not yourself—yet spare your country, which must be responsible when God comes to visit for the innocent shedding of our blood."
Do not you know that his Majesty has very Christianly, zealously, argumentatively, and smartly declared against drunkenness, lewdness, profaneness, etc., and that he has declared that his resolution is and shall be to promote the power of godliness, to encourage the exercises of religion, both public and private; and that inefficient, negligent, and scandalous ministers be not permitted in the church?
Do not you know that when the great Shepherd our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear, that he will call you to a particular and exact account for every soul that has perished under your charge—either by reason of your ignorance, inefficiency, profaneness, looseness, or superstition, etc.? and how will you then be able to stand in that day? etc., 1 Pet. 5:2-4; Ezek. 17-19.
Gentlemen, if you say you don't understand these things, and that they are riddles and mysteries to you—how dare you say that you are the ministers of Jesus Christ? But if you shall say that you know very well that these things are certainly true, yes, that they are such clear and undeniable truths that no devil can deny—and yet shall continue in your ignorance, inefficiency, profaneness, looseness, superstition, etc., what man on earth is there, who has but read the scriptures, and that can but write his own name, and that would not taken for a fool in folio—will believe you to be the true faithful ministers of Jesus Christ?
Well, Gentlemen, I have read of Alexander the Great, how that he had a soldier by the name of Alexander, who was a coward; which he commanded him either to fight like Alexander, or else to lay down the name of Alexander. So say I to you, Gentlemen, either preach as the ministers of Jesus Christ ought to preach—namely, plainly, spiritually, powerfully, feelingly, fervently, frequently, etc., and live
as the ministers of Jesus Christ ought to live—namely, heavenly, graciously, holily, humbly, righteously, harmlessly, and exemplarily, etc., or else lay down your very names of being the ministers of Jesus Christ, and put no longer a cheat upon yourselves, nor upon the people, by making them believe that you are ministers of Jesus Christ, when you have nothing of the spirit of Christ, nor of the anointings of Christ, nor of the grace of Christ, nor of the life of Christ in you.
Gentlemen, if this counsel be seriously minded and faithfully followed, it will turn more to your accounts in the great day of our Lord Jesus, and do you more good then, than all the profits, preferments, and honors of this world can do you good now. But if you shall slight and despise this counsel now, I shall be found a true prophet—to your woe and misery in that great day, etc.
III. If this Treatise should fall into the hands of any ladies and gentlewomen, as I suppose it may, who have not yet experienced the sweet and powerful operations of holiness in their own souls, I would then say,
Ladies and Gentlewomen, your souls are as precious, and as immortal, and as capable of union and communion with Christ here, and of an eternal fruition of Christ hereafter, as the souls of any men in the world are. I have read a sad story of a woman named Bochna, who had but two sons in all the world; and while she was walking with the one by the river, she heard the other crying out, and hastening to him, she found a knife sticking in his side, which killed him immediately. Then she made haste back to the other child—but he in her absence had fallen into the river and drowned—and so she lost both her sons at once! Now, ladies, this is your very case; everyone of you have two children, as I may say—a soul and a body— an eternal life and a temporal life; and oh, what a dreadful and unspeakable loss would it be to lose both these at once! and yet, as certain as there is a God in heaven, you will lose them both without holiness.
All know, who know anything of scripture or history, that there have been many great ladies and gentlewomen, who have been great lovers of holiness, and great delighters in holiness, and great prizers of holiness, and great admirers of holiness, and great countenancers of holiness, and great encouragers of holiness, and great promoters of holiness, and great followers after holiness, and great experiencers of the sweet and powerful operations of holiness in their own souls. And oh that this might be all your honor and happiness, to be in all respects as famous for holiness, as any of your gender has been before you.
Christ has prayed as much for your souls, as he has for the souls of others; and he has paid as much for your souls, as he has for the souls of others; and he has sweat, and wept, and bled as much for your souls, as he has for the souls of others; and he has suffered, and satisfied as much for your souls, as he has for the souls of others; and he has purchased and prepared as great and as glorious things for your souls, as he has for the souls of others, if you will be but a holy people to him: and what does all this speak out—but an unspeakable readiness and willingness in Jesus Christ to sanctify you, and save you, as well as others?
All knowing men can tell you, that many ladies and gentlewomen in all ages have been very famous for all natural, moral, spiritual, and acquired excellencies; yes, more famous than many men who have done worthily in their generation; and by their attainments you may easily see what is possible for you to attain unto, both in respect of gifts and grace. [We might write volumes on this subject: there is so much said in scripture and history upon this account; but a touch must suffice, etc.] Of all things, gracious examples are most awakening, convincing, and encouraging; for in them you may see that both the attainment of holiness, and the exercise of holiness, is possible, though difficult. In eyeing of examples, it is always best to eye the highest, the holiest, and the worthiest examples; for, as he who shoots at the sun, though he falls short of his mark—yet will shoot higher than he who aims only at a shrub; so those who set up
the highest examples of holiness for their mark, for their imitation, will certainly attain to greater degrees of holiness, than those who propose to themselves the lowest examples of holiness for their pattern and imitation.
Well, Ladies and Gentlewomen—Do you think that it is good to be going to hell—that it is good dwelling with the devouring fire, that it is good dwelling with everlasting burnings, that it is good forever to be separated from the glorious presence of God? Isaiah 33:14; 2 Thes. 1:7-10. Do you think that it is good to be forever to lie asweltering under the wrath of an infinite just God, and to abide forever and ever under those pains and torments which are endless, easeless, hopeless, and remediless? Do you think that it is good to be associated, and fettered with devils and damned spirits to all eternity? Oh no, this cannot be good; for the very serious thoughts of these things are enough to raise a hell on this side hell, in our hearts! Oh then, Ladies and Gentlewomen, pray that you may be holy; hear that you may be holy; read that you may be holy; and with all your might press after holiness, and pursue hard after holiness—as after the one thing necessary; for without holiness you will as certainly go to hell, as holy people shall certainly go to heaven! And this you will find as clearly and fully proved in this following treatise, as heart can wish.
Oh that you would forever remember this, that without all question, you shall never be saved, unless you are sanctified; you shall never be truly and eternally happy, unless you are really holy—unless God should do five things, which are not possible for him to do—namely,
1. Change his purpose;
2. Make null and void his decree;
3. Make a new gospel;
4. Find out a new way to heaven; and
5. Ungod himself.
God must undo himself and ungod himself, if ever he makes you happy before he has made you holy; and therefore, oh, what infinite cause have you to read this following treatise, and to study this treatise, and to meditate on this treatise, and to pray over this treatise, and to look up to heaven for counsel and strength to make such an improvement of the means, helps, and directions which are here prescribed for the attaining of holiness, as that you may be made really holy, that so you may be everlastingly happy!
IV. If this treatise should fall into the hands of any faithful, serious, gracious, conscientious, laborious ministers' hands, as I suppose it may, I would then say, sirs, let my weak endeavors be a spur, a provocation to you to lay out your choicest and your chief gifts, parts, strength, time, and opportunities—to promote holiness of life, and holiness in doctrine, worship, discipline, and in all your sacred communions. Certainly, had we all eyed holiness more, and preached holiness more, and practiced holiness more, and cried up holiness more, and encouraged holiness more, and countenanced holiness more—the countenance both of God and man might have been set more pleasingly towards us than they are this day. When once the paycheck comes to be more in ministers' eyes than holiness; and when their studies and endeavors are more to make men proselytes to this or that doctrine, this or that form, this or that party—than to make men holy—it is no wonder if God writes out "bitter things" against them. I doubt not but providential dispensations have had such a teaching virtue in them, as to lead you to lay your fingers upon several such-like sores, and to mourn over them, and to justify the Holy One of Israel, who is holy in all his ways, and righteous in all his works. [Be it remembered this was written at the time of the "Ejection" of the Two Thousand, of whom Brooks was one.—editor]
Truly, brethren, I have always looked upon the great work of the ministry to lie in two things: first, in making unholy men holy; and,
secondly, in making those who are already holy to be more and more holy. First to beget holiness, and then to nurse up holiness; first to bring souls to Christ, and then to build up souls in Christ, is without all question the work of works which should be most in every minister's eye, and which should always lie nearest and warmest upon every minister's heart, etc. And, through grace, I have made this my grand design in the course of my ministry, and throughout all my writings; and now it yields me that joy, that comfort, that contentment, and that satisfaction, that I would not be without for all the world. Besides, I know it will turn most to my account at the great day.
Oh that all of you who yet have any opportunities and advantages in your hands to preach the everlasting gospel would make this your great business, to promote holiness, and to exalt and lift up holiness in the world! For as this great principle of holiness shall gain ground upon the hearts, consciences, and lives of men; so all the things of Antichrist, and all the trade of Antichrist, and all those grand mischiefs and miseries that threaten the sons of men, will fall before it—as Dagon fell before the ark.
V. If this treatise should fall into the hands of any of God's sanctified ones, of whatever degree or rank they are of, as I suppose it may fall into the hands of many such, I would then say, Dear friends, in this treatise you will find many strong motives to provoke you to "perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord," and many special means to enable you to "perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord," and many evidences whereby you may certainly and infallibly know whether you have attained to any considerable height of holiness or not. And in the opening of these things, you will find that great doctrine about degrees of glory in heaven to be asserted and proved, and the objections against it to be fairly dismissed, etc.
VI. Reader, if you are one that to this very day are in an unsanctified estate, and an enemy to holiness, or a scoffer at holiness, or a secret despiser of holiness, or a desperate opposer of
holiness, or a bitter persecutor of holiness, then I would commend this following treatise, before any I know extant in the world, to the service of your soul. For I know of no other treatise which is so calculated and fitted up for that purpose as this is. Read and judge. This I will assure you, O you unsanctified soul, that the grand design of this book is your salvation; it is to make you really holy, that you may be eternally happy. And of this you may be confident—namely, that I shall follow these poor labors with my earnest prayers, that they may be blessed to the internal and eternal welfare of your soul, and that they may issue in the conviction, conversion, and salvation of your soul.
I shall send this treatise forth into the world with Jacob's blessing and prayer for his sons, "May God Almighty send you mercy in the sight of the man," Gen. 43:14, etc., in the sight of the proud man that he may be humbled; and in the sight of the hardened man—that he may be softened; and in the sight of the carnal man—that he may be spiritualized; and in the sight of the polluted man—that he may be washed; and in the sight of the unsanctified man that he may be sanctified; and in the sight of the ignorant man—that he may be enlightened; and in the sight of the stubborn man—that he may be bowed; and in the sight of the unconverted man—that he may be changed; and in the sight of the lost man—that he may be saved.
Christian reader, I suppose by this time that I have almost tired you in reading, as I have myself in writing—and therefore I shall presently draw to a close; only, before I take my leave of you, give me leave to say, that it is impossible to find a book printed without errata, even though the printer had Argus' eyes. Notwithstanding all the care that has been taken, you will find some mistakes of the printer. I know the Christian reader, who is daily sensible of the erratas of his life, will do me the courtesy, and cast a mantle of love over my mistakes.
Reader, I do not offer you that which cost me nothing. This treatise that now I put into your hand is the fruit of much prayer and serious
study. If you find any profit and benefit by it—give Christ all the glory —the crown of praise befits no head but his. Only when you are in the mount—let me lie near your heart. Oh, pray earnestly, pray fervently, pray frequently, and pray unweariedly—that I may have much of the fresh anointings of the Holy Spirit, that my communion with a holy God may every day rise higher and higher; and that all my transactions, both before God and man; may savor of some heights of holiness: so you will the more strongly oblige me to be your soul's servant in all gospel engagements, Thomas Brooks, 1662.
What This Holiness Is?
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
I remember a saying of golden-mouthed Chrysostom, "If I were," said he, "the fittest man in the world to preach a sermon to the whole world, gathered together in one congregation, and had some high mountain for my pulpit, from whence I might have a prospect of all the world in my view, and were furnished with a voice of brass, a voice as loud as the trumpet of the archangel, that all the world might hear me; I would choose to preach on no other text than that in Psalm 4:2, O mortal men, how long will you love vanity, and pursue a lie?" So I say, had I Chrysostom's tongue, head, and heart, and were I every way advantaged to preach a sermon to the whole world, I would choose to preach on this text before any other in the Bible, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Beloved! the salvation of souls is that which should be first and most in a minister's eye, and that which should always lie closest and warmest upon a minister's heart. O sirs! our dear Lord Jesus was
infinitely tender of the souls of men. He left his Father's bosom for souls; he trod the wine-press of his Father's wrath for souls; he prayed for souls; he paid for souls; he sweat for souls; he bled out his heart's blood for souls; and he made himself an offering for souls! [Isaiah 63:3; John 17:22; Luke 4:24; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Heb. 9:12-15.] Oh, what an encouragement should this be to all his faithful messengers to woo for souls, to mourn for souls, to pray for souls, to study for souls, and in preaching to spend and to be spent for the salvation of souls! Ah, friends, there is no work nor wisdom on earth compared to that of winning souls, "he who wins souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30. There is no art, no industry to that of winning souls, of "taking" souls, as fowlers take birds, as the Hebrew word imports. Now, though there is a great deal of art required to take birds—yet there is ten thousand times more are required to take souls. In a word, to convert a soul is a greater work than to sway a scepter, or than it is to pour out millions into the baskets of the poor.
My design in choosing this text is the winning of souls, it is the salvation of souls, it is the bringing in and building up of souls. I have read of Louis the Ninth, king of France, that he was found instructing his poor kitchen-boy in the way to heaven; and being asked the reason of it, he answered, "The poorest has a soul as precious as my own, and bought by the same blood of Christ." He who paid the price of souls, has long since told us that a soul is more worth than a world, Mat. 16:26. That I may catch some poor soul or other by a holy craft, 2 Cor. 12:16, and establish and strengthen others in the love and liking of holiness, and in the power and practice of holiness, I have cast my thoughts upon this scripture.
But to draw nearer to my text.
As no means has more populated hell than beautiful faces, so no means has more enriched heaven than the beauty of holiness. Now that I may discover the necessity, beauty, rarity, and excellency of holiness, I have chosen this text, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." I shall give a
little light into the words, and then come to that main point I intend to engage in.
"Follow peace with all men." The Greek word translated follow, signifies to pursue and press after peace, as the persecutor pursues and presses after him he persecutes. It notes an earnest, an eager, an affectionate, and an incessant pressing and following after peace with all men: Psalm 34:14, "Seek peace, and pursue it." [The very name of peace is sweet.] Here the Hebrew word translated seek, signifies to "seek earnestly," vehemently, studiously, industriously. Thus peace with God, and peace with conscience, and peace with men must be sought. "Seek peace and pursue it." The word translated pursue, signifies an "earnest pursuit." It is a metaphor taken from the earnestness of wild beasts, or ravenous fowl, which will run or fly fast and far, eagerly and unweariedly, rather than be disappointed of their prey.
Though Christians meet with many encumbrances and hindrances— yet peace must be resolutely pursued. The Spirit of God is a Spirit of peace, and God delights to be styled the God of peace, and Christ chooses to be the Prince of peace, and King of Salem, that is, King of peace. [Gal. 5:22; 2 Cor. 13:11; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Heb. 1:2.] Where peace is, there is Christ, because Christ is peace. Therefore let all who are interested in Christ pursue after peace. But this is not the point that I have in my eye at this time. I shall hasten to it. "With all men;" that is, with all orders, ranks, and sorts of men.
"And holiness," etc. [A man may be miserable under peace—but never under holiness.] We must so pursue after peace in such a way —as that we do not neglect holiness for peace sake. Better is holiness without peace, than peace without holiness. Holiness differs nothing from happiness but in name. Holiness is happiness in the bud, and happiness is holiness at the full. Happiness is nothing but the quintessence of holiness. A man were better be holy in hell, than unholy in heaven. Holiness would make hell to be no hell, as the fire was no fire to those holy worthies, Dan. 27. Look! as unholiness
would make heaven to be no heaven, yes, turn a heaven into a very hell, so holiness would turn a hell into a very heaven. What holiness this is in the text, I shall discover to you in the opening of that point I intend to engage in.
"Without which no man." This expression is exclusive, "no man," be he rich or poor, high or low, honorable or base, young or old, Jew or Gentile, bond or free, under one form or another, etc.
"Shall see the Lord." To "see," in the Hebrew phrase, is ordinarily used to "enjoy:" Psalm 4:6, "Who will show us any good?" The word in the Hebrew is from to "see," "Who will make us to see any good?" that is, to enjoy any good. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord;" that is, without holiness no man shall ever come to a blessed, to a glorious fruition and enjoyment of the Lord. There was once a holy man [Chrysostom] who professed that the lack of the enjoyment of God would be a far greater hell to him than the feeling of any punishment; and yet this great hell, everyone shall be sure to feel— who lives and dies without holiness. The Jews say of holy Moses, that he died at the kisses of God's mouth, and in divine embraces, Psalm 37:37. When a man of holiness dies, he shall be sure to die in divine embraces, and live forever in divine embraces.
When Socrates was to die, he comforted himself with this—that he would go to a place where he would enjoy Homer and Musaeus, and other worthies who lived before him. But ah, what an unspeakable comfort is this to a holy man when he comes to die—to consider that he is going to a place where he shall see the Lord, not as now, through a glass darkly—but in all his heavenly resplendency, and in all his divine embroidery and bespangled glory! 1 Cor. 13:12. And let this suffice for the opening of the words.
In my text you have two things: First, An exhortation to "follow peace and holiness." Secondly, The reason or argument to enforce the duty pressed, namely, "without which no man shall see the Lord."
The words will afford us many weighty observations. I shall only name one, which I intend to insist upon, and that is this—namely:
DOCTRINE. That real holiness is the only way to happiness. All men must be holy on earth, or they shall never see the beatifical vision, they shall never reach to a glorious fruition of God in heaven.
For the clearing up, and making good of this great and glorious truth, I shall endeavor these three things—
First, to show you what this holiness is, "without which no man shall see the Lord."
Secondly, I shall, by an induction of particulars, make good the proposition.
Thirdly, Give you the reasons of the point.
I. What is this holiness "without which no man shall see the Lord"? I answer, there is a sixfold holiness.
1. First, There is a LEGAL holiness. Now a legal holiness consists in an exact, perfect, and complete conformity in heart and life to the whole revealed will of God—and this was the holiness that Adam had in his innocency; and this holiness was immediately derived from God, and was perfect. Adam knew the will of God perfectly, so far as it was revealed to him, and had a divine principle in him of perfect conformity to that blessed will. Adam's holiness was as natural to him, as unholiness is now to us; and had he stood fast in that glorious condition, we would have all been as naturally holy from the womb, as now we are sinful. Adam's holiness was as natural, and as pleasing, and as delightful to him, as any way of unholiness can be natural, pleasing, and delightful unto us. But this holiness, which was Adam's choicest sparkling gem of beauty, and his weightiest crown of glory, is by Satan's policy long since fallen off from Adam's head, Psalm 51:5.
Now if this legal holiness were the holiness meant in the text, then woe to every man who ever was born; for then no man would ever see the Lord, Romans 3:10. For by Adam's fall all men are gone out of the way, and there is none legally righteous, no not one. Now if we look upon man as fallen from that holiness which was his greatest honor, dignity, and excellency—he has become a pile of dust, a puff of wind; a dream; a shadow; a puff of smoke; a poor silly flea, a worm, a debased soul, a curious nothing. Yes, man having fallen from his primitive glory, has become altogether vanity, says the prophet: Psalm 39:5, "Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity." "Truly;" this asseveration is only used in matters of greatest weight and importance, and notes the reality and certainty of the things delivered. Every man, ["all Adam"] or every son of Adam; not some man—but every man at his best state, that is, in his most settled and composed condition, when he is best constituted and underlaid, when he stands a-tiptoe, and is in the height and perfection of all creature comforts and contentments, is altogether, not in some measure—but altogether, vanity—all vanity. Since the fall of Adam every natural man in his best estate is vanity; nay, every man is every vanity. Imagine whatever vanity you will, fallen man is that. He is a comprehensive vanity—he is an epitome of all vanity.
Man in honor, before his fall, was the best of creatures; but since his fall, he has become the worst of creatures. By his fall he is fallen below the very beasts which perish, Isaiah 1:3-4; Proverbs 6:6; Jer. 8:7; Mat. 6:26. He who was once the image of God, the glory of paradise, the world's ruler, and the Lord's darling—has now become a burden to heaven, a burden to himself, and a slave to others, etc., which made one cry out—
"Oh, what is man? A scuttleful of dust, a measured span, Man's breath a bubble, and his days a span; 'Tis glorious misery to be born a man." (Quarles)
By all which you may easily perceive how far we are off from that legal holiness that Adam had in innocency. Rabbi Solomon makes Adam so high, that he touched heaven with his head. I shall not dispute the certainty of that; but certainly the higher he was in holiness, the greater was his fall, and ours in him. This legal holiness was so lost in Adam, that no son of Adam could ever find it since Adam fell; and if this were the holiness without which no man should ever see the Lord, then farewell forever to all the sons of Adam. But this legal holiness is not the holiness in the text.
2. Secondly, There is an IMAGINARY holiness, a conceited holiness, an opinionative holiness. Proverbs 30:12, "There is a generation which is pure in their own eyes—and yet is not washed from their filthiness." They were very bad—and yet they had a great opinion of their own goodness. They were very filthy—and yet they stood very much upon their own purity. Their hands were black, their hearts were black, their works were black, and their ways were as black as hell—and yet they were pure in their own eye. They were filthy within, and filthy without; filthy in body, and filthy in soul, and filthy in spirit. Filthiness had quite overspread them—and yet they thought to cover their filthiness with a mask of holiness. The worst men are commonly best conceited of themselves.
Ah, friends, there has been never been a generation wherein there has not been such a generation of men who have wallowed in sin like swine in the mire—and yet have kept up in themselves a strong opinion of their own goodness and holiness. This generation had neither their souls nor consciences washed in the blood of Christ, nor sanctified by the Spirit of Christ—and yet they gloried in their conceited purity and holiness, as if they had been purified by Christ. There are many who are shining Christians, who are pure golden Christians in their own eyes, who are viler than dross, yes, than smoke in God's eyes: Isaiah 65:5, "Stand by yourself, come not near to me; for I am holier than you: these are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day." They were very licentious, very ungracious, very rebellious, very superstitious, very idolatrous, (ver. 2-4,) and yet
counted themselves very pious. They were worse than others—and yet thought themselves better than others; they were very bad—and yet judged themselves very good. They were more impure, more profane, and more polluted than others—and yet they reckon themselves more pure and holier than others; they stand upon their comparative goodnesses—and yet at the same time are charged by God of the greatest wickedness.
And thus their kinsmen the Pharisees stand upon their images, fraudulent appearances and outward dresses of holiness, when at the same time they practiced the worst of wickedness, Mat. 23:5; Luke 18:11-12; so those in Hosea 12:8, "They will not find in me any iniquity or sin." Ephraim's iniquities were grown over his head, as may be seen throughout this whole prophecy—and yet Ephraim cannot bear the being charged with iniquity. Though he was notoriously guilty of the highest crimes—yet he would have you to know that he was free of sin, and clear of sin. Ephraim could give good words, when his works were abominable; he could pretend much to innocency, when he was guilty of the greatest impiety. But though Ephraim had his cloak at hand—yet it was too short to cover his sin; for God saw it, and condemned him for it.
Chrysostom does elegantly set forth the blindness and brutishness of such people. "When they lie in the mire," says he, they think they are besmeared with some sweet ointments; when they are full of vermin, they vaunt themselves, as if they were adorned with precious stones." And so the Laodiceans were of the same temper of spirit: Rev. 3:17, "Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." They had a great opinion of their own goodness, worth, and excellent state, having need of nothing, when they had nothing of a Christian in them.
You say you are "rich;" ay—but you do but say so. You boast and brag of your riches, as many proud beggars do of that wealth they have not. For all you deem yourself rich—you are but poor and
beggarly. It is man's sin and judgment, that ever since he ceased to be what he should be, he strives to seem to be what he is not. You say you are "increased with goods, and need nothing;" ay—but you do but say so, you do but dream it is so: for you are ignorant of your own wretched and lamentable estate. You say you are rich—but I know you are poor and beggarly. If a grain of grace would save your life, your soul, your family, nay, the whole world—you have it not.
"You say you see"; but you are blind, you are destitute of spiritual eyesight; you see not your own wants, nor Christ's worth; your own emptiness, nor Christ's fullness; your own sinfulness, nor Christ's holiness; your own poverty, nor Christ's riches and plenty; your own misery, nor Christ's mercy; your own insufficiency, nor Christ's allsufficiency; your own vanity, nor Christ's glory, etc. Many know much—but few know themselves, or their own danger, infelicity, or misery; and indeed no misery can be compared to this.
The Chinese used to say of themselves, that all other nations of the world did see but with one eye, they only with two; and of this spirit and temper were those blind Laodiceans. They thought they knew all things, when they knew nothing that they should, nor as they should.
By all which you may see that there is an imaginary holiness, a conceited holiness, where there is no real holiness; but an imaginary holiness will bring a man but to an imaginary blessedness; a conceited holiness will bring a man but to a conceited happiness; he who does but dream that he is holy, he does but dream that he shall be happy.
Bastards of old were not to inherit—but to be thrust out from among the true heirs: Gen. 21:10; Judges 11:1-2, "Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. Gilead's wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. "You will not get any of our father's inheritance," they said, "for you are the son of a prostitute." Ah, sirs, you who are but bastard Christians, bastard
professors, bastard believers, bastard saints, you shall never inherit among the heirs of glory—but shall be thrust out forever from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power, and thrust into utter darkness, because you have pleased yourselves, and satisfied your spirits, and blessed your souls in a bastard holiness, in a conceited holiness, 2 Thes. 1:8-9; Mat. 8:12, and 22:13; Deut. 23:2, "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord." He shall have no fellowship nor communion with the people of God; the door of admission shall be shut upon him. The foolish virgins had but a bastard holiness, a conceited holiness, an outward dress of holiness; and therefore the door of life, the door of hope, the door of help, the door of grace, the door of mercy, the door of glory was shut upon them, Mat. 25:10-12, 7:21-23. William the Conqueror was much slighted and scorned because he was a bastard. God and his people will slight such, and scorn such, and turn their backs at last upon such, who have no more than a bastardly holiness; and therefore this cannot be the holiness here meant. But,
3. Thirdly, There is an outward, EXTERNAL, visible holiness, which includes men's freedom from scandalous vices, and their ordinary performance of religious duties. Now, in this sense, Zacharias and Elizabeth were both holy people: for they "walked in all the commandments and ordinances of God blameless." [Luke 1:5, 6. Their life was such as none could justly complain of it. It was irreprehensible; it could not be reprehended.] And so the apostles, 1 Thes. 2:10, "For you are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you who believe." Answerable to this, is that of the apostle in 2 Cor. 1:12, "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace." These precious souls behaved themselves holily towards God, justly towards the world, and unblamably towards believers. They were holy in religious work, they were just in their
civil affairs and commerce, and unblamably in their private behavior among their familiar and most bosom friends.
And this is that holiness which the apostle presses upon Christians in Phil. 2:15, "That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke," (or unblemished,) "in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Christians must be the spotless sons of God: they must have no spots upon them, which are inconsistent with sonship or saintship, Deut. 32:5. Now it is certain, without this outward visible holiness there is no happiness, there is no fruition of God in everlasting blessedness. Those who pretend their hearts are as good as the best, when their lives are as bad as the worst, shall experience this truth at last to their shame and cost, that without visible holiness here, there can be no fruition of God hereafter.
Yet this must be granted—that a man may be visibly holy—who is not inwardly holy, 2 Tim. 2:5. A man may be outwardly holy—who is not throughout holy. A man may have an outward dress of holiness upon him—who has not the spirit and vitals of holiness in him. [They say of Halifax nuts, that they are all shells—no kernels. There are many who make a glorious show before men—who are abominable in the sight of God, Luke 16:15, who are gold in man's eyes, dirt in God's sight.] As Judas had, and Simon Magus had, and Demas had, and the Scribes and Pharisees had: Mat. 23:25, 27, 28, "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter—but within they are full of extortion and excess. Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward —but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men—but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." They were outwardly religious —but inwardly wicked; they had the semblance of sanctity—but inwardly very full of impurity; they were fair professors—but foul sinners; they were gracious without—but impious within. Look! as those are the worst of vices which are covered over with the show of
virtue; so they are the worst of sinners, who cover over their inward filthiness with the disguises of outward holiness.
The Egyptian temples were fair without—but foul and filthy within. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's days, and such are many professors in our days. It is said of Dionysius the tyrant, that though he loved not the philosophers—yet he would wrap himself up in their cloaks, that men might have the better opinion of him. Just so, there are many who put on an outward dress of holiness, who wrap themselves up in the cloak of holiness—so that others may take them for holy people—and yet they love not holiness, they have nothing of real holiness in them. "As he is not a Jew which is one outwardly," but not inwardly, Romans 2:28, 29, and 4:12; so he is not a holy person who is only so outwardly—but not inwardly; who has the name of holiness upon him—but has no principles of holiness in him. Though without outward visible holiness no man shall see the Lord; yet a man may have an outward visible holiness—who shall never see the Lord in happiness.
"I hate him even to hell," says the heathen in Homer, "who says one thing with his mouth, and thinks another thing in his heart." So God will at last hate that man to hell, yes, cast him into the hottest place in hell—who has a form of godliness upon him—but nothing of the reality and power of holiness in him. Outward holiness is good—but it must be throughout holiness which will do a man good to all eternity. [Mat. 23:14; 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 Cor. 7:18; Phil. 3:3; Gal. 5:6, and 6:15.] It is not the show of holiness, but the substance of holiness which will bring a man to everlasting happiness. Mere outward holiness will certainly leave a man short of heaven and happiness; but throughout holiness will certainly lodge the soul in the bosom of God forever.
It is true, all men reach not to an outward holiness, which made Athanasius wish, "Would to God that all were hypocrites!" Without all question, it is a very desirable thing that all were outwardly holy; yet all who reach to this, must go farther, or else they will sit down on
this side happiness: Mat. 5:20, "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Now they were much in works of piety, in works of charity, in works of equity, and in works of courtesy, by which means they gained so much admiration from the people, that it was commonly thought among them, that if there were but two of all the world who should go to heaven—the one should be a Scribe, and the other a Pharisee. Yet your righteousness must exceed theirs, or the gates of glory will be shut upon you! Their righteousness and holiness was only external, not internal; it was partial, not universal; it was rather circumstantial than substantial—and therefore heaven's doors were double-bolted against them. Heaven is for that man, and that man is for heaven, that is not only outwardly holy—but throughout holy.
4. Fourthly, There is a RELATIVE holiness. Now relative holiness is a special relation which people or things have unto God. Relative holiness includes two things—
(1.) First, A SEPARATION of people or things from common use. And thus, in the law those things were called holy which were separated from common use and set apart for the worship and service of God—such as the holy oil, show-bread, firstfruits, incense, altars, vestments; and in this sense the priests and Levites were called holy, because they were separated from others to serve in the tabernacle; [Deut. 19:2; 1 Kings 8:35; Ezra 8:28, and 10:11; Isaiah 63:18.] and in this sense the people of Israel are frequently called a sanctified people, a holy people, etc. The Greek word corresponds to the Hebrew word, which commonly signifies that which is appropriated to a holy use; and this is the proper notion of holiness in the Old and New Testament, as I might show you out of some hundred places of scripture.
Now certainly, without this holiness of special separation from the common sinful lifestyles of the world, there is no seeing of God, nor
any fruition of God hereafter: 2 Cor. 6:17-18, "Therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." God will have no communion with any in this world who are not separated from the sinful practices of the world. God will look upon none, he will own none, he will delight in none, he will acknowledge none, he will receive none for his sons and daughters—but such as are separated from all evil vices and unholy lifestyles.
Suitable to this is Isaiah 52:11, "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the Lord." Estrange yourselves from those who are estranged from God; have nothing to do with those who have nothing to do with God; separate yourselves from those who have separated themselves from God; have no delightful converse with those who have no delightful converse with God; have no bosom communion with those who have no bosom communion with God. [Cicero, though heathen, had rather have no companion than a bad one.]
O sirs, you are to keep yourselves as pure and clean from others' defilements—as you would keep yourselves free from others' punishments. He who will imitate others in their sins—shall certainly participate with others in their sorrows. It is true we may live with wicked men in their cities—but it is as true, that we must not lie with wicked men in their enormities. There are many professors who are, like the planet Mercury, good in conjunction with those who are good, and bad with those who are bad; but these wound many at once—God, Christ, the gospel, and their own credits and consciences. These put virtue to an open shame; and these are deservedly to be shamed by your separating from them, and by your renouncing all intimate communion or fellowship with them. But,
(2.) Secondly, As relative holiness takes in a separation of people or things from common use—so it also takes in a DEDICATION and
devoting of them to a holy use. And thus the Nazarites, Temple, Mount Zion, the Sabbath-day, and other festival days are said to be holy under the law. [So Christ is said to sanctify himself, when he dedicated himself to be a sacrifice for the sins of his people, etc.] In short, the whole Jewish religion did lie in holy times, holy places, holy people, and holy things. And certainly without this holiness, without this dedicating of ourselves to God—we shall never come to a glorious fruition of God. He who does not dedicate himself really to God, wholly to God, only to God, and always to God on earth—shall never come to a sight and vision of God in heaven. If we do not give up ourselves to God, God will never give up himself to us: Hosea 3:3, "You must live with me many days. Don't be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you." God will be only theirs who are really his—but he will be altogether theirs who are wholly his; he will only be a husband to those who dedicate themselves to him, as a wife does to her husband. He will devote himself to those—who devote themselves him. He will avouch himself to be theirs—who avouch themselves to be his: Deut. 26:1719, "You have declared today that the Lord is your God. You have promised to obey his laws, commands, and regulations by walking in his ways and doing everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. And if you do, he will make you greater than any other nation. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, just as he promised."
God will resign himself up to those who resign themselves up to him; he will give up himself to those who have given up their names and their hearts to him; he will bestow himself as the pearl of greatest price, upon those who shall make a surrender of themselves to him. [That is an apt saying of Tertullian, That is a good trade, when something is parted with to gain more.] There is no way to be higher than others, happier than others, more noble and honorable than others, than by making a dedication-gift of ourselves to God. He who dedicates himself to God, dedicates all; he who does not dedicate
himself, dedicates nothing at all. What Aeschines once said to Socrates, "Others, said he, give you gold, silver, jewels—but I give you myself," that must a Christian say to his God, "Ah, Lord! there are some who give you their lips—but I give you my heart; others give you good words, good expressions—but I give you the best of my affections; others give you a few cold prayers—but I give you my whole soul; and had I as many hearts in my body as I have hairs on my head, I would give them all to you—for you are worthy, you alone are worthy!"
What the king of Israel once said to the king of Syria, "I am yours— and all that I have," 1 Kings 20:4; that must a Christian say to his Christ, "I am yours, O Lord—and all that I have." A Christian must cry out with Bernard who cried, "Lord, I have two mites—a soul and a body—and I give them both to you." And this was the honor and commendations of the Macedonians, that they gave up themselves to the Lord, 2 Cor. 8:5. Having no better present at hand, they present themselves to God. Certainly there is no present more honorable, delectable, and acceptable to God—than this of giving up ourselves to God, Romans 12:1. Well, remember this: that man was never really holy that is not relatively holy; nor that man will never be really happy—who is not relatively holy. Without relative holiness there will be no vision of God in everlasting happiness. We must be separated from the corruptions and pollutions of the world, and we must dedicate ourselves to God—or we shall never come to a future fruition of God. But,
5. Fifthly, There is an IMPUTED holiness—and that is the holiness of Christ imputed to us. [Consult these scriptures, Luke 1:35; Mark 1:24; Heb. 7:26; Romans 5:19; Col. 1:22; Romans 2:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21-22; Gal. 3:13; Jer. 23:6.] To prevent mistakes, please to take notice that there is a twofold holiness in Christ: first, there is his essential and personal holiness—as he is God. Now this essential holiness of Christ cannot be imparted nor imputed to any mortal man; it is essential to him. Secondly, there is his mediatorial holiness, or that holiness which he wrought for us as
Mediator. Now the holiness of Christ as Mediator consist both in the habitual holiness of his person, in the absence of all sin, and in the rich and plentiful presence of all holy and supernatural qualities, as also in the actual holiness of his life and death. By his active obedience—that is, by his subjecting of his heart and life to divine precepts—he perfectly fulfilled the commands of the law. And by his passive obedience—that is, his voluntary sufferings—he fully satisfied the penalties and curses of the law. Now this mediatorial holiness of Christ's is ours by imputation, and by virtue of which we stand justified in the sight of God: 1 Cor. 1:30, "But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." This mediatorial holiness of Christ, reckoned unto a believing sinner, is that whereby he is constituted holy; and upon this account they are said to be "all fair," Cant. 4:7; to be "without spot or wrinkle," Eph. 5:25-27; to be "complete in him," Col. 2:10; and to be "without fault before the throne of God," Rev. 14:4-5. And certainly, without this mediatorial holiness of Christ— there is no appearing before God, there is no glorious vision nor fruition of God. God is a God of such infinite purity and holiness, that no holiness below the imputed holiness of Christ can make a man stand before him, or bring a man to the fruition of him, Hab. 1:13.
It was a very sweet and excellent saying of Bernard, when in his own opinion he was at the point of death: "I confess, said he, I am not worthy, I have no merits of my own to obtain heaven by: but my Lord had a double right thereunto; a hereditary right as a Son, and a meritorious right as a sacrifice. He was contented with the one right himself; the other right he has given unto me, by the virtue of which gift I do rightly lay claim unto it, and am not confounded.'
Though we cannot lay claim to heaven, nor to a blessed fruition of God by any inherent holiness in us—it being weak and imperfect—yet we may lay claim to both—by the mediatorial holiness of Christ imputed to us. As Christ's essential holiness gives him a hereditary right to everlasting happiness; so his mediatorial holiness gives us a
right to everlasting blessedness. The costly cloak of Alcisthenes, which Dionysius sold to the Carthaginians for a great price, was but a poor and beggarly rag, compared to that embroidered royal robe of Christ's mediatorial holiness, which is imputed or reckoned to us. And therefore, as ever you would come to a vision of God in happiness, you must labor to be interested by faith in Christ's mediatorial holiness. But,