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with God in prayer； in the Bible； and in the assembly of His
peoplethese things will be the holy man's chiefest enjoyments。 He
will value every thing and place and pany； just in proportion as it
draws him nearer to God。 He will enter into something of David's
feeling； when he says； 〃My soul followeth hard after Thee。〃 〃Thou art
my portion。〃 （Psalm lxiii。 8； cxix。 57。）
Such is the outline of holiness which I venture to sketch out。 Such is
the character which those who are called 〃holy〃 follow after。 Such are
the main features of a holy man。
But here let me say； I trust no man will misunderstand me。 I am not
without fear that my meaning will be mistaken； and the description I
have given of holiness will discourage some tender conscience。 I would
not willingly make one righteous heart sad； or throw a stumbling…block
in any believer's way。
I do not say for a moment that holiness shuts out the presence of
indwelling sin。 No： far from it。 It is the greatest misery of a holy
man that he carries about with him a 〃body of death；〃that often when
he would do good 〃evil is present with him〃； that the old man is
clogging all his movements； and； as it were； trying to draw him back at
every step he takes。 （Rom。 vii。 21。） But it is the excellence of a holy
man that he is not at peace with indwelling sin； as others are。 He
hates it； mourns over it； and longs to be free from its pany。 The
work of sanctification within him is like the wall of Jerusalemthe
building goes forward 〃even in troublous times。〃 （Dan。 ix。 25。）
Neither do I say that holiness es to ripeness and perfection all at
once； or that these graces I have touched on must be found in full
bloom and vigour before you can call a man holy。 No： far from it。
Sanctification is always a progressive work。 Some men's graces are in
the blade； some in the ear； and some are like full corn in the ear。 All
must have a beginning。 We must never despise 〃the day of small things。〃
And sanctification in the very best is an imperfect work。 The history
of the brightest saints that ever lived will contain many a 〃but；〃 and
〃howbeit；〃 and 〃notwithstanding；〃 before you reach the end。 The gold
will never be without some drossthe light will never shine without
some clouds； until we reach the heavenly Jerusalem。 The sun himself has
spots upon his face。 The holiest men have many a blemish and defect
when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary。 Their life is a continual
warfare with sin； the world； and the devil； and sometimes you will see
them not overing； but overe。 The flesh is ever lusting against
the spirit； and the spirit against the flesh； and 〃in many things they
offend all。〃 （Gal。 v。 17； James iii。 2。）
But still； for all this； I am sure that to have such a character as I
have faintly drawn； is the heart's desire and prayer of all true
Christians。 They press towards it； if they do not reach it。 They may
not attain to it； but they always aim at it。 It is what they strive and
labour to be； if it is not what they are。
And this I do boldly and confidently say； that true holiness is a great
reality。 It is something in a man that can be seen； and known； and
marked； and felt by all around him。 It is light： if it exists； it will
show itself。 It is salt： if it exists； its savour will be perceived。 It
is a precious ointment： if it exists； its presence cannot be hid。
I am sure we should all be ready to make allowance for much
backsliding； for much occasional deadness in professing Christians。 I
know a road may lead from one point to another； and yet have many a
winding and turn； and a man may be truly holy； and yet be drawn aside
by many an infirmity。 Gold is not the less gold because mingled with
alloy； nor light the less light because faint and dim； nor grace the
less grace because young and weak。 But after every allowance； I cannot
see how any man deserves to be called 〃holy；〃 who wilfully allows
himself in sins； and is not humbled and ashamed because of them。 I dare
not call anyone 〃holy〃 who makes a habit of wilfully neglecting known
duties； and wilfully doing what he knows God has manded him not to
do。 Well says Owen； 〃I do not understand how a man can be a true
believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden； sorrow； and
trouble。〃
Such are the leading characteristics of practical holiness。 Let us
examine ourselves and see whether we are acquainted with it。 Let us
prove our own selves。
II。 Let me try； in the next place； to show some reasons why practical
holiness is so important。
Can holiness save us？ Can holiness put away sincover iniquitiesmake
satisfaction for transgressionspay our debt to God？ No： not a whit。
God forbid that I should ever say so。 Holiness can do none of these
things。 The brightest saints are all 〃unprofitable servants。〃 Our
purest works are no better than filthy rags； when tried by the light of
God's holy law。 The white robe which Jesus offers； and faith puts on；
must be our only righteousnessthe name of Christ our only
confidencethe Lamb's book of life our only title to heaven。 With all
our holiness we are no better than sinners。 Our best things are stained
and tainted with imperfection。 They are all more or less inplete；
wrong in the motive or defective in the performance。 By the deeds of
the law shall no child of Adam ever be justified。 〃By grace are ye
saved through faith； and that not of yourselves； it is the gift of God：
not of works； lest any man should boast。〃 （Ephes。 ii。 8； 9。）
Why then is holiness so important？ Why does the Apostle say； 〃Without
it no man shall see the Lord〃？ Let me set out in order a few reasons。
（a） For one thing； we must be holy； because the voice of God in
Scripture plainly mands it。 The Lord Jesus says to His people；
〃Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees； ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 20。） 〃Be ye perfect； even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect。〃 （Matt。 v。 48。） Paul tells the Thessalonians； 〃This
is the will of God； even your sanctification。〃 （1 Thess。 iv。 3。） And
Peter says； 〃As He which hath called you is holy； so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation；〃 because it is written； 〃Be ye holy； for I am
holy。〃 （1 Peter i。 15； 16。） 〃In this；〃 says Leighton； 〃law and Gospel
agree。〃
（b） We must be holy； because this is one grand end and purpose for
which Christ came into the world。 Paul writes to the Corinthians； 〃He
died for all； that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves； but unto Him which died for them and rose again。〃 （2 Cor。
v。 15。） And to the Ephesians； 〃Christ loved the Church； and gave
Himself for it； that He might sanctify and cleanse it。〃 （Ephes。 v。 25；
26。） And to Titus； 〃He gave Himself for us； that He might redeem us
from all iniquity； and purify unto Himself a peculiar people； zealous
of good w