HOLINESS POSSIBLE AND DESIRABLE

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

Having seen what holiness is, in its nature and necessity, let us now inquire, -- First. Is it possible to be holy in this life? It would hardly seem necessary to consider this point, but for the encouragement it will afford to all those who sincerely desire to have this pearl of great price," and that all doubt may be removed from those who are skeptical upon this doctrine. Can it be, that I, a worm of the earth, may become so holy as to become a resident of heaven? who am so unworthy, so frail, and liable to err in judgment and practice? Yes; thank God, I may! The question is not if I can be saved from these and many other infirmities which pertains to the best of men on earth. No; these infirmities will follow us to the tomb, as constitutional, and as the natural effects of the fall. But can I be cleansed from all inward corruptions, the sources of unholy thoughts, feelings, and words, which have so often troubled me? Can I be saved from the love of the world? Can I have my will subdued, my affections sanctified, my conscience clean, and my body and all its powers sanctified to God? Yes, glory to God, I may!

1. The commands of the Bible imply this. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." This embraces the whole, and God would never require what could not be done. He does require this; therefore it can be done, There are many other passages that teach the same, but let this suffice.

2. The prayers of the Bible teach the possibility of holiness: "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Now how could an inspired apostle pray for this entire sanctification if it could not be obtained? And if the church at Thessalonica could be wholly satisfied, so may any church, and so may any member of the church. It can be done: glory to God! And as though the apostle feared that some would doubt the possibility of such a great blessing, he says, to sweep all fears away, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." He has called you to holiness, and will sanctify you fully. Can we want anything more to the point? Again, the Psalmist prays, "Create in me a clean heart, and renew within me a right spirit."

3. The promises of the Bible attest the same fact. "From all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you." "The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul." Who can doubt such "precious promises," made by him that "can not lie?" Holiness is possible.

4. Holiness is possible if God is able to accomplish this work. Now, who will doubt the ability of the Great Jehovah to fully save the world? If he made the soul, can he not fully save it from all sin? Who will cherish for a moment a lingering doubt on this point?

5. Holiness is possible if God is willing to accomplish it. And do we not know that he is infinitely willing that all his children should be fully restored to his blessed image? That all his children should become, in holiness, like himself? "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." As God hates sin and loves holiness, so is he willing that we should all be holy.

6. We may be holy, for the scheme of redemption aims directly at this very result, -- to bring this sin-- cursed world under the saving and sanctifying influences of the blood of Christ, and the Holy Spirit. For this cause, Deity was shrouded in humanity. "God was manifest in the flesh," the second person of the adorable Trinity bare our sins in his own body on the tree, and opened a fountain in his own blood for sin and uncleanness. And that precious blood "cleanseth from all sin," "that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish."

"Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Are saved, to sin no more."

But, again, it is the office of the Holy Spirit to begin and carry on to its full completion this work of renovation. And here it is an infinite power, an unlimited efficiency, able to save the soul to the uttermost. What a reflection it would be on the wisdom or goodness of Jehovah to suppose that he would provide for the salvation of the soul from a part of its sins, from a great part, but not from the whole. That man must always be left to grapple with his inbred sins and latent depravity. Nay, it never call be! God's scheme of mercy can save from the least and last remains of the carnal mind.

O, reader! can you doubt for a moment the possibility of this glorious blessing, when you have the infinite virtue of the blood of Christ on the one hand, and the almighty power of the Holy Spirit on the other, engaged to accomplish this great work? Nay, it can not be, -- you may be saved from every sin. Doubt no more.

7. There is nothing in the nature of man to prevent this glorious change. He who made man holy at the first, can make him holy again. Let any trembling believer cast himself, without reserve, upon the merits of Christ, and his scarlet sins shall be as wool, and though they may be red like crimson, they shall be whiter than snow.

"My flesh that cries, It can not be,

Shall silence keep before the Lord,

And earth and hell and sin shall flee,

At Jesus' everlasting word."

8. The history of the Church in all ages establishes this point, for multitudes have already "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

Even in the days of the patriarchs, "Enoch walked with God three hundred years," till he became so perfect before God that "he was not, for God took him;" "for he had this testimony, before he was translated, that he pleased God." And what was it but full salvation that made Job a perfect man, that feared God and eschewed evil? Zachariah and Elizabeth "walked in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless." Paul was crucified unto the world and the world unto him, so that "to live was Christ, and to die was gain."

But what shall we say of the humble Wesley, the seraphic Fletcher, the sainted Payson, the faithful Carvoso, and a host of others who have gone to heavenly rest? who walked in holy love? Of the many ministers and members of the churches, who walk in this glorious light in the present day, I will not speak; their record is above, and their heavenly influence is felt all around. This class of witnesses all declare "we may be holy in this life." Second. It is desirable to be holy. Who can for a moment doubt this?

1. Holiness makes us like God. Is not this desirable?

2. Holiness makes us enjoy much of heaven on earth. Is not this desirable?

3. Holiness makes us live useful lives, and win souls to Christ. Is not this desirable?

4. Holiness gives us a meetness for, and a foretaste of, heaven. Is not this desirable?

5. Holiness saves us from the power and dominion of sin. Now just think what sin is! "In fact and principle it is rebellion." Obedience to God's law is the principle upon which the harmony of the moral universe depends. Yet sin strikes against this harmony, and destroys it. Is it not desirable to be saved therefrom? Think of the eternal misery of the lost amidst the regions of despair! Think of the influence of sin upon man in this world! How it darkens the understanding, hardens the heart, stupefies the will, and alienates the affections; and would you not think it desirable to be saved from sin, in the fullest possible sense?

6. It is not only desirable to be saved from sin some time before death, but to be saved therefrom as far from death as possible, as soon in our probation as may be; for after we have attained this great blessing we may, (1) Grow in grace more rapidly, having obtained perfect health. (2) We may become more profitable to the Church and the World. (3) We may secure a more complete conformity to all the will of God, than though we had deferred this work later. (4) We may thereby secure a richer felicity, a brighter crown, and a higher seat in eternal glory.

O, is it not desirable to be wholly cleansed from sin, and be "filled with all the fullness of God," as soon, in our mortal career, as we can? When we think how short is life, how few our days or years for usefulness! Reader, if you have not yet attained this "pearl of great price," seek it now the fountain is open, the sacrifice is slain. "All things are ready."

"Sink into the purple flood,

And rise to all the life of God."

Rest not till you are arrayed in "the beauty of holiness," and exhibit its loveliness to the gazing world, that multitudes of others may be led to admire, and secure this robe of celestial beauty, till among the heavenly host you can exclaim,

"O, thou God of my salvation,
My Redeemer from all sin,
Moved by thy divine compassion,
Who hast died my heart to win,
I will praise thee;
When shall I thy praise begin?"