may be much like his own should attempt to come in yet the Father will keep him out and wish him to repair to his own home So when the night of death comes the Father of Spirits will only take into the family of heaven his own child viz. the child of holiness but now if the child of gifts which is so like the child of holiness should press hard upon God to come in as that child of gifts Baalam did Numb 23.10 Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his God will answer him No he will say to him as he did to that child of gifts Judas Acts 1.25 Mat. 8.12 Go to your own place In the night of death and judgement the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out the children of the Kingdom that is of the Church now the children of the Kingdom are children of gifts and yet there will come a day when these children shall be cast out Gen. 25.6 c. As Abraham put off the sons of the Concubines with gifts but entailed the inheritance upon Isaac So God puts off many men now with gifts but he entails the heavenly inheritance upon holiness Psalm 24.3 4. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully Heaven is for that man and that man is for heaven who hath clean hands and a pure heart whose holy conversation is attended with heart-purification a pure heart is better then a golden head a heart full of holy affections is infinitely beyond a head full of curious notions there is no Jewel there is no anointing to that of holiness he that hath that hath all and he that wants that hath nothing at all But Eightly and lastly if real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or they shall never come to a blessed fruition of God in heaven then by way of conviction let me say that this truth looks very sowerly and angrily upon those who are so far from being holy themselves that they cannot endure holiness in those that are about them or any waies related to them Ah how many unholy people be there that cannot endure holiness in their Ministers and how many unholy husbands are there that cannot endure holiness in their yoak-fellows and how many unholy parents are there that cannot endure holiness in their children and how many unholy Masters are there that cannot endure holiness in their servants The Panther say some when she cannot come at the man she rendeth and teareth his picture in pieces so many unholy husbands unholy fathers and unholy masters when they cannot rend and tear the persons of their relations in pieces ah how do they do their best to rend and tear the image of God upon them Matth. 23.14 15. 2 Sam. 6.16 20. viz. holiness in pieces These forlorn souls will not be holy themselves nor suffer others to be holy neither they will neither go to heaven themselves nor suffer others to go thither who are strongly biased that way Some despise their gracious relations even eâ— nomine for that very reason because they are holy sometimes you shall hear them speak at such a rate as this Well our relations are wise and witty but so holy they are very knowing and thriving but so precise they have good parts and sweet natures but they are so strict they are so round that they will not endure an oath a lye c. and therefore I cannot abide them I cannot endure them These are like he in Seneca which was so fearfully idle that his sides would ake to see another work So these are so fearfully wicked that it makes their sides their heads their very hearts ake to see others holy How far these are in their actings below Heathens you may see in Rom. 16.10 11. Aristobulus and Narcissus that are spoken of in this Scripture were both Heathens and yet they had in their families those that were in the Lord those that were gracious c. Heathens were so ingenuous that they would not despise that holiness in others that they wanted in themselves they were so noble that they would give holiâ—ess house-room though they knew not how to give it heart-room Gen. 39.1 2 3 4. So Potiphar though he was an Heathen yet he gave holy Joseph both house-room and heart-room These and several other heathens of the like spirit with them will one day rise in Judgement against many in these dayes that are so far faln out with holiness as that they will not endure it under the roof of their houses yea as that they make it the greatest matter of scorn and derision Like those in Lam. 2.15 16. All that pass by clap their hands at thee they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem saying Is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty the joy of the whole earth All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee they hiss and gnash the teeth they say We have swallowed her up c. Ah how many such monsters are there in these dayes who express their derision disdain and contempt of holiness and holy persons by all the scornful gestures postures and expressions imaginable that clap their hands that hiss that wag their head that gnash their teeth and that say Lo these are your Saints these are your holy ones your perfect ones your beautiful ones It is very sad to want holiness but it is saddest of all to deride holiness to disdain holiness Of this evil spirit Salvian complained in his time Salvi de Guber lib. 4. What madness is this saith he amongst Christians that if a man be good he is despised as if he were evil if he be evil he is honoured as if he were good And as great cause have we to complain of the prevalency of the same evil spirit in our times If the wife be holy 1 Cor. 7.16 how is she despised by her unholy husband as if she were wicked If she be wicked how is she honoured as if she were holy So if the child be gracious how is he disdained as if he were gracless if he be gracless how is he admired as if he were gracious So if a Servant be godly how is he scorned as if he were godless if he be godless how is he applauded as if he were godly Certainly God will never endure such to stand in his sight who cannot endure the sight of holiness Doubtless Psalm 1.5 God will never give them any room in heaven who will not so much as give holiness a little house-room I say not heart-room here He that now despises and disdains holiness in others shall at last be eternally despised and disdained for want of holiness himself Vse 2. THe second Use is
lips of the righteous are a free and well furnished table at which many are fed and nourished with the dainties of heaven to eternal life Righteous men keep open house they keep free hospitality for all comers and goers and if they have not alwayes bread in their hands yet they have alwayes grace in their lips to feed many Though they may be outwardly poor yet they have a treasure within to enrich many The tongue is the instrument of a Christians glory and is so interested in the quality it expresseth that in the original it is taken for it Cavod signifying both glory and the tongue by the authority of no less Rabbines then Jacob and David as thereby intimating that the chiefest glory of man is his tongue The Primitive Christians talked so much and so often of high and heavenly things that the Ethnicks began to surmise that they affected the Roman Empire when indeed their ambition was of another a nobler and a higher nature But now men that have only a shew of godliness they do practically say Our tongues are our own and who shall controul us Their speech is so far from administring of grace to their hearers that it administers usually either matter of carnal mirth or of contempt or of scorn or of sorrow and mourning certainly they have no holiness in their hearts who have so much of hell Jam. 1.26 27. chap. 3.8.12 Matth. 26.73 and the Devil and lusts in their mouthes I may say to most You are unholy persons your speech bewrayes you your worldliness your prophaneness your cursing your swearing your lying your slandering your reviling your railing your deriding c. doth plainly evidence that you have no holiness in you Well remember this a tongue that is set on fire from hell is in danger to be set on fire in hell Hell is for that man and that man is for hell that hath so much of hell in his mouth the Devil is for that man and that man is for the Devil that hath so much of the Devil in his mouth Damnation is for that man and that man is for damnation that hath so much of damnation in his mouth the world is for that man and that man is for the world that hath so much of the world in his mouth Whatever is in the heart will break out in the lips if wickedness be in the heart it will break out in the lips Physitians say that the nature of diseases is as well known by the tongue as by the pulse or urine The spiritual diseases that be in the heart will quickly discover themselves by the tongue Whereever holiness is in the heart it will break forth in the lips a holy heart and a holy tongue are married together and it is not in man to put them asunder you shall sooner separate the soul from the body then you shall separate a holy tongue from an holy heart And thus I have done with this use of examination the Lord make you wise to lay these things to heart that so you may know how it is like to go with you in another world Vse 3. THe third Use shall be a Use of Exhortation and that both to unsanctified and sanctified ones First let me speak to unsanctified ones is it so that real holiness is the only way to happiness and that without men are holy on earth they shall never come to the beatifical vision or blessed fruition of God in heaven O then how should this provoke and stir up all unholy persons to strive and labour as for life after this real holiness without which they shall never come to have any thing to do with God in everlasting happiness c Now that I may the better prevail with unsanctified souls I shall First propound some motives to stir and provoke their hearts to look and labour after real holiness c. Secondly I shall propose some means for the obtaining of holiness Thirdly I shall endeavour to answer those objections and remove those impediments that hinder and keep men off from labouring after real holiness For the first I shall propound these following considerations to provoke all unsanctified persons to look after holiness First Consider the necessity of holinesse It is impossible that ever you should be happy except you are holy No holinesse here no happinesse hereafter The Scripture speaks of three bodily inhabitants of heaven Enoch before the Law Elijah under the Law and Jesus Christ under the Gospel all three eminent in holinesse to teach us that even in an ordinary course there is no going to heaven without holinesse There are many thousand thousands now in heaven but not one unholy one among them all There is not one sinner among all those Saints not one Goat among all those Sheep not one weed among all those flowers not one thorn or prickle among all those Roses not one Pibble among all those glistering Diamonds There is not one Cain among all those Abels nor one Ishmael among all those Isaacs nor one Esau among all those Jacobs in heaven Rev. 5.11 Chap 7.9 Heb. 12.22 23. Those that would be immortally happy they must live holily and justly saith Antisthenes the Heathen there is not one Seth among all the Patriarchs not one Saul among all the Prophets nor one Judas among all the Apostles nor one Demas among all the Preachers nor one Simon Magus among all the professors Heaven is only for the holy man and the holy man is only for heaven Heaven is a garment of glory that is only suited to him that is holy God who is truth it self and cannot lie hath said it that without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Mark that word no man without holinesse the rich man shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the poor man shall not see the Lord Without holinesse the Noble man shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the mean man shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Prince shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the Peasant shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Ruler shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the Ruled shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the learned man shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the ignorant man shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the husband shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the wife shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Father shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the child shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Master shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the servant shall not see the Lord. For faithfull and strong is the Lord of hosts that hath spoken it Josh 23.14 In this day some cry up one form some another some cry up one Church-state some another some cry up one way some another but certainly the way of holinesse is the good old way it is the King of Kings high-way to heaven and
holiness if he were not glorious in holiness That which speaks his power to be glorious power is his holiness and that which speaks his wisdom to be glorious wisdom is his holiness and that which speaks his mercy to be glorious mercy is his holiness c. Were not the power of God a holy power it could never be a glorious power were not the wisdom of God a holy wisdom it could never be glorious wisdom and were not the mercy of God holy mercy it could never be glorious mercy c. So the holiness of a man is the glory and excellency of all a mans excellencies it is the perfection of all a mans perfections in Paradise Heb. 12.23 mans perfect holiness was his perfect blessedness and in heaven mans perfect holiness will be his perfect happiness Holiness adds an excellency to all a mans excellencies that which adds an excellency to a mans wisdom is holiness when a mans wisdom is a holy wisdom then it is excellent wisdom So holy courage is excellent courage and holy zeal is excellent zeal and holy knowledge is excellent knowledge and holy faith is excellent faith and holy love â—s exâ—ellent love and holy fear is excellent fear it is the adding of holiness to all these that renders these vertues truly excellent it is holinesse that is the top of all these royalties 0000000 these signifie nothing but if you do but add a figure to them 10000000. then they signifie much Look as all ciphers signifie nothing except you add a figure to them so all the excellencies that be in men whether they are natural moral or acquired they signifie nothing except you add holinesse to them Birth and breeding wit and wealth honour and learning are but the shadows and shapes of nobleness and true excellency it is holinesse that is the soul and substance of all and without holinesse all other things are of no worth all other excellencies have no excellency at all in them 2 King 5 1. Naaman was General of the Kings Army he was a man in great favour with his Prince a man much honoured among the people for being a saviour and deliverer to them He was also a mighty man in valour but he was a Leper this But he was a Leper was a cloud upon all his glory it was a vail upon all his honour greatnesse and noblenesse So to say there is a wise man but unholy and there is a great man but unholy and there is an ingenuous man but unholy and there is a noble-man but unholy and there is a valiant man but unholy and there is a good natured man but unholy and there is a learned man but unholy c. What is this But unholy but a cloud of darkness upon all the excellencies that are in these persons But let now holiness be but added to each of these and then they will shine as so many Suns Holiness is a garment that sets off arts and parts and all other excellencies that be in man let but this garment be wanting and the nakednesse of all things will quickly appear And this made Hierom to say that he had rather have Saint Pauls coat with his heavenly graces then the purple of Kings with their Kingdoms Look as a precious Jewel set in gold makes that much more conspicuous and glorious which was glorious before So holiness adds beauty splendour and glory to a mans parts birth honour and estate c. But Sixthly Consider that holiness is not only an honour and an ornament to the person that hath it but it is also an honour and an ornament both to the persons and places to whom he stands related the holinesse of the father is an honour and ornament to the child So holy Eliakim was a throne of glory to his fathers house Isa 22.23 The Hebrew is A woman of of strength or a valiant woman that is a woman that is made strong and valiant by grace by holiness to withstand sin to conquer temptation and to triumph in affliction c. so was Abrahams to Isaac and the holinesse of the child is an honour and an ornament to the father so was Isaacs to Abraham the holinesse of the husband is an honour and ornament to the wife so was Abrahams to Sarah and the holinesse of the wife is an honour and an ornament to the husband so was Sarahs to Abraham So in Prov. 12.4 A vertuous woman is a crown to her husband A crown is the top of honour it is the top of royaltie and glory why a vertuous wife is such a thing A sweet a good natured wife is as a gold ring upon her husbands finger a gifted wife is as a gold chain about her husbands neck but a holy vertuous wife is as a crown upon her husbands head The holinesse of the Prince is an honour and an ornament to the people and the holinesse of the people is an honour and an ornament to the Prince The holinesse of the master is an honour and an ornament to the servant and the holinesse of the servant is an honour and an ornament to the master And the holinesse of one brother is an honour to another brother Jude glories in this that he was the brother of James Vers 1. James was famous for his sanctity for his holinesse he was called the just as Eusebius writes Euseb lib. 2. c. 23. where you have many memorable things concerning the holiness of his life and the manner of his death his holinesse did so sparkle and shine that the Jews were generally convinced that in holinesse he was more eminent and excellent then others Now Jude took it for a very high honour to be related to one so eminent in holinesse Holy persons reflect a credit and an honour upon their relations It was the speech of a Heathen notably qualified though but meanly bred and born to a dissolute person well born upbraiding him with his birth I am a grace to my stock but thou art a blot to thy linage Yea holy persons are an honour to the places where they have been born and bred Psalm 87.5 6. And of Zion it shall be said this and that man was born in her and the highest himself shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Selah God seems to be very much affected and taken with the very places where holy men are born Some Antiquaries say that the Primitive Church had her publick Tables whereâ—n the names of the persons that were most noted for piety and holiness were recorded he loves the very ground that holy men tread on and he delights in the very air that holy men breath in holy persons reflect honour upon the very places where they were born the holy Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles were the honour and the glory of the ages and places where they lived They were as so many bright morning Stars they were
the glory due unto his name worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse Psalm 96.9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse Psalm 110.3 Thy people shall bee willing in the day of thy power in the beauty of holinesse You see beauty and holinesse is by God himself still linked together and those whom God hath so closely joyned together no man may put a sunder The Scripture last cited doth not only speak our holinesse to be a beautiful thing but it speaks out many beauties to be in holinesse Those Christians that are voluntiers in the beauties of holinesse they shall be very beautiful and shining through holinesse Holiness casts such a beauty upon man as makes him very amiable and desirable The holinesse of parents renders them very amiable and desireable in the eyes of their children and the holinesse of children renders them very amiable and desirable in the eyes of their parenâ—s When that incomparable Lady Cornelia presented her sons to the Common-wealth Isa 22 22. she said Haec sunt mea ornamenta these are my Jewels these are my ornaments Holy children are their parents crown their parents ornaments no glistering gold no sparkling diamonds Xenophon in Plutarch never prayed that his son Gryllus might be long lived but that he might be a good man no shining or glittering apparel renders children so amiable and lovely in the eyes of their parents as holinesse doth The holinesse of the husband renders him very amiable in the eyes of the wife and the holinesse of the wife renders her very desirable in the eyes of her husband The holinesse of the master renders him very lovely in the eyes of his servants and the holinesse of the servants renders them very comely in the eyes of their masters c. Jewels holinesse Bradfords holinesse and Bucers holinesse rendred them very amiable and lovely not only in the eyes of their friends but also in the eyes of their enemies There is nothing in this world that will render all sorts and ranks of people so glorious and famous in the eyes of one another as holinesse will do Were all ranks and orders of men more holy they would certainly be more lovely in the eyes of one another O that all men would cease from being injurious one to another and labour to be more holy and then I am sure they would be more comely in one anothers eyes Holinesse is lovely yea loveliness it self purity is a Christians splendor and glory there is no beauty to that of sanctity nothing beautifies and bespangles a man like holinesse Holinesse is so lovely and so comely a thing that it draws all eyes and hearts to an admiration of it Holinesse is so great a beauty that it puts a beauty upon all other excellencies in a man That holinesse is a very beautiful thing and that it makes all those beautiful that have it is a truth that no Devil can deny And therefore O Sirs as ever you would be ebautiful and lovely labour to be holy The natural beauty of Sarah Rebeccah Rachel 2 Sam. 14.25 Joseph and Absalom was no beauty to that beauty lustre and glory that holinesse puts upon a man Demetrius saith Plutarch Plutarch in the life of Demetrius was so passing fair of face and countenance that no Painter was able to draw him Holinesse puts so rare a beauty upon man that no Painter under heaven is able to draw him Scipio Africanus was so comely a person that the Barbarians in Spain stood amazed at his comelinesse Holinesse puts such a comlinesse Mark 6.20 and such an amiablenesse upon a person that many admire it and stand amazed at it O Sirs as ever you would be amiable and desirable be holy as ever you would be lovely and comely be holy as ever you would be famous and glorious be holy as ever you would out-shine the Sun in splendor and glory labour to be holy Many have ventured their names their estates their liberties their lives yea their very souls to enjoy a lovely Bathsheba David Theseus Prince Paris Mark Antony c. a fair Helena a beautiful Diana a comely Cleopatra c. whose beauties have been but clay well coloured O how much more then should you be provoked to labour and venture your All for holinesse that will imprint upon you that most excellent and most exquisite beauty that will to the grave and to glory with you yea that will render you not only amiable and excellent in the eyes of men but also lovely and comely in the eyes of God! I remember Bernard writing to a noble Virgin that was holy tells her that others were cloathed with purple and silk Psalm 45.13 14. but their consciences were poor and beggerly they glistered with their Jewels but were loose in their manners but you saith he are without meanly clad but within shine exceeding beautiful not to humane but to divine eyes both in the eyes of God Angels and men Ezek. 16.1 12. none shine and glister so gloriously as those that are holy Unholy souls are foul souls ugly souls deformed souls withered souls wrinkled souls they are altogether unlovely and uncomely souls I have read of Acco an old woman who seeing her deformity in a glass run mad Should God but shew unholy men their deformity in the glass of the Law it would either make them spiritually mad or else it would make them fall in love with holinesse that so they might be made comely and lovely by being made pure and holy But Eleventhly Consider this to provoke you to be holy that holinesse is the most gainfullest and the most thriving trade in the world Now that every one cryes out that all trading is gone O that every one would settle to the trade of holinesse O there is no gain there is no advantage to the gain that comes in upon the account of godlinesse 1 Tim. 6.6 But godlinesse with contentment is great gain Though godlinesse it self be great gain Godliness is the greatest riches the best treasure the highest honor and the most lasting fame yet godlinesse brings in a great deal of gain besides it self The godly man is still of the gaining side his piety brings him in the greatest plenty chap. 4.8 Godlinesse is profitable to all things A man is as well able to tell the stars of heaven and to number the hairs of his head as he is able to tell the several commodities or to number up the variety of blessings or multitude of mercies that comes flying in upon the wings of godlinesse Godlinesse hath the promise of both lives that is both of earthly favours and of eternal blessings also It is profitable not for some things but for every thing both temporal spiritual and eternal blessings do grow upon this Tree of life holinesse There is no trade to the trade of godlinesse Prov. 22.4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life
fullest of holiness and who hath most to shew for a fair estate in the other world Certainly to an holy man there is no wife to an holy wife no child to an holy child no friend to an holy friend no Magistrate to an holy Magistrate no Minister to a holy Minister nor no servant to an holy servant internal excellencies carries it with a holy man before all external glories The Jews say that those seventy souls that went with Jacob into Egypt were as much worth as all the seventy Nations in the world Doubtless seventy holy persons in the esteem and judgement of those that are holy are more worth then a whole world Plato could say that no Gold or precious stones doth glister so gloriously as the prudent spirit of a good man yea then seventy worlds of unrighteous souls A soul truly holy sets the highest price upon those that are holy holy Paul prized holy One simus as his Son Philem. v. 10. as himself v. 17. yea as his own bowels v. 12. 2 Sam. 22.27 With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure or as the Hebrew will bear it with the choice thou wilt shew thy self choice Pure souls are the choicest souls in all the world They are choice in every eye but their own All worldly excellencies in the judgement of a holy man are but as Copper Brass Tin and Lead but holiness is the tryed silver the gold of Ophir the pearl of price in his eye that hath purity in his heart They only rate and value men aright who rate and value them according to their holiness and if men were thus rated and valued most men in the world would be found not worth the money that Judas sold his Master for If thou prizest others for their holiness thou art a holy person no man can truly prize and highly value holiness in another but he that hath holiness in his own heart Some prize Christians for their wit others prize them for their wealth some prize them for their birth and breeding others prize them for their beauty and worldly glory some prize them for the great things that have been done by them others prize them for the good things that they have received from them some prize them for their Eagles eyes others prize them for their silver tongues but he that is truly holy prizes them for their holiness he values them for their purity and sanctity But Fourthly He that is truly holy will be still a reaching and stretching himself out after higher degrees of holiness Psal 84.7 Psal 119.106 Col. 1.10 2 Cor. 7.1 yea a man that is truly holy can never be holy enough he sets no bounds nor limits to his holiness the perfection of holiness is the mark that he hath in his eye he hears and prayes and mourns and studies and strives that he may come up to the highest pitch of holiness Phil. 3.12 13 14. Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind A Metaphor from runners in a race who strain and stretch out themselves to the utmost that they may take hold on the mark or prize that is set before them and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Received measures of holiness will not satisfie a holy soul so much holiness as will keep hell and his soul asunder will not satisfie him nor so much holiness as will bring him to happiness will not satisfie him he will be still reaching and stretching out after the highest measures of holiness his desires are for more holiness Psalm 27.4 the beauties of holiness do so affect him and inflame him that he cannot but desire to be more and more holy Lord saith the soul I desire to be more holy that I may glorifie thy name more that I may honour my profession more and that I may serve my generation more Lord I desire to be more holy that I may sin less against thee and that I may enjoy more of thee I would be more holy that I may be more prevalent with thee and that I may be more victorious over all things below thee And as a man of holiness desires more holiness so a man of holiness earnestly prayes for more holiness Psalm 51.2 7. Job 17.9 Prov. 4.18 He prayeth that he may be filled with the fruits of righteousness and that he may go on from faith to faith and from strength to strength he prayeth that his spark of holiness may be turned into a flame his drop of holiness into a Sea and his mite of holiness into a rich Treasurie he prayeth that he may like the Eagle fly higher and higher and that his soul may be like the rising Sun that shines brighter and brighter till it be perfect day he prayeth that he may like the Gyant refreshed rejoyce to run his course and that holiness in his soul like the waters in Ezekiel's sanctuary Ezek. 47. may still be rising higher and higher It was Beza's prayer Lord perfect what thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer Shipwrack when I am almost at heaven And as a man of holiness prayeth for more holiness so a man of holiness believes for more holiness Psalm 51.7 in your Translations you read the words prayer-wise but in the Hebrew the words run in the future thus Thou wilt purge me from sin with Hyssop and I shall be clean thou wilt wash me and I shall be whiter then snow In the sense of all his sinfulness and vileness he believes that God will give out greater measures of purity and sanctity to him Thou wilt purge me and I shall be clean thou wilt wash me and I shall be whiter then snow So in Psal 65.3 Iniquities prevail against me as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away Though for the present iniquity did prevail yet he had faith enough to believe that God would purge him from his transgressions and that he would mortifie prevailing corruptions And as a man of holiness believes for more holiness so a man of holiness hopes for more holiness 2 Pet. 3.14 1 John 3.2 3 4. In every ordinance he hopes for more holiness and under every providence he hopes for more holiness and under every mutation and change of his condition he hopes for more holiness When he is in prosperity he hopes that God will make him more zealous thankfull cheerfull fruitfull and usefull and when he is in Adversity he hopes that God will inflame his love and raise his faith and increase his patience and strengthen his submission and quiet his heart in a gracious resignation of himself to God I dare boldly say that that
screws up his Consciencee till he makes all crack again Under all his shews of sanctity he had not so much as common honesty in him Counterfeit holiness is often made a stalking horse to the exercise of much unrighteousness Certainly that man is as far from real holiness as the Devil himself is from true happiness who lives not in the exercise of righteousness towards men as well as in a profession of holiness towards God Well Christians remember this it were better with the Philosopher to have honesty without Religion then to have Religion without honesty But Ninthly He that is truly holy will labour and endeavour to make others holy a holy heart loves not to go to heaven alone it loves not to be happy and blessed alone a man that hath experienced the power excellency and sweetness of holiness will strive and study how to make others holy When Sampson had tasted honey Judg. 14.8 9. he gave his father and mother some with him Holiness is so sweet a morsel that a soul cannot taste of it 1 Thes 1.5 6 7 8. but he will be a commending of it to others As you may see in holy Moses in Numb 11.29 And Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Lilmod le lammed we therefore learn that we may teach is a proverb among the Rabbines would God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them A holy soul will never make a monopoly of holiness the Prophets you know were men of greatest grace and holiness now holy Moses is very importunate and earnest with God that he would not only make the two that prophesied but all the Lords people eminent and excellent in grace and holiness such was Moses his holiness and humbleness that he desires that all others might either equal him or excell him in gifts and grace The Heathen could say I do therefore lay in and lay up that I may draw forth again for the good of many A heart eminently holy is so far from envying of the gracious excellencies of others that it can rejoyce in every Sun that out-shines his own and every light that burns more dim then his he desires that it may be snufft not put out that so it may give a clearer and a greater light to others So holy Paul in Acts 26.29 And Paul said I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am except these bands True holiness is no Churl nothing makes a man more noble in his spiritual desires wishes and actings for others then holiness Real holiness like oyl is of a diffusive nature like light it will spread it self over all like Maries box of ointment it fills all the house with the sweet scent thereof Art thou a holy Father then thou wilt with holy Abraham labour to make thy children holy Gen. 18.17 18 19. A holy heart knows that both by his first birth but especially by his new-birth he stands obliged to promote holiness in all but especially in those that are parts and pieces of himself Art thou a holy Master then thou wilt with holy Joshua labour to make all under thy charge holy Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. True holiness cannot be concealed it will be a stirring and a provoaking of others to be holy as a holy man doth not love to be happy alone so a holy man doth not love to be holy alone A holy master loves to see a Crown of holiness set upon every head in his family Holiness is a very beautiful thing and it makes those beautiful in whom it is in a holy Masters eye there is no servant so lovely and beautiful as he that hath the beauty of holiness upon him George Prince of Aâ—halt his family is said to have been Ecclesia Academia Curia A Church an University and a Court. A holy Magistrate will labour to make both his servants and his subjects holy As holy David holy Asa holy Josiah and holy Ezekiah did he knows that the souls of his servants and subjects are the choicest treasure that God hath committed to his care he knows that every soul is more worth then his Crown and Kingdom he knows that he must one day give up an account for more souls then his own and therefore he improves his power and interest every way for the making of all holy under him As Lewis the ninth King of France took pains to instruct his poor Kitchin-boy in the way to heaven and being asked the reason of it he answered The meanest have a soul to save as precious as mine own and bought by the same blood of Christ It is said of Constantine that in this he was truly great that he would have his whole Court gathered together and cause the Scriptures to be read and opened to them that they might be made holy Courtiers Rev. 21.27 and so fitted for the Court of heaven into which no unclean person or thing can enter It grieved an Emperour that a neighbour of his should die before he had done him any good Ah it is the grief of a holy Magistrate to see others die before they are made holy the great request of a holy Magistrate living and dying is this Lord make this people a holy people O make this people a holy people Art thou a holy kinsman a holy friend then thou wilt labour to make thy kindred holy and thy friends holy As holy Cornelius did So in 1 John 39 49. Chap. 4.28 29 30. as you may see in Acts 10.24 27. And the morrow after they entred into Cesaria and Cornelius waited for them and had called together his kinsmen and near friends And as Peter talked with him he went in and found many that were come together And in ver 33. saith Cornelius to Peter Thou hast well done that thou art come Now therefore we are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Ver. 1 2 3 4. Devout Cornelius gets his kinsmen and near friends together that they also might be partakers of the grace and mercy of God with him he had experienced a work of grace and holiness upon his own heart and he uses his best endeavours that they might experience the same on theirs A holy Christian is like a loadstone that draws to it self first one iron ring and that another and that a third It is a true saying in natural Philosophie that it is Naturalissimum opus viventis generare sibi simile the most natural act or work of every living thing to produce another like unto it self As there is a natural instinct in all creatures to propagate their own kind as in beasts birds and fishes so there is a holy a spiritual instinct in all gracious hearts to propagate grace and holiness in whatever hearts they
and yet thus much thou doest proclaime upon the house-top when thou cryest out hereafter hereafter will be time enough to seek after holiness But Secondly I answer that 't is thy wisdom and thy work to set one may be against another Eccl. 7.14 thou say'st now that hereafter may be time enough to look after holiness O set another maybe against this may-be Isa 55.6 and say if I now neglect this season of grace it may-be I shall never have another if I now slight the offers of mercy Pro. 1.20 to the 33. Heb. 2.1 2 3. Luke 19 41. 45. Gen. 6.3 it may be I shall never have such offers more if I now despise this day of salvation it may be I shall never have such another day if I now withstand the tenders of Christ it may-be Christ will never make a tender to me more if I now resist the strivings of the Spirit it may be the Spirit will never strive with my soule more and then wo wo to me that ever I was borne O don't put off God don't put off thy soule don't put off the thoughts of holiness don't put off eternity with may-bees Heb. 3.18 least the Lord should sweare in his wrath that thou shalt never enter into his rest and seeing that thou wilt not suffer holiness to enter into thee thou shalt never enter into thy Masters joy O! why shouldest thou put off thy poor soule so as thou wouldest not have God to put it off thou wouldest not have God to put off thy soule with may-bees as with a may-bee I will pardon thee it may-bee I wilt lift up the light of my countenance upon thee it may-bee I will change thy nature and save thy soule it may-bee I will fill thee with my Spirit and adorne thee with my grace it may-bee I will bring thee to my kingdome and glory O thou wouldst not have God to put thee off with such may-bees and why then shouldst thou deale more hardly and cruelly with thine own soule then thou wouldst have God to deale with thee But Thirdly I answer 't is a cleare argument that thou art not truly nor throughly sensible of thy present condition and danger who thus objectest wert thou but truly sensible of thy lost and undone estate out of Christ didst thou but indeed know what 't is to live one houre in a Christ-less and grace-less condition didst thou but see that wrath that hangs over thy head didst thou but reade the curses that are pronounced in the book of God against thee didst thou but behold how hell gapes to devoure thee didst thou but see how farre off thou art from God Christ the Covenant Acts 2.39 Ephe. 2.12 and all the glory and happiness of another world ah how wouldst thou every day cry out give me holiness or I die give me holiness or I eternally die The Patient that is truly sensible of his disease will not say hereafter will be time enough to send for the Physitian nor the wounded man will not say hereafter will be time enough to fetch the Surgeon nor the condemned man will not say hereafter will be time enough to sue for a pardon nor the needy man will not say hereafter will be time enough to look for reliefe nor the fallen man will not say hereafter will be time enough to lift me up nor the drowning man will not say hereafter will be time enough to bring a Boate to save my life now this is the very case of all unsanctified persons in the world and why then should they cry our hereafter hereafter will be time enough to be holy The Boare in the Fable being questioned why he stood wherting his teeth so when no body was neare to hurt him wisely answered that it would then be too late to whet them when he was to use them and therefore he whetted them so before danger that he might have them ready in danger Ah Sirs there is nothing more dangerous then for you to have your holiness to seek when temporal spiritual and eternal dangers are at your heels there is no wisdom to that which leads men forth to a present pursuit after holiness nor no hell to that for a man to have his holiness to seek when he should use it Fourthly I answer that the brevity shortness and preciousness of time Sumptus protiocissimus tempus Theophrastus calls aloud upon thee to pursue after holiness without delay time past is irrecoverable time to come is uncertaine the present time is the only time and on this moment of time depends eternity this very day is a day of grace O that thou hadst but grace to take notice of it this very time is an acceptable time O that thou hadst but a heart to accept of it and to improve it he that hath a great way to goe and a great deale of worke to doe in a little time had not need to trifle away his time and this is the case of every unsanctified soule O the sins that such a soule has to repent of O the graces that such a soule has to seek O the evidences for heaven that such a soule has to secure O the miseries that such a soule has to escape O the mercies that such a soule has to press after c. and therefore of all men in the world it stands unsanctified persons upon well to husband and improve their present time O 't is a dangerous thing to put off that worke to another day which must be done to day or else thou mayest be eternally undone to morrow the old saying was Nunc aut nunquam now or never if not now done it may be never done and if so then thou art undone for ever Many sinners are now in hell who when they were on earth were wont to put off the motions of the Spirit by crying out eras cras to morrow to morrow Time is so precious a thing that mountaines of gold and rocks of pearle cannot redeem one lost moment which that great Lady well understood when on her death-bed she cryed out Queen Elizabeth Call time againe call time againe a world of wealth for an inch of time ah what a precious and gainfull commodity would time be in hell where for one day to repent yea for one hour to seek after holiness a man would give ten thousand worlds were they in his hands to dispose of Time is so costly a Jewel that few know how to value it and prize it at a due rate witness that sad and frequent complaint among many O what shall we doe to drive away the time come let 's goe to Cards to drive away the time or let 's goe to Tables to drive away the time or let 's goe to the Taverne and take a pint and a pipe to drive away the time or le ts goe and take a walke in the fields to drive away the time c. Thus most are lavishly and
service of God and to detract from the excellency and glory of it The Kings and Princes of this world have most severely punisht such who by their base mixtures have imbased their coyne and there is a day a coming wherein the King of Kings will most severely punish all such who have imbased his worship and service by mixing their Romish traditions with his holy institutions Rev. 22.18 Rev. 22.18 For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesie of this booke if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke And no wonder for what horrible pride presumption stoutness and baseness of spirit is it in foolish man to be so bold with the great God as to dare to mix any thing of his own with his worship and service which according to divine institution is so perfect and compleat God will never bare it to see men lay their dirt upon his gold and to put their Raggs upon his Royal Robes Ah Christians Christians evidence your holiness by standing up for holy ordinances and pure worship in opposition to all mixtures whatsoever oh don 't you touch a poluted worship don't you plead and contend for a poluted worship but let Baal plead for Baal and though all the world should wander after the Beast yet don't you wander and though every fore-head should have the mark of the Beast upon it yet doe you abhor his mark and what ever else it be that do's but smell and savour of the Beast It is observable that in Kings and Princes Courts children fools and the rude Rabble are much taken with fine pictures and rich shews and glistering gaudy cloaths c. but such as are wise serious grave Statesmen they mind not they regard not such poor things they look upon those things as things that are much below the nobleness and the greatness of their spirits who have honorable objects and the great and weighty affaires of the State to busie themselves about so my Brethren though the children the fools and the Rabble of the world are much affected and taken with such polutions and mixtures as makes up a glorious pompious worship yet you that have a spirit of holiness and principles of holiness in you O how should you slight such things and pass by such things as things below you as things not worthy of you who have a holy God a holy Christ a holy Gospel and a holy worship to busie your thoughts your minds your heads and your hearts about But Fifthly Evidence the truth and reality of your holiness by bewailing and lamenting the loss of holiness Ah how is this crowne of holiness fallen from our heads Lam. 5.16 O the leanness of souls O the spiritual witherings and decayes in grace and holiness It s very uncomfortable to see the dayes grow shorter and to see friends grow behind-hand in the world that is to be found among many Christians this day Some complaine of the loss of Trade and others complaine of the loss of estate some complaine of the loss of câ—edit and others complaine of the loss of friends but what are all these losses to the loss of holiness and yet how few be there that complaine of the loss of holiness holiness is fallen in our hearts in our families in our streets and in our Churches and yet how few are there to be found that laments the fall of holiness O Sirs will you lament such as are fallen from riches to poverty from honor into disgrace and from the highest pitch of prosperity to the lowest step of beggary and misery and will you not lament such who are fallen from the highest round to the lowest round in Jacobs Ladder O Sirs will you mourne over a decayed estate will you weep over decayed friends and will you sigh and sob over a decayed body and will you not much more lament and mourne over decayed souls c Ah how many have lost that love Rev. 2.4 5. that life that heat that zeale that readiness that forwardness and that resoluteness that once they had for God and godliness Some are fallen from their holiness by giving themselves elbow-roome to sin against the checks and lashes of conscience Psal 51. others are decayed in holiness by their secret resisting and smothering the gracious motions of the Spirit Acts 7.51 Some are fallen frpm holiness either by their neglect of precious means 1 Thes 5.20 or else by their heartless using of the meanes others are fallen from their holiness either by the allurements and enticements of a tempting world 2 Tim. 4.10 or else by the frownes and threatnings of a persecuting world Some are fallen from holiness by their non-exercise of grace and others are fallen from holiness by not discerning their first decayes in grace So that upon one account or another multitudes in these dayes are fallen from that holiness which was once their glory If you look into families there you shall finde Masters complaining that their servants are so careless foolish frothy light slight slothfull unfaithfull proud and lofty that they are not to be spoken to nor trusted and if you look againe into the same Families there you shall finde servants complaining that their Masters and Mistrisses are so exceeding froward pevish passionate worldly neglective of duties and careless of their souls that 't is even a hell to servants to live with them Now what speaks all these sad complaints but either a total want of holiness or else a very great decay of holiness And if you look among all other relations as husbands and wives parents and children Magistrates and people Ministers and Christians oh what sad divisions what fiery contentions and what feareful Jars are there to be found oh what slightings what revilings what under-valuings what heart-risings what heart-swellings and what heart-burnings are to be found amongst them and what doe all these things declare but that the Glory of God is departed from Israel and that holiness is fallen to a very low ebbe ah friends were there but more holiness among you there would be more union among you and more love among you and more sweetness and tenderness among you and more forbearance and patience among you Oh then you would never be snarling one at another nor biting one of another nor plotting one against another nor devouring one of another any more Again if you look among men whose parts are great whose gifts are high whose profession is glorious and whose expressions and notions are very seraphical ah what a little holiness will you finde O Sirs shall the men of this world vex and fret shall they weep and waile and shall their lamentation and mourning be like that of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo 2 Chron. 35.24 25. and that for the loss of a little wealth or for a punctilio of honor or a day of pleasure or
grace and holiness And thus much for this third motive Fourthly To provoke you to labour after higher degrees of holiness consider that the more your holiness is encreased the more the great God will be honored and glorified Math. 5.16 Fruitfulness in holiness sets the weightiest crowne of glory upon the head of God John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bare much fruit The more eminent any person is in holiness the more clearely and convincingly he proclaimes God before all the world to be a rich God a full God a bountiful God an overflowing good there is nothing that works men to admire God so much and to exalt God so high as a Christians fruitfulness in holiness O how good must that God be whose servants are so good said the Heathen O how glorious in holiness must that God be whose people are so holy Look as the thriving child is a credit to the Nurse and the rich servant an honor to his Master and a plentiful Crop the praise of the husbandman so that Christian that thrives in grace that grows rich in holiness is the greatest credit and the highest honor and the sweetest praise to God in the world The Tree in Alcinous Garden had alwayes blossomes buds and ripe fruits one under another O! Sirs those Trees of righteousness Isa 61.3 that have not only the blossomes and buds of holiness upon them but also the ripe fruits of holiness one under another they are the greatest honor and glory to God in the world What will men say when they shall behold your eminency in sanctity will they not say certainly God is no hard Master Math. 25.24 he never looks to reape where he do's not sowe nor to gather where he do's not straw Certainly he keeps a noble house his Tables are richly spread his Cups overflow he feeds yea he feasts his servants with the choicest rarities and varieties that heaven affords witness their thriving and flourishing estate in grace and holiness And thus you see that the more your holiness is encreased the more highly the God of heaven will be exalted and magnified But Fifthly To provoke you to endeavour after higher degrees of holiness Consider that the more holiness thou hast the more hee 'l give thee At first God gives holiness where there is none and where this holiness is improved there God will be still augmenting and increasing of it do thou but make it thy business to perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord Heb. 6.7 and the Lord will not faile to make new and fresh additions of more grace and holiness to that thou hast Psal 84.11 The Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Mark those words viz. that the Lord will give grace and glory that is grace unto glory hee 'l still be adding more grace to that thou hast till the bud of grace be turn'd into the flower of glory till thy grace on earth commenceth glory in heaven the more holiness any man has the more still God will give him Math. 13.12 For whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance He that hath principles of grace and holiness laid into his soul he shall finde a plentifull increase of those sanctifying and saving principles he shall have more abundance his spark of holiness shall grow into a flame his drops of holiness shall be turn'd into a sea and his mite of holiness shall be multiplyed into millions Math. 25.29 The greater harvest of holiness a Christian brings forth the greater encrease of holiness shall he experience every exercise of grace and holiness is alwayes attended with new increase of grace and holiness Look as that arme is greatest and strongest that is most used and exercised so that particular grace that is most exercised and used is most strengthned and greatned Look as earthly Parents when they see their children to husband and improve a little Stock to great advantage then they adde to their Stock they increase their Stock they double their Stock so when the father of spirits sees his children to husband and improve a little Stock of grace and holiness to the great advantage of their souls then he will increase their spiritual Stock he will be still a adding to their Stock yea he will double their Stock John 15.2 Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Such as are fruitful shall be made more fruitful Christ will take most paines to make them better who are already very good of all Christians in the world there are none that have so much grace as humble Christians have and yet God delights to pour in grace into their souls as men pour liquor into empty vessels humility is both a grace James 4.6 and a vessel to receive more grace And thus much for this fifth Argument But Sixthly To provoke you to labour after higher degrees of holiness Consider that the more holiness you attaine to the greater will be your heaven of joy and comfort in this world Though the least spark of true holiness will bring a man to heaven certainly yet 't is only an eminency in holiness that will make a man walk to heaven comfortably the more holiness any man has Psal 16. ult the more he shall enjoy him in whose presence is fulness of joy and the more any man enjoyes the presence of God with his Spirit the greater will be his heaven of joy in this world Look as a little Star yeilds but a little light so a little holiness yeilds but a little comfort and look as the greatest Stars yeilds the greatest light so the greatest measures of holiness alwayes yeilds the greatest comforts Divine joy ebbs and flowes as holiness ebbs and slowes soul comforts rises and falls as holiness rises and falls Great measures of holiness carries with them the greatest evidence of the reality of holiness now the more clearely and evidently the reality and sincerity of a mans holiness appeares the higher will the springs of joy and comfort arise in his soul Great measures of holiness carry with them the greatest evidence of a mans union and communion with God and the more evident a mans union and communion is with God the more will that mans soul be fill'd with that joy that is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Acts 9.31 In great measures of holiness a man may see and reade most of the love of God the face of God the favour of God and the heart of God and the more a man is blest with such a sight as this is the more will that Babe of grace divine joy spring in his soul The greater measures of holiness and sanctification any man attaines to the clearer and brighter will the evidences of his Justification be Rom. 5.1 2 3. And Ch. 8.30 33 34 35 Now the clearer evidences any
of holiness But Secondly If ever you would perfect holiness if ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness Psal 41.12 1 Sam. 2.1.3 then set the Lord alwaies before your eyes set your selves alwaies as in his presence David was a man that was very high and eminent in holiness but how came hee to so great a height why hee tells you how in that 16. Psal 8. Athenodorus a Heathen could say that all men ought to bee careful in the actions of their lives because God was every where and beheld all that was done 1 King 20.39 Psal 39.1 Jer. 20.10 Job 10.12 I have set the Lord alwaies before mee because hee is at my right hand I shall not bee moved David did not by fits and starts set the Lord before him but hee alwaies set the Lord before him in his course hee had his eye upon the Lord and so much the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports I have equally set the Lord before mee that is the force of the original word that is I have set the Lord before mee at one time as well as another without any irregular affections or passions c. in every place in every condition in every company in every imployment and in every enjoyment I have set the Lord equally before mee and this raised him and this will raise any Christian by degrees to a very great height of holiness Psa 119.168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies for all my waies are before thee The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shamar that is here rendred kept signifies to keep carefully diligently studiously exactly it signifies to keep as men keep prisoners and to keep as a watchman keeps the City or the Garison yea to keep as a man would keep his very life but now mark what was the reason that David kept the Precepts and the testimonies of the Lord so carefully so sincerely so diligently so studiously and so exactly why the reason you have in the latter part of the verse for all my waies are before thee O Sirs t is as necessary for him that would bee eminent in holiness to set the Lord alwaies before him as t is necessary for him to breathe in that 31. of Job you have a very large narrative of that heigth and perfection of holiness that Job had attained to and the great reason that hee gives you for this is in the 4. verse Doth not hee see my waies and count all my steps the eye of God had so strong an influence upon his heart life that it wrought him up to a very high pitch of holiness The Schollar writes most exactly whilest his Masters eye is upon him and the Childe walks most exactly whilest his Fathers eye is upon him and the Servant works most exactly whilest his Masters eye is upon him and so certainly all the Sons and Servants of the most high God do hear most exactly and pray most exactly and walk most exactly when they set themselves most as in the presence of the great God who is all sight who is Totus oculus all eye Ah friends as ever you would bee high in holiness possess your hearts with a serious apprehension of Gods presence set your selves dayly as in his sight as under his eye and remember though a man may easily baffle his conscience and put out his light and deceive the world like that counterfeit Alexander in Josephus his story yet hee shall never be able to baffle or deceive the eye of Gods omnisciency you shall as soon get out of the reach of his hand as you shall get from under the view of his eye God hath his windows in all our brests and curiously and narrowly observes all that is done within us and all that is done by us and if the serious consideration of his all seeing eye will not influence us to labour after the highest degrees of holiness I know not what will It was Seneca's advice to his friend Jucilius that whatsoever hee was doing hee should imagine that Cato did behold him and Plutarch advised his friends to demean themselves so circumspectly as if their enemies did alwaies behold them But my advice to you shall bee this upon every occasion in every condition and in every action set the Lord alwaies before you if the sharp and severe eye of a holy man or of a holy friend or of a holy relation will so over-awe you and so exceedingly influence you to the best of actions then certainly the sharp peircing and all-seeing eye of God will do much more and therefore let the Lord bee alwaies in your sight But Thirdly If ever you would attain ro higher degrees of holiness then fix and settle your selves under a holy Ministry resigne and give up your selves to his Ministry who makes it his great business and work to preach holiness to promote holiness to countenance holiness to encourage holiness to exalt holiness and to remove all obstructions that may any waies hinder the progress of holiness Some there bee that spend their time rather to please Isa 30.10 than to profit and to tickle their hearers ears than to touch their hearts from these turn aside and some there bee who make it their work rather to destroy Churches than to build them up in faith and holiness and from these turn aside Gal. 1.23 some there are who make it their business to delude and deceive the simple Phil. 4.14 Jer. 14.14 by venting and setting to sale the devices of their own heads and the deceits and visions of their own hearts How many are there in these daies whose glorious visions are but golden delusions and whose Seraphical phrases are but brain-sick phantasies and whose new notions are but new nothings from these turn aside And others there be that build the things that they have destroyed Gal. 2.18 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. and are returned after they had been seemingly washt with the Dog to his vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire They say that if tame Foxes break loose and turn wilde they do more mischief than any Julian was once a Professor but turning back to Heathenism hee drew more from the Faith by his fraud than his predecessors did by force therefore from these turn aside Mat. 15 1. 7. Mark 7.1 14. Some there be that cry up the commandements of men above the Commandements of God and that set up the ordinances of men above the Ordinances of God and that prefer humane institutions before divine institutions from these turn aside 1 King 20. 26. 2 Cor. 10.10 And others there be that have a vein of scorning and reproaching of disdaining and triumphing over the persons names and credits of those faithful Ministers of Christ who upon all accounts excel them and whom upon a dying-bed and before a Judgement-seat they will wish that they had imitated and not envied These labour to darken and
ever was or that is this day in the world all the seeds of holiness and all the roots of holiness that are to be found in Angels or men Phil. 1.11 are of the Lords sowing and planting All that holiness that the Angels had in Heaven and all that holiness that Adam had in Paradise and all that holiness that Christ had in his humane nature and all that holiness that ever any Saints have had was from God and all that holiness that any Saints now have is from God The Divine Nature is the first root and original fountain of all sanctity and purity James 1.17 Ministers may pray that their people may be holy and Parents may pray that their children may be holy and Masters may pray that their servants may be holy and husbands may pray that their wives may be holy and Wives may pray that their husbands may be holy but none of these can give holinesse none of these can communicate holinesse to their nearest and dearest relations t is only God that is the giver and the Author of all holinesse If holy persons could convey holinesse into others souls they would never suffer them to go to Hell for want of holiness to hand out holiness to others is a work too high for Angels and too hard for all mortals 't is only the Holy One that can cause holiness to flow into sinners hearts 't is only hee that can form and frame and infuse holiness into the souls of men A man shall sooner make a man yea make a world and unmake himself than hee shall make another holy t is only a holy God that can enlighten the mind and bow the will and melt the heart and raise the affections and purge the conscience and reform the life and put the whole man into a holy gracious frame and temper But Sixthly As God is originally radically and fundamentally holy Isa 44.24 Rev. 1.18 so God is independently holy the Holiness of God depends upon nothing below God God is the Alpha the fountain from â—â—ence all holinesse springs and hee is the Omega the Sea to which all glory runs As all our holiness is from God so all our holiness must terminate in the honour and glory of God 'T is God alone that is independently holy All that holiness that is in Angels and men is a dependent holiness it depends upon the Holiness of God as the streams depend upon the Fountain the beams upon the Sun the branches upon the Root and the members upon the Head God is Unum principium ex quo cuncta dependent one beginning upon whom all things depend God hath his Being only of himself and 't is hee alone that gives Being unto all other things God is the first cause and without all causes himself the very Beings that Angels and men have they have by participation from God And 't is the first cause that giveth unto all causes their proper operations Isa 44.6 I am the first and I am the last and besides mee there is no God God never had a cause of his Being as all other creatures have He is a glorious being a holy being without all causes either efficient or formal or material or final and therefore hee must needs be independently holy Look as the power of God is an independent power and the wisdome of God an independent wisdome and the goodness of God an independent goodness and the righteousness of God an independent righteousness so the holiness of God is an independent holiness And as it is the glory of his power that his power is an independent power and the glory of his goodnesse that his goodnesse is an independent goodnesse so 't is the glory of his holinesse that his holinesse is an independent holinesse And look as all that power that Angels and men have depends upon the power of God and as all that wisdome that Angels and men have depends upon the wisdome of God and as all that goodnesse that Angels and men have depends upon the goodnesse of God so all that holinesse that Angels and men have depends upon the holinesse of God c. Philo could say that God is such a fountain that hee breaks forth with the streams of his goodnesse upon all things but receives nothing back again from any to better himself therewith There are none in Heaven nor none on Earth that are absolutely independent but God alone Seventhly As God is independently holy so God is constantly holy hee is unchangeably holy hee was holy yesterday and hee is holy to day and hee will be holy for ever What is natural is constant and lasting Now Gods holinesse is natural to him 't is as natural for God to be holy as 't is for us to breathe yea as 't is for us to bee unholy God can as well and as soon cease to bee as hee can cease to be holy Holinesse is his nature as well as his name and therefore his holinesse cannot decay though ours may whatever wee may lose of our holinesse yet 't is certain that God can never lose one grain of that holinesse that is in him Here our holinesse ebbs and flows but the Holinesse of God never ebbs but is alwaies a flowing and over-flowing there is still a full tyde of Holinesse in God Though the Saints cannot fall from that seed of holinesse that is sown in their hearts 1 Joh. 3.9 yet they may fall from some degrees of holinesse that they have formerly attained to they that have been old men in holinesse may fall from being old men to be but young men in holinesse and they that have been young men in holinesse 1 Joh. 2.12 13 14. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. may fall from being young men to be but children in holinesse and they that have been children in holiness may fall from being children to be but babes in holiness but now that holiness that is in God is never subject to any decayings abatings or languishing that spring that Sea of holiness that is in God is no waies capable of diminution nor of Augmentation Plato could say that God is one and the same Pierius and alwaies like himself And it was a custome among the Turks to cry out every morning from a high Tower God alwaies was and alwaies will bee and so salute their Mahomet O Sirs God hath been alwaies holy and God will bee alwaies holy whatever men may lose yet God is resolved that hee will never lose his honour nor his holiness But Eighthly and lastly As God is continually holy so God is exemplarily holy Levit. 20.26 Remember this you and I must answer for examples as well as precepts Hee is the Rule Pattern and Example of holiness 1 Pet. 1.15 Bee yee holy as I am holy Gods Holiness is the great example and pattern of all that holiness which is in the creatures Gods holiness is the Copy that we must alwaies have in our eye and indeavour most
exactly to write after Carnal friends and this blinde world and Antichrist and such as love to Lord it over the conscience will be still a presenting to you other examples and patterns but 't is your wisdome and your work to cast them all behinde your backs and to trample them under your feet and to follow that form and pattern that the Lord hath set before you And that is to bee holy as hee is holy All our holiness is to be brought to the Holiness of God as the standard and measure of it and therefore oh what cause have wee to be still a perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. And thus I have done with the second thing viz. Means to increase holiness and to raise you up to the highest pitches and degrees of holiness And so I come to the third thing proposed and that was to lay down some signs or evidences whereby persons may know whether they have attained to any high pitch or eminent degrees of holiness or no. Now Sirs if you desire in good earnest to know whether you have attained to any perfection of holiness or no then seriously weigh these following particulars and try your selves by them First The more a man can warm his heart at the Promises and cleave to the Promises and rest upon the Promises and suck marrow and fatness and sweetness out of the breasts of the Promises when Divine Providences seem to run cross to Divine Promises The greater measure of holiness that man hath attained to where there are but little measures of holiness there every seeming contrariety to the Promise troubles a man and every little cloud that hangs over the Promise will mightily perplex a man c. But where holiness is raised to any considerable height there that man will suck hony out of the flint hee will suck sweetness out of the Promise even then when providence looks sowrely upon the Promise yea when Providence seems to bid defiance to the Promise witness Jacob in that Gen. 32.6 7 8. compared with v. 9 11 12. And the Messengers returned to Jacob saying Wee came to thy Brother Esau and also hee cometh to meet thee and four hundred men with him Then Jaâ—ob was greatly afraid and distressed and hee divided the people that were with him and the Flocks and Herds and the Camels into two bands And said if Esau come to the one company and smite it then the other company which is left shall escape And Jacob said O God of my Father Abraham and God of my Father Isaac the Lord which saidst unto mee return unto thy Country and to thy Kindred and I will deal well with thee Deliver mee I pray thee from the hand of my Brother from the hand of Esau For I fear him lest hee will come and smite mee and the Mother with the children And thou saidst I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the Sea which cannot bee numbred for multitude Now here you see holy Jacob in the midst of all his fears and frights in the midst of all his perils and dangers in the midst of all his damps and dreads and in the midst of all cross amazing and amusing providences hee turns himself to the breasts of the Promise and sucks marrow and sweetness out of those breasts Jacob puts the Promise into suit hee sues God upon his own bond and so bears up sweetly under dark and dismal providences And so did Moses in that Numb 10.29 And Moses said unto Hobab the Son of Raguel the Medianite Moses Father-in law wee are journying unto the place of which the Lord said I will give it you come thou with us and wee will do thee good for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel Moses had been almost now forty years in the wilderness and many thousands were fallen on his right hand and on his left yet saith hee to Hobab in the face of all those dismal providences come go along with us and be as eyes unto us and wee will certainly do thee good Vers 31. but Hobab might have objected Alas what good can I expect in a wilderness condition where so many are weak and so many are sick and so many thousands are fallen asleep and where all the people are every day surrounded with a thousand dangers difficulties and deaths well saith hee though al this be true yet go along with us and be serviceable and useful to us and wee will do thee good for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel Here this holy man Moses turns himself to the Promise and in the face of all sad providences hee draws comfort and incouragement from the Pâ—omise And so did Jehosaphat in that 2 Chron. 20. When the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir came against him to battel v. 1.10 hee turns himself to the Promise v. 7 8 9. and gathers life and spirit from thence And so did David in that Psal 60. in the 1 2 3. v. you have a Narrative of many cross and dreadful Providences and yet in the face of them all holy David sucks strong consolation out of the breasts of the Promise vers 6. God hath spoken in hâ—s holiness I will rejoyce I will divide Shechem and mete out the valley of Succoth God hath promised in his Holiness that David should bee King over all Israel and therefore notwithstanding all strange providences David triumphs in the Promise and looks upon himself as Master of all those strong-holds that are mentioned in v. 7 8 9. And so Abraham hee wanted a Son and God promised him an Isaac Now in the face of all his own deadness and natural inâ—biâ—ities as to generation and Sarah's deadness and barrenness Rom. 4.17 18 19 20 1. hee turns about to the Promise and his Faith and Holiness being high hee draws sweetness and satisfaction from thence Notwithstanding present providences the nâ—keâ— Promise was a well of Life and Salvation to him O Sirs 't is an Argument of a very great measure of holiness when troubles and difficulties vanish upon the sight of a Promise when all things work quire cross and contrary to sense and feeling Now for a man to imbrace a Promise to hug a Promise to kiss a Promise and to draw content and satisfaction from a Promise argues a great degree of holiness 'T is a very hard and difficult thing for a man exactly to take the picture of Divine Providence at any time for many aâ—e the voices and the faces of providence and there are as great deeps in Providences as there are in Prophecies and many Texts of Providence are as hard as dark and as difficult to be understood as many Texts of Scripture are 't is as hard to reconcile the Works of God Psal 36.6 Rom. 11.33 as 't is to reconcile the Word of God for as in the Word of God there are many seeming contradictions so in the Works of God there are many
longer and bee quicker and nimbler in religious duties than others that are more aged in grace and holinesse but yet they that are aged in grace and holinesse do perform religious duties with more spiritual art and accuratenesse and with more divine skill judgement and understanding than they do in whom the spring of holinesse runs low A young Scholar may run over more paper and write more paper and make more letters than his Master doth but yet his Master writes more understandingly exactly and accurately than hee doth So many young converts may run over more duties than others and yet others may perform duties more understandingly and more exactly and more accurately than they do let the duty bee never so short yet if there bee much spiritualnesse holinesse brokennesse seriousnesse and accuratenesse in it it will carry all before it 't will win the blessing and obtain the crown when the longest duties wherein there is no such frame nor temper of spirit shall not prevail with God at all Zach. 7.4 5 6. Isa 58.1 6. It argues a very great measure of holinesse when the soul is habitually carried on in religious duties with much solidnesse seriousnesse spiritualnesse exactnesse and accuratenesse But Tenthly The more any man makes it his great businesse and work in all his duties waies and walkings to approve himself to God and to bee accepted of God Jer. 12.3 Psa 17.3 The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chakreni signifies a very strict careful diligent search and inquisition c. the greater height of holinesse that man hath attained to David was a man of great holinesse and how studious and industrious hee was to approve his heart to the Lord you may see in that 139. Psalm 23 24. Search mee O God! and know my heart try mee and know my thoughts and see if there bee any wicked way in mee and lead mee in the way everlasting The Psalmist knew that God had an eye upon him both at home and abroad both at bed and at board both in publick and in private both in his family and in his closet hee knew that God had an eye in every corner of his house and in every corner of his heart and therefore hee appeals to God and hee approves his heart to God and nobly ventures upon the tryal of God Search mee O God and know my heart c. this frequent repetition and doubling of words Search mee O God and know my heart try mee and know my thoughts c. doth not only note the earnestnesse and seriousnesse of Davids spirit in prayer but also the soundnesse the uprightnesse the plainnesse and the unfeignednesse of Davids heart in that hee was very willing and ready to submit himself to the search tryal examination and approbation of God And so Peter that great Apostle of the Gentiles makes it his great businesse to approve himself to Christ thrice together Joh. 21.15 16 17. Lord thou knowest that I love thee Lord thou knowest that I love thee Lord thou that knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Christ best knew the reality and sincerity of Peters love and therefore Peter appeals to him as to a judge that would bee sure to judge righteous judgement Thou knowest that I love thee And so the Apostle Paul speaking in the Name of his fellow Apostles saith wherefore wee labour that whether present 2 Cor. 5.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or absent wee may bee accepted of him The Greek word that is here rendred labour is a very Emphatical word it signifies to labour and endeavour with all earnestnesse and might to indeavour with a high and holy ambition to bee approved of by God and to bee accepted of God judgeing it to bee the greatest honour and the most desireable happinesse in all the world to bee graciously owned approved and accepted of the Lord as ambitious industrious and laborious as Haman was to bee highly accepted with King Ahasuerus yet he was not more ambitious to bee accepted with the King than the Apostles were ambitious to be accepted of the King of Kings O Sirs when in every Sermon you hear and in every prayer you make and in every fast you keep and in every action you do and in every way that you walk and in every mercy that you enjoy and in every cross that you bear c. you make it your great businesse and work to approve your selves to the Lord and that though the world should discountenance you and friends hate you and near and dear Relations reject you that yet you may find blessed acceptance with God this argues holiness to be upon the Throne when in all your dealings and tradings with God you make it your Heaven to approve your selves to God and when in all your transactions with men you make it your happiness to approve your selves to God 't is an Argument that the springs of holiness are risen high in your souls But Eleventhly The more a man lives by the Rule of Expediency as well as by the Rule of Lawfulnesse the greater measure of holinesse that person hath attained to Joh. 16.7 2 Cor. 8.10 Weak holinesse hath only an eye upon the Rule of Lawfulnesse but raised holinesse hath one eye upon the Rule of Lawfulnesse and the other upon the Rule of Expediency Weak holinesse saith O this is lawful and that is lawful O but saith raised holinesse is it expedient is it expedient as well as lawful That Angelical Apostle Paul had still his eye upon the Law of Expediency 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful unto mee but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for mee but I will not bee brought under the power of any And so ch 10.23 All things are lawful for mee but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for mee but all things edifie not And so in that 2 Cor. 12.1 'T is not expedient for mee doubtless to glory Many things may bee lawful that yet may bee very inexpedient for our place state calling and condition in the world 'T was lawful for the Apostle to eat meat Rom. 14. but 't was not expedient for him to eat meat when his eating of meat would make his weak Brother to offend or grieve or stumble or fall And therefore hee resolves that rather than hee will eat meat to offend 1 Cor. 8.13 hee will never eat meat whilst the world stands The more unchangeably resolved any person is to eye the Rule of Expediency and to live by the Rule of Expediency the greater measure of holinesse that person hath certainly attained to the streams of holinesse runs low in that Christians heart that hath two eyes to behold the Rule of Lawfulnesse but never an eye to see the Rule of Expediency it argues a very great height of holinesse for a man to make as much conscience of living by the Rule of Expediency as hee doth of living by the Rule of