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separation of them unto the service of God； by His own appointment；
whereby they bee holy。 Thus the priests and Levites of old； the ark；
the altar； the tabernacle； and the temple； were sanctified and made
holy； and； indeed； in all holiness whatever； there is a peculiar
dedication and separation unto God。 But in the sense mentioned； this
was solitary and alone。 No more belonged unto it but this sacred
separation； nor was there any other effect of this sanctification。 But；
secondly； there is another kind of sanctification and holiness； wherein
this separation to God is not the first thing done or intended； but a
consequent and effect thereof。 This is real and internal； by the
municating of a principle of holiness unto our natures； attended
with its exercise in acts and duties of holy obedience unto God。 This
is that which we inquire after。〃John Owen on the Holy Spirit。 Vol。
iii； p。 370； Works； Goold's edition。
＇6＇ 〃The devil's war is better than the devil's peace。 Suspect dumb
holiness。 When the dog is kept out of doors he howls to be let in
again。〃〃Contraries meeting； such as fire and water； conflict one with
another。When Satan findeth a sanctified heart； he tempteth with much
importunity。 Where there is much of God and of Christ； there are strong
injections and firebrands cast in at the windows； so that some of much
faith have been tempted to doubt。〃Rutherford's Trial of Faith； p。
403。
＇7＇ 〃There is no imagination wherewith man is besotted； more foolish；
none so pernicious； as this；that persons not purified； not
sanctified； not made holy in their life； should afterwards be taken
into that state of blessedness which consists in the enjoyment of God。
Neither can such persons enjoy God； nor would God be a reward to
them。Holiness indeed is perfected in heaven： but the beginning of it
is invariably confined to this world。〃Owen on Holy Spirit； p。 575。
Goold's edition。
＇8＇ 〃Christ in the Gospel is proposed to us as our pattern and example
of holiness； and as it is a cursed imagination that this was the whole
end of his life and death： namely； to exemplify and confirm the
doctrine of holiness which He taughtso to neglect His being our
example； in considering Him by faith to that end； and labouring after
conformity to Him； is evil and pernicious。 Wherefore let us be much in
the contemplation of what He was； and what He did； and how in all
duties and trials He carried Himself； until an image or idea of His
perfect holiness is implanted in our minds； and we are made like unto
Him thereby。〃Owen on the Holy Ghost； p。 513。 Goold's edition。
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III。
HOLINESS
〃Holiness； without which no man shall see the Lord。〃Heb。 xii。 14。
The text which heads this page opens up a subject of deep importance。
That subject is practical holiness。 It suggests a question which
demands the attention of all professing ChristiansAre we holy？ Shall
we see the Lord？
That question can never be out of season。 The wise man tells us； 〃There
is a time to weep； and a time to laugha time to keep silence； and a
time to speak〃 （Eccles。 iii。 4； 7）； but there is no time； no； not a
day； in which a man ought not to be holy。 Are we？
That question concerns all ranks and conditions of men。 Some are rich
and some are poorsome learned and some unlearnedsome masters； and
some servants； but there is no rank or condition in life in which a man
ought not to be holy。 Are we？
I ask to be heard to…day about this question。 How stands the account
between our souls and God？ In this hurrying； bustling world； let us
stand still for a few minutes and consider the matter of holiness。 I
believe I might have chosen a subject more popular and pleasant。 I am
sure I might have found one more easy to handle。 But I feel deeply I
could not have chosen one more seasonable and more profitable to our
souls。 It is a solemn thing to hear the Word of God saying； 〃Without
holiness no man shall see the Lord。〃 （Heb。 xii。 14。）
I shall endeavour； by God's help； to examine what true holiness is； and
the reason why it is so needful。 In conclusion； I shall try to point
out the only way in which holiness can be attained。 I have already； in
the second paper in this volume； approached this subject from a
doctrinal side。 Let me now try to present it to my readers in a more
plain and practical point of view。
I。 First； then； let me try to show what true practical holiness
iswhat sort of persons are those whom God calls holy。
A man may go great lengths； and yet never reach true holiness。 It is
not knowledgeBalaam had that： nor great professionJudas Iscariot
had that： nor doing many thingsHerod had that： nor zeal for certain
matters in religionJehu had that： nor morality and outward
respectability of conductthe young ruler had that： nor taking
pleasure in hearing preachersthe Jews in Ezekiel's time had that： nor
keeping pany with godly peopleJoab and Gehazi and Demas had that。
Yet none of these was holy！ These things alone are not holiness。 A man
may have any one of them； and yet never see the Lord。
What then is true practical holiness？ It is a hard question to answer。
I do not mean that there is any want of Scriptural matter on the
subject。 But I fear lest I should give a defective view of holiness；
and not say all that ought to be said； or lest I should say things
about it that ought not to be said； and so do harm。 Let me； however；
try to draw a picture of holiness； that we may see it clearly before
the eyes of our minds。 Only let it never be forgotten； when I have said
all； that my account is but a poor imperfect outline at the best。
（a） Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God； according as
we find His mind described in Scripture。 It is the habit of agreeing in
God's judgmenthating what He hatesloving what He lovesand
measuring everything in this world by the stand