Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 12 · Sermon 114
SERMON CXIV.
Of the Nature, Extent and Example of that Holineſs to which God calls a man.
1 PET. 1. 15.
But as he which hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation.
THe Apoſtle having in the former part of the Chapter, ſpoken of glorious encouragements in the way to heaven, at the 13 Verſe, he preſſeth to an exact and accurate diligence in the exerciſe of grace, which is emphatically expreſſed by that metaphorical phraſe, Girdup the loins of your minde: The body girt, is more expedite and prepared for any work, and ſo is the minde. In the 14 Verſe he amplifieth this duty; firſt, Comparatively, As obedient children: This ſheweth the inward willingneſs and readineſs that ſhould be in them to all acts of obedience; as alſo, the evangelical and filial motive to draw them out. Secondly, This is preſſed negatively, Not faſhioning your ſelves, &c. You ſee what it is to be men and women of the beſt faſhion; viz. Such as do not conform to thoſe luſts and ſins that the world doth lie in: And that 2. Is poſitively commanded, But be ye holy; where you have the duty enjoyned, Be ye holy: There are four words commonly uſed for this holineſs, ſometimes foreign, ſometimes foreign, ſometimes foreign, and moſt commonly foreign. Whether this word came of foreign and foreign without earth, or of foreign, becauſe holineſs deſerveth all reverence and veneration, I ſhall not much regard; this is certain, it doth imply a choice and ſublime frame of ſoul, whereby we are carryed out in reference to God in all our actions. 2. There is the extent of this duty, In all manner of converſation: Here this is conſiderable, that men may demonſtrate ſome holineſs in ſome particular acts, and in ſome channels, but not in all manner of converſation. 3. Here is the exemplary cauſe, after which we are to be conformable, As he that hath called you is holy. 4 There is an argument confirming it by authority from Scripture, Becauſe it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy: That is written many times, to raiſe up our thoughts in godlineſs, not to propound any men, no not the moſt holy that are, but God himſelf: Now the Apoſtle doth not mean an equality; for how can a drop be equal to the ſea? or a ſpark to the Sun? but onelyonly of ſimilitude and proportionable imitation, as is more particularly to be ſhewed. Obſerve,
That perſons called, ought to be holy, even as God who calleth them is moſt Obſerv.holy.
This very conſideration ſhould work an heavenly metamorphoſis and change, who and what is that God who calleth me, ſhould the ſoul ſay; God who made me after his own image at firſt, doth ſtill require the reparation of it in my life: Of all the attributes the Angels ſelected to glorifie God with, this was that they pitched on, Holy, holy, holy, Iſa. 6. and certainly, of all things remarkable and conſiderable in thee, this ſhould be thy chief, Holy: Thou art wiſe, but holy; thou art rich, but holy; this is the Diamond in the Jewel.
To illuſtrate this point, conſider,
Firſt, What this holineſs is, and that is in theſe things:1. What this holineſs is.
Firſt, An inward rectitude of all the parts and faculties of the ſoul, whereby they are imployed and improved for holy ends: Holineſs is not a particular grace, or a particular healing of ſome diſeaſe in the ſoul, but it is an univerſal medicine applied to all the ſoars of the ſoul, and if it doth not perfectly cure and heal all the diſeaſe, yet it doth for the main: So that this holineſs is nothing but the ſound and right temperament of the ſoul, whereby it is inabled in minde, will and affection, yea, the whole man to be carried out towards God; therefore this holineſs is called The image of God; and we know, an image is not an hand, or a leg, but a ful delineation in all the parts thereof; when therefore we are commanded thus to be holy, we are to look to holineſs in the fountain, to holineſs in the root; even as God is not onelyonly holy in actions, and in all his works he doth, but in his eſſence and nature alſo: So that although all thy actions have never ſuch a ſhew of holineſs and outward ſplendor, yet if not flowing from this inward image, they are but guilded Sepulchres, and like the aſhes of Sodom.
Secondly, This holineſs is a pure and unmixed diſpoſition of ſoul, from any thing that may ſoil and debaſe it: So ſome make the word foreign, that is, without any 2.terrene or earthly mixture; for as every thing is debaſed, when it is mixed with that which is of an inferior nature to it; as lead with ſilver, water with wine: So it is here, when the ſoul of man which was made for the enjoyment of God, and communion with him, is bowed down to earthly things, and mingleth it ſelf with them, then it becometh baſe and degenerate. Now the ſoul may admit of a twofold mixture, both which makes it unholy:
Firſt: With the luſts of ſin, and the beaſtly pleaſures of the fleſh; and this is the deepeſt pollution, as if the Sun ſhould become a dunghil; and therefore wicked 1.men are compared to Dogs, licking up their vomit, and Swine wallowing in their mire, 2 Pet. 2. 22. Oh therefore remember, when thou haſt been committing any groſs ſin, thou haſt made thy ſelf like dirt and dung, thou haſt made thy ſelf like a loathſome Toad, God abhorreth thee, and were thy eyes opened, thou wouldſt be abominable in thy own eyes, thou wouldſt not endure thy ſelf, but cry out with David, Waſh me throughly, and I ſhall be clean. Pſal. 51. Or
Secondly, A defiling mixture may be by the inordinate and immoderate affections 2.of a man, even to lawful things; even as the waters that overflow the banks, they get ſoil and filth by that means: So thoſe affections that are carried out beyond their limits, in over-loving, in over-grieving, in over-deſiring, they debaſe and make unholy. Hence Eſau is called A prophane perſon, Heb. 12. 16. why? we read not of his groſs, vicious, beaſtly ſins, but becauſe be had a low and undervaluing eſteem of heavenly things, of that birth-right he ſold: So then, thou art an unholy and a prophane man, though free from thy groſs ſins, if thy thoughts, thy eſteem about holy and heavenly things be low and careleſs: Thou hadſt rather have, as he ſaid, Guttam vini, then cadum mentis, a drop of pleaſure, then an whole veſſel of heavenly wiſdom, this argueth thou art unholy. Holineſs lieth in the ſpiritual dieting and moderating of all thy affections to worldly comforts: He that marrieth, as if he married not; he that buyeth, as if he bought not, 1 Cor. 7. In all our eſtates and conditions, we are to cut off thoſe luxuriant branches, we are to put bounds to them, as God to the ſea, Hitherto thou ſhalt go and no further.
Thirdly, Holineſs is mainly ſeen in referring all unto God by pure and upright intentions. The Phariſees holineſs, though ſo dazling in the eyes of the world, 3.was no holineſs, becauſe they did all to be ſeen of men: This makes all the civil and admirable actions of the Romans, and other Heathens, to be no holy actions, but ſplendida peccata, becauſe it was vain glory, or at leaſt, the love of their Countrey, that put them upon the accompliſhment of ſuch actions; ſo that the greateſt part of holineſs is inviſible, lieth much in eying at the true aim we ought to ſhoot at. Jehu in all thoſe wonderful Reformations he made in the Church and State of Iſrael, yet was not in the number of the holy Kings, becauſe his ends were ſelfiſh, worldly, and vain glorious. Look then thy intentions fall not ſhort of that ultimate end, the glory of God, and this prove a dead flye in the box of thy ointment.
Fourthly, Holineſs lieth in bearing up the heart in all kinde of duties, with ſuch 4.heavenly and ſublime motives, that fleſh and blood can no ways attain unto: Holineſs is a power above all refined natural abilities: Thus faith is an holy grace, becauſe it beareth up the heart with a promiſe, with the word of God, when all natural reaſon and hopes are againſt it; and ſo he can rebuke thoſe ſtrong winds and tempeſts of unbelief and diſcouragement, which natural ſtrength could never do: So to love God in adverſities, not to mutter or repine at him, though his hand be heavy on thee, yet thou haſt no hard thoughts about him, but he is as good and as gracious a God in thy apprehenſion as ever: Here is iron ſwimming, here are the rivers of Jordan running back, here is holineſs exalted above nature; ſo likewiſe to rejoyce in tribulations, to triumph over all troubles; to finde honey in the dead carkaſs of the Lyon, to get bread out of ſtones; this is the work of holineſs. And laſtly, patience and forbearance to men that hate us, love and pitty to thoſe that cruelly perſecute us: Thus holineſs teacheth, but the nature of man kicketh againſt all theſe things.
Fifthly, Holineſs is in the dedicating of our ſelves wholly unto the Lord; that we 5.are no more our own, much leſs the worlds or Satans: Thus there were holy veſſels, and an holy Temple, becauſe altogether ſeparated unto God, and might not be imployed unto any common uſe: Thus the perſons that are holy, Are made the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 3. they may not touch any unclean thing. Oh what a ſtrong obligation is this, to depart from all evil and wicked company! To whom wert thou given up? Haſt thou not parted with ſelf? and art not thou given to God? Be then as the Temple, let no unclean thoughts or affections paſs through thee.
Sixthly, A neceſſary Concomitant of this holineſs, is a reverence and aw it breeds 6.in the conſciences, even of thoſe who yet hate it: As the image of God put in man, made him have dominion over the beaſts of the earth; ſo this holy image of God breeds an aw, a fear even in wicked men: Thus foreign is of foreign; and hence Herod, though a King, yet feared John, becauſe he was a righteous and holy man, Mat. 6. 20. This holineſs is called by Peter foreign, A Divine nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. and certainly, as the Sun makes a glorious dazling upon the eyes of men; ſo doth holineſs, powerfully expreſſed, make a throne in the hearts of the ungodly, convincing and overawing them: Though therefore outwardly they may deride and oppoſe the practice of holineſs, yet in their conſciences they count ſuch happy, and wiſh their ſouls might be in the ſame condition with ſuch mens.
We come in the next place, to the extent of this duty, In all manner of converſation: The extent of the duty. 1.And
Firſt, It muſt be in our converſation, foreign. Now a mans converſation is not ſome few acts, or ſome few times to be holily affected, but conſtantly and cuſtomarily. Our converſation is in heaven, ſaith the Apoſtle, Phil. 3. 20. and its called a godly mans way, wherein he walketh; ſo that unleſs holineſs be thy main buſineſs, unleſs Religion be thy chief imployment, thou art not yet holy, thy way is not an holy way, though there may be ſome occaſional holy action; neither is thy converſation an holy converſation, though there may ſeem to be ſome holy fits: Oh this is greatly to be attended unto, for ſome mens holineſs is like the morning dew, or like the ebbings and flowings of the ſea; its by way of a tranſient paſſion, not as a permanent principle within them; its a Land-flood that makes a great noiſe, its not a conſtant ſpring.
Secondly, It muſt be holineſs in all manner of converſation:2.
Firſt, There muſt be all holineſs ſubjectivé, that is, all the parts and faculties of ſoul and body muſt have their peculiar holineſs; the minde holy, thoughts holy, meditations holy, the will holy, deſires holy, and holy choices, the affections holy, holy love, holy anger, holy grief, holy fear; the memory an holy treaſury to retain holy directions and inſtructions: Thus a mans ſoul muſt be like that part of the Temple, Sanctum Sanctorum, The holieſt of holies; the body likewiſe, that is to be holy inſtrumentally, holy eyes, holy hands, and holy tongues, holy words, holy actions, holy geſtures: That as the Prophet Zechariah propheſieth, upon the horſes bells there ſhould be written, Holineſs to the Lord, Zech. 14. 21. ſo here upon the whole man ſhall be written, Holineſs to the Lord; and the meaning of that propheſie is, That he who is holy, ſhall be in every reſpect holy; as Paul prayeth, I pray God ye be ſanctified throughout, both in ſpirit, ſoul, and body, 1 Theſſ. 5. 23.
Secondly, This muſt be all holineſs objectivé, in reſpect of the object: Our actions muſt be holy in reference to God and man: I exerciſe my ſelf, ſaith Paul, Acts 24 16. there was his converſation; to keep a good conſcience towards God and man, there was the extent to every object; for although all holineſs doth immediately refer to God, yet when we do the duties of juſtice, righteouſneſs and charity towards man, becauſe God commands, and out of love to him, then theſe juſt and righteous actions, are likewiſe holy actions, becauſe of the conſideration of God that draweth out the ſoul: So that we may make our very eating, drinking, and lawful refreſhments, holy actions, when a motive from God doth put us upon them.
Thirdly, We are in our converſation to put forth all holineſs, in reſpect of the degrees of it: We are to endeavor, and to hunger and thirſt after all the degrees 3.of holineſs; if there be better believing in God, better heavenly mindedneſs, more love to God then ever yet we have attained, this we are to preſs forward to; as Paul, who was exalted to ſo high a degree of holineſs, yet he forgets all behinde, and purſueth that before, Phil. 3. as if he were but beginning to be godly; and hence the godly are ſaid, To hunger and thirst after righteouſneſſe, Mat. 5. Alexander wept when he heard a Phyloſopher arguing there were more worlds then one, when he had not yet conquered one: And thus when thou heareſt the word of God requiring ſuch a perfect holineſs, ſuch a pure exerciſe of graces, thou mayeſt weep to ſee the droſs, the defects and weakneſſes that are in thee; yet take heed thou doeſt not reject thy holineſs as none at all, becauſe it may be better; for perfection and fulneſs is not in this life, ſtill here is ſomething wanting, but our prayers and endeavors ſhould be after perfection.
Fourthly, We are to put forth all the parts and kindes of godlineſs in our converſation: Holineſs is a chain, and we muſt not break one link: Adde to faith, 4.vertue, and to vertue temperance, &c. 2 Pet. 1. 6. To be holy in ſome things, and not in others, is to be holy in nothing: Holineſs is univerſal, it comes in with no buts, no ifs or ands, no exceptions; but as the word of God is univerſal, and the rule is univerſal, ſo is his holineſs: Oh its this partial holineſs, this holineſs in ſome pittances, that makes ſuch a reproach to Religion: Holineſs will no more ſwear then lye, or lye then ſwear; Holineſſe will no more deal unjuſtly, then leave off praying and holy duties; if any do ſo, the Scripture makes not ſuch holy: Oh therefore be ſure to ſtudy the extent and largeneſſe of holineſſe. Do I ſhew forth all holineſſe? The Apoſtle bids us pray, that under Magiſtrates we might live in all godlineſs: There is ſome holineſs, ſome godlineſs many times the world will ſuffer, but not all: And none would think how falſe and guilful their hearts are, how much they are to ſeek for ſome kinde of godlineſs, when they are put to it.
Laſtly, We are to ſhew holineſs at all times in our converſations: There is no 4.hour, no moment, wherein thou canſt ſay, Now I may not be holy, now its not required I ſhould be holy: So that as wicked men, the imaginations of the thoughts of their hearts are onelyonly evil, and that continually; ſo ſhould ours be holy, and that continually: This is our duty, though in this life it cannot be fully practiſed.
In the third place, conſider, The example of our holineſs; and that is, As God The p… of holineſs.is holy: Not that we can be infinitely holy, and eſſentially holy, as he is; but to imitate him: So that we muſt not take the world for a rule of holineſs, but God; and we are not required to be Omnipotent as he is, Mighty as he is, but holy as he is. Now the grounds of this are:
Firſt, It behoveth a father and a ſon to be of the ſame nature: A man doth not Why. 1.beget a beaſt of another nature, but a childe of the ſame being: Thus the Apoſtle, As obedient children; and hence they are ſaid to Be born of God: How then can ye call God father, who have not the likeneſs of his nature? Is there ſuch ſin and impurity in God, as in thee? Oh tremble at ſuch things! Gods eyes are purer then to behold iniquity; ſo let thine be.
Secondly, Love to God, will put a man upon the immitation of him whom we love: 2.So that ſimilitude, as it is a cauſe, ſo its an effect of love; that as you ſee fire aſſimilates every thing into its own nature, it turneth every thing to fire; ſo love to God, and delight in him, that makes us wholly to become like him. A man that liveth under the torrid Zone, gets a colour from the ſun, which ſhineth ſo hot upon him.
Thirdly, He muſt needs be holy, becauſe elſe we are not prepared for any communion 3.or fellowſhip with God: Herein lieth the happineſs of a godly man, that he hath fellowſhip with God, that he enjoyeth his preſence, that he ſeeth his face, as you may ſee it repreſented in the Canticles: Now how can this be, when a man is prophane and unholy? Chriſt ſpeaks there of his heavenly love, and ſpiritual imbracements, and how can this be to a ſoul that is loathſom and uncomely through ſin? God ſpeaks by the Prophet, of the abominable and vile condition of the Church of Iſrael in her ſin, wallowing in her blood, Ezek. 16. 6. and till he put on comely ornaments on her, ſhe was no fit object of love: Follow holineſs; without which no man ſhall ſee, enjoy God, Heb. 12. 14. As the eye diſtempered with diſeaſed humors, cannot comfortably behold the ſun, ſo neither can the ſoul, debaſed through ſin, behold the favor of God; yea, as the ſoul is not fit for ſuch communion, ſo the preſence and purity of God, if it ſhould draw near, would be an heavy burthen to a wicked man. Heaven it ſelf, and enjoyment of God, is no ſutable or welcome mercy to a wicked heart: So far as the notion of ſafety and deliverance from hell is in heaven, they can be glad of it; but take the poſitive part of heaven, which is indeed the heaven; viz. Injoyment of God, and delighting in him, a wicked man can no more agree with it, then ſoar eyes do abide the dazling ſun.
Let us make Application of the point. And
Firſt, Of Inſtruction: Is holineſs thus neceſſarily required of every one called Uſe 1.by God, becauſe he is holy? then to be ſure do not miſtake what true holineſs is; for if thou erre about that, thy deſtruction is irrecoverable, who can help it? Therefore to know what it is, ſtudy and peruſe the Scripture: Oh what an exact, ſublime, and accurate thing is that repreſented to be! Will no leſs ſerve then an holineſs in ſome degree (though with vaſt diſproportion) like that of God? What ſhame, what trembling ſhould this work in us? Thou judgeſt of holineſs according to the principles of the world; and they, when a man is leſs wicked, call it holineſs; if there be worſe men in the world, then they bleſs themſelves. As in an Hoſpital, the man that is leſs diſeaſed then others, he is judged healthful and ſtrong: This undoeth you, holineſs and godlineſs is made a leſs and more eaſie buſineſs, then the Scripture deſcribeth.
Uſe 2. Of Terror and Woe to thoſe called perſons, who deride, oppoſe and Uſe 2.malice holineſſe: Oh that the earth ſhould bear, and the Sunne ſhine upon ſuch incarnate devils! Whereſoever there is the power of holineſſe, there all their venom is vented; Who would think that men called by ſo holy a God, ſhould deride holineſſe? That men convinced by an holy Spirit, ſhould mock at holineſſe? That men who read an holy Bible, who have an holy profeſſion, ſhould thus be turned into Serpents, and no men? This is not to be holy as God is holy, but malicious and envious as the devil is.
3. Of Exhortation to you who are indeed holy for the main, grow in this, Uſe 3.be more quickned in it. The Apoſtle ſpeaks to theſe that were already holy. Holineſſe is a large field, an high hill, thou art but at the very bottom. Alas, how much ſtronger might thy faith be? How much more mortified might thy affections be? Is holineſſe ſutable, connatural, conſtant and permanent in thee? and certainly this is more to be looked at, then all outward mercies, riches, honours, earthly greatneſſe; for this onelyonly hath the promiſe of eternal life, and this preſent life. Thou mayeſt be rich, but damned; wiſe and learned, but d…n…d; but not holy and damned: Oh there is no comfortable living an hour, a moment without this holineſſe! And then to increaſe and preſerve it:
Firſt, Cheriſh and entertain the holy Spirit, this is peculiarly called holy, becauſe it works holineſſe; grieve it not then by committing known ſins, or by lazy and ſluggiſh walking.
Secondly, Prize the Ordinances, the Miniſtery and preaching of the Word; men grow looſe and cold when they leave this fire.
Thirdly, Conſider the nature of holineſſe is ſuch, that the more we have, the more hunger and thirſt there ſhould be after it.