The Morning Exercise Methodized, Sermon 23
OF Holineſs.
HEB. 13.14.
Follow peace with all men, and holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord.
HEre are two duties enjoyned together in one and the ſame precept, though not enjoyned w…th the ſame penalty, (peace and holineſſe) the latter hath a ſad threat added, if we miſſe it, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. It is ſomewhat like that charge, Exod 28.34, 35. that the Veſt of Aaron ſhould be on the skirt with a Pomegranate, and a Bell, both of gold; yet the uſe of the Bell was far above that of the Pomegranate, that the ſound thereof may be heard when he goeth in before the Lord that he dye not. So are peace and holineſs two golden graces or bleſſings; peace is like the Pomegranate, whoſe ſmell is fragrant, odoriferous, and ſo full of ſeeds, as no fruit more; ſuch is peace, of all outward bleſſings the chief, and full of the ſeed of all bleſſings, it is therefore call'd the bond of peace, Epheſ. 4.4.as if other bleſſings were the bundle, but peace the bond that did comprehend them all: Yet holineſſe is that which beareth the Bell, and maketh the muſick in the ears of God; and if the ſound thereof be not heard before the Lord, we ſhall ſurely dye. Therefore it is obſerved that the Relative [which] is not plural, as referring to peace and holineſſe both; nor is it feminine, as referring to peace at all; but foreign, (not foreign, nor foreign) as referring only to foreign, holineſſe.
Here are two great points contained in this Text.
Doct. 1. P ace is a high duty, rich bleſſing, and ſingular benefit that a Chriſtian is bound to follow, purſue, preſſe after, and labour for, and that with all men.
The duty is preſſed ſtrictly in the word foreign, rendred here with the ſofteſt follow; and in other places it is rendered to follow after, 1 Cor. 14.1. Phil. 3.12. to purſu…, 1 Pet. 3.11. to preſſe unto, Phil. 3.14. And we have a full proof for all; Rom. 12.18. If it be poſſible, as much as in you lieth live peaceably with all men. We muſt ſee there be no default on our part (that all the world is not in peace) but that we follow, purſue, preſſe hard after peace, (as far as poſſibly we may, and to the utmoſt that lies in us) and that with all men; ſo ſaith the Text alſo.
But I muſt leave this ſmall Pomegranate peace, that I may ring out the Saints Bell of holineſſe, the ſound and force whereof I heartily pray may reach all your hearts, (not ears) or rather that the ſound thereof in all your hearts may be heard in the Lords ears, (not ours) that ye dye not; yea, that Religion dye not; otherwiſe I may fear that Englands paſſing Bell is tolling at the departure of our glory, and we may call the next generation Iohabod.
But the other, and preſent point is this; viz. That true and real holineſs is the grace; the duty, the ſtate, the trade which every Christian is bound to follow, purſue, preſs after with might and main, as he ever thinks to look God in the face. 2 Cor. 7.1. Having theſe promiſes, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and spirit, perfecting holineſſe in the fear of God; perfecting holineſſe] what is that, but to follow it, follow after, purſue, preſſe hard to it? ſo 1 Pet. 1.15. Be ye holy as God is holy; there is as much or more, purſue, follow it ſtill, that you take up with no ſcant meaſure, no low degree of it.
I call it, 1. A grace, and ſo it is; yet more; it is not one ſingle grace alone, but the conjunction of all graces. To ſay it is a ſtar, is too little, it is a conſtellation; or the way of holineſſe is as the lactea via, altogether ſtarry, ſo holineſſe is all grace.
2. I call it a duty, and ſo it is; but much more, it is the ſum and Epitome of all duty. All duties of the firſt Table are referred to holineſs, as all of the ſecond Table to righteou neſs, Luke 1.75. Yea, duties of the ſecond Table are call'd holineſſe, 1 Theſ. 4.3. & 7.
3. I call it a ſtate; it is not an act or habit, but a ſtate; nor a ſtate of a Chriſtian, but the ſtate of Chriſtianity, the ſtate of conſiſtency and continuance or growth; there are ſome ſtates we paſſe through, (as the man through Infancy, childehood, youth, but abides in the ſtate of Manhood) we paſſe through the New birth to be born no more; of mortification,Rom. 6.9, 11. Rom. 8.15. to dye no more; of bondage, to fear no more; but in this ſtate once, we muſt perſiſt, perſevere, live, dye in it.
4. I call it our trade, and ſo it is our nobleſt profeſſion, and courſe of life, 1 Pet. 1.15. Be holy in all manner of converſation, 2 Pet. 3.11. What manner of perſons ought we to be in all holy converſation! This is the trade and buſineſſe we ſhould ply in the whole courſe of our lives.
Now it may be asked what this holineſſe is? And I would anſwer, and (if the time would bear it) open, the definition, which is this:
True holineſſe is that inward, through and real change, wrought in the whole man, of a formerly vile ſinner, by the Spirit of God,What holineſs is. whereby his heart is purged from the love, and his life from the dominion and practice of fo…mer ſins, and whereby he is in heart and life carried out after every g…od.
1. I call it a change, and ſo it is; it is not from nature, cuſtome, education; it is not an habit, form, but a change. Christiani fiunt non naſcuntur, creantur non generantur; and a mighty and manifeſt change it makes, it is therefore call'd a new birth, new creation, a new creature, reſurrection, &c. Is there not a change when a childe is born? when a dead perſon raiſed? a blinde man receiveth ſight?
Yea, whatſoever is call'd holy, is eo nomine, changed from its common uſe; when a perſon, or a garment, or a place, or a veſſel, or a day were called holy, all ſuch were changed, as to their uſe, ſerving now for ſacred and Religious Services; ſuch is Soul-holineſſe, a Soul-change.
There are three great changes wrought in a Chriſtian at times.
Firſt, One in Juſtification; 1. Ne imputetur.when a guilty ſinner hath ſin taken away, that it is not imputed.
The ſecond in Sanctification; when a ſinner living and wallowing in ſin, hath ſin taken away, 2. Ne regnet.(the power of it) that it doth not raign.
The third is in Glorification; 3. Ne restet, aut omnino ſit.when the ſanctified perſon hath ſin taken away, (all remainders of it) that it hath no being left.
Now though the firſt and laſt of theſe are both perfect changes, and Sanctification is not perfect here; yet upon ſome account, ſome have called that change wrought in Sanctification the greateſt change of the three; for compare it with Juſtification, Juſtification is a change of the ſtate, not of the perſon; a change without, not within the man.
In Sanctification, there is a real change, and that within the man.
In Glorification alſo is a perfect change, (it being the higheſt ſtate of the three) but the change is not ſo great as in Sanctification; glory and grace differ but gradually, there being no oppoſition between them, as between grace and ſin. The change is not ſo different between the Morning light and the Noon-day brightneſſe, as between the Morning light and the Midnight darkneſſe.
2. I call it an inward change] to diſtinguiſh it from civil hon…ſty.
3. A through change] to diſtinguiſh it from restraining, or conforming grace, which produceth ſome particular and partial change, but not a total and univerſal.
4. A real change] to diſtinguiſh it from hypocriſie, which makes ſhew of a great and goodly change, but is only outward and ſeeming, not inward and real; which three are often taken (but as often miſtaken) for holineſſe.
5. Wrought] it is neither natural nor acquired, or taken up by the power of our own free will, or force of others perſwaſion, ſtrength of reaſon, convictions, reſolutions from within or without. Hence we are ſaid to be Gods workmanſhip, Eph. 2.10. To be wrought to the ſame thing, 2 Cor. 5.5.
6. In the whole man] 1 Theſ. 5.23. The God of peace ſanctifie you wholly; and I pray God your whole ſoul and body, and spirit be k…pt blameleſſe, &c. So that if you ask where is the ſeat of this holineſſe? is it in the head? or heart? or conſcience? or outward man? I anſwer, in no one, but all of them; it is as leaven that leaveneth the whole lump; it is as the ſoul, tota in toto, & tota in qualibet …arte. The underſtanding in a new ſanctified perſon is enlightned to diſcern ſpiritual things, which before he underſtood not; his memory ſanctified to retain what is good, and ſhut out what is hurtful; conſcience awakened to check for ſin, and exc te to duty; will ſubdued to embrace good, reſiſt evil; affections orderly placed, to love, fear, deſire, delight it, and to hate, and what is ſutable to holineſſe; and the whole outward man for ſpeech, actions, behaviour, yea, habit and dreſſe is compoſed as becometh holineſſe.
7. Of a formerly vile ſinner] grace makes a mighty change when it works effectually; none ſo bad, ſo far gone, but it can br ng home;Ezek. 16.6. Eſay 55.13. it findes one in his blood, and leaves him clean; it findes a thorn, and leaves a mirtl…; it meets with a Publican and Harlot, and leaves a Sa…nt; it meets with a bloody Perſecutor, and helliſh Blaspheme…, and turns him into a Preacher, or Martyr, as Paul; it findes men as bad as bad can be, and leaves them in as good a ſtate as the beſt, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11.
8. By the Spirit of God] we may not aſcribe it to the vertue of Ordinances, or worth of Inſtruments; 1 Cor. 9.11. But ye are waſhed, but ye are juſtified, but ye are ſanctifi…d; — by the Spirit of our God. Art, n…ture, education can do nothing here; it is not by might or power, but by the Spirit of God, Zach. 4.6.
9. Whereby the heart is purged, &c.] here the parts of holineſſe, which are two, mortification and vivification; Eſay 1.16, 17Ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well. The firſt is privative. The ſecond poſitive.
Grace works right, when there is firſt a leaving of old ſin: it is not putting a new piece on an old garment; or clapping a new Creed to an old life; or new duties to wonted courſes;Deut. 22.9, 10, 11. this were to ſowe with divers ſeeds, or wear a garment of woollen and linnen which God hates; but there muſt be as to the privative part
1. A heart purged from the love of every ſin] there may be ſin left in the heart, no ſin loved and liked; the evil that I do, I ha…e; ſin and grace may ſtand together,Rom. 7.15. not love of ſin and grace.
2. A life from the practice and dominion of ſin] ſin remains ſtill, but raigns no more; he was a ſervant of ſin, Rom. 6.17, 18.and had members enough to be inſtruments of ſin; a mouth to ſpeak it, a tongue to ſpeak for it, a wit to invent for it, reaſon to argue for it, hands and feet to work and walk fot it, purſe to ſpend upon it; there is none of theſe now.
Secondly, and the other part is yet much better; he is in heart and life carried out after every good] it is not a bare breaking off of ſin that makes a Chriſtian; (it is one half of a Chriſtian) but there muſt be a turning from ſinne, and bringing forth fruites meet for Repentance. You have both theſe parts, 2 Cor. 7.1. Let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh and spirit, and perfect holineſſe, &c.
To come to the Reaſons of the point, which are foure.
Reaſ. 1. This is Gods great deſigne; therefore ſhould be ours. It is the greateſt deſign God hath upon his people in all he doth to and for them. All the immediate acts of God, and all his mediate tend to this.
1. All Gods immediate acts: Pitch where you will; carry it to the firſt of Gods acts towards man in Election; God hath choſen us before the foundation of the world, Epheſ. 1.4. 2 Theſ. 2.13.that we ſhould be holy. So that I may not ſay, If I am Elected, I ſhall be ſaved, though I live in ſinne; but if Elected, I muſt be Sanctified, and dye to ſinne.
2. Take all the acts of the three perſons apart.
1 Pet. 1.14, 15. 1 Theſ. 4.7.Firſt, The Father if he adopt, if he regenerate, if he call, it is that we ſhould be holy.
Secondly, It is the end deſigned by all that Chriſt did; his Incarnation,Hebr. 2.11. Hebr. 13, 12 Eph. 4.26, 27. Life, Death, Doctrine, Example, Humiliation, Exaltation, Prayers, Promiſes, Threats, Miracles, Mercies; yea, of his Interceſſion in heaven that we might be ſanctified.
Thirdly, It is the end of all that the Holy Ghoſt doth. All the works of the Holy Ghoſt may be referred to three heads. 1. His gifts. 2. Graces. 3. Comforts; and all theſe tend to holineſſe.
1. All the gifts of the Holy Ghoſt; if a gift of prayer, of conviction, terror, &c. it is to ſanctifie thee; if of knowledge, utterance, &c. it is to make others holy.
2. A l his graces; What is Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Love, Hope, Zeal, Patience given for; but to make thee holy? yea, they are the ſeveral parts of thy holineſſe it ſelf, which is made up of nothing but the graces of the holy Spirit.
3. All the comforts of the Spirit are given to ſtrengthen our hands in holineſſe; What is the peace of God, love of God, pardon of ſin, aſſurance of ſalvation, joy in the Holy Ghoſt, Spirit of Adoption given for, but to make us more watchful, humble, lively in holineſſe? The Privy Seals of Juſtification muſt be atteſted in Letters Patents, under the broad Seal of Sanctification, or it may be well ſuſpected. Jeremy had two Evidences of his purchaſe,Jerem. 32.10. one ſealed, the other open; ſo muſt we.
2. The mediate acts of God, whatſoever they be in Providences or Ordinances.
Firſt, All ways of Gods Providence to his people, tend to their ſanctifying.
1. If God afflict, he ſaith to ſickneſſe, Go and pull me down that proud ſinner, that he may be ſanctified; Go ſaith the Lord to the winds and ſtorms of the Sea, blow and beat the Ship to awaken me that ſleepy Jonah; Jonah 1.17. & 2.10.ſwallow him up ſaith he to the Whale, (the Lord spake to the fiſh it is ſaid) that he may learn to pray there, and preach after. Go Temptation, winnow me that man well, that he may not be full of ſelf-confidence, that he being converted, may ſtrengthen his brethren; Go death, ſaith he, ſmite ſuch a womans husband, that ſhe may be deſtitute of worldly comforts, then will ſhe truſt in me, 1 Tim. 5.5.and fall to prayer and ſupplication. Go ye Caldeans and Sabeans, and work your will on my ſervant Job; yea, Go Satan, and do thy worſt, make ye him poor, I'le make him honeſt and pious, and more than a Conqueror, and bring him forth as gold; I will leave a poore people, ſaith the Lord, and they ſhall truſt in me. In a word, the Lord ſaith,Zeph. 3.12. the end of all chaſtiſement, is, That we ſhould be made partakers of his holineſſe.Hebr. 12.10.
2. If God deliver, it is that we ſhould ſerve him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. Go ſaith the Lord to Moſes, Luke 1.74, 75.deliver me that people, that they may be to me a Kingdome of Prieſts, and an holy Nation. Let Naaman be healed,Exod. 19.5, 6. that he may become a Convert to that God that hath healed him. Sanctifie me that firſt-borne ſonne, 2 Kings 5. Exod 13.2.whom I have given thee again.
Secondly, In all Ordinances; whoſe ſole and proper end is Sanctification. The Word is to ſanctifie, John 17.17. The commands, 1 Theſ. 4.3. The promiſes to ſanctifie, 2 Cor. 7.1. The Sabbath is a ſigne between God and us, that he is the Lord that doth ſanctifie us, Exod. 31.13. The Sacraments; Baptiſme is to ſanctifie, Epheſ. 5.26. The Lords Supper; ſo Diſcipline, Cenſures, Abſolution, &c. Church-communion, private Conference. All Ordinances agree in this; ſome of them are for Converſion, ſome for Confirmation, all for Sanctification.
Reaſ. 2. This is that which conſtitutes a Chriſtian, and from which he is denominated. All the Chriſtians, and Church-members of old were called Saints; the Saints at Rome, Corinth, Epheſus, &c. That is, the Chriſtians of thoſe places and Churches, (not Saints departed, and Canon zed, but ſuch Saints as we are or ſhould be) viſible Saints, followers of holineſſe: And therefore as one is called a Scholar becauſe he followes learning; another a Merchant, becauſe he follows Merchandize; ſo is the Chriſtian to follow holineſs; To imagine a Chriſtian without holineſſe, is to call one rich that hath neither goods nor lands; a Scholar without learning; to imagine a Sun without light, and fire without heat, which is a pure contradiction.
It is holineſſe which conſtitutes the Chriſtian, as it is the ſoul which conſtitutes the man, who without it is a dead carcaſſe, hand, foot, heart, move not; neither can the eye ſee, eare hear, or tongue ſpeak without the enlivening ſoul; ſo is the Profeſſor a carcaſſe or ſhadow without holineſſe; all his works dead works; his prayers dead, praiſes dead; yea, his faith, hope, repentance without holineſſe (mortua, & mortifera) all dead and deadly.
Reaſ. 3. Without this no man ſhall ſee the Lord. This is the Menacing reaſon of the Text, where there are two things to be explained.
Firſt, One implyed.
Secondly, The other expreſſed.
1. That implied is, That in ſeeing the Lord is the compleat beatitude of the ſoul; Bleſsed are the pure in heart, they ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5.8. i. e. ſee the Lord Jeſus; for the Godhead is inv…ſible; No man hath ſeen God at any time, nor can we ſee him, 1 Tim. 6.16. But the holy perſon ſhall ſee Chriſt, and the glory of the Divine Eſſence, as much as finite can comprehend of infinite; yea, ſee God and live; ſee Chriſt, and be like him, 1 John 3.1, 2. Jeſus Chriſt ſeen in heaven, is the glaſs of the Trinity; in him we ſhall ſee the fulneſſe of the Godhead bodily: And he is a transforming glaſſe to thoſe that ſee him, who ſhall be changed into the ſame image from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3.18. And the ſight of Chriſt will be to us a transfiguration ſight; when I look into another glaſſe, I ſee the image and repreſentative of my ſelf, and as it were, another ſelf; but when I ſhall look into this glaſſe, I ſhall ſee another image and repreſentation, (as a Parelius by the reflexion of the Sun) and as I may ſay, another Chriſt. Hence we commonly call the viſion of God the beatifical viſion; as one ſaith elegantly, Fides juſtificat, Charitas aedificat, Spes laetificat, Viſio beatificat; Faith juſtifies, Charity edifies, Hope pacifies, but it is Ʋiſion which glorifies: And I may adde, Sanctitas qualificat, holineſſe qualifies, that Viſion may glorifie. And this leads me to the ſecond thing which is expreſſed.
2. Without this no man ſhall ſee the Lord. Mark the word, no man; Be he rich or poor, Prince or Peaſant; yea, be he a Prophet, Apoſtle, Miniſter, Martyr; yea, we may carry this foreign higher, no Angell ſhall ſee the Lord; what parts ſoever the man hath, whatſoever duties he performeth; let him be this or that, or any other the beſt profeſſion, way, Church; let him do, let him ſuffer, let him be, let him give, let him hold what he will, …f he be not holy, he comes not into Gods beatifical preſence, he enters not into the holy hill of God. But were he as the Signet o… the right hand, he muſt off, were he an anointed Cherub, he muſt out; down came the Angels, when they had laid down the r holineſſe, and Adam was driven out of Gods preſence, when he had driven out holineſſe.
Reaſ. 4. The fourth and laſt Reaſon, is that thundering one of Saint Peter, 2 Pet. 3.10, 11, 12, 13. When the laſt Trumpet ſhall ſound, and ſound louder and louder; when the day of the Lord ſhall come as a Thief in the night, in the which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat, the Earth alſo and all the works therein ſhall be burnt up; Seeing then all theſe things ſhall be diſsolved, what manner of perſons ought we to be in all holy Converſation and godlineſs, looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire, ſhall be diſſolved, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat! Nevertheleſſe we according to his promiſe look for new Heavens, and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe. Here is nothing but terror in the Text, Lamentation and mourning, and woe. A Thief in the night, a great noiſe, fire, melting, burning, diſsolving, yet is holineſſe and righteouſneſſe ſecure. The new Creature looks for a new Heaven, and a new Earth, wherein there will be room for holineſſe, if there be none here as for Lot in S…dome. This holineſſe is like the blood of the Paſſeover on the door poſts, when the deſtroyer was abroad, and a dreadful cry all Egypt over, then were the Iſraelites ready with their loyns girt, and ſtaves in their hands, expecting the good houre of their laſt Redemption.
We have ſeen (it may be ſome of us) ſad days already; but there are too ſadder to be expected; they are called the day of the Lord, and not days; becauſe as death leaves us, judgment finds us; Death being the morning, and Judgement the evening, and eternity the night of the ſame day) They are both dayes of diſſolution; the one is of the body; a ſad diſſolution, when the ſoul ſhall paſs away with a ſad noiſe of many a doleful groan, and this elementary body ſhall melt with fervent heat of burning diſeaſes, &c. The other is of the Univerſe, when the whole world ſhall be in a conflagration, and hell ſhall come up to heaven, as once hell came out of heaven to conſume Sodome; when the body of the Univerſe ſhall groan with the groanings of a deadly wounded dying man, as was ſaid of Egypt, Ezekiel 30.24. Cum mare, cum Tellus, Correptaque Regia Caeli, Ardeat, & mundi moles operoſa laboret; When the ſtarres of heaven ſhall fall, and the powers of heaven be ſhaken, the Sun turned into darkneſs, Moon into blood, and all the kindreds of the earth mourn, and the hypocrites cry out, Who among us ſhall abide with devouring fire, and dwell with eternal burnings? Iſa. 33.14. Then ſhall the godly ſoul lift up his head, at death and deſtruction he ſhall laugh; he ſhall walk looſe in the midſt of the flames, as did the three Children without ſo much as the ſmell or leaſt dread of the fire; and they may touch theſe live coals, as the Angel did, Iſaiah 6.6. without any diſmay.
Oh holineſs, holineſs! what a munition of Rocks wilt thou give thy followers in that day of the Lord! oh let me preſs you to get a holineſs that is Scripture-proof, and you your ſelves, and your ſtate, and comforts will be death-proof, hell-proof, judgement-proof; you need not fear any fear of man, any day of the Lord, any furnace-fire, elementary fire, conflagration-fire, hell-fire; when the Kings, and the Captains, and the Mighty ſhall cry out to the Rocks to fall on them, and the worſhippers of the Beaſt, and the rich Merchants of Rome ſhall cry out for the ſmoak of the burning, then ſhall the Sons of Sion ſing out their redoubled Hallelujahs at the coming of the Bridegroom, and the day of the Lord, their day of Marriage and Coronation.
Uſe 1. Lament the loſs of holineſs. We may complain; Holineſſe is loſt and faln in the ſtreets. Some complain of loſſe of Trade; in theſe ſad times Trade is dead, there is no Trade; we may ſay this Trade is loſt or dead, there is little holineſſe ſtirring. Many complain of the loſſe of peace, p…ace is gone, but we have cau…e to ſay, Holineſs was gone firſt. In midſt of many Profeſſions, many contentions, many op nions, changings, turns, returns, little holineſs to be ſeen. In midſt of great parts, high expreſſions, much light, powerful Ordinances, many years attempted Reformation, a little holineſs goes a great way. Our ſhadows are long, our contentions ſharp, our holineſs low, our Corn runs out into ſtraw and ſtalk, not ear and kernel. Our nouriſhment turns to Rickets, the head ſwelled, and extended, the child feeble and infirm; we have left our company, and our work, and are ſcattered all the Land over, to pick up ſtrawes, and gather ſtubble. Some obſerve, that our buildings now adayes, are not ſo ſolid and ſubſtantial as of old; our ſpiritual buildings are not I am ſure; And as ſome ſay, our Engliſh cloth is not of ſo good a name and eſteem, as heretofore abroad, not ſo pure and well wrought; our name and Crown for holineſs is loſt, it not being ſo pure and well wrought.
Uſe 2 Uſe 2. It informs how little ſome have to evidence their Chriſtianity, and their Title to heaven, that can ſpeak of no Holineſſe, make no proof of any real change or work of the Spitit, of dying to ſin, living to God; what are all theſe hopes but lying hopes. Without holineſſe no man ſhall ſee the Lord.
Ʋiſible Saintſhip may juſtly gain admittance into Church-fellowſhip; But it is real holineſs that makes meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light. Seeming holineſs in profeſſion, ſets thee in the outward Court, but into the inner Temple, and the Holy of Holies, only true holineſs qualifies to an admiſſion. It is noted, though the outward Court was laid with ſtone, yet the Inner Temple,1 King. 6 30. and the Holy of Holies had the very floore of gold. True Holineſſe makes a Member of the Church Militant and Tryumphant.
Uſe 3 3. Uſe, Reproof, or terrour to ſuch as hate, deride, or ſcoff at holineſſe. Many if reproved, will ſay, I cry you mercy, you must be ſo holy, I am none of your Saints, nor of the holy Brethren, &c. Oh unclean ſwine, or unclean ſpirit ſhall I ſay; knoweſt thou not whoſe language is that in thy mouth, What have I to do with thee thou holy one of God? Thy ſpeech bewrayeth thee (as one ſaith) to be a Hellilean, no Galilean, no Diſciple; doſt thou call thy ſelf a Chriſtian, and deny the Saint? then blot out Saint in Pauls Epiſtles, and teach him to call Chriſtians by ſome other name, of Drunkards, Swearers, and Scoffers at holineſſe. Blot out Saints out of thy Creed. Doſt thou ſay thou art none of the holy Brethren? then tear thy name out of Gods Book, and the Church Regiſter; The Apoſtle calls all the Chriſtians to whom he writes, Holy Brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. Heb. 3.1.Doſt thou glory that thou art none of the holy ones? then glory in this threat of the Text, that thou ſhalt never ſee God; glory in this, that thou haſt no part nor lot in this matter, no part in Election, Redemption, in the gifts, graces, comforts of the Spirit, in the promiſes and priviledges of the Goſpel; go and glory that God is not thy Father, Chriſt thy Saviour, that thou ſhalt never be troubled with the Communion of the Saints in Heaven, and the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect.
Uſe 4 Uſe 4. A worſe Reproof and Uſe of terrour follows to ſuch, who inſtead of following holineſs, and perfecting holineſs in the fear of God, are faln from it, declined, and turned aſide after vain opinions, and employ ſpeculations.
Caepisti melius quam deſinis, ultima primis oedunt, diſſimilis hic puer, ille Senex. Ovid.A young Saint and an old Apoſtate leads to a ſad end. Look to it you young Profeſſors, that had the Dew of Grace, and ſeeming holineſs in youth, and are now dryed up by the roots. Look to it you old Profeſſors, that you hold out, watch, and keep your Garments white, and ſeek to bring forth more fruit in your age. The Tree that bears evil fruit, is cut down. That which leaves only curſed, but that which is twice dead worſt of all; this is the deſperate caſe; and of all ſins, this is only the unpardonable ſin.Heb. 6.4, 5, and 10. All the unrighteouſneſſe of the greateſt ſinner, repenting and leaving his ſin, is forgotten and forgiven; but the righteouſneſſe of the greateſt Saints, repenting and leaving his righteouſneſs, is forgotten, but never forgiven, Ezekiel 18.24.
Uſe 5 Uſe 5. The laſt Uſe is an Exhortation, and the whole Text is an Exhortation to follow holineſs; to purſue, preſs after it, and proceed in it with growth and perſeverance. He that is holy, let him be holy still. For motives and Arguments,Rev. 22. let that of the Text never be forgotten, without holineſſe no man ſh…ll ſee the Lord. When God comes to judge the world, it will not be asked of what Church, or Congregation thou waſt, how great a Profeſſor, but how holy thou haſt been. The way of holineſs, is the Kings high way to Heaven. Read that notable place, Iſa. 35.8. And a way there ſhall be, a high way, and it ſhall be called the way of holineſſe; the unclean ſhall not paſſe ever it; the way-faring men, though fools, ſhall not erre therein. There is much ado now about the way; many ſay, Which is the way? ſome ſay this, ſome that; would you not miſtake, enquire for the old way, the way of holineſs, and follow it, and thou ſhalt not periſh. Some would go a new way, ſome a ſhorter, ſome an eaſier way. The ſimpleſt Saint (in the worlds ſenſe) a fool ſhall not erre therein. The leaſt dram of holineſs is above a Talent of parts, a drop of grace above a Sea of knowledge. In knowledge we are ſaid to be as Angels of God; in holineſs like God himſelf;2 Sam. 14.20. 1 Pet. 1.15. ſo much as God is above an Angel, ſo much is holineſs above knowledge. Look if thou canſt make out the firſt change, then thou needeſt not fear any other change; if thou art partaker of the firſt Reſurrection, thou art ſecure againſt the Second Death; thou haſt croſſed the Line; another Stile, and thou art at home.
I ſhall only name two properties of holineſſe, three Companions, and four Oppoſites to holineſſe, and ſo conclude.
1. It muſt be Converſation-holineſſe, 1 Pet. 1.15. & 2 Pet. 3.11. The Greek word foreign; and the Latine, Converſatio, come of a Verb that ſignifies to Turn; q. d. which way ſoever you ſhall turn your ſelf, you ſhall find them holy at every turn; holy in the Church, and follow them home; obſerve them alone, or in company, merry, angry, in Shops, Cloſets, Counſels, Commerſe, they are holy ſtill; he is not Publicanus, but Privatanus as one ſaith; and true Holineſſe is like that Famous Queen Elizabeth, Semper eadem.
2. Which is yet more, it muſt be God-like-holineſſe, 1 Pet. 1.15. Be ye holy as G d is holy. God is infinitely and eſſentially holy, ſo we cannot be; but God is imitable in his holineſs. As he is,
1. Univerſal…y holy; holy in all his wayes, works, commands, precepts, threats, promiſes, his love, anger, hatred, all his Attributes, all his Actions holy.
2. He is Communicatively holy; communicating holineſſe to all his, Angels and men.
3. App obativ ly holy; this he likes, commends, promotes in all, diſcountenancing all unholineſſe, in perſons, actions, things.
4. Remuneratively holy, rewarding and exalting holineſſe, puniſhing want of it, ſo be you Univerſally holy in all your actions, ſpeeches, writings, Letters, Counſels, Deſignes, in all Companies; let your anger, love, zeal, pity, &c. be all for holineſſe, ſeek to communicate and ſpread holineſſe in your famil…es, charge, Societies; let this be that which attracts the hearts, draws your eyes to any perſon, &c. And to your power ſuppreſſe, curb all unholineſſe, and promote, exalt, commend holineſſe.
2. There are three Companions of holineſſe.
1. In the Text, Peace and holineſſe; he is moſt for holineſſe, who is moſt for peace in a right way; ſeek the peace of the Land,Iſa. 8.12, 13. make no Conſpiracies; ſay no confederacy, b…t ſanctifie God in your hearts; ſeek the peace of the Church, by preſerving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; take heed of Schiſmes, Rents, Diviſions, Separations; Pray that the Church may have rest; Act. 9.31.that walking in the feare of the Lord, and comforts of the holy Ghoſt, Believers may be multiplied and edified.
2. Holineſſe and righteouſneſſe are oft matched together;Luk. 1 75. 1 Theſ. 3.10. Prov. 11.1. Righteouſneſſe in Pactions, Words, Promiſes, Oaths, Bonds, Righteouſneſſe in dealings, Weights, Meaſures, a juſt Ballance, Ephah. Righteouſneſſe may poſſibly be without holineſſe, but holineſſe without righteouſneſſe never.
3. Holineſſe and unblameableneſſe; 1 Theſ. 3.10. Ye are Witneſſes, and God alſo how holily, juſtly, and unblameably we have had our Converſation in the world. 1 Theſ. 3.13.The Chriſtian muſt be tryed by God and the world. Unblameableneſs in ſpeech, behaviour, dealings; yea, in habit, geſtures, that w… may be without all offence, towards God, and towards man. The Kings Daughters Garment muſt be of divers colours, holily, juſtly, unblameably.
3. The foure Oppoſites, and enemies to holineſs, which we muſt avoid, are,
1. Filthineſſe of the fleſh; ſenſual and bruitiſh luſts, 2 Cor. 7.1. Fornication, uncleanneſs, drunkenneſs, which defile the body, do utterly deſtroy holineſs, and cannot conſiſt with it; therefore oft oppoſed. 1 Theſs. 4.3. This is the Will of G…d, even your ſanctification, that ye abſtain from fornication, &c. God hath not called us to ancleanneſſe, but holineſſe, ver. 7.
2. Filthineſſe of ſpirit; 2 Cor. 7.1. which is as deſtructive to holineſs, as bruitiſh luſts. Idolatry, falſe Religions, wantonneſs in Opinion, errour, corrupt Doctrine are as dangerous as Fornication; By theſe we go a whoring from God and Truth. The minde is to be kept chaſt and pure, as well as the body; errour is not ſo harmleſs a thing as many dream.
3. Over-reaching men by craft, fraud, power, policy; and making uſe of ſuch meanes, Arguments, devices, ſtratagems, as corrupt reaſon, and carnal Counſel (not Gods providence, or approbation) doth furniſh us withal, and put us upon. 1 Theſſ. 4.6, 7. That no man go beyond, or over-reach his Brother in any matter; for God hath not call'd us to uncleanneſſe, but holineſſe; and God is an avenger of all ſuch. The word is foreign, that no man over-top, over-reach, go beyond his Brother; not in hol…neſs (would we did ſeek herein to go beyond each other) but in craft and policy to undermine, or over-reach them; as Simeon and Levi over-reached the over credulous Shechemites, pretending conſcience, and harbouring bloody intentions in their hearts. God is an Avenger of ſuch. There is a direful threat added of Divine Vengeance; this word foreign, is but once more uſed in the New Teſtament, Rom. 13.4 then applyed to the Magiſtrate; he is a revenger of wrath to him that doth evil; he muſt ſee execution done; So in this caſe, God is the revenger himſelf, and he will be this mans Executioner.
4. The fourth oppoſite to holineſs, is an ill kind of holineſs; a ſupercilious, cenſorious, diſdainful, and diſtance-keeping holineſs; which like the Phariſee, Luke 18. exalts it ſelf, and Canonizeth himſelf, and his own party, and unſainteth all others. Iſa. 65.5. Which ſay, Stand by thy ſelf, come not near me, for I am holier than thou; theſe are a ſmoak in my noſe, and a fire that burneth all the day, ſaith the Lord. This is the worſt ſpot in the beauty of holineſs; a ſpice of that pride that was in Lucifer, and his fellow-aſpiring Angels that made the firſt Schiſme and ſeparation in the pureſt Church, even in heaven it ſelf, among the Angels that were wholly perfect. Take heed of this, as of the very peſt of the Church, and the bane of all Religion, which is beſt preſerved in unity and humility.
I ſhall ſhut up all with a wiſh, and that an hearty Prayer alluding to what I ſaid at firſt; Oh that all our garments (our Profeſſion) might be adorned with theſe Bells and Pomgranates, peace and holineſſe. That as we call on God, who is called holy, holy, holy, Rev. 4.6. and on Chriſt who is called King of Saints, Rev. 15.6. and as we profeſs the Goſpel, which is a Rule of holineſs, and are members of the Church, which is called a Kingdom of Saints, an holy Nation, 1 Pet. 2.9. and as we look to be partakers of that Kingdom wherein dwells righteouſneſs and holineſs, that according to that promiſe, Thy people ſhall be all righteous, Iſa. 60.21. that holineſs to the Lord may be engraven upon all our hearts, as with the engraving of a Signet (the Spirit of God) and holineſs to the Lord upon all our fore-heads, as to our converſation; that as we have had a year, which we call Annum Reſtitutae Libertatis, we might have a year Reſtitutae Sanctitatis; this we might ſafely call Annum Salutis, or Annum Domini, the year of our Lord. That our Officers might be all peace, our Governors holineſs, Iſa. 60.17. that our Miniſters might be cloathed with righteouſneſs, and our Church-Members with holineſs; that all of different perſwaſions might (not contend, but) labour for peace and holineſs. Herein let us agree, and all is agreed; that the bells of our Horſes, and Bridles of our Horſemen (Commanders and common Souldiers) might be holineſs to the Lord, Zach. 14.20, 21. that there might not be a Canaanite, or hypocrite in the houſe of the Lord; then might our Land, Church, Parliament, Army, City, Min…ſtry, be called Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, Ezek. 48.35. yea, then would this holineſs ſettle us in peace here, and bring us to ſee the Lord, where peace and holineſs ſhall never be ſeparated. Even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Amen.