By

Edward Davies

Lecture 5

HOLINESS TO THE LORD -- THE MEANS OF ATTAINING IT

"Be ye holy."

We have calmly considered this subject of holiness as it pertains to God, and as it pertains to man. We have found it an absolute necessity. We have seen it gloriously possible, and exceedingly desirable. Now we are led to inquire, What means we may use to secure this blessing?

It has been well said, "Holiness is not an outside or accidental appendage of Christianity; it is the very center of it; the grand element of its power; the essential fact of its value." Yet it is generally neglected, so that a large portion of converted men are but sanctified in part, and the Church comes very short of accomplishing her mission.

Now how may these masses of converted men attain the holiness in question?

1. It will be manifest to all that there must be a deep and abiding conviction of the need of it. This is fundamental, and we can not proceed without it. As long as Christians can quiet their consciences and settle down at ease in a state of partial sanctification, they will never secure entire sanctification. If they do not see the holiness of the law, and the want of conformity to it, and the necessity of an entire consecration, they will wander still in the wilderness, and never enter the Canaan of perfect love. Look at the absolute holiness of God; and of his strict requirement of us to be like him -- to be holy. in our nature and capacity, as he is holy in his. Then look at the many roots of bitterness in the heart; at that which dwells within, that is not like him, and at the want of the example before the world, that holiness implies and affords; and at the blessed fullness of the gospel; and there will arise a conviction that this blessing not only may, but must be attained. This conviction will be deepened by considering the purity of all the heavenly host, with whom we hope to spend our eternity; for if he would live with them, it is evident we must be like them.

Observe, it is not the conviction that a backslider has, that we are talking about. The justification must be maintained, in the same way that it is obtained, by a simple and implicit faith that brings salvation and power to keep the commands; and if this is forfeited by falling into sin, that sin must be repented of, and a fresh application made of' the blood of Christ; but this is a very different thing from the conviction for perfect love. Now it is only when we are living in close communication with God, that we can discover our want of holiness, or have a hungering and thirsting after it. There is often a great shrinking from this conviction, -- an unwillingness to come to the light, -- to give up the "easily besetting sin," and to crucify self; but these will never walk in the highway of holiness, or the streets of the New Jerusalem, if these inbred sins are not the cause of a deep and abiding conviction of the need of holiness.

2. But suppose this conviction is produced, and keenly and constantly felt; the next means must be, to form a settled resolution never to rest till this blessing is obtained, to secure this exalted state by all and by every means. Never mind, though you have broken many of your former resolves. Make this, not in your own strength, but

"In the strength that God supplies, Through his eternal Son."

Make the resolution in the sight of God, calling upon him for a witness. Make it in full view of all the consequences, with no mental reservation. Remember, this is not a resolution to live nearer to God only; to enjoy more religion, or to do some long-neglected duties for a little time. Nay, this is not the point. You are to resolve to be fully and for ever the Lord's, -- to do his will, and glorify his name at all times. I once heard the son of a minister pleading with God for a clean heart, in the tent on the camp-ground, and he kept consecrating one thing after another, and at last he cried out, "Yes, Lord, and I will preach also, if you wish me to." This had long been the trouble with him; the last thing he was willing to do; but he accepted the blessing and its consequences, and has been a traveling and an acceptable minister for a number of years.

Some are afraid to make this resolution, lest they should receive the blessing in some unusual manner, with the loss of their physical strength, or with shouting and excitement. This would show that all was not given up, for we must leave the manner of obtaining the blessing with God, and fully purpose to have it in whatever way he is pleased to give it, in a hurricane, or in a mighty calm.

3. If we would obtain this blessing, we must seek from God the blessing of a contrite heart and a broken spirit. This tenderness of soul will help to humble us before the Lord, and prepare its for the blessing, and lay its low at the feet of Jesus. "The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, o Lord, thou will not despise."

4. There must be a humble and hearty confession.

(1) To God. In the dust before him, tell him all the plague you have had with a heart that was not right in his sight, and that was prone to wander; how many evil thoughts have troubled you; how many unholy feelings have striven within for the mastery; how much unbelief, pride, love of the world, anger, and envy have rankled in your bosom; and how much these things have marred your peace, hindered your faith, and stopped your prosperity; how impossible it has been to fitly exemplify the Christian character while you have thus been, Samson-like, shorn of your strength. Lay your heart fully open before him; tell him all that is in your way, though he knows it all beforehand, yet he is pleased to have you thus confess it. And you will find that this will be a most humbling and profitable exercise. It will give you a great victory over those sins, for when they have thus been exposed in the light of God, they will not so easily show themselves again.

 

(2) You must confess your want of holiness before your brethren, These are fellow-members of the same church, and you want their charity and their confidence. You need their counsel and prayers, and you must be willing to humble yourself before them; to confess in the very dust, that since you have named the name of Christ, you have not fully departed from iniquity; that you have not attained that perfect love that casts out fear; that you have come short of that perfect faith

"That will not shrink;"

and that now, by the grace of God and their prayers, you will fully dedicate yourself to the Lord. This will fully commit you to the cause, and draw out their prayers and sympathies in your behalf. Yet there may be some lukewarm ones that will treat you coldly. This must be meekly borne, -- it is an unavoidable consequence, -- yet let the confession be fully made, and it may serve to stir up even their hearts.

5. If you would ever obtain this great blessing, you must make an entire consecration of yourself, and all you have, to the service of God. You must be like the vessels of the temple, -separated from a common to a sacred use, -- set fully apart, not to do your own will, but the will of Him than sent you; not to glorify self, but to glorify God in your body and spirit, which are his to use your natural or acquired talents for his honor, and not your own. "God must fully reign in your heart, while you reject everything of honor, pleasure, or profit which is not for his glory." Your property, in whole and in part, must be subject to the will of God, -- to be sacredly used for his glory. The sainted Fletcher had one question for self-examination, which would be a good one for all that would be wholly the Lord's, as he was. At the close of each day, he would ask himself, "Have I laid out any money this day to please myself, when I might have saved it for the cause of God?" I am fully satisfied that right here is the grand difficulty with many who seek for a full salvation, -- they will not consecrate their property to God; they seek for the fullness, and yet follow after vanities, and keep back a part of their earthly substance to be spent on their excessive love of finery, and to follow the worldly fashions. And thus their money is used for their pleasure, and not for God's glory. They will give up everything else but their money to God. Meanwhile, the world is perishing for lack of these sinews of holy war, and missionary and other enterprises are not sustained.

Your time must be fully consecrated to God; your precious moments must he used and improved according to your best ability. You have no time for needless self-indulgence, but you will spend it in doing or receiving good.

The members of your body must be fully dedicated to God; your hands must labor for godly purposes only; your eyes must be closed against all sinful objects; your ears must not listen to the tongue of slander; your palate must be gratified in that degree only that will be for your bodily health; your natural passions must be kept within the bounds of reason; a guard must be put upon your tongue, that it speak no guile. To place all these upon the altar of consecration will require much of the aid of the Holy Spirit; but, thank God, he giveth the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Will you now, by this Spirit's aid, make this entire transfer of yourself and all to God? O, do it now! "Now is the accepted time, and behold now is the day of salvation." Do you now make the consecration, this moment?

6. Having felt the conviction, -- made the resolution, -- sought the contrition, -- made your confessions, and completed your consecration; now you will find the need of earnest, fervent prayer. You must plead with God on your bended knees, -- if need be, hour after hour, -- till the blessing comes. I remember well the sacred Friday night when I fully resolved never to retire to rest till the blessing was mine. I continued in prayer till about eleven o'clock, when the heavenly blessing came, and the direct witness of the Spirit, that I was fully saved.

David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart." The Apostle said, "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly." So your prayers must be definite, ask for just the blessing you want, and in the simplest language, and it may be well to use the language of inspiration, -- that which the Holy Ghost teacheth. Pray! O, pray! till your heart is filled with holy fire, and your whole spirit is illuminated with heavenly light.

There is just one step more for you to take. In the midst of your earnest prayers, you must exercise an implicit faith. Your whole soul must rely upon God's faithful word; every step you have taken has been a step of faith; but they are all in vain if you do not still believe. Now, having renounced all dependence upon yourself, place your whole confidence in him, who, upon the cross, laid down his life to save you from all sin. You can not doubt his ability, and surely you will not doubt his willingness. He is able and willing just now. The work may be done in a moment; while you, by faith, touch the hem of his garments, virtue flows from him; it can not be otherwise. Do you not feel it now? Does not the divine influence pervade your whole soul? Have you not now

Hallelujah! He saves me now, -- this instant, now I dare, I do believe? Praise God!

"Faith, mighty faith, the promise see,
And looks to that alone,
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, It shall he done!
The thing surpasses all my thought;
But faithful is my Lord,
Through unbelief I stagger not,
For God hath spoke the word."

If you seek the blessing by works, you will always have something to do, and will never obtain it; but, if you seek it by faith, you may have it now, -- a free gift, without money, and without price.