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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 works。〃 （Titus ii。 14。） In short； to talk of men being saved
from the guilt of sin； without being at the same time saved from its
dominion in their hearts； is to contradict the witness of all
Scripture。 Are believers said to be elect！it is 〃through
sanctification of the Spirit。〃 Are they predestinated？it is 〃to be
conformed to the image of God's Son。〃 Are they chosen？it is 〃that
they may be holy。〃 Are they called？is it 〃with a holy calling。〃 Are
they afflicted？it is that they may be 〃partakers of holiness。〃 Jesus
is a plete Saviour。 He does not merely take away the guilt of a
believer's sin； He does moreHe breaks its power； （1 Peter i。 2； Rom。
viii。 29； Eph。 i。 4； Heb。 xii。 10。）
（c） We must be holy； because this is the only sound evidence that we
have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ。 The Twelfth Article of
our Church says truly； that 〃Although good works cannot put away our
sins； and endure the severity of God's judgment； yet are they pleasing
and acceptable to God in Christ； and do spring out necessarily of a
true and lively faith； insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as
evidently known as a tree discerned by its fruits。〃 James warns us
there is such a thing as a dead faitha faith which goes no further
than the profession of the lips； and has no influence on a man's
character。 （James ii。 17。） True saving faith is a very different kind
of thing。 True faith will always show itself by its fruitsit will
sanctify； it will work by love； it will overe the world； it will
purify the heart。 I know that people are fond of talking about
death…bed evidences。 They will rest on words spoken in the hours of
fear； and pain； and weakness； as if they might take fort in them
about the friends they lose。 But I am afraid in ninety…nine cases out
of a hundred such evidences are not to be depended on。 I suspect that；
with rare exceptions； men die just as they have lived。 The only safe
evidence that