,,holy ,,in ,,christ3 ,thoughts on the ,calling of ,god's ,children to be ,holy as ,he is ,holy4 ,,by ,,rev4 ,,andrew ,,murray1 ,,author ,,of ',,abide ,,in ,,christ1' ',,like ,,christ1' ,,etc4 ',i am holy3 ye shall be holy4' ,,fleming ,h4 ,,revell ,,company1 ,,chicago1 ,,new ,,york1 ,,toronto1 ,publishers of ,evangelical ,literature4 ,,preface4 ,there is not in ,scripture a word more distinctly ,divine in its origin and meaning than the word holy4 ,there is not a word that leads us higher into the mystery of ,deity1 nor deeper into the privilege and the blessedness of ,god's children4 ,and yet it is a word that many a ,christian has never studied or understood4 ,there are not a few who can praise ,god that during the past twenty years the watchword ,,be ,,holy has been taken up in many a church and ,christian circle with greater earnestness than before4 ,in books and magazines1 in conventions and conferences1 in the testimonies and the lives of believers1 we have abundant tokens that what is called the ,holiness-movement is a reality4 ,and yet how much is still wanting6 ,what multitudes of believing ,christians there are who have none but the very vaguest thoughts of what holiness is6 ,and of those who are seeking after it how many who have hardly learnt what it is to come to ,god's ,word and to ,god ,himself for the teaching that can alone reveal this part of the mystery of ,christ and of ,god6 ,to many1 holiness has simply been a general expression for the ,christian life in its more earnest form1 without much thought of what the term really means4 ,in writing this little book1 my object has been to discover in what sense ,god uses the word1 that so it may mean to us what it means to ,him4 ,i have sought to trace the word through some of the most important passages of ,holy ,scripture where it occurs1 there to learn what ,god's holiness is1 what ours is to be1 and what the way by which we attain it4 ,i have been specially anxious to point out how many and various the elements are that go to make up true holiness as the ,divine expression of the ,christian life in all its fulness and perfection4 ,i have at the same time striven continually to keep in mind the wonderful unity and simplicity there is in it1 as centred in the person of ,jesus4 ,as ,i proceeded in my work1 ,i felt ever more deeply how high the task was ,i had undertaken in offering to guide others even into the outer courts of the ,holy ,place of the ,most ,high4 ,and yet the very difficulty of the task convinced me of how needful it was4 ,i fear there are some to whom the book may be a disappointment4 ,they have heard that the entrance to the life of holiness is often but a step4 ,they have heard of or seen believers who could tell of the blessed change that has come over their lives since they found the wonderful secret of holiness by faith4 ,and now they are seeking for this secret4 ,they cannot understand that the secret comes to those who seek it not1 but only seek ,jesus4 ,they might fain have a book in which all they need to know of ,holiness and the way to it is gathered into a few simple lessons1 easy to learn1 to remember1 and to practise4 ,this they will not find4 ,there is such a thing as a ,pentecost still to the disciples of ,jesus2 but it comes to him who has forsaken all to follow ,jesus only1 and in following fully has allowed the ,master to reprove and instruct him4 ,there are often very blessed revelations of ,christ1 as a ,saviour from sin1 both in the secret chamber and in the meetings of the saints2 but these are given to those for whom they have been prepared1 and who have been prepared to receive4 ,let all learn to trust in ,jesus1 and rejoice in ,him1 even though their experience be not what they would wish4 ,he will make us holy4 ,but whether we have entered the blessed life of faith in ,jesus as our sanctification1 or are still longing for it from afar1 we all need one thing1 the simple1 believing1 and obedient acceptance of each word that our ,god has spoken4 ,it has been my earnest desire that ,i might be a helper of the faith of my brethren in seeking to trace with them the wondrous revelation of ,god's ,holiness through the ages as recorded in ,his blessed ,word4 ,it has been my continual prayer that ,god might use what is written to increase in ,his children the conviction that we must be holy1 the knowledge of how we are to be holy1 the joy that we may be holy1 the faith that we can be holy4 ,and may ,he stir us all to cry day and night to ,him for a visitation of the ,spirit and the ,power of ,holiness upon all ,his people1 that the name of ,christian and of saint may be synonymous1 and every believer be a vessel made holy and meet for the ,master's use4 ,a4 ,m4 ,wellington1 #afth ,november #ahhg4 ,,contents4 ,,day ,,page #a4 ,god's ,call to ,holiness--#a ,pet4 i4 #ae1 #af1 #aa #b4 ,god's ,provision for ,holiness--#a ,cor4 i4 #b1 #ai #c4 ,holiness and ,creation--,gen4 ii4 #c1 #bh #d4 ,holiness and ,revelation--,ex4 iii4 #d-f1 #cf #e4 ,holiness and ,redemption--,ex4 xiii4 #b1 #df #f4 ,holiness and ,glory--,ex4 xv4 #aa-ag1 #ee #g4 ,holiness and ,obedience--,ex4 xix4 #e1 #f1 #fd #h4 ,holiness and ,indwelling--,ex4 xxv4 #h1 #gc #i4 ,holiness and ,meditation--,ex4 xxviii4 #cf-ch1 #ha #aj4 ,holiness and ,separation--,lev4 xx4 #bd1 #bf1 #hi #aa4 ,the ,holy ,one of ,israel--,lev4 xi4 #de1 #ih #ab4 ,the ,thrice ,holy ,one--,isa4 vi4 #a-c1 #ajg #ac4 ,holiness and ,humility--,isa4 lvii4 #ae1 #aag #ad4 ,the ,holy ,one of ,god--,john vi4 #fi1 #abe #ae4 ,the ,holy ,spirit--,john vii4 #ci1 #acc #af4 ,holiness and ,truth--,john xvii4 #ag1 #adb #ag4 ,holiness and ,crucifixion--,john xvii4 #ai1 #aej #ah4 ,holiness and ,faith--,acts xxvi4 #ah1 #aeh #ai4 ,holiness and ,resurrection--,rom4 i4 #d1 #afg #bj4 ,holiness and ,liberty--,rom4 vi4 #ah-bb1 #age #ba4 ,holiness and ,happiness--,rom4 xiv4 #ag1 #ahd #bb4 ,in ,christ our ,sanctification--#a ,cor4 i4 #cj1 #ca1 #aib #bc4 ,holiness and the ,body--#a ,cor4 iii4 #af1 #bja #bd4 ,holiness and ,cleansing--#b ,cor4 vii4 #a1 #baj #be4 ,holiness and ,blamelessness--#a ,thess4 iii4 #ab1 #ac1 #bai #bf4 ,holiness and the ,will of ,god--#a ,thess4 iv4 #c1 #bbg #bg4 ,holiness and ,service--#b ,tim4 ii4 #ba1 #bce #bh4 ,the ,way into the ,holiest--,heb4 x4 #ai1 #bdc #bi4 ,holiness and ,chastisement--,heb4 xii4 #aj1 #ad1 #bec #cj4 ,the ,unction from the ,holy ,one--#a ,john ii4 #bj1 #bg1 #bfb #ca4 ,holiness and ,heaven--#b ,pet4 iii4 #aa1 #bga ,notes1 #bha ,first ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,god's ,call to ,holiness4 ',like as ,he which called you is holy1 be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living2 because it is written1 ,ye shall be holy1 for ,i am holy4'--#a ,pet4 i4 #ae1 #af4 ,the call of ,god is the manifestation in time of the purpose of eternity3 ',whom ,he predestinated1 them ,he also called4' ,believers are 'the called according to ,his purpose4' ,in ,his call ,he reveals to us what ,his thoughts and ,his will concerning us are1 and what the life to which ,he invites us4 ,in ,his call ,he makes clear to us what the hope of our calling is2 as we spiritually apprehend and enter into this1 our life on earth will be the reflection of ,his purpose in eternity4 ,holy ,scripture uses more than one word to indicate the object or aim of our calling1 but none more frequently than what ,peter speaks of here--,god has called us to be holy as ,he is holy4 ,paul addresses believers twice as 'called to be holy' 7,rom4 i4 #g2 #a ,cor4 i4 #b74 ',god called us'1 he says1 'not for uncleanness1 but in sanctification' 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #g74 ,when he writes1 ',the ,god of peace sanctify you wholly1' he adds1 ',faithful is ,he which calleth you1 who also will do it' 7#a ,thess4 v4 #bd74 ,the calling itself is spoken of as 'a holy calling4' ,the eternal purpose of which the calling is the outcome1 is continually also connected with holiness as its aim4 ',he hath chosen us in ,him1 that we should be holy and without blame' 7,eph4 i4 #d74 ',whom ,god chose from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification' 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #ab74 ',elect according to the foreknowledge of the ,father1 through sanctification of the ,spirit' 7#a ,pet4 i4 #b74 ,the call is the unveiling of the purpose that the ,father from eternity had set ,his heart upon3 that we should be holy4 ,it needs no proof that it is of infinite importance to know aright what ,god has called us to4 ,a misunderstanding here may have fatal results4 ,you may have heard that ,god calls you to salvation or to happiness1 to receive pardon or to obtain heaven1 and never noticed that all these were subordinate4 ,it was to 'salvation in sanctification1' it was to ,holiness in the first place1 as the element in which salvation and heaven are to be found4 ,the complaints of many ,christians as to lack of joy and strength1 as to failure and want of growth1 are simply owing to this--the place ,god gave ,holiness in ,his call they have not given it in their response4 ,god and they have never yet come to an agreement on this4 ,no wonder that ,paul1 in the chapter in which he had spoken to the ,ephesians of their being 'chosen to be holy' prays for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of ,god to be given to believers1 that they might know 'the hope of their calling' 7i4 #ag1 #ah74 ,let all of us1 who feel that we have too little realized that we are called to ,holiness1 pray this prayer4 ,it is just what we need4 ,let us ask ,god to show us how1 as ,he who hath called us is ,himself holy1 so we are to be holy too2 our calling is a holy calling1 a calling before and above everything1 to ,holiness4 ,let us ask ,him to show us what ,holiness is1 ,his ,holiness first1 and then our ,holiness2 to show us how ,he has set ,his heart upon it as the one thing ,he wants to see in us1 as being ,his own image and likeness2 to show us too the unutterable blessedness and glory of sharing with ,christ in ,his ,holiness4 ,oh6 that ,god by ,his ,spirit would teach us what it means that we are called to be holy as ,he is holy4 ,we can easily conceive what a mighty influence it would exert4 ',like as ,he which called you is holy1 be ye yourselves also holy'4 ,how this call of ,god shows us the true motive to ,holiness4 ',be ye holy1 for ,i am holy4' ,it is as if ,god said1 ,holiness is my blessedness and my glory3 without this you cannot1 in the very nature of things1 see me or enjoy me4 ,holiness is my blessedness and my glory3 there is nothing higher to be conceived2 ,i invite you to share with me in it1 ,i invite you to likeness to myself3 ',be ye holy1 for ,i am holy4' ,is it not enough1 has it no attraction1 does it not move and draw you mightily1 the hope of being with me1 partakers of my ,holiness8 ,i have nothing better to offer--,i offer you myself3 ',be holy1 for ,i am holy4' ,shall we not cry earnestly to ,god to show us the glory of ,his ,holiness1 that our souls may be made willing to give everything in response to this wondrous call8 ,as we listen to the call1 it shows also the nature of true ,holiness4 ',like as ,he is holy1 so be ye also holy4' ,to be holy is to be ,godlike1 to have a disposition1 a will1 a character like ,god4 ,the thought almost looks like blasphemy1 until we listen again1 ',he hath chosen us in ,christ to be holy4' ,in ,christ the ,holiness of ,god appeared in a human life3 in ,christ's example1 in ,his mind and ,spirit1 we have the ,holiness of the ,invisible ,one translated into the forms of human life and conduct4 ,to be ,christlike is to be ,godlike2 to be ,christlike is to be holy as ,god is holy4 ,the call equally reveals the power of ,holiness4 ',there is none holy but the ,lord2' there is no ,holiness but what ,he has1 or rather what ,he is1 and gives4 ,holiness is not something we do or attain3 it is the communication of the ,divine life1 the inbreathing of the ,divine nature1 the power of the ,divine ,presence resting on us4 ,and our power to become holy is to be found in the call of ,god3 the ,holy ,one calls us to ,himself1 that ,he may make us holy in possessing ,himself4 ,he not only says ',i am holy1' but ',i am the ,lord1 who make holy4' ,it is because the call to ,holiness comes from the ,god of infinite ,power and ,love that we may have the confidence3 we can be holy4 ,the call no less reveals the standard of ,holiness4 ',like as ,he is holy1 so ye also yourselves1' or 7as in margin1 ,r4,v471 ',like the ,holy ,one1 which calleth you1 be ye yourselves also holy4' ,there is not one standard of ,holiness for ,god and another for man4 ,the nature of light is the same1 whether we see it in the sun or in a candle3 the nature of ,holiness remains unchanged1 whether it be ,god or man in whom it dwells4 ,the ,lord ,jesus could say nothing less than1 ',be perfect1 even as your ,father in heaven is perfect4' ,when ,god calls us to ,holiness1 ,he calls us to ,himself and ,his own life3 the more carefully we listen to the voice1 and let it sink into our hearts1 the more will all human standards fall away1 and only the words be heard1 ,holy1 as ,i am holy4 ,and the call shows us the path to ,holiness4 ,the calling of ,god is one of mighty efficacy1 an effectual calling4 ,oh6 let us but listen to it1 let us but listen to ,him1 and the call will with ,divine power work what it offers4 ,he calleth the things that are not as though they were3 ,his call gives life to the dead1 and holiness to those whom ,he has made alive4 ,he calls us to listen as ,he speaks of ,his ,holiness1 and of our holiness like ,his4 ,he calls us to ,himself1 to study1 to fear1 to love1 to claim ,his ,holiness4 ,he calls us to ,christ1 in whom ,divine ,holiness became human ,holiness1 to see and admire1 to desire and accept what is all for us4 ,he calls us to the indwelling and the teaching of the ,spirit of ,holiness1 to yield ourselves that ,he may bring home to us and breathe within us what is ours in ,christ4 ,christian6 listen to ,god calling thee to ,holiness4 ,come and learn what ,his ,holiness is1 and what thine is and must be4 ,yes1 be very silent and listen4 ,when ,god called ,abraham1 he answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,when ,god called ,moses from the bush1 he answered1 ,here am ,i1 and he hid his face1 for he was afraid to look upon ,god4 ,god is calling thee to ,holiness1 to ,himself the ,holy ,one1 that ,he may make thee holy4 ,let thy whole soul answer1 ,here am ,i1 ,lord6 ,speak1 ,lord6 ,show ,thyself1 ,lord6 ,here am ,i4 ,as you listen1 the voice will sound ever deeper and ever stiller3 ,be holy1 as ,i am holy4 ,be holy1 for ,i am holy4 ,you will hear a voice coming out of the great eternity1 from the council-chamber of redemption1 and as you catch its distant whisper1 it will be1 ,be holy1 ,i am holy4 ,you will hear a voice from ,paradise1 the ,creator making the seventh day holy for man whom ,he had created1 and saying1 ,be holy4 ,you will hear the voice from ,sinai1 amid thunderings and lightnings1 and still it is1 ,be holy1 as ,i am holy4 ,you will hear a voice from ,calvary1 and there above all it is1 ,be holy1 for ,i am holy4 ,child of ,god1 have you ever realized it1 our ,father is calling us to ,himself1 to be holy as ,he is holy8 ,must we not confess that happiness has been to us more than holiness1 salvation than sanctification8 ,oh6 it is not too late to redeem the error4 ,let us now band ourselves together to listen to the voice that calls1 to draw nigh1 and find out and know what ,holiness is1 or rather1 find out and know ,himself the ,holy ,one4 ,and if the first approach to ,him fill us with shame and confusion1 make us fear and shrink back1 let us still listen to the ,voice and the ,call1 ',be holy1 as ,i am holy4' ',faithful is ,he which calleth1 who also will do it4' ,all our fears and questions will be met by the ,holy ,one who has revealed ,his ,holiness1 with this one purpose in view1 that we might share it with ,him4 ,as we yield ourselves in deep stillness of soul to listen to the ,holy ,voice that calls us1 it will waken within us new desire and strong faith1 and the most precious of all promises will be to us this word of ,divine command3 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o ,lord6 the alone ,holy ,one1 ,thou hast called us to be holy1 even as ,thou art holy4 ,lord6 how can we1 unless ,thou reveal to us ,thy ,holiness4 ,show us1 we pray ,thee1 how ,thou art holy1 how holy ,thou art1 what ,thy holiness is1 that we may know how we are to be holy1 how holy we are to be4 ,and when the sight of ,thy ,holiness only shows us the more how unholy we are1 teach us that ,thou makest partakers of ,thy own ,holiness those who come to ,thee for it4 ,o ,god6 we come to ,thee1 the ,holy ,one4 ,it is in knowing and finding and having ,thyself1 that the soul finds ,holiness4 ,we do beseech ,thee1 as we now come to ,thee1 establish it in the thoughts of our heart1 that the one object of ,thy calling us1 and of our coming to ,thee1 is ,holiness4 ,thou wouldst have us like ,thyself1 partakers of ,thy ,holiness4 ,if ever our heart becomes afraid1 as if it were too high1 or rests content with a salvation less than ,holiness1 ,blessed ,god6 let us hear ,thy voice calling again1 ,be holy1 ,i am holy4 ,let that call be our motive and our strength1 because faithful is ,he that calleth1 who also will do it4 ,let that call mark our standard and our path2 oh6 let our life be such as ,thou art able to make it4 ,holy ,father6 ,i bow in lowly worship and silence before ,thee4 ,let now ,thine own voice sound in the depths of my heart calling me1 ,be holy1 as ,i am holy4 ,amen4 #a4 ,let me press it upon every reader of this little book1 that if it is to help him in the pursuit of ,holiness1 he must begin with ,god ,himself4 ,you must go to ,him who calls you4 ,it is only in the personal revelation of ,god to you1 as ,he speaks1 ,i am holy1 that the command1 ,be ye holy1 can have life or power4 #b4 ,remember1 as a believer1 you have already accepted ,god's call1 even though you did not fully understand it4 ,let it be a settled matter1 that whatever you see to be the meaning of the call1 you will at once accept and carry out4 ,if ,god calls me to be holy1 holy ,i will be4 #c4 ,take fast hold of the word3 ',the ,god of peace sanctify you wholly3 faithful is ,he which calleth you1 who also will do it4' ,in that faith listen to ,god calling you4 #d4 ,do be still now1 and listen to your ,father calling you4 ,ask for and count upon the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,holiness1 to open your heart to understand this holy calling4 ,and then speak out the answer you have to give to this call4 ,second ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,god's ,provision for ,holiness4 ',to those that are made holy in ,christ ,jesus1 called to be holy4'--#a ,cor4 i4 #b4 ',to all the holy ones in ,christ ,jesus which are at ,philippi4 ,salute every holy one in ,christ ,jesus4'#a--,phil4 i4 #a1 iv4 #ba4 ,,holy6 ,,in ,,christ6 ,in these two expressions we have perhaps the most wonderful words of all the ,bible4 ,,holy6 the word of unfathomable meaning1 which the ,seraphs utter with veiled faces4 ,,holy6 the word in which all ,god's perfections centre1 and of which ,his glory is but the streaming forth4 ,,holy6 the word which reveals the purpose with which ,god from eternity thought of man1 and tells what man's highest glory in the coming eternity is to be2 to be partaker of ,his ,holiness6 ,,in ,,christ6 the word in which all the wisdom and love of ,god are unveiled6 ,the ,father giving ,his ,son to be one with us6 the ,son dying on the cross to make us one with ,himself6 the ,holy ,spirit of the ,father dwelling in us to establish and maintain that union6 ,,in ,,christ6 what a summary of what redemption has done1 and of the inconceivably blessed life in which the child of ,god is permitted to dwell4 ,,in ,,christ6 the one lesson we have to study on earth4 ,god's one answer to all our needs and prayers4 ,,in ,,christ6 the guarantee and the foretaste of eternal glory4 ,what wealth of meaning and blessing in the two words combined3 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ6 ,here is ,god's provision for our holiness1 ,god's response to our question1 ,how to be holy8 ,often and often as we hear the call1 ,be ye holy1 even as ,i am holy1 it is as if there is and ever must be a great gulf between the holiness of ,god and man4 ,,in ,,christ6 is the bridge that crosses the gulf2 nay rather1 ,his fulness has filled it up4 ,,in ,,christ6 ,god and man meet2 ,,in ,,christ6 the ,holiness of ,god has found us1 and made us its own2 has become human1 and can indeed become our very own4 ,to the anxious cries and the heart-yearnings of thousands of thirsty souls who have believed in ,jesus and yet know not how to be holy1 here is ,god's answer3 ,,ye ,,are ,,holy ,,in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,would they but hearken1 and believe2 would they but take these ,divine words1 and say them over1 if need be1 a thousand times1 how ,god's light would shine1 and fill their hearts with joy and love as they echo them back3 ,yes1 now ,i see it4 ,holy in ,christ6 ,made holy in ,christ ,jesus6 ,as we set ourselves to study these wondrous words1 let us remember that it is only ,god ,himself who can reveal to us what ,holiness truly is4 ,let us fear our own thoughts1 and crucify our own wisdom4 ,let us give up ourselves to receive1 in the power of the life of ,god ,himself1 working in us by the ,holy ,spirit1 that which is deeper and truer than human thought1 ,christ ,himself as our ,holiness4 ,in this dependence upon the teaching of the ,spirit of ,holiness1 let us seek simply to accept what ,holy ,scripture sets before us2 as the revelation of the ,holy ,one of old was a very slow and gradual one1 so let us be content patiently to follow step by step the path of the shining light through the ,word2 it will shine more and more unto the perfect day4 ,we shall first have to study the word ,holy in the ,old ,testament4 ,in ,israel as the holy people1 the type of us who now are holy in ,christ1 we shall see with what fulness of symbol ,god sought to work into the very constitution of the people some apprehension of what ,he would have them be4 ,in the law we shall see how ,,holy is the great keyword of the redemption which it was meant to serve and prepare for4 ,in the prophets we shall hear how the ,holiness of ,god is revealed as the source whence the coming redemption should spring3 it is not so much ,holiness as the ,holy ,one they speak of1 who would1 in redeeming love and saving righteousness1 make ,himself known as the ,god of ,his people4 ,and when the meaning of the word has been somewhat opened up1 and the deep need of the blessing made manifest in the ,old ,testament1 we shall come to the ,new to find how that need was fulfilled4 ,in ,christ1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 ,divine ,holiness will be found in human life and human nature2 a truly human will being made perfect and growing up through obedience into complete union with all the ,holy ,will of ,god4 ,in the sacrifice of ,himself on the cross1 that holy nature gave itself up to the death1 that1 like the seed-corn1 it might through death live again and reproduce itself in us4 ,in the gift from the throne of the ,spirit of ,god's ,holiness1 representing and revealing and communicating the unseen ,christ1 the holy life of ,christ descends and takes possession of ,his people1 and they become one with ,him4 ,as the ,old ,testament had no higher word than that ,,holy1 the ,new has none deeper than this1 ,,in ,,christ4 ,the being in ,him1 the abiding in ,him1 the being rooted in ,him1 the growing up in ,him and into ,him in all things1 are the ,divine expressions in which the wonderful and complete oneness between us and our ,saviour are brought as near us as human language can do4 ,and when ,old and ,new ,testament have each given their message1 the one in teaching us what ,holy1 the other what in ,christ means1 we have in the word of ,god1 that unites the two1 the most complete summary of the ,great ,redemption that ,god's love has provided4 ,the everlasting certainty1 the wonderful sufficiency1 the infinite efficacy of the ,holiness that ,god has prepared for us in ,his ,son1 are all revealed in this blessed1 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ',the ,holy ,ones in ,christ ,jesus6' ,such is the name1 beloved fellow-believers1 which we bear in ,holy ,scripture1 in the language of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is no mere statement of doctrine1 that we are holy in ,christ3 it is no deep theological discussion to which we are invited2 but out of the depths of ,god's loving heart1 there comes a voice thus addressing ,his beloved children4 ,it is the name by which the ,father calls ,his children4 ,that name tells us of ,god's provision for our being holy4 ,it is the revelation of what ,god has given us1 and what we already are2 of what ,god waits to work in us1 and what can be ours in personal practical possession4 ,that name1 gratefully accepted1 joyfully confessed1 trustfully pleaded1 will be the pledge and the power of our attainment of the ,holiness to which we have been called4 ,and so we shall find that as we go along1 all our study and all ,god's teaching will be comprised in three great lessons4 ,the first a revelation1 ',i am holy2' the second a command1 ',be ye holy2' the third a gift1 the link between the two1 ',ye are holy in ,christ4' ,first comes the revelation1 ',i am holy4' ,our study must be on bended knee1 in the spirit of worship and deep humility4 ,god must reveal ,himself to us1 if we are to know what ,holy is4 ,the deep unholiness of our nature and all that is of nature must be shown us2 with ,moses and ,isaiah1 when the ,holy ,one revealed ,himself to them1 we must fear and tremble1 and confess how utterly unfit we are for the revelation or the fellowship1 without the cleansing of fire4 ,in the consciousness of the utter impotence of our own wisdom or understanding to know ,god1 our souls must in contrition1 brokenness from ourselves and our power or efforts1 yield to ,god's ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,holiness1 to reveal ,god as the ,holy ,one4 ,and as we begin to know ,him in ,his infinite righteousness1 in ,his fiery burning zeal against all that is sin1 and ,his infinite self-sacrificing love to free the sinner from his sin1 and to bring him to ,his own perfection1 we shall learn to wonder at and worship this glorious ,god1 to feel and deplore our terrible unlikeness to ,him1 to long and cry for some share in the ,divine beauty and blessedness of this ,holiness4 ,and then will come with new meaning the command1 ',be holy1 as ,i am holy4' ,oh1 my brethren6 ye who profess to obey the commands of your ,god1 do give this all-surpassing and all-including command that first place in your heart and life which it claims4 ,do be holy with the likeness of ,god's ,holiness4 ,do be holy as ,he is holy4 ,and if you find that the more you meditate and study1 the less you can grasp this infinite holiness2 that the more you at moments grasp of it1 the more you despair of a holiness so ,divine2 remember that such breaking down and such despair is just what the command was meant to work4 ,learn to cease from your own wisdom as well as your own goodness2 draw near in poverty of spirit to let the ,holy ,one show you how utterly above human knowledge or human power is the holiness ,he demands2 to the soul that ceases from self1 and has no confidence in the flesh1 ,he will show and give the holiness ,he calls us to4 ,it is to such that the great gift of ,holiness in ,christ becomes intelligible and acceptable4 ,christ brings the ,holiness of ,god nigh by showing it in human conduct and intercourse4 ,he brings it nigh by removing the barrier between it and us1 between ,god and us4 ,he brings it nigh1 because ,he makes us one with ,himself4 ',holy in ,christ3' our holiness is a ,divine bestowment1 held for us1 communicated to us1 working mightily in us because we are in ,him4 ',in ,christ6' oh1 that wonderful in6 our very life rooted in the life of ,christ4 ,that holy ,son and ,servant of the ,father1 beautiful in ,his life of love and obedience on earth1 sanctifying ,himself for us--that life of ,christ1 the ground in which ,i am planted and rooted1 the soil from which ,i draw as my nourishment its every quality and its very nature4 ,how that word sheds its light both on the revelation1 ',i am holy1' and on the command1 ',be ye holy1 as ,i am1' and binds them in one6 ,in ,christ ,i see what ,god's ,holiness is1 and what my holiness is4 ,in ,him both are one1 and both are mine4 ,in ,him ,i am holy2 abiding and growing up in ,him1 ,i can be holy in all manner of living1 as ,god is holy4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o ,most ,holy ,god6 we do beseech ,thee1 reveal ,thou to ,thy children what it meaneth that ,thou hast not only called them to holiness1 but even called them by this name1 'the holy ones in ,christ ,jesus4' ,oh that every child of ,thine might know that ,he bears this name1 might know what it means1 and what power there is in it to make ,him what it calls him4 ,holy ,lord ,god6 oh that the time of ,thy visitation might speedily come1 and each child of ,thine on earth be known as a holy one6 ,to this end we pray ,thee to reveal to ,thy saints what ,thy ,holiness is4 ,teach us to worship and to wait until ,thou hast spoken unto our souls with ,divine ,power ,thy word1 ',i am holy4' ,oh that it may search out and convict us of our unholiness6 ,and reveal to us1 we pray ,thee1 that as holy as ,thou art1 even a consuming fire1 so holy is ,thy command in its determined and uncompromising purpose to have us holy4 ,o ,god6 let ,thy voice sound through the depth of our being1 with a power from which there is no escape3 ,be holy1 be holy4 ,and let us thus1 between ,thine infinite ,holiness on the one hand and our unholiness on the other1 be driven and be drawn to accept of ,christ as our sanctification1 to abide in ,him as our life and our power to be what ,thou wouldst have us--',holy in ,christ ,jesus4' ,o ,father6 let ,thy ,spirit make this precious word life and truth within us4 ,amen4 #a4 ,you are entering anew on the study of a ,divine mystery4 ',trust not to your own understanding2' wait for the teaching of the ,spirit of truth4 #b4 ,in ,christ4 ,a commentator says1 ',the phrase denotes two moral facts--first1 the act of faith whereby a man lays hold of ,christ2 second1 the community of life with ,him contracted by means of this faith4' ,there is still another fact1 the greatest of all3 that it is by an act of ,divine power that ,i am in ,christ and am kept in ,him4 ,it is this ,i want to realize3 the ,divineness of my position in ,jesus4 #c4 ,grasp the two sides of the truth4 ,you are holy in ,christ with a ,divine holiness4 ,in the faith of that1 you are to be holy1 to become holy with a human holiness1 the ,divine ,holiness manifest in all the conduct of a human life4 #d4 ,this ,christ is a ,living ,person1 a ,loving ,saviour3 how ,he will delight to get complete possession1 and do all the work in you6 ,keep hold of this all along as we go on3 you have a claim on ,christ1 on ,his ,love and ,power1 to make you holy4 ,as ,his redeemed one1 you are at this moment1 whatever and wherever you be1 in ,him4 ,his ,holy ,presence and ,love are around you4 ,you are in ,him1 in the enclosure of that tender love1 which ever encircles you with ,his ,holy ,presence4 ,in that ,presence1 accepted and realized1 is your holiness4 #a ,there is one disadvantage in ,english in our having synonyms of which some are derived from ,saxon and others from ,latin4 ,ordinary readers are apt to forget that in our translation of the ,bible we may use two different words for what in the original is expressed by one term4 ,this is the case with the words holy1 holiness1 keep holy1 hallow1 saint1 sanctify1 and sanctification4 ,when ,god or ,christ is called the ,holy ,one1 the word in ,hebrew and ,greek is exactly the same that is used when the believer is called a saint3 he too is a holy one4 ,so the three words hallow1 keep holy1 sanctify1 all represent but one term in the original1 of which the real meaning is to make holy1 as it is in ,dutch1 heiliging 7holying71 and heiligmaking 7holy-making74 ,third ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,creation4 ',and ,god blessed the ,sabbath day1 and sanctified it1 because that in it ,he had rested from all the work which ,god created and made4'--,gen4 ii4 #c4 ,in ,genesis we have the ,book of ,beginnings4 ,to its first three chapters we are specially indebted for a ,divine light shining on the many questions to which human wisdom never could find an answer4 ,in our search after ,holiness1 we are led thither too4 ,in the whole book of ,genesis the word ,holy occurs but once4 ,but that once in such a connection as to open to us the secret spring whence flows all that the ,bible has to teach or to give us of this heavenly blessing4 ,the full meaning of the precious word we want to master1 of the priceless blessing we want to get possession of1 ',sanctified in ,christ1' takes its rise in what is here written of that wondrous act of ,god1 by which ,he closed ,his creation work1 and revealed how wonderfully it would be continued and perfected4 ,when ,god blessed the seventh day1 and sanctified it1 ,he lifted it above the other days1 and set it apart to a work and a revelation of ,himself1 excelling in glory all that had preceded4 ,in this simple expression1 ,scripture reveals to us the character of ,god as the ,holy ,one1 who makes holy2 the way in which ,he makes holy1 by entering in and resting2 and the power of blessing with which ,god's making holy is ever accompanied4 ,these three lessons we shall find it of the deepest importance to study well1 as containing the root-principles of all the ,scripture will have to teach us in our pursuit of ,holiness4 #a4 ,god sanctified the ,sabbath day4 ,of the previous six days the keyword was1 from the first calling into existence of the heaven and the earth1 down to the making of man3 ,god created4 ,all at once a new word and a new work of ,god1 is introduced3 ,god sanctified4 ,something higher than creation1 that for which creation is to exist1 is now to be revealed2 ,god ,almighty is now to be known as ,god ,most ,holy4 ,and just as the work of creation shows ,his ,power1 without that ,power being mentioned1 so ,his making holy the seventh day reveals ,his character as the ,holy ,one4 ,as ,omnipotence is the chief of ,his natural1 so ,holiness is the first of ,his moral attributes4 ,and just as ,he alone is ,creator1 so ,he alone is ,sanctifier2 to make holy is ,his work as truly and exclusively as to create4 ,blessed is the child of ,god who truly and fully believes this6 ,god sanctified the ,sabbath day4 ,the word can teach us what the nature is of the work ,god does when ,he makes holy4 ,sanctification in ,paradise cannot be essentially different from ,sanctification in ,redemption4 ,god had pronounced all ,his works1 and man the chief of them1 very good4 ,and yet they were not holy4 ,the six days' work had nought of defilement or sin1 and yet it was not holy4 ,the seventh day needed to be specially made holy1 for the great work of making holy man1 who was already very good4 ,in ,exodus1 ,god says distinctly that ,he sanctified the ,sabbath day1 with a view to man's sanctification4 ',that ye may know that ,i am the ,lord that doth sanctify you4' ,goodness1 innocence1 purity1 freedom from sin1 is not ,holiness4 ,goodness is the work of omnipotence1 an attribute of nature1 as ,god creates it3 holiness is something infinitely higher4 ,we speak of the holiness of ,god as ,his infinite moral perfection2 man's moral perfection could only come in the use of his will1 consenting freely to and abiding in the will of ,god4 ,thus alone could he become holy4 ,the seventh day was made holy by ,god as a pledge that ,he would make man holy4 ,in the ages that preceded the seventh day1 the ,creation period1 ,god's ,power1 ,wisdom1 and ,goodness had been displayed4 ,the age to come1 in the seventh day period1 is to be the dispensation of holiness3 ,god made holy the seventh day4 #b4 ,god sanctified the ,sabbath day1 because in it ,he rested from all ,his work4 ,this rest was something real4 ,in ,creation1 ,god had1 as it were1 gone out of ,himself to bring forth something new3 in resting ,he now returns from ,his creating work into ,himself1 to rejoice in ,his love over the man ,he has created1 and communicate ,himself to him4 ,this opens up to us the way in which ,god makes holy4 ,the connection between the resting and making holy was no arbitrary one2 the making holy was no after-thought2 in the very nature of things it could not be otherwise3 ,he sanctified because ,he rested in it2 ,he sanctified by resting4 ,as ,he regards ,his finished work1 more especially man1 rejoices in it1 and1 as we have it in ,exodus1 'is refreshed1' this time of ,his ,divine rest is the time in which ,he will carry on unto perfection what ,he has begun1 and make man1 created in ,his image1 in very deed partaker of ,his highest glory1 ,his ,holiness4 ,where ,god rests in complacency and love1 ,he makes holy4 ,the ,presence of ,god revealing itself1 entering in1 and taking possession1 is what constitutes true ,holiness4 ,as we go down the ages1 studying the progressive unfolding of what ,holiness is1 this truth will continually meet us4 ,in ,god's indwelling in heaven1 in ,his temple on earth1 in ,his beloved ,son1 in the person of the believer through the ,holy ,spirit1 we shall everywhere find that ,holiness is not something that man is or does1 but that it always comes where ,god comes4 ,in the deepest meaning of the words3 where ,god enters to rest1 there ,he sanctifies4 ,and when we come to study the ,new ,testament revelation of the way in which we are to be holy1 we shall find in this one of our earliest and deepest lessons4 ,it is as we enter into the rest of ,god that we become partakers of ,his ,holiness4 ',we which have believed do enter into that rest2' ',he that hath entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works1 as ,god did from ,his4' ,it is as the soul ceases from its own efforts1 and rests in ,him who has finished all for us1 and will finish all in us1 as the soul yields itself in the quiet confidence of true faith to rest in ,god1 that it will know what true ,holiness is4 ,where the soul enters into the ,sabbath stillness of perfect trust1 ,god comes to keep ,his ,sabbath holy2 and the soul where ,he rests ,he sanctifies4 ,whether we speak of ,his own day1 ',he sanctified it1' or ,his own people 'sanctified in ,christ1' the secret of ,holiness is ever the same3 ',he sanctified because he rested4' #c4 ,and then we read1 ',he blessed and sanctified it4' ,as used in the first chapter and throughout the book of ,genesis1 the word ',god blessed' is one of great significance4 ',be fruitful and multiply' was1 as to ,adam1 so later to ,noah and ,abraham1 the ,divine exposition of its meaning4 ,the blessing with which ,god blessed ,adam and ,noah and ,abraham was that of fruitfulness and increase1 the power to reproduce and multiply4 ,when ,god blessed the seventh day1 ,he filled it so with the living power of ,his ,holiness1 that in it that ,holiness might increase and reproduce itself in those who1 like ,him1 seek to enter into its rest and sanctify it4 ,the seventh day is that in which we are still living4 ,of each of the creation days it is written1 up to the last1 ',there was evening1 and there was morning1 the sixth day4' ,of the seventh the record has not yet been made2 we are living in it now1 ,god's own day of rest and holiness and blessing4 ,entering into it in a very special manner1 and taking possession of it1 as the time for ,his rejoicing in ,his creature1 and manifesting the fulness of ,his love in sanctifying him1 ,he has made the dispensation we now live in one of ,divine and mighty blessing4 ,and ,he has at the same time taught us what the blessing is4 ,holiness is blessedness4 ,fellowship with ,god in ,his holy rest is blessedness4 ,and as all ,god's blessings in ,christ have but one fountain1 ,god's ,holiness1 so they all have but one aim1 making us partakers of that ,holiness4 ,god created1 and blessed2 with the creation blessing4 ,god sanctified1 and blessed2 with the ,sabbath blessing of ,his rest4 ,the ,creation blessing1 of goodness and fruitfulness and dominion1 is to be crowned by the ,sabbath blessing of rest in ,god and holiness in fellowship with ,him4 ,god's finished work of ,creation was marred by sin1 and our fellowship with ,him in the blessing of ,his holy rest cut off4 ,the finished work of redemption opened for us a truer rest and a surer entrance into the ,holiness of ,god4 ,as ,he rested in ,his holy day1 so ,he now rests in ,his ,holy ,son4 ,in ,him we now can enter fully into the rest of ,god4 ',made holy in ,christ1' let us rest in ,him4 ,let us rest1 because we see that as wonderfully as ,god by ,his mighty power finished ,his work of ,creation1 will ,he complete and perfect ,his work of sanctification4 ,let us yield ourselves to ,god in ,christ1 to rest where ,he rested1 to be made holy with ,his own holiness1 and to be blessed with ,god's own blessing4 ,god the ,sanctifier is the name now inscribed upon the throne of ,god the ,creator4 ,at the threshold of the history of the human race there shines this word of infinite promise and hope3 ',god blessed and sanctified the seventh day because in it ,he rested4' ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,blessed ,lord ,god6 ,i bow before ,thee in lowly worship4 ,i adore ,thee as ,god the ,creator1 and ,god the ,sanctifier4 ,thou hast revealed ,thyself as ,god ,almighty and ,god ,most ,holy4 ,i beseech ,thee1 teach me to know and to trust ,thee as such4 ,i humbly ask ,thee for grace to learn and hold fast the deep spiritual truths ,thou hast revealed in making holy the ,sabbath day4 ,thy purpose in man's creation is to show forth ,thy ,holiness1 and make him partaker of it4 ,oh1 teach me to believe in ,thee as ,god my ,creator and ,sanctifier1 to believe with my whole heart that the same ,almighty power which gave the sixth-day blessing of creation1 secures to us the seventh-day blessing of sanctification4 ,thy will is our sanctification4 ,and teach me1 ,lord1 to understand better how this blessing comes4 ,it is where ,thou enterest to rest1 to refresh and reveal ,thyself1 that ,thou makest holy4 ,o my ,god6 may my heart be ,thy resting-place4 ,i would1 in the stillness and confidence of a restful faith1 rest in ,thee1 believing that ,thou doest all in me4 ,let such fellowship with ,thee1 and ,thy love1 and ,thy will be to me the secret of a life of holiness4 ,i ask it in the name of our ,lord ,jesus1 in whom ,thou hast sanctified us4 ,amen4 #a4 ,god the ,creator is ,god the ,sanctifier4 ,the ,omnipotence that did the first work does the second too4 ,i can trust ,god ,almighty to make me holy4 ,god is holy3 if ,god is everything to me1 ,his presence will be my holiness4 #b4 ,rest is ceasing from work1 not to work no more1 but to begin a new work4 ,god rests and begins at once to make holy that in which ,he rests4 ,he created by the word of ,his power2 ,he rests in ,his love4 ,creation was the building of the temple2 sanctification is the entering in and taking possession4 ,oh1 that wonderful entering into human nature6 #c4 ,god rests only in what is restful1 wholly at ,his disposal4 ,it is in the restfulness of faith that we must look to ,god the ,sanctifier2 ,he will come in and keep ,his holy ,sabbath in the restful soul4 ,we rest in ,god's rest2 ,god rests in our rest4 #d4 ,the ,god that rests in man whom ,he made1 and in resting sanctifies1 and in sanctifying blesses3 this is our ,god2 praise and worship ,him4 ,and trust ,him to do ,his work4 #e4 ,rest6 what a simple word4 ,the ,rest of ,god6 what an inconceivable fulness of ,life and ,love in that word4 ,let us meditate on it and worship before ,him1 until it overshadow us and we enter into it--the ,rest of ,god4 ,rest belongeth unto ,god3 ,he alone can give it1 by making us share ,his own4 ,fourth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,revelation4 ',and when the ,lord saw that ,moses turned aside to see1 ,he called unto him out of the midst of the bush1 and said1 ,moses1 ,moses4 ,and he said1 ,here am ,i4 ,and ,he said1 ,draw not nigh hither2 put off thy shoes from thy feet1 for the place where thou standest is holy ground4 ,and ,moses hid his face1 for ,he was afraid to look upon ,god4'--,ex4 iii4 #d-f4 ,and why was it holy ground8 ,because ,god had come there and occupied it4 ,where ,god is1 there is holiness2 it is the presence of ,god makes holy4 ,this is the truth we met with in ,paradise when man was just created2 here1 where ,scripture uses the word ,holy for the second time1 it is repeated and enforced4 ,a careful study of the word in the light of the burning bush will further open its deep significance4 ,let us see what the sacred history1 what the revelation of ,god1 and what ,moses teaches us of this holy ground4 #a4 ,note the place this first direct revelation of ,god to man as the ,holy ,one takes in sacred history4 ,in ,paradise we found the word ,holy used of the seventh day4 ,since that time twenty-five centuries have elapsed4 ,we found in ,god's sanctifying the day of rest a promise of a new dispensation--the revelation of the ,almighty ,creator to be followed by that of the ,holy ,one making holy4 ,and yet throughout the book of ,genesis the word never occurs again2 it is as if ,god's ,holiness is in abeyance2 only in ,exodus1 with the calling of ,moses1 does it make its appearance again4 ,this is a fact of deep import4 ,just as a parent or teacher seeks1 in early childhood1 to impress one lesson at a time1 so ,god deals in the education of the human race4 ,after having in the flood exhibited ,his righteous judgment against sin1 ,he calls ,abraham to be the father of a chosen people4 ,and as the foundation of all ,his dealings with that people1 ,he teaches him and his seed first of all the lesson of childlike trust--trust in ,him as the ,almighty1 with whom nothing is too wonderful1 and trust in ,him as the ,faithful ,one1 whose oath could not be broken4 ,with the growth of ,israel to a people we see the revelation advancing to a new stage4 ,the simplicity of childhood gives way to the waywardness of youth1 and ,god must now interfere with the discipline and restriction of law4 ,having gained a right to a place in their confidence as the ,god of their fathers1 ,he prepares them for a further revelation4 ,of the ,god of ,abraham the chief attribute was that ,he was the ,almighty ,one2 of the ,god of ,israel1 ,jehovah1 that ,he is the ,holy ,one4 ,and what is to be the special mark of the new period that is now about to be inaugurated1 and which is introduced by the word holy8 ,god tells ,moses that ,he is now about to reveal ,himself in a new character4 ,he had been known to ,abraham as ,god ,almighty1 the ,god of ,promise 7,ex4 vi4 #c74 ,he would now manifest ,himself as ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,fulfilment1 especially in the redemption and deliverance of ,his people from the oppression ,he had foretold to ,abraham4 ,god ,almighty is the ,god of ,creation3 ,abraham believed in ,god1 'who quickeneth the dead1 and calleth the things that are not as though they were4' ,jehovah is the ,god of ,redemption and of ,holiness4 ,with ,abraham there was not a word of sin or guilt1 and therefore not of redemption or holiness4 ,to ,israel the law is to be given1 to convince of sin and prepare the way for holiness2 it is ,jehovah1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 the ,redeemer1 who now appears4 ,and it is the presence of this ,holy ,one that makes the holy ground4 #b4 ,and how does this ,presence reveal itself8 ,in the burning bush ,god makes ,himself known as dwelling in the midst of the fire4 ,elsewhere in ,holy ,scripture the connection between fire and the ,holiness of ,god is clearly expressed3 ',the light of ,israel shall be for a fire1 and the ,holy ,one for a flame4' ,the nature of fire may be either beneficent or destructive4 ,the sun1 the great central fire1 may give life and fruitfulness1 or may scorch to death4 ,all depends upon occupying the right position1 upon the relation in which we stand to it4 ,and so wherever ,god the ,holy ,one reveals ,himself1 we shall find the two sides together3 ,god's ,holiness as judgment against sin1 destroying the sinner who remains in it1 and as ,mercy freeing ,his people from it4 ,judgment and ,mercy ever go together4 ,of the elements of nature there is none of such spiritual and mighty energy as ,fire3 what it consumes it takes and changes into its own spiritual nature1 rejecting as smoke and ashes what cannot be assimilated4 ,and so the ,holiness of ,god is that infinite ,perfection by which ,he keeps ,himself free from all that is not ,divine1 and yet has fellowship with the creature1 and takes it up into union with ,himself1 destroying and casting out all that will not yield itself to ,him4 ,it is thus as ,one who dwells in the fire1 who is a fire1 that ,god reveals ,himself at the opening of this new redemption period4 ,with ,abraham and the patriarchs1 as we have said1 there had been little teaching about sin or redemption2 the nearness and friendship of ,god had been revealed4 ,now the law will be given1 sin will be made manifest1 the distance from ,god will be felt1 that man1 in learning to know himself and his sinfulness1 may learn to know and long for ,god to make him holy4 ,in all ,god's revelation of ,himself we shall find the combination of the two elements1 the one repelling1 the other attracting4 ,in ,his house ,he will dwell in the midst of ,israel1 and yet it will be in the awful unapproachable solitude and darkness of the holiest of all within the veil4 ,he will come near to them1 and yet keep them at a distance4 ,as we study the ,holiness of ,god1 we shall see in increasing clearness how1 like fire1 it repels and attracts1 how it combines into one ,his infinite distance and ,his infinite nearness4 #c4 ,but the distance will be that which comes out first and most strongly4 ,this we see in ,moses3 he hid his face1 for ,he feared to look upon ,god4 ,the first impression which ,god's ,holiness produces is that of fear and awe4 ,until man1 both as a creature and a sinner1 learns how high ,god is above him1 how different and distant he is from ,god1 the ,holiness of ,god will have little real value or attraction4 ,moses hiding his face shows us the effect of the drawing nigh of the ,holy ,one1 and the path to ,his further revelation4 ,how distinctly this comes out in ,god's own words3 ',draw not nigh hither2 put off thy shoes from off thy feet4' ,yes1 ,god had drawn nigh1 but ,moses may not4 ,god comes near3 man must stand back4 ,in the same breath ,god says1 ,draw nigh1 and1 ,draw not nigh4 ,there can be no knowledge of ,god or nearness to ,him1 where we have not first heard ,his1 ,draw not nigh4 ,the sense of sin1 of unfitness for ,god's presence1 is the groundwork of true knowledge or worship of ,him as the ,holy ,one4 ',put off thy shoes from off thy feet4' ,the shoes are the means of intercourse with the world1 the aids through which the flesh or nature does its will1 moves about and does its work4 ,in standing upon holy ground1 all this must be put away4 ,it is with naked feet1 naked and stript of every covering1 that man must bow before a holy ,god4 ,our utter unfitness to draw nigh or have any dealings with the ,holy ,one1 is the very first lesson we have to learn1 if ever we are to participate in ,his ,holiness4 ,that ,put off6 must exercise its condemning power through our whole being1 until we come to realize the full extent of its meaning in the great1 ',put off the old man2 put on the ,lord ,jesus1' and what 'the putting off of the body of the flesh1 in the circumcision of ,christ1' is4 ,yes1 all that is of nature and the flesh1 all that is of our own doing or willing or working--our very life1 must be put off and given unto the death1 if ,god1 as the ,holy ,one1 is to make ,himself known to us4 ,we have seen before that ,holiness is more than goodness or freedom from sin3 even unfallen nature is not holy4 ,holiness is that awful glory by which ,divinity is separated from all that is created4 ,therefore even the seraphs veil their faces with their wings when they sing the ,thrice ,holy4 ,but oh6 when the distance and the difference is not that of the creature only1 but of the sinner1 who can express1 who can realize1 the humiliation1 the fear1 the shame with which we ought to bow before the voice of the ,holy ,one8 ,alas6 this is one of the most terrible effects of sin1 that it blinds us4 ,we know not how unholy1 how abominable1 sin and the sinful nature are in ,god's sight4 ,we have lost the power of recognising the ,holiness of ,god3 heathen philosophy had not even the idea of using the word as expressive of the moral character of its gods4 ,in losing the light of the glory of ,god1 we have lost the power of knowing what sin is4 ,and now ,god's first work in drawing nigh to us is to make us feel that we may not draw nigh as we are2 that there will have to be a very real and a very solemn putting off1 and even giving up to the death1 of all that appears most lawful and most needful4 ,not only our shoes are soiled with contact with this unholy earth2 even our face must be covered and our eyes closed1 in token that the eyes of our heart1 all our human wisdom and understanding1 are incapable of beholding the ,holy ,one4 ,the first lesson in the school of personal holiness is1 to fear and hide our face before the ,holiness of ,god4 ',thus saith the ,high and ,lofty ,one1 whose name is holy1 ,i dwell in the ,high and ,holy ,place1 and with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit4' ,contrition1 brokenness of spirit1 fear and trembling are ,god's first demand of those who would see ,his ,holiness4 ,moses was to be the first preacher of the ,holiness of ,god4 ,of the full communication of ,god's ,holiness to us in ,christ1 ,his first revelation to ,moses was the type and the pledge4 ,from ,moses' lips the people of ,israel1 from his pen the ,church of ,christ1 was to receive the message1 ',be holy3 ,i am holy3 ,i make holy4' ,his preparation for being the messenger of the ,holy ,one was here1 where he hid his face1 because he was afraid to look upon ,god4 ,it is with the face in the dust1 it is in the putting off not only of the shoes1 but of all that has been in contact with the world and self and sin1 that the soul draws nigh to the fire1 in which ,god dwells1 and which burns1 but does not consume4 ,oh that every believer1 who seeks to witness for ,god as the ,holy ,one1 might thus learn how the fulfilment of the type of the ,burning ,bush is the ,crucified ,christ1 and how1 as we die with ,him1 we receive that ,baptism of ,fire1 which reveals in each of us what it means3 the ,holy ,one dwelling in a ,burning ,bush4 ,only so can we learn what it is to be holy1 as ,he is holy4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,holy ,god6 ,i have seen ,thee1 who dwellest in the fire4 ,i have heard ,thy voice1 ,draw not nigh hither2 put thy shoes off from thy feet4 ,and my soul has feared to look upon ,god1 the ,holy ,one4 ,and yet1 ,o my ,god6 ,i must see ,thee4 ,thou didst create me for ,thy likeness4 ,thou hast taught that this likeness is ,thy ,holiness3 ',be holy1 as ,i am holy4' ,o my ,god6 how shall ,i know to be holy1 unless ,i may see ,thee1 the ,holy ,one8 ,to be holy1 ,i must look upon ,god4 ,i bless ,thee for the revelation of ,thyself in the flames of the thorn-bush1 in the fire of the accursed tree4 ,i bow in amazement and deep abasement at the great sight3 ,thy ,son in the weakness of ,his human nature1 in the fire1 burning but not consumed4 ,o my ,god6 in fear and trembling ,i have yielded myself as a sinner to die like ,him4 ,oh1 let the fire consume all that is unholy in me6 ,let me too know ,thee as the ,god that dwelleth in the fire1 to melt down and purge out and destroy what is not of ,thee1 to save and take up into ,thine own ,holiness what is ,thine own4 ,o ,holy ,lord ,god6 ,i bow in the dust before this great mystery4 ,reveal to me ,thy ,holiness1 that ,i too may be its witness and its messenger on earth4 ,amen4 #a4 ,holiness as the fire of ,god4 ,praise ,god that there is a ,power that can consume the vile and the dross1 a ,power that will not leave it undisturbed4 ',the bush burning but not consumed' is not only the motto of the ,church in time of persecution2 it is the watchword of every soul in ,god's sanctifying work4 #b4 ,there is a new ,theology1 which only speaks of the love of ,god as seen in the cross4 ,it sees not the glory of ,his ,righteousness1 and ,his righteous judgment4 ,this is not the ,god of ,scripture4 ',our ,god is a consuming fire1' is ,new ,testament ,theology4 ,to 'offer service with reverence and awe1' is ,new ,testament religion4 ,in ,holiness1 ,judgment and ,mercy meet4 #c4 ,holiness as the fear of ,god4 ,hiding the face before ,god for fear1 not daring to look or speak1--this is the beginning of rest in ,god4 ,it is not yet the true rest1 but on the way to it4 ,may ,god give us a deep fear of whatever could grieve or anger ,him4 ,may we have a deep fear of ourselves1 and all that is of the old1 the condemned nature1 lest it rise again4 ',the spirit of the fear of the ,lord' is the first manifestation of the spirit of holiness1 and prepares the way for the joy of holiness4 ',walking in the fear of the ,lord1 and in the comfort of the ,holy ,ghost2' these are the two sides of the ,christian life4 #d4 ,the ,holiness of ,god was revealed to ,moses that he might be its messenger4 ,the ,church needs nothing so much to-day as men and women who can testify for the ,holiness of ,god4 ,will you be one8 ,,note4 ,the connection between the fear of ,god and holiness is most intimate4 ,there are some who seek most earnestly for holiness1 and yet never exhibit it in a light that will attract the world or even believers1 because this element is wanting4 ,it is the fear of the ,lord that works that meekness and gentleness1 that deliverance from self-confidence and self-consciousness1 which form the true groundwork of a saintly character4 ,the passages of ,god's ,word in which the two words are linked together are well worthy of a careful study4 ',who is like unto ,thee1 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises8' ',in ,thy fear will ,i worship towards ,thy holy temple4' ',o fear the ,lord1 ye ,his holy ones4' ',o worship the ,lord1 in the beauty of holiness2 fear before ,him1 all the earth4' ',let them praise ,thy great and terrible name2 holy is ,he4' ',the fear of the ,lord is the beginning of wisdom2 and the knowledge of the ,holy ,one is understanding4' ',the ,lord of hosts1 ,him shall ye sanctify2 let ,him be your fear1 and let ,him be your dread4' ',perfecting holiness in the fear of the ,lord4' ',like as ,he which called you is holy1 be ye yourselves also holy2 and if ye call on ,him as father1 pass the time of your sojourning in fear4' ,and so on through the whole of ,scripture1 from the ,song of ,moses on to the ,song of the ,lamb3 ',who shall not fear ,thee1 ,o ,lord6 and glorify ,thy name1 for ,thou only art holy4' ,if we yield ourselves to the impression of such passages1 we shall feel more deeply that the fear of ,god1 the tender fear of in any way offending ,him1 the fear especially of entering into ,his holy presence with what is human and carnal1 with aught of our own wisdom and effort1 is of the very essence of the holiness we are to follow after4 ,it is this fear of ,god will make us1 like ,moses1 fall down and hide our face in ,god's presence1 and wait for ,his own ,holy ,spirit to open in us the eyes1 and breathe in us the thoughts and the worship1 with which we draw nigh to ,him1 the ,holy ,one4 ,it is in this holy fear that that stillness of soul is wrought which leads it to rest in ,god1 and opens the way for what we saw in ,paradise to be the secret of holiness3 ,god keeping ,his ,sabbath1 and sanctifying the soul in which ,he rests4 ,fifth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,redemption4 ',sanctify unto me all the first-born4'--,ex4 xiii4 #b4 ',all the first-born are mine2 for on the day ,i smote all the first-born in the land of ,egypt ,i sanctified unto me all the first-born in ,israel3 mine they shall be3 ,i am the ,lord4'--,num4 iii4 #ac1 viii4 #ag4 ',for ,i am the ,lord your ,god that bringeth you up out of the land of ,egypt to be your ,god3 ye shall therefore be holy1 for ,i am holy4'--,lev4 xi4 #de4 ',i have redeemed thee2 thou art mine4'--,isa4 xliii4 #a4 ,at ,horeb we saw how the first mention of the word holy in the history of fallen man was connected with the inauguration of a new period in the revelation of ,god1 that of ,redemption4 ,in the passover we have the first manifestation of what ,redemption is2 and here the more frequent use of the word holy begins4 ,in the feast of unleavened bread we have the symbol of the putting off of the old and the putting on of the new1 to which redemption through blood is to lead4 ,of the seven days we read3 ',in the first day there shall be an holy convocation1 and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation2' the meeting of the redeemed people to commemorate its deliverance is a holy gathering2 they meet under the covering of their ,redeemer1 the ,holy ,one4 ,as soon as the people had been redeemed from ,egypt1 ,god's very first word to them was1 ',sanctify--make holy unto me all the first-born3 it is mine4' 7,see ,ex4 xiii4 #b47 ,the word reveals how proprietorship is one of the central thoughts both in redemption and in sanctification1 the link that binds them together4 ,and though the word is here only used of the first-born1 they are regarded as the type of the whole people4 ,we know how all growth and organization commence from a centre1 around which in ever-widening circles the life of the organism spreads4 ,if holiness in the human race is to be true and real1 free as that of ,god1 it must be the result of a self-appropriating development4 ,and so the first-born are sanctified1 and afterwards the priests in their place1 as the type of what the whole people is to be as ,god's first-born among the nations1 ,his peculiar treasure1 'an holy nation4' ,this idea of proprietorship as related to redemption and sanctification comes out with especial clearness when ,god speaks of the exchange of the priests for the first-born 7,num4 iii4 #ab1 #ac1 viii4 #af1 #ag73 ',the ,levites are wholly given unto me2 instead of the first-born have ,i taken them unto me2 for all the first-born are mine2 in the day that ,i smote every first-born in the land of ,egypt ,i sanctified them for myself4' ,let us try and realize the relation existing between redemption and holiness4 ,in ,paradise we saw what ,god's sanctifying the seventh day was3 ,he took possession of it1 ,he blessed it1 ,he rested in it and refreshed ,himself4 ,where ,god enters and rests1 there is holiness3 the more perfectly the object is fitted for ,him to enter and dwell1 the more perfect the holiness4 ,the seventh day was sanctified as the period for man's sanctification4 ,at the very first step ,god took to lead him to ,his ,holiness--the command not to eat of the tree--man fell4 ,god did not give up ,his plan1 but had now to pursue a different and slower path4 ,after twenty-five centuries' slow but needful preparation1 ,he now reveals ,himself as the ,redeemer4 ,a people whom ,he had chosen and formed for ,himself ,he gives up to oppression and slavery1 that their hearts may be prepared to long for and welcome a ,deliverer4 ,in a series of mighty wonders ,he proves ,himself the ,conqueror of their enemies1 and then1 in the blood of the ,paschal ,lamb on their doors1 teaches them what redemption is1 not only from an unjust oppressor here on earth1 but from the righteous judgment their sins had deserved4 ,the ,passover is to be to them the transition from the seen and temporal to the unseen and spiritual1 revealing ,god not only as the ,mighty but as the ,holy ,one1 freeing them not only from the house of bondage but the ,destroying ,angel4 ,and having thus redeemed them1 ,he tells them that they are now ,his own4 ,during their stay at ,sinai and in the wilderness1 the thought is continually pressed upon them that they are now the ,lord's people1 whom ,he has made ,his own by the strength of ,his arm1 that ,he may make them holy for ,himself1 even as ,he is holy4 ,the purpose of redemption is ,possession1 and the purpose of ,possession is likeness to ,him who is ,redeemer and ,owner1 is ,holiness4 ,in regard to this ,holiness1 and the way it is to be attained as the result of redemption1 there is more than one lesson the sanctifying of the first-born will teach us4 ,first of all1 we want to realize how inseparable redemption and holiness are4 ,neither can exist without the other4 ,only redemption leads to holiness4 ,if ,i am seeking holiness1 ,i must abide in the clear and full experience of being a redeemed one1 and as such of being owned and possessed by ,god4 ,redemption is too often looked at from its negative side as deliverance from3 its real glory is the positive element of being redeemed unto ,himself4 ,full possession of a house means occupation3 if ,i own a house without occupying it1 it may be the home of all that is foul and evil4 ,god has redeemed me and made me ,his own with the view of getting complete possession of me4 ,he says of my soul1 ',it is mine1' and seeks to have ,his right of ownership acknowledged and made fully manifest4 ,that will be perfect holiness1 where ,god has entered in and taken complete and entire possession4#b ,it is redemption gives ,god ,his right and power over me2 it is redemption sets me free for ,god now to possess and bless3 it is redemption realized and filling my soul1 that will bring me the assurance and experience of all ,his power will work in me4 ,in ,god1 redemption and sanctification are one3 the more redemption as a ,divine reality possesses me1 the closer am ,i linked to the ,redeemer-,god1 the ,holy ,one4 ,and just so1 only holiness brings the assurance and enjoyment of redemption4 ,if ,i am seeking to hold fast redemption on lower ground1 ,i may be deceived4 ,if ,i have become unwatchful or careless1 ,i should tremble at the very idea of trusting in redemption apart from holiness as its object4 ,to ,israel ,god spake1 ',i brought you up out of the land of ,egypt3 therefore ye shall be holy1 for ,i am holy4' ,it is ,god the ,redeemer who made us ,his own1 who calls us too to be holy3 let ,holiness be to us the most essential1 the most precious part of redemption3 the yielding of ourselves to ,him who has taken us as ,his own1 and has undertaken to make us ,his own entirely4 ,a second lesson suggested is the connection between ,god's and man's working in sanctification4 ,to ,moses the ,lord speaks1 ',sanctify unto me all the first-born4' ,he afterwards says1 ',i sanctified all the first-born for myself4' ,what ,god does ,he does to be carried out and appropriated through us4 ,when ,he tells us that we are made holy in ,christ ,jesus1 that we are ,his holy ones1 ,he speaks not only of ,his purpose1 but of what ,he has really done2 we have been sanctified in the one offering of ,christ1 and in our being created anew in ,him4 ,but this work has a human side4 ,to us comes the call to be holy1 to follow after holiness1 to perfect holiness4 ,god has made us ,his own1 and allows us to say that we are ,his3 but ,he waits for us now to yield ,him an enlarged entrance into the secret places of our inner being1 for ,him to fill it all with ,his fulness4 ,holiness is not something we bring to ,god or do for ,him4 ,holiness is what there is of ,god in us4 ,god has made us ,his own in redemption1 that ,he might make ,himself our own in sanctification4 ,and our work in becoming holy is the bringing our whole life1 and every part of it1 into subjection to the rule of this holy ,god1 putting every member and every power upon ,his altar4 ,and this teaches us the answer to the question as to the connection between the sudden and the gradual in sanctification3 between its being a thing once for all complete1 and yet imperfect and needing to be perfected4 ,what ,god sanctifies is holy with a ,divine and perfect holiness as ,his gift3 man has to sanctify by acknowledging and maintaining and carrying out that holiness in relation to what ,god has made holy4 ,god sanctified the ,sabbath day3 man has to sanctify it1 that is1 to keep it holy4 ,god sanctified the first-born as ,his own3 ,israel had to sanctify them1 to treat them and give them up to ,god as holy4 ,god is holy3 we are to sanctify ,him in acknowledging and adoring and honouring that holiness4 ,god has sanctified ,his great name1 ,his name is ,holy3 we sanctify or hallow that name as we fear and trust and use it as the revelation of ,his ,holiness4 ,god sanctified ,christ3 ,christ sanctified ,himself1 manifesting in ,his personal will and action perfect conformity to the ,holiness with which ,god had made ,him holy4 ,god has sanctified us in ,christ ,jesus3 we are to be holy by yielding ourselves to the power of that holiness1 by acting it out1 and manifesting it in all our life and walk4 ,the objective ,divine gift1 bestowed once for all and completely1 must be appropriated as a subjective personal possession2 we must cleanse ourselves1 perfecting holiness4 ,redeemed unto holiness3 as the two thoughts are linked in the mind and work of ,god1 they must be linked in our heart and life4 ,when ,isaiah announced the second1 the true redemption1 it was given to him1 even more clearly and fully than to ,moses1 to reveal the name of ,god as ',the ,redeemer1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel4' ,the more we study this name1 and hallow it1 and worship ,god by it1 the more inseparably will the words become connected1 and we shall see how1 as the ,redeemer is the ,holy ,one1 the redeemed are holy ones too4 ,isaiah says of 'the way of holiness1' the 'redeemed shall walk therein4' ,the redemption that comes out from the ,holiness of ,god must lead up into it too4 ,we shall understand that to be redeemed in ,christ is to be holy in ,christ1 and the call of our redeeming ,god will acquire new meaning3 ',i am holy3 be ye holy4' ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o ,lord ,god6 the ,holy ,one of ,israel and his ,redeemer6 ,i worship before ,thee in deep humility4 ,i confess with shame that ,i so long sought ,thee more as the ,redeemer than as the ,holy ,one4 ,i knew not that it was as the ,holy ,one ,thou hadst redeemed1 that redemption was the outcome and the fruit of ,thy ,holiness2 that a participation in ,thy ,holiness was its one purpose and its highest beauty4 ,i only thought of being redeemed from bondage and death3 like ,israel1 ,i understood not that without fellowship and conformity to ,thyself redemption would lose its value4 ,most holy ,god6 ,i praise ,thee for the patience with which ,thou bearest with the selfishness and the slowness of ,thy redeemed ones4 ,i praise ,thee for the teaching of the ,spirit of ,thy ,holiness1 leading ,thy saints1 and me too1 to see how it is ,thy ,holiness1 and the call to become partaker of it1 that gives redemption its value2 how it is for ,thyself as the ,holy ,one1 to be ,thine own1 possessed and sanctified of ,thee1 that we are redeemed4 ,o my ,god6 with a love and a joy and a thanksgiving that cannot be uttered1 ,i praise ,thee for ,christ1 who has been made unto us of ,thee sanctification and redemption4 ,in ,him ,thou art my ,redeemer1 my ,holy ,one4 ,in ,him ,i am ,thy redeemed1 ,thy holy one4 ,o ,god6 in speechless adoration ,i fall down to worship the love that passeth knowledge1 that hath done this for us1 and to believe that in one who is now before ,thee1 holy in ,christ1 ,thou wilt fulfil all ,thy glorious purposes according to the greatness of ,thy power4 ,amen4 #a4 ',redemption through ,his blood4' ,the blood we meet at the threshold of the pathway of ,holiness4 ,for it is the blood of the sacrifice which the fire of ,god consumed1 and yet could not consume4 ,that blood has such power of holiness in it1 that we read1 ',sanctified by ,his own blood4' ,always think of holiness1 or pray for it1 as one redeemed by blood4 ,live under the covering of the blood in its daily cleansing power4 #b4 ,it is only as we know the ,holiness of ,god as ,fire1 and bow before ,his righteous judgment1 that we can appreciate the preciousness of the blood or the reality of the redemption4 ,as long as we only think of the love of ,god as goodness1 we may aim at being good2 faith in ,god who redeems will waken in us the need and the joy of being holy in ,christ4 #c4 ,have you understood the right of property ,god has in what ,he has redeemed8 ,have you heard a voice say1 ,mine4 ,thou art ,mine4 ,ask ,god very humbly to speak it to you4 ,listen very gently for it4 #d4 ,the holiness of the creature has its origin in the ,divine will1 in the ,divine election1 redemption1 and possession4 ,give yourself up to this will of ,god and rejoice in it4 #e4 ,as ,god created1 so ,he redeemed1 to sanctify4 ,have great faith in ,him for this4 #f4 ,let ,god have the entire possession and disposal of you4 ,holiness is ,his2 our holiness is to let ,him1 the ,holy ,one1 be all4 #b ,see ,note ,a on ,holiness as ,proprietorship4 ,sixth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,glory4 ',who is like unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord6 among the gods8 ,who is like unto ,thee1 glorious in holiness1 ,fearful in praises1 doing wonders8 ,thou in ,thy mercy hast led ,thy people which ,thou hast redeemed3 ,thou hast guided them in ,thy strength to the habitation of ,thy holiness 444 ,the holy place1 ,o ,lord1 which ,thy hands have established4' --,ex4 xv4 #aa-ag4 ,in these words we have another step in advance in the revelation of ,holiness4 ,we have here for the first time ,holiness predicated of ,god ,himself4 ,he is glorious in holiness3 and it is to the dwelling-place of ,his ,holiness that ,he is guiding ,his people4 ,let us first note the expression used here3 glorious in holiness4 ,throughout ,scripture we find the glory and the holiness of ,god mentioned together4 ,in ,ex4 xxix4 #dc we read1 ',and the tent shall be made holy by my glory1' that glory of the ,lord of which we afterwards read that it filled the house4 ,the glory of an object1 of a thing or person1 is its intrinsic worth or excellence3 to glorify is to remove everything that could hinder the full revelation of that excellence4 ,in the ,holiness of ,god ,his glory is hidden2 in the glory of ,god ,his ,holiness is manifested3 ,his glory1 the revelation of ,himself as the ,holy ,one1 would make the house holy4 ,in the same way the two are connected in ,lev4 x4 #c1 ',i will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me1 and before all the people ,i will be glorified4' ,the acknowledgment of ,his ,holiness in the priests would be the manifestation of ,his glory to the people4 ,so1 too1 in the song of the ,seraphim 7,isa4 vi4 #c71 ',holy1 holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god of ,hosts3 the whole earth is full of ,his glory4' ,god is ,he who dwelleth in a light that is unapproachable1 whom no man hath seen or can see3 it is the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god that ,he gives into our hearts4 ,the glory is that which can be seen and known of the invisible and unapproachable light3 that light itself1 and the glorious fire of which that light is the shining out1 that light is the ,holiness of ,god4 ,holiness is not so much an attribute of ,god1 as the comprehensive summary of all ,his perfections4 ,it is on the shore of the ,red ,sea that ,israel thus praises ,god3 ',who is like unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,who is like unto ,thee1 glorious in holiness8' ,he is the ,incomparable ,one1 there is none like ,him4 ,and wherein has ,he proved this1 and revealed the glory of ,his ,holiness8 ,with ,moses in ,horeb we saw ,god's glory in the fire1 in its double aspect of salvation and destruction3 consuming what could not be purified1 purifying what was not consumed4 ,we see it here too in the song of ,moses3 ,israel sings of judgment and of mercy4 ,the pillar of fire and of the cloud came between the camp of the ,egyptians and the camp of ,israel3 it was a cloud and darkness to those1 but it gave light by night to these4 ,the two thoughts run through the whole song4 ,but in the two verses that follow the ascription of holiness1 we find the sum of the whole4 ',thou stretchedst out ,thy right hand3 the earth swallowed them4' ',the ,lord looked forth upon the host of the ,egyptians from the pillar of fire and discomfited them4' ,this is the glory of ,holiness as judgment and destruction of the enemy4 ',thou in ,thy mercy hast led ,thy people which thou hast redeemed4 ,thou hast guided them in ,thy strength to the habitation of ,thy ,holiness4' ,this is the glory of ,holiness in mercy and redemption--a ,holiness that not only delivers but guides to the habitation of holiness1 where the ,holy ,one is to dwell with and in ,his people4 ,in the inspiration of the hour of triumph it is thus early revealed that the great object and fruit of redemption1 as wrought out by the ,holy ,one1 is to be ,his indwelling3 with nothing short of this can the ,holy ,one rest content1 or the full glory of ,his ,holiness be made manifest4 ,and now1 observe further1 how1 as it is in the redemption of ,his people that ,god's ,holiness is revealed1 so it is in the song of redemption that the personal ascription of ,holiness to ,god is found4 ,we know how in ,scripture1 after some striking special interposition of ,god as ,redeemer1 the special influence of the ,spirit is manifested in some song of praise4 ,it is remarkable how it is in these outbursts of holy enthusiasm1 ,god is praised as the ,holy ,one4 ,see it in the song of ,hannah 7#a ,sam4 ii4 #b71 ',there is none holy as the ,lord4' ,the language of the ,seraphim 7,isa4 vi47 is that of a song of adoration4 ,in the great day of ,israel's deliverance the song will be1 ',the ,lord ,jehovah is become my strength and song4 ,sing unto the ,lord1 for ,he hath done excellent things4 ,cry aloud and shout1 thou inhabitant of ,zion1 for great is the ,holy ,one of ,israel in the midst of thee4' ,mary sings1 ',for ,he that is mighty hath done great things to me3 and holy is ,his name4' ,the book of ,revelation reveals the living creatures giving glory and honour and thanks to ,him that sitteth on the throne2 'and they have no rest day and night1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord ,god1 the ,almighty1 which was1 and which is1 and which is to come4' ,and when the song of ,moses and of the ,lamb is sung by the sea of glass1 it will still be1 ',who shall not fear1 ,o ,lord1 and glorify ,thy name8 for ,thou only art holy4' ,it is in the moments of highest inspiration1 under the fullest manifestation of ,god's redeeming power1 that ,his servants speak of ,his ,holiness4 ,in ,ps4 xcvii4 we read1 ',rejoice in the ,lord1 ye righteous1 and give thanks at the remembrance of ,his ,holiness4' ,and in ,ps4 xcix41 which has1 with its thrice repeated holy1 been called the echo on earth of the ,thrice ,holy of heaven1 we sing-- ,let them praise ,thy great and terrible name4 ,,holy ,,is ,,he4 ,exalt ye the ,lord our ,god1 and worship at ,his footstool3 ,,holy ,,is ,,he4 ,exalt ye the ,lord our ,god1 and worship at ,his holy hill3 ,for the ,lord our ,god is ,,holy4 ,it is only under the influence of high spiritual elevation and joy that ,god's holiness can be fully apprehended or rightly worshipped4 ,the sentiment that becomes us as we worship the ,holy ,one1 that fits us for knowing and worshipping ,him aright1 is the spirit of praise that sings and shouts for joy in the experience of ,his full salvation4 ,but is not this at variance with the lesson we learnt at ,horeb1 when ,god spake1 ',draw not nigh hither3 put off thy shoes1' and where ,moses feared and hid his face8 ,and is not this in very deed the posture that becomes us as creatures and sinners8 ,it is indeed3 and yet the two sentiments are not at variance3 rather they are indispensable to each other2 the fear is the preparation for the praise and the glory4 ,or is it not that same ,moses who hid his face and feared to look upon ,god1 who afterwards beheld ,his glory until his own face shone with a brightness that men could not bear to look upon8 ,and is not the song that sings here of ,god as glorious in holiness1 also the song of ,moses who feared and hid his face8 ,have we not seen in the fire1 and in ,god1 and specially in ,his ,holiness1 the twofold aspect2 consuming and purifying1 repelling and attracting1 judging and saving1 with the latter in each case not only the accompaniment but the result of the former8 ,and so we shall find that the deeper the humbling and the fear in ,god's ,holy ,presence1 and the more real and complete the putting off of all that is of self and of nature1 even to the putting off1 the complete death of the old man and his will1 the more hearty the giving up to be consumed of what is sinful1 the deeper and fuller will be the praise and joy with which we daily sing our song of redemption3 ',who is like unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 doing wonders8' ',glorious in holiness2 fearful in praises3' the song itself harmonizes the apparently conflicting elements4 ,yes1 ,i will sing of judgment and of mercy4 ,i will rejoice with trembling as ,i praise the ,holy ,one4 ,as ,i look upon the two sides of ,his ,holiness1 as revealed to the ,egyptians and the ,israelites1 ,i remember that what was there separated is in me united4 ,by nature ,i am the ,egyptian1 an enemy doomed to destruction2 by grace1 an ,israelite chosen for redemption4 ,in me the fire must consume and destroy2 only as judgment does its work1 can mercy fully save4 ,it is only as ,i tremble before the ,searching ,light and the ,burning ,fire and the ,consuming ,heat of the ,holy ,one1 as ,i yield the ,egyptian nature to be judged and condemned and slain1 that the ,israelite will be redeemed to know aright his ,god as the ,god of salvation1 and to rejoice in ,him4 ,blessed be ,god6 the judgment is past4 ,in ,christ1 the burning bush1 the fire of the ,divine ,holiness did its double work3 in ,him sin was condemned in the flesh2 in ,him we are free4 ,in giving up ,his will to the death1 and doing ,god's will1 ,christ sanctified ,himself2 and in that will we are sanctified too4 ,his crucifixion1 with its judgment of the flesh1 ,his death1 with its entire putting off of what is of nature1 is not only for us1 but is really ours2 a life and a power working within us by ,his ,spirit4 ,day by day we abide in ,him4 ,tremblingly but rejoicingly we take our stand in ,him1 for the ,power of ,holiness as ,judgment to vindicate within us its fierce vengeance against what is sin and flesh1 and so to let the ,power of ,holiness as ,redemption accomplish that glorious work that makes us give thanks at the remembrance of ,his ,holiness4 ,and so the shout of ,salvation rings ever deeper and truer and louder through our life1 ',who is like unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 among the gods8 ,who is like unto ,thee1 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 doing wonders8' ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ',who is like unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord6 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 doing wonders8' ,with my whole heart would ,i join in this song of redemption1 and rejoice in ,thee as the ,god of my salvation4 ,o my ,god6 let ,thy ,spirit1 from whom these words of holy joy and triumph came1 so reveal within me the great redemption as a personal experience1 that my whole life may be one song of trembling and adoring wonder4 ,i beseech ,thee especially1 let my whole heart be filled with ,thyself1 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 who alone doest wonders4 ,let the fear of ,thy ,holiness make me tremble at all there is in me of self and flesh1 and lead me in my worship to deny and crucify my own wisdom1 that the ,spirit of ,thy ,holiness may breathe in me4 ,let the fear of the ,lord give its deep undertone to all my coming in and going out in ,thy ,holy ,presence4 ,prepare me thus for giving praise without ceasing at the remembrance of ,thy holiness4 ,o my ,god6 ,i would rejoice in ,thee as my ,redeemer1 ,,my ,,holy ,,one1 with a joy unspeakable and full of glory4 ,as my ,redeemer1 ,thou makest me holy4 ,with my whole heart do ,i trust ,thee to do it1 to sanctify me wholly4 ,i do believe in ,thy promise4 ,i do believe in ,thyself1 and believing ,i receive ,thee1 the ,holy ,one1 my ,redeemer4 ,who is like unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord6 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 doing wonders8 #a4 ,god's ,holiness as ,glory4 ,god is glorified in the holiness of ,his people4 ,true holiness always gives glory to ,god alone4 ,live to the glory of ,god3 that is holiness4 ,live holily3 that will glorify ,god4 ,to lose sight of self1 and seek only ,god's glory1 is holiness4 #b4 ,our ,holiness as ,praise4 ,praise gives glory to ,god1 and is thus an element of holiness4 ',thou art holy1 ,thou that inhabitest the praises of ,israel4' #c4 ,god's ,holiness1 ,his holy redeeming love1 is cause of unceasing joy and praise4 ,praise ,god every day for it4 ,but you cannot do this unless you live in it4 ,may ,god's holiness become so glorious to us1 as we understand that whatever we see of ,his glory is just the outshining of ,his holiness1 that we cannot help rejoicing in it1 and in ,him the ,holy ,one4 #d4 ,the spirit of the fear of the ,lord and the spirit of praise may1 at first sight1 appear to be at variance4 ,but it is not so4 ,the humility that fears the ,holy ,one will also praise ,him3 ',ye that fear the ,lord3 praise the ,lord4' ,the lower we lie in the fear of ,god1 and the fear of self1 the more surely will ,he lift us up in due time to praise ,him4 ,seventh ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,obedience4 ',ye have seen what ,i did to the ,egyptians1 and how ,i bare you on eagles' wings1 and brought you unto myself4 ,now therefore1 if ye will obey my voice indeed1 and keep my covenant1 ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people3 ye shall be unto me an holy nation4'--,ex4 xix4 #d-f4 ,israel has reached ,horeb4 ,the law is to be given and the covenant made4 ,here are ,god's first words to the people2 ,he speaks of redemption and its blessing1 fellowship with ,himself3 ',ye have seen how ,i brought you unto myself4' ,he speaks of holiness as ,his purpose in redemption3 ',ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,and as the link between the two ,he places obedience3 ',if ye will indeed obey my voice1 ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,god's will is the expression of ,his holiness2 as we do ,his will1 we come into contact with ,his holiness4 ,the link between ,redemption and ,holiness is ,obedience4 ,this takes us back to what we saw in ,paradise4 ,god sanctified the seventh day as the time for sanctifying man4 ,and what was the first thing ,he did with this purpose8 ,he gave him a commandment4 ,obedience to that commandment would have opened the door1 would have been the entrance1 into the ,holiness of ,god4 ,holiness is a moral attribute2 and moral is that which a free will chooses and determines for itself4 ,what ,god creates and gives is only naturally good2 what man wills to have of ,god and ,his will1 and really appropriates1 has moral worth1 and leads to holiness4 ,in creation ,god manifested ,his wise and good will4 ,his holy will ,he speaks in ,his commands4 ,as that holy will enters man's will1 as man's will accepts and unites itself with ,god's will1 he becomes holy4 ,after creation1 in the seventh day1 ,god took man up into ,his work of sanctification to make him holy4 ,obedience is the path to holiness1 because it is the path to union with ,god's holy will2 with man unfallen1 as with fallen man1 in redemption here and in glory above1 in all the holy angels1 in ,christ the ,holy ,one of ,god ,himself1 obedience is the path of holiness4 ,it is not itself holiness3 but as the will opens itself to accept and to do the will of ,god1 ,god communicates ,himself and ,his ,holiness4 ,to obey ,his voice is to follow ,him as ,he leads in the way to the full revelation and communication of ,himself and ,his blessed nature as the ,holy ,one4 ,obedience4 ,not knowledge of the will of ,god1 not even approval1 not even the will to do it1 but the doing of it4 ,knowledge1 and approval1 and will must lead to action2 the will of ,god must be done4 ',if ye indeed obey my voice1 ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,it is not faith1 and not worship1 and not profession1 that ,god here asks in the first place from ,his people when ,he speaks of holiness2 it is obedience4 ,god's will must be done on earth1 as in heaven4 ',remember and do all my commandments1 that ye may be holy to your ,god' 7,num4 xv4 #dj74 ',sanctify yourselves therefore1 and be ye holy2 and ye shall keep my statutes and do them4 ,i am the ,lord which sanctify you' 7,lev4 xx4 #g1 #h74 ',therefore shall ye keep my commandments and do them3 ,i am the ,lord3 ,i will be hallowed among the children of ,israel3 ,i am the ,lord which hallow you1 that brought you up out of the land of ,egypt' 7xxii #ba1 #cc74 ,a moment's reflection will make the reason of this clear to us4 ,it is in a man's work that he manifests what he is4 ,i may know what is good1 and yet not approve it4 ,i may approve1 and yet not will it4 ,i may in a certain sense will it1 and yet be wanting in the energy1 or the self-sacrifice1 or the power that will rouse and do the thing4 ,thinking is easier than willing1 and willing is easier than doing4 ,action alone proves whether the object of my interest has complete mastery over me4 ,god wants ,his will done4 ,this alone is obedience4 ,in this alone it is seen whether the whole heart1 with all its strength and will1 has given itself over to the will of ,god2 whether we live it1 and are ready at any sacrifice to make it our own by doing it4 ,god has no other way for making us holy4 ',ye shall keep my statutes and do them3 ,i am the ,lord which make you holy4' ,to all seekers after holiness this is a lesson of deep importance4 ,obedience is not holiness2 holiness is something far higher1 something that comes from ,god to us1 or rather1 something of ,god coming into us4 ,but obedience is indispensable to holiness3 it cannot exist without it4 ,while1 therefore1 your heart seeks to follow the teaching of ,god's word1 and looks in faith to what ,god has done1 as ,he has made you holy in ,christ1 and to what ,god is still to do through the ,spirit of ,holiness as ,he fulfils the promise1 ',the very ,god of peace sanctify you wholly1' never for one moment forget to be obedient4 ',if ye shall indeed obey my voice1 ye shall be an holy nation to me4' ,begin by doing at once whatever appears right to do4 ,give up at once whatever conscience tells that you dare not say is according to the will of ,god4 ,not only pray for light and strength1 but act2 do what ,god says4 ',he that doeth the will of ,god is my brother1' ,jesus says4 ,every son of ,god has been begotten of the will of ,god3 in it he has his life4 ,to do the ,father's will is the meat1 the strength1 the mark1 of every son of ,god4 ,it is nothing less than the surrender to such a life of simple and entire obedience that is implied in becoming a ,christian4 ,there are1 alas6 too many ,christians who1 from the want either of proper instruction1 or of proper attention to the teaching of ,god's word1 have never realized the place of supreme importance that obedience takes in the ,christian life4 ,they know not that ,christ1 and redemption1 and faith all lead to it1 because through it alone is the way to the fellowship of the ,love1 and the ,likeness1 and the ,glory of ,god4 ,we have all1 possibly1 suffered from it ourselves3 in our prayers and efforts after the perfect peace and the rest of faith1 after the abiding joy and the increasing power of the ,christian life1 there has been a secret something hindering the blessing1 or causing the speedy loss of what had been apprehended4 ,a wrong impression as to the absolute necessity of obedience was probably the cause4 ,it cannot too earnestly be insisted on that the freeness and mighty power of grace has this for its object from our conversion onwards1 the restoring us to the active obedience and harmony with ,god's will from which we had fallen through the first sin in ,paradise4 ,obedience leads to ,god and ,his ,holiness4 ,it is in obedience that the will is moulded1 and the character fashioned1 and an inner man built up which ,god can clothe and adorn with the beauty of holiness4 ,when a ,christian discovers that this has been the missing link1 the cause of failure and darkness1 there is nothing for it but1 in a grand act of surrender1 deliberately to choose obedience1 universal1 whole-hearted obedience1 as the law of his life in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,let him not fear to make his own the words of ,israel at ,sinai1 in answer to the message of ,god we are considering3 ',all that the ,lord hath spoken1 we will do2' ',all that the ,lord hath said will we do1 and be obedient4' ,what the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god hath done by the gift of ,his ,son and ,spirit4 ,the law-giving of ,sinai on tables of stone has been succeeded by the law-giving of the ,spirit on the table of the heart3 the ,holy ,spirit is the power of obedience1 and is so the ,spirit of ,holiness1 who1 in obedience1 prepares our hearts for being the dwelling of the ,holy ,one4 ,let us in this faith yield ourselves to a life of obedience3 it is the ,new ,testament path to the realization of the promise3 ',if ye will obey my voice indeed1 ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,we have already seen how holiness in its very nature supposes the personal relation to ,god1 ,his personal presence4 ',i have brought you unto myself2 if ye obey1 ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,it is as we understand and hold fast this personal element that obedience will become possible1 and will lead to holiness4 ,mark well ,god's words3 ',if ye will obey my voice1 and keep my covenant4' ,the voice is more than a law or a book2 it always implies a living person and intercourse with him4 ,it is this that is the secret of gospel obedience3 hearing the voice and following the lead of ,jesus as a personal friend1 a living ,saviour4 ,it is being led by the ,spirit of ,god1 having ,him to reveal the ,presence1 and the ,will1 and the ,love of the ,father1 that will work in us that personal relation which the ,new ,testament means when it speaks of doing everything unto the ,lord1 as pleasing ,god4 ,such obedience is the pathway of holiness4 ,its every act is a link to the living ,god1 a surrender of the being for ,god's will1 for ,god ,himself to take possession4 ,in the process of assimilation1 slow but sure1 by which the will of ,god1 as the meat of our souls1 is taken up into our inmost being1 our spiritual nature is strengthened1 is spiritualized1 growing up into an holy temple in which ,god can reveal ,himself and take up ,his abode4 ,let every believer study to realize this4 ,when ,god sanctified the seventh day as ,his period of making holy1 ,he taught us that ,he could not do it at once4 ,the revelation and communication of holiness must be gradual1 as man is prepared to receive it4 ,god's sanctifying work with each of us1 as with the race1 needs time4 ,the time it needs and seeks is the life of daily1 hourly obedience4 ,all that is spent in self-will1 and not in the living relation to the ,lord1 is lost4 ,but when the heart seeks day by day to hearken to the voice and to obey it1 the ,holy ,one ,himself watches over ,his words to fulfil them3 ',ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,in a way of which the soul beforehand can have but little conception1 ,god will overshadow and make ,his abode in the obedient heart4 ,the habit of always listening for the voice and obeying it will only be the building of the temple3 the ,living ,god ,himself1 the ,holy ,one1 will come to take up ,his abode4 ,the glory of the ,lord will fill the house1 and the promise be made true1 ',i will sanctify it by my glory4' ',i brought you unto myself2 if ye will obey my voice in deed1 ye shall be unto me an holy nation4' ,seekers after holiness6 ,god has brought you to ,himself4 ,and now ,his voice speaks to you all the thoughts of ,his heart1 that as you take them in1 and make them your own1 and make ,his will your own by living and doing it1 you may enter into the most complete union with ,himself1 the union of will as well as of life1 and so become a holy people unto ,him4 ,let obedience1 the listening to and the doing the will of ,god1 be the joy and the glory of your life2 it will give you access unto the ,holiness of ,god4 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o my ,god6 ,thou hast redeemed me for ,thyself1 that ,thou mightest have me wholly as ,thine own1 possessing1 filling my inmost being with ,thy own likeness1 ,thy perfect will1 and the glory of ,thy ,holiness4 ,and ,thou seekest to train me1 in the power of a free and loving will1 to take ,thy will and make it my own1 that in the very centre of my being ,i may have ,thine own perfection dwelling in me4 ,and in ,thy words ,thou revealest ,thy will1 that as ,i accept and keep them ,i may master their ,divine contents1 and will all that ,thou willest4 ,o my ,god6 let me live day by day in such fellowship with ,thee1 that ,i may indeed in everything hear ,thy voice1 the living voice of the living ,god speaking to me4 ,let the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,thy ,holiness1 be to me ,thy voice guiding me in the path of simple1 childlike obedience4 ,i do bless ,thee that ,i have seen that ,christ1 in whom ,i am holy1 was the obedient one1 that in obedience ,he sanctified ,himself to become my sanctification1 and that abiding in ,him1 ,thy obedient1 holy ,child1 is abiding in ,thy will as once done by ,him1 and now to be done by me4 ,o my ,god6 ,i will indeed obey ,thy will3 make ,thou me one of ,thy holy nation1 a peculiar treasure above all people4 ,amen4 #a4 ',he became obedient unto death4' ',though ,he was a ,son1 yet ,he learned obedience by the things which ,he suffered4' ',i come to do ,thy will4' ',in which will we are sanctified4' ,christ's example teaches us that obedience is the only path to the ,holiness or the glory of ,god4 ,be this your consecration3 a surrender in everything to seek and do the will of ,god4 #b4 ,we are 'holy in ,christ'--in this ,christ who did the will of ,god and was obedient to the death4 ,in ,him it is we are2 in ,him we are holy4 ,his obedience is the soil in which we are planted1 and must be rooted4 ',it is my meat to do ,his will2' obedience was the sustenance of ,his life2 in doing ,god's will ,he drew down ,divine nourishment2 it must be so with us too4 #c4 ,as you study what it is to be and abide in ,christ1 as you rejoice you are in ,him1 always remember it is ,christ who obeyed in whom ,god has planted you4 #d4 ,if ever you feel perplexed about holiness1 just yield yourself again to do ,god's will1 and go and do it4 ,it is ours to obey1 it is ,god's to sanctify4 #e4 ,holy in ,christ4 ,christ sanctified ,himself by obedience1 by doing the will of ,god1 and in that will1 as done by ,him1 we have been sanctified4 ,in accepting that will as done by ,him1 in accepting ,him1 ,i am holy4 ,in accepting that will of ,god1 as to be done by me1 ,i become holy4 ,i am in ,him2 in every act of living obedience1 ,i enter into living fellowship with ,him1 and draw the power of ,his life into mine4 #f4 ,obedience depends upon hearing the voice4 ,do not imagine you know the will of ,god4 ,pray and wait for the inward teaching of the ,spirit4 ,eighth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,indwelling4 ',and let them make me a holy place1 that ,i may dwell among them4'--,ex4 xxv4 #h4 ',and the tent shall be sanctified by my glory1 and ,i will dwell among the children of ,israel1 and will be their ,god4'--,ex4 xxix4 #dc1 #de4 ,the ,presence of ,god makes holy1 even when it descends but for a little while1 as at ,horeb1 in the burning bush4 ,how much more must that ,presence make holy the place where it dwells1 where it fixes its permanent abode6 ,so much is this the case1 that the place where ,god dwells came to be called the holy place1 'the holy place of the habitation of the ,most ,high4' ,all around where ,god dwelt was holy3 the holy city1 the mountain of ,god's ,holiness1 ,his holy house1 till we come within the veil1 to the most holy place1 the holy of holies4 ,it is as the indwelling ,god that ,he sanctifies ,his house1 that ,he reveals ,himself as the ,holy ,one in ,israel1 that ,he makes us holy too4 ,because ,god is holy1 the house in which ,he dwells is holy too4 ,this is the only attribute of ,god which ,he can communicate to ,his house2 but this one ,he can and does communicate4 ,among men there is a very close link between the character of a house and its occupants4 ,when there is no obstacle to prevent it1 the house unintentionally reflects the master's likeness4 ,holiness expresses not so much an attribute as the very being of ,god in ,his infinite perfection1 and ,his house testifies to this one truth1 that ,he is holy1 that where ,he dwells ,he must have holiness1 that ,his indwelling makes holy4 ,in ,his first command to ,his people to build ,him a holy place1 ,god distinctly said that it was that ,he might dwell among them3 the dwelling in the house was to be the shadowing forth of ,his dwelling in the midst of ,his people4 ,the house with its holiness thus leads us on to the holiness of ,his dwelling among ,his redeemed ones4 ,the holy place1 the habitation of ,god's ,holiness1 was the centre of all ,god's work in making ,israel holy4 ,everything connected with it was holy4 ,the altar1 the priests1 the sacrifices1 the oil1 the bread1 the vessels1 all were holy1 because they belonged to ,god4 ,from the house there issued the twofold voice--,god's call to be holy1 ,god's promise to make holy4 ,god's claim was manifested in the demand for cleansing1 for atonement1 for holiness1 in all who were to draw near1 whether as priests or worshippers4 ,and ,god's promise shone forth from ,his house in the provision for making holy1 in the sanctifying power of the altar1 of the blood and the oil4 ,the house embodied the two sides that are united in holiness1 the repelling and the attracting1 the condemning and the saving4 ,now by keeping the people at a distance1 then by inviting and bringing them nigh1 ,god's house was the great symbol of ,his own ,holiness4 ,he had come nigh even to dwell among them2 and yet they might not come nigh1 they might never enter the secret place of ,his presence4 ,all these things are written on our behalf4 ,it is as the ,indwelling ,one that ,god is the sanctifier of ,his people still3 the ,indwelling ,presence alone makes us holy4 ,this comes out with special clearness if we note how1 the nearer the ,presence was1 the greater the degree of holiness4 ,because ,god dwelt among them1 the camp was holy3 all uncleanness was to be removed from it4 ,but the holiness of the court of the tabernacle was greater3 uncleanness which did not exclude from the camp would not be tolerated there4 ,then the holy place was still holier1 because still nearer ,god4 ,and the inner sanctuary1 where the ,presence dwelt on the mercy-seat1 was the ,holiest of ,all1 was most holy4 ,the principle still holds good3 holiness is measured by nearness to ,god2 the more of ,his ,presence1 the more of true holiness2 perfect indwelling will be perfect holiness4 ,there is none holy but the ,lord2 there is no holiness but in ,him4 ,he cannot part with somewhat of ,his holiness1 and give it to us apart from ,himself2 we have only so much of holiness as we have of ,god ,himself4 ,and to have ,himself truly and fully1 we must have ,him as the ,indwelling ,one4 ,and ,his indwelling in a house or locality1 without life or spirit1 is only a faint shadow of the true indwelling as the ,living ,one1 when ,he enters into and penetrates our very being1 and fills us1 our very selves1 with ,his own life4 ,there is no union so intimate1 so real1 so perfect1 as that of an indwelling life4 ,think of the life that circulates through a large and fruitful tree4 ,how it penetrates and fills every portion2 how inseparably it unites the whole as long as it really is to exist6--in wood and leaf1 in flower and fruit1 everywhere the indwelling life flows and fills4 ,this life is the life of nature1 the life of the ,spirit of ,god which dwells in nature4 ,it is the same life that animates our bodies1 the spirit of nature pervading every portion of them with the power of sensibility and action4 ,not less intimate1 yea rather1 far more wonderful and real1 is the indwelling of the ,spirit of the ,new ,life1 through whom ,god dwells in the heart of the believer4 ,and it is as this indwelling becomes a matter of conscious longing and faith1 that the soul obeys the command1 ',let them make me a holy place1 that ,i may dwell among them1' and experiences the truth of the promise1 ',the tent shall be sanctified by my glory1 and ,i will dwell among the children of ,israel4' ,it was as the ,indwelling ,one that ,god revealed ,himself in the ,son1 whom ,he sanctified and sent into the world4 ,more than once our ,lord insisted upon it1 ',believe me1 that ,i am in the ,father and the ,father in me2 the ,father abiding in me doeth the works4' ,it is specially as the temple of ,god that believers are more than once called holy in the ,new ,testament3 ',the temple of ,god is holy1 which temple ye are4' ',your body is a temple of the ,holy ,spirit4' ',all the building groweth unto an holy temple in the ,lord4' ,it is--we shall later on learn to understand this better--just because it is through the ,spirit that the heart is prepared for the indwelling1 and the indwelling effected and maintained1 that the ,spirit so peculiarly takes the attribute of ,holy4 ,the ,indwelling ,spirit is the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the measure of ,his indwelling1 or rather of ,his revealing the ,indwelling ,christ1 is the measure of holiness4 ,we have seen what the various degrees of nearness to ,god's ,presence in ,israel were4 ,they are still to be found4 ,you have ,christians who dwell in the camp1 but know little of drawing nigh to the ,holy ,one4 ,then you have outer court ,christians3 they long for pardon and peace1 they come ever again to the altar of atonement2 but they know little of true nearness or holiness2 of their privilege as priests to enter the holy place4 ,others there are who have learnt that this is their calling1 and long to draw near1 and yet hardly understand the boldness they have to enter into the ,holiest of all1 and to dwell there4 ,blessed they to whom this1 the secret of the ,lord1 has been revealed4 ,they know what the rent veil means1 and the access into the immediate ,presence4 ,the veil hath been taken away from their hearts3 they have found the secret of true holiness in the ,indwelling of the ,holy ,one1 the ,god who is holy and makes holy4 ,believer6 the ,god who calls you to holiness is the ,god of the ,indwelling ,life4 ,the tabernacle typifies it1 the ,son reveals it1 the ,spirit communicates it1 the eternal glory will fully manifest it4 ,and you may experience it4 ,it is your calling as a believer to be ,god's ,holy ,temple4 ,oh1 do but yield yourself to ,his full indwelling6 seek not holiness in the first place in what you are or do2 seek it in ,god4 ,seek it not even as a gift from ,god1 seek it in ,god ,himself1 in ,his indwelling ,presence4 ,worship ,him in the beauty of holiness1 as ,he dwells in the high and holy place4 ,and as you worship1 listen to ,his voice3 ',thus saith the high and lofty ,one1 that inhabiteth eternity1 whose name is ,holy3 ,i dwell in the high and holy place1 with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit4' ,it is as the ,spirit strengthens us mightily in the inward man1 so that ,christ dwells in our heart by faith1 and the ,father comes and makes with ,him ,his abode in us1 that we are truly holy4 ,oh1 let us but1 in true1 true-hearted consecration1 yield ourselves to be1 as distinctly as was the tabernacle or the temple1 given up entirely to be the dwelling of the ,most ,high1 the habitation of ,his ,holiness4 ,a house filled with the glory of ,god1 a heart filled with all the fulness of ,god1 is ,god's promise1 is our portion4 ,let us in faith claim and accept and hold fast the blessing3 ,christ1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 will in ,his ,father's ,name1 enter and take possession4 ,then faith will bring the solution of all our difficulties1 the victory over all our failures1 the fulfilment of all our desires3 ',the tent1 the heart1 shall be sanctified by my glory2 and ,i will dwell among them4' ,the open secret of true holiness1 the secret of the joy unspeakable1 is ,christ dwelling in the heart by faith4 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,we bow our knees to the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus1 that ,he would grant unto us1 according to the riches of ,his glory1 what ,he ,himself has taught us to ask for4 ,we ask nothing less than this1 that ,christ may dwell in our hearts by faith4 ,we long for that most blessed1 permanent1 conscious indwelling of the ,lord ,jesus in the heart1 which ,he so distinctly promised as the fruit of the ,holy ,spirit's coming4 ,father6 we ask for what ,he meant when ,he spake of the loving1 obedient disciple3 ',i will come and manifest myself to him4 ,we will come and take up our abode with him4' ,oh1 grant unto us this indwelling of ,christ in the heart by faith6 ,and for this1 we beseech ,thee1 grant us to be strengthened with might by ,thy ,spirit in the inner man4 ,o ,most ,mighty ,god6 let the spirit of ,thy ,divine ,power work mightily within us1 renewing our mind1 and will1 and affections1 so that the heart be all prepared and furnished as a temple1 as a home1 for ,jesus4 ,let that ,blessed ,spirit strengthen us to the faith that receives the ,blessed ,saviour and ,his indwelling ,presence4 ,o ,most ,gracious ,father6 hear our cry4 ,we do bow our knee to ,thee4 ,we plead the riches of ,thy glory4 ,we praise ,thee who art mighty to do above what we can ask or think4 ,we wait on ,thee1 ,o our ,father3 oh1 grant us a mighty strengthening by the ,spirit in the inner man1 that this bliss may be ours in its full blessedness1 our ,lord ,jesus dwelling in the heart4 ,we ask it in ,his ,name4 ,amen4 #a4 ,god's dwelling in the midst of ,israel was the great central fact to which all the commands concerning holiness were but preparatory and subordinate4 ,so the work of the ,holy ,spirit also culminates in the personal indwelling of ,christ4 7,john xiv4 #ba1 #bc4 ,eph4 iii4 #af1 #ag47 ,aim at this and expect it4 #b4 ,the tabernacle with its three divisions was1 as of other spiritual truths1 so the image of man's threefold nature4 ,our spirit is the ,holiest of all1 where ,god is meant to dwell1 where the ,holy ,spirit is given4 ,the life of the soul1 with its powers of feeling1 knowing1 and willing1 is the holy place4 ,and the outer life of the body1 of conduct and action1 is the outer court4 ,begin by believing that the ,spirit dwells in the inmost sanctuary1 where ,his workings are secret and hidden4 ,honour ,him by trusting ,him to work1 by yielding to ,him in silent worship before ,god4 ,from within ,he will take possession of thought and will2 ,he will even fill the outer court1 the body1 with the ,holiness of ,god4 ',the ,god of peace ,himself sanctify you wholly2 and may your spirit1 and soul1 and body1 be preserved entire1 without blame4 ,faithful is ,he which calleth you1 who will also do it4' #c4 ,god's indwelling was within the veil1 in the unseen1 the secret place4 ,faith knew it1 and served ,him with holy fear4 ,our faith knows that ,god the ,holy ,spirit has ,his abode in the hidden place of our inner life4 ,set open your inmost being to ,him2 bow in lowly reverence before the ,holy ,one as you yield yourself to ,his working4 ,holiness is the presence of the ,indwelling ,one4 ,ninth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,mediation4 ',and thou shalt make a plate of pure gold1 and grave upon it1 ,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,and it shall be upon ,aaron's forehead1 that ,aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things1 which the children of ,israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts2 and it shall always be upon his forehead1 that they may be accepted before the ,lord4'--,ex4 xxviii4 #cf1 #ch4 ,god's house was to be the dwelling-place of ,his ,holiness1 the place where ,he was to reveal ,himself2 as the ,holy ,one1 not to be approached but with fear and trembling2 as the ,holy-making ,one1 drawing to ,himself all who would be made partakers of ,his ,holiness4 ,of the revelation of ,his ,holy and ,his ,holy-making ,presence1 the centre is found in the person of the high priest1 in his double capacity of representing ,god with man1 and man with ,god4 ,he is the embodiment of the ,divine ,holiness in human form1 and of human holiness as a ,divine gift1 as far as the dispensation of symbol and shadow could offer and express it4 ,in him ,god came near to sanctify and bless the people4 ,in him the people came their very nearest to ,god4 ,and yet the very ,day of ,atonement1 in which he might enter into the ,most ,holy1 was but the proof of how unholy man was1 and how unfit to abide in ,god's ,presence4 ,in himself a proof of ,israel's unholiness1 he yet was a type and picture of the coming ,saviour1 our blessed ,lord ,jesus1 a wondrous exhibition of the way in which hereafter the holiness of ,god should become the portion of ,his people4 ,among the many points in which the high priest typified ,christ as our sanctification1 there is1 perhaps1 none more suggestive or beautiful than the holy crown he wore on his forehead4 ,everything about him was to be holy4 ,his garments were holy garments4 ,but there was to be one thing in which this holiness reached its fullest manifestation4 ,on his forehead he was always to wear a plate of gold1 with the words engraved on it1 ,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,every one was to read there that the whole object of his existence1 the one thing he lived for1 was1 to be the embodiment and the bearer of the ,divine holiness1 the chosen one through whom ,god's holiness might flow out in blessing upon the people4 ,the way in which the blessing of the holy crown was to act was a most remarkable one4 ,in bearing ,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord on his forehead1 he is1 we read1 'to bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of ,israel hallow2 that they may be accepted before the ,lord4' ,for every sin some sacrifice or way of atonement had been devised4 ,but how about the sin that cleaves to the very sacrifice and religious service itself8 ',thou desirest truth in the inward parts4' ,how painfully the worshipper might be oppressed by the consciousness that his penitence1 his faith1 his love1 his obedience1 his consecration1 were all imperfect and defiled6 ,for this need1 too1 of the worshipper1 ,god had provided4 ,the holiness of the high priest covered the sin and the unholiness of his holy things4 ,the holy crown was ,god's pledge that the holiness of the high priest rendered the worshipper acceptable4 ,if he was unholy1 there was one among his brethren who was holy1 who had a holiness that could avail for him too1 a holiness he could trust in4 ,he could look to the high priest not only to effect atonement by his blood-sprinkling1 but in his person to secure a holiness too that made him and his gifts most acceptable4 ,in the consciousness of personal unholiness he might rejoice in a mediator1 in the holiness of ,another than himself1 the priest whom ,god had provided4 ,have we not here a most precious lesson1 leading us a step farther on in the way of holiness8 ,to our question1 ,how ,god makes holy1 we have the ,divine answer3 ,through a man whom the ,divine ,holiness has chosen to rest upon1 and whose holiness belongs to us1 as ,his brethren1 the very members of ,his own body4 ,through a holiness which is of such efficacy1 that the very sins of our holy things disappear1 and we can enter the ,holy ,presence with the assurance of being altogether well-pleasing4 ,and is not just this the lesson that many earnest seekers after holiness need8 ,they know all that the ,word teaches of the blessed ,atonement1 and the full pardon it has brought4 ,they believe in the ,father's wonderful love1 and what ,he is ready to do for them4 ,and yet1 when they hear of the childlike simplicity1 the assurance of faith1 the loving obedience1 and the blessed surrender with which the ,father expects them to come and receive the blessing1 their heart fails for fear4 ,it is as if the blessing were all beyond their reach4 ,what avails that the ,holy ,one is said to come so nigh8 their unholiness renders them incapable of claiming or grasping the ,presence that offers itself to them4 ,just see how the ,holy ,one here reveals ,his way of making holy1 and preparing for the fellowship of ,his ,holiness4 ,in ,his ,elect ,one as ,mediator1 holiness is prepared and treasured up enough for all who come through ,him4 ,as ,i bow to pray or worship1 and feel how much there is still wanting of that humility1 and fervency1 and faith1 that ,god has a right to demand1 ,i may look up to the ,high ,priest in ,his ,holiness1 to the holy crown upon ,his forehead1 and believe that the iniquity of my holy things is borne and taken away4 ,i may1 with all my deficiency and unworthiness1 know most assuredly that my prayer is acceptable1 a sweet-smelling savour4 ,i may look up to the ,holy ,one to see ,him smiling on me1 for the sake of ,his ,anointed ,one4 ',the holy crown shall always be on ,his forehead1 that they may be accepted before the ,lord4' ,it is the blessed truth of ,substitution--,one for all--of ,mediatorship2 ,god's way of making us holy4 ,the sacrifice of the worshipping ,israelite is holy and acceptable in virtue of the holiness of ,another4 ,the ,old ,testament shadow can never adequately set forth the ,new ,testament reality with its fulness of grace and truth4 ,as we proceed in our study1 we shall find that the holiness of ,jesus our sanctification is not only imputed but imparted1 because we are in ,him2 the new man we have put on is created in true holiness4 ,we are not only counted holy2 we are holy1 we have received a new holy nature in ,christ ,jesus4 ',he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of ,one2 therefore ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren4' ,it is our living union with ,jesus1 ,god's ,holy ,one1 that has given us the new and holy nature1 and with that a claim and a share in all the holiness there is in ,jesus4 ,and so1 as often as we are conscious of how unholy we are1 we have only to come under the covering of the ,holiness of ,jesus1 to enjoy the full assurance that we and our gifts are most acceptable4 ,however great be the weakness of our faith1 the shortcoming in our desire for ,god's glory1 the lack in our love or zeal1 as we see ,jesus1 with ,holiness to the ,lord on ,his forehead1 we lift up our faces to receive the ,divine smile of full approval and perfect acceptance4 ,this is ,god's way of making holy4 ,not only with the holy place1 as we have seen1 but with the holy persons too1 ,he begins with a centre1 and from that in ever-widening circle makes holy4 ,and that this ,divine method will be crowned with success we may be sure4 ,in the ,word we find a most remarkable illustration of the extent to which it will be realized4 ,we find the words on the holy crown once again in the ,old ,testament at its close4 ,in the day of the ,lord1 'there shall be upon the bells of the horses1 ,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord4' ,the high priest's motto shall then have become the watchword of daily life2 every article of beauty or of service shall be holy too2 from the head it shall have extended to the skirts of the garments4 ,let us begin with realizing the ,holiness of ,jesus in its power to cover the iniquity of our holy things2 let us make proof of it1 and no longer suffer our unworthiness to keep us back or make us doubt2 let us believe that we and our holy things are acceptable1 because in ,christ holy to the ,lord2 let us live in this consciousness of acceptance1 and enter into fellowship with the ,holy ,one4 ,as we enter in and abide in the holiness of ,jesus1 it will enter in and abide in us4 ,it will take possession and spread its conquering power through our whole life1 until with us too upon everything that belongs to us the word shall shine1 ,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,and we shall again find how ,god's way of holiness is ever from a centre1 here the centre of our renewed nature1 throughout the whole circumference of our being1 to make ,his ,holiness prove its power4 ,let us but dwell under the covering of the ,holiness of ,jesus1 as ,he takes away the iniquity of our holy things1 ,he will make us and our life holy to the ,lord4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o my ,god and ,father6 my soul doth bless ,thee for this wondrous revelation of what ,thy way and ,thy grace is with those whom ,thou hast called ',holy in ,christ4' ,thou knowest1 ,o ,lord1 how continually our hearts have limited our acceptance with ,thee by our attainments1 and conscious shortcoming has wrought condemnation4 ,we knew too little how1 in the ,holiness of ,him who makes us holy1 there is a ,divinely infinite efficacy to cover our iniquities1 and give us the assurance of perfect acceptance4 ,blessed ,father6 open our eyes to see1 and our hearts to understand this holy crown of our blessed ,jesus1 with its wondrous and most blessed1 ,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,and when our hearts condemn us1 because our prayers are so little consciously according to the will or to the glory of ,god1 or truly in the name of ,jesus1 ,o most ,holy ,father1 be pleased by ,thy ,spirit to show us how bright the smile and how hearty the welcome is we still have with ,thee4 ,teach us to come in the ,holiness of our ,high ,priest1 and enter into ,thine1 until it take possession of us1 and permeate our whole being1 and all that is in us be holy to the ,lord4 ,amen4 #a4 ,holiness is not something ,i can see or admire in myself3 it is covering myself1 losing myself1 in the ,holiness of ,jesus4 ,how wonderfully this is typified in ,aaron and the holy crown4 ,and the more ,i see and have apprehended of the ,holiness of ,jesus1 the less shall ,i see or seek of holiness in myself4 #b4 ,he will make me holy3 my tempers and dispositions will be renewed2 my heart and mind cleansed and sanctified2 holiness will be a new nature2 and yet there will be all along the consciousness1 humbling and yet full of joy3 it is not ,i2 ,christ liveth in me4 #c4 ,let us lie very low and tender before ,god1 that the ,holy ,spirit may reveal to us what it is to be holy in the ,holiness of ,another1 in the ,holiness of ,jesus1 that is1 in the ,holiness of ,god4 #d4 ,do not trouble or weary too much to grasp this with the intellect4 ,just believe it1 and look in simplicity and trust to ,jesus to make it all right for you4 #e4 ,holy in ,christ4 ,in childlike faith ,i take ,christ's holiness afresh as my covering before ,god4 ,in loving obedience ,i take it into my will and life4 ,i trust and ,i follow ,jesus3 this is the path of holiness4 #f4 ,if we gather up the lessons we have found in the ,word from ,paradise downward1 we see that the elements of holiness in us are these1 each corresponding to some special aspect of ,god's holiness3 deep ,restfulness 7ch4 #c71 humble ,reverence 7ch4 #d71 entire ,surrender 7ch4 #e71 joyful ,adoration 7ch4 #f71 simple ,obedience 7ch4 #g74 ,these all prepare for the ,divine ,indwelling 7ch4 #h71 and this again we have through the ,abiding in ,jesus with the ,crown of ,holiness on ,his head4 ,tenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,separation4 ',i am the ,lord your ,god1 which have separated you from other people4 ,and ye shall be holy unto me1 for ,i the ,lord am holy1 and have separated you from other people that ye should be ,mine4'--,lev4 xx4 #bd1 #bf4 ',until the days be fulfilled1 in the which he separateth himself unto the ,lord1 he shall be holy4444 ,all the days of his separation he is holy unto the ,lord4'--,num4 vi4 #e1 #h4 ',wherefore ,jesus also1 that ,he might sanctify the people through ,his own blood1 suffered without the gate4 ,let us therefore go forth unto ,him without the camp1 bearing ,his reproach4'--,heb4 xiii4 #ab1 #ac4 ,separation is not holiness1 but is the way to it4 ,though there can be no holiness without separation1 there can be separation that does not lead to holiness4 ,it is of deep importance to understand both the difference and the connection1 that we may be kept from the right-hand error of counting separation alone as holiness1 as well as the left-hand error of seeking holiness without separation4 ,the ,hebrew word for holiness possibly comes from a root that means to separate4 ,but where we have in our translation 'separate' or 'sever' or 'set apart1' we have quite different words4#c ,the word for holy is used exclusively to express that special idea4 ,and though the idea of holy always includes that of separation1 it is itself something infinitely higher4 ,it is of great importance to understand this well1 because the being set apart to ,god1 the surrender to ,his claim1 the devotion or consecration to ,his service1 is often spoken of as if this constituted holiness4 ,we cannot too earnestly press the thought that this is only the beginning1 the presupposition3 holiness itself is infinitely more2 not what ,i am1 or do1 or give1 is holiness1 but what ,god is1 and gives1 and does to me4 ,it is ,god's taking possession of me that makes me holy2 it is the ,presence and the glory of ,god that really makes holy4 ,a careful study of ,god's words to ,israel will make this clear to us4 ,eight times we find the expression in ,leviticus1 ',ye shall be holy1 for ,i am holy4' ,holiness is the highest attribute of ,god1 expressive not only of ,his relation to ,israel1 but of ,his very being and nature1 ,his infinite moral perfection4 ,and though it is by very slow and gradual steps that ,he can teach the carnal darkened mind of man what this means1 yet from the very commencement ,he tells ,his people that ,his purpose is that they should be like ,himself--holy because and as ,he is holy4 ,to tell me that ,god separates men for ,himself to be ,his1 even as ,he gives ,himself to be theirs1 tells me of a relation that exists1 but tells me nothing of the real nature of this ,holy ,being1 or of the essential worth of the holiness ,he will communicate to me4 ,separation is only the setting apart and taking possession of the vessel to be cleansed and used2 it is the filling of it with the precious contents we entrust to it that gives it its real value4 ,holiness is the ,divine filling without which the separation leaves us empty4 ,separation is not holiness4 ,but separation is essential to holiness4 ',i have separated you from other people1 and ye shall be holy4' ,until ,i have chosen out and separated a vessel from those around it1 and1 if need be1 cleansed it1 ,i cannot fill or use it4 ,i must have it in my hand1 full and exclusive command of it for the time being1 or ,i will not pour into it the precious milk or wine4 ,and just so ,god separated ,his people when ,he brought them up out of ,egypt1 separated them unto ,himself when ,he gave them ,his covenant and ,his law1 that ,he might have them under ,his control and power1 to work out ,his purpose of making them holy4 ,this ,he could not do until ,he had them apart1 and had wakened in them the consciousness that they were ,his peculiar people1 wholly and only ,his1 until ,he had so taught them also to separate themselves to ,him4 ,separation is essential to holiness4 ,the institution of the ,nazarite will confirm this1 and will also bring out very clearly what separation means4 ,israel was meant to be a holy nation4 ,its holiness was specially typified in its priests4 ,with regard to the individual ,israelite1 we nowhere read in the books of ,moses of his being holy4 ,but there were ordinances through which the ,israelite1 who would fain prove his desire to be entirely holy1 could do so4 ,he might separate himself from the ordinary life of the nation around him1 and live the life of a ,nazarite1 a separated one4 ,this separation was accepted1 in those days of shadow and type1 as holiness4 ',all the days of his separation he is holy unto the ,lord4' ,the separation consisted specially in three things--temperance1 in abstinence from the fruit of the vine2 humiliation1 in not cutting or shaving his hair 7'it is a shame for a man if he have long hair'72 self-sacrifice1 in not defiling himself for even father or mother1 on their death4 ,what we must specially note is that the separation was not from things unlawful1 but things lawful4 ,there was nothing sinful in itself in ,abraham living in his father's house1 or in ,israel dwelling in ,egypt4 ,it is in giving up1 not only what can be proved to be sin1 but all that may hinder the full intensity of our surrender into ,god's hands to make us holy1 that the spirit of separation is manifested4 ,let us learn the lessons this truth suggests4 ,we must know the need for separation4 ,it is no arbitrary demand of ,god1 but has its ground in the very nature of things4 ,to separate a thing is to set it free for one special use or purpose1 that it may with undivided power fulfil the will of him who chose it1 and so realize its destiny4 ,it is the principle that lies at the root of all division of labour2 complete separation to one branch of study or labour is the way to success and perfection4 ,i have before me an oak forest with the trees all shooting up straight and close to each other4 ,on the outskirts there is one tree separated from his fellows2 its heavy trunk and wide-spreading branches prove how its being separated1 and having a large piece of ground separated to its own use1 over which roots and branches can spread1 is the secret of growth and greatness4 ,our human powers are limited2 if ,god is to take full possession1 if we are fully to enjoy ,him1 separation to ,him is nothing but the simple1 natural1 indispensable requisite4 ,god wants us all to ,himself1 that ,he may give ,himself all to us4 ,we must know the purpose of separation4 ,it is to be found in what ,god has said1 ',ye shall be holy unto me1 for ,i the ,lord am holy1 and have separated you from the people1 that ye should be ,,mine4' ,god has separated us for ,himself in the deepest sense of the word2 that ,he might enter into us1 and show forth ,himself in us4 ,his holiness is the sum and the centre of all ,his perfections2 it is that ,he may make us holy like ,himself that ,he has separated us4 ,separation never has any value in itself2 it may become most wrong or hurtful2 everything depends upon the object proposed4 ,it is as ,god gets and takes full possession of us1 as the eternal life in ,christ has the mastery of our whole being1 as the ,holy ,spirit flows fully and freely through us1 so that we dwell in ,god1 and ,god in us1 that separation will be1 not a thing of ordinances and observances1 but a spiritual reality4 ,and it is as this purpose of ,god is seen and accepted and followed after1 that difficult questions as to what we must be separated from1 and how much sacrifice separation demands1 will find an easy answer4 ,god separates from all that does not lead us into ,his holiness and fellowship4 ,we need1 above all1 to know the power of separation1 the power that leads us into it in the spirit of desire and of joy1 of liberty and of love4 ,the great separating word in human language is the word ,mine4 ,in this we have the great spring of effort and of happiness3 in the child with its toys1 in labour with its gains and rewards1 in the patriot who dies for his country1 it is this ,mine that lays its hand on what it sets apart from all else4 ,it is the great word that love uses4 ,be it the child that says to its mother1 ,my own mamma1 and calls forth the response1 ,my own child2 the bridegroom who draws the daughter from her beloved home and parents to become his2 or the ,holy ,god who speaks3 ',i have separated you from the people1 that ye should be ,mine2' it is always with that ,mine that love exerts its mighty power1 and draws from all else to itself4 ,god ,himself knows no mightier argument1 can put forth no more powerful attraction than this1 'that ye should be ,mine4' ,and the power of separation will come to us1 and work in us1 just as we yield ourselves to study and realize that holy purpose1 to listen to and appropriate that wondrous ,mine1 to be apprehended and possessed of that ,almighty ,love4 ,let us study step by step the wondrous path in which ,divine ,love does it separating work4 ,in redemption it prepares the way4 ,israel is separated from ,egypt by the blood of the ,lamb and the guiding pillar of fire4 ,in its command1 ',come out and be separate1' it wakens man to action2 in its promises1 ',i will be your ,god1' it stirs desire and strengthens faith4 ,in all the holy saints and servants of ,god1 and at last in ,him who was holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 separate from sinners1 it points the way4 ,in the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,holiness1 it seals the separation by the ,presence of the ,indwelling ,god4 ,this is indeed the power of separation4 ,the separating power of the ,presence of ,god2 this it is we need to know4 ',wherein now shall it be known that ,i have found grace in ,thy sight1 ,i and ,thy people8' said ,moses3 'is it not in that ,thou goest with us8 so shall we be separated1 ,i and ,thy people1 from all the people that are upon the face of the earth4' ,it is the consciousness of ,god's ,indwelling ,presence1 making and keeping us ,his very own1 that works the true separateness from the world and its spirit1 from ourselves and our own will4 ,and it is as this separation is accepted and prized and persevered in by us1 that the holiness of ,god will enter in and take possession4 ,and we shall realize that to be the ,lord's property1 a people of ,his own1 is infinitely more than merely to be accounted or acknowledged as ,his1 that it means nothing less than that ,god1 in the power and indwelling of the ,holy ,ghost1 fills our being1 our affections1 and our will with ,his own life and holiness4 ,he separates us for ,himself1 and sanctifies us to be ,his dwelling4 ,he comes ,himself to take personal possession by the indwelling of ,christ in the heart4 ,and we are then truly separate1 and kept separate1 by the presence of ,god within us4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o my ,god6 who hast separated me for ,thyself1 ,i beseech ,thee1 by ,thy mighty power1 to make this ,divine separation deed and truth to me4 ,may within1 in the depths of my own spirit1 and without1 in all my intercourse1 the crown of separation of my ,god be upon me4 ,i pray ,thee especially1 ,o my ,god1 to perfect in power the separation from self6 ,let ,thy ,presence in the indwelling of my ,lord ,jesus be the power that banishes self from the throne4 ,i have turned from it with abhorrence2 oh1 my ,father1 reveal ,thy ,son fully in me6 it is ,his enthronement in my heart can keep me as ,thy own1 as ,himself takes the place of myself4 ,and give me grace1 ,lord1 in my outward life to wait for a ,divine wisdom1 that ,i may know to witness1 for ,thy glory and for what ,thy people need1 to the blessedness of an entire giving up of everything for ,god1 a separation that holds back nothing1 to be ,his and ,his alone4 ,holy ,lord ,god6 visit ,thy people4 ,oh1 withdraw ,thou them from the world and conformity to it4 ,separate1 ,lord1 separate ,thine own for ,thyself4 ,separate1 ,lord1 the wheat from the chaff2 separate1 as by fire1 the gold from the dross2 that it may be seen who are the ,lord's1 even ,his holy ones4 ,amen4 #a4 ,love separates effectually4 ,with what jealousy a husband claims his wife1 a mother her children1 a miser his possessions6 ,pray that the ,holy ,spirit may show how ,god brought you to ,himself1 that you should be ,his4 ',he is a holy ,god2 ,he is a ,jealous ,god4' ,god's love shed abroad in the heart makes separation easy4 #b4 ,death separates effectually4 ,if ,i reckon myself to be indeed dead in ,christ1 ,i am separated from self by the power of ,christ's death4 ,life separates still more mightily4 ,as ,i say1 ',not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me1' ,i am lifted up out of the life of self4 #c4 ,separation must be manifest2 it is meant as a witness to others and ourselves2 it must find expression in the external1 if internally it is to be real and strong4 ,it is the characteristic of a symbolic action that it not merely expresses a feeling1 but nourishes and strengthens the feeling to which it corresponds4 ,when the soul enters the fellowship of ,god1 it feels the need of external separation1 sometimes even from what appears to others harmless4 ,if animated by the spirit of lowly consecration to ,god1 the external may be a great strengthening of the true separateness4 #d4 ,separation to ,god and appropriation by ,him go together4 ,this has been the blessing that has come to martyrs1 confessors1 missionaries1--all who have given distinct expression to the forsaking all4 #e4 ,separation begins in love1 and ends in love4 ,the spirit of separation is the spirit of self-sacrifice1 of surrender to the love of ,god2 the truly separate one will be the most loving and love-winning1 given up to serve ,god and man4 ,is not what separates1 what distinguishes ,jesus from all others1 ,his self-sacrificing love8 ,this is ,his separateness1 in which we are to be made like ,him4 #f4 ,god's holiness is ,his separateness2 let us enter into ,his separateness from the world2 that will be our holiness4 ,unite thyself to ,god4 ,then art thou separate and holy4 ,god separates for ,himself1 not by an act from without1 but as ,his ,will and ,presence take possession of us4 #c ,see ,note ,b4 ,eleventh ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ',i am the ,lord that brought you up out of the land of ,egypt1 to be your ,god2 ye shall therefore be holy1 for ,i am holy4 ,i the ,lord which make you holy1 am holy4'--,lev4 xi4 #de1 xxi4 #h4 ',i am the ,lord ,thy ,god1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 ,thy ,saviour4 ,thus saith the ,lord1 your ,redeemer1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel3 ,i am the ,lord1 your ,holy ,one1 the ,creator of ,israel1 your ,king4'--,isa4 xliii4 #c1 #ad1 #ae4 ,in the book of ,exodus we found ,god making provision for the ,holiness of ,his people4 ,in the holy times and holy places1 holy persons1 holy things1 and holy services1 ,he had taught ,his people that everything around ,him1 that all that would come near ,him1 must be holy4 ,he would only dwell in the midst of holiness2 ,his people must be a holy people4 ,but there is no direct mention of ,god ,himself as holy4 ,in the book of ,leviticus we are led on a step further4 ,here first we have ,god speaking of ,his own holiness1 and making it the plea for the holiness of ,his people1 as well as its pledge and power4 ,without this the revelation of holiness were incomplete1 and the call to holiness powerless4 ,true holiness will come to us as we learn that ,god ,himself alone is holy4 ,it is ,he alone makes holy2 it is as we come to ,himself1 and in obedience and love are linked to ,himself1 that ,his ,holiness can rest on us4#d ,from the books of ,moses onwards we shall find that the name of ,god as holy is found but seldom in the inspired writings1 until we come to ,isaiah1 the evangelist prophet4 ,there it occurs twenty-six times1 and has its true meaning opened up in the way in which it is linked with the name of ,saviour and ,redeemer4 ,the sentiments of joy and trust and praise1 with which a redeemed people would look upon their ,deliverer1 are all mentioned in connection with the name of the ,holy ,one4 ',cry aloud and shout1 thou inhabitant of ,zion1 for great is the ,holy ,one of ,israel in the midst of thee4' ',the poor among men shall rejoice in the ,holy ,one of ,israel4' ',thou shalt rejoice in the ,lord1 and shalt glory in the ,holy ,one of ,israel4' ,in ,paradise we saw that ,god the ,creator was ,god the ,sanctifier1 perfecting the work of ,his hands4 ,in ,israel we saw that ,god the ,redeemer was ever ,god the ,sanctifier1 making holy the people ,he had chosen for ,himself4 ,here in ,isaiah we see how it is ,god the ,sanctifier1 the ,holy ,one1 who is to bring about the great redemption of the ,new ,testament3 as the ,holy ,one1 ,he is the ,redeemer4 ,god redeems because ,he is holy1 and loves to make holy3 ,holiness will be ,redemption perfected4 ,redemption and ,holiness together are to be found in the personal relation to ,god4 ,the key to the secret of holiness is offered to each believer in that word3 ',thus saith the ,lord1 your ,redeemer1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel3 ,i am the ,lord1 your ,holy ,one4' ,to come near1 to know1 to possess the ,holy ,one1 and be possessed of ,him1 is ,holiness4 ,if ,god's ,holiness is thus the only hope for ours1 it is right that we seek to know what that ,holiness is4 ,and though we may find it indeed to be something that passeth knowledge1 it will not be in vain to gather up what has been revealed in the ,word concerning it4 ,let us do so in the spirit of holy fear and worship1 trusting to the ,holy ,spirit to be our teacher4 ,and let us first notice how this ,holiness of ,god1 though it is often mentioned as one of the ,divine attributes1 can hardly be counted such1 on a level with the others4 ,the other attributes all refer to some special aspect or characteristic of the ,divine ,nature2 ,holiness appears to express what is the very essence or perfection of the ,divine ,being ,himself4 ,none of the attributes can be predicated of all that belongs to ,god2 but ,scripture speaks of ,his ,holy ,name1 ,his ,holy ,day1 ,his ,holy ,habitation1 ,his ,holy ,word4 ,in the word ,holy we have the nearest possible approach to a summary of all the ,divine perfections1 the description of what ,divinity is4 ,we speak of the other attributes as ,divine perfections1 but in this we have the only human expression for the ,divine ,perfection itself4 ,it is for this reason that theologians have found such difficulty in framing a definition that can express all the word means4#e ,the original ,hebrew word1 whether derived from a root signifying to separate1 or another with the idea of shining1 expressed the idea of something distinguished from others1 separate from them by superior excellence4 ,god is ,separate and different from all that is created1 keeps ,himself separate from all that is not ,god2 as the ,holy ,one ,he maintains ,his ,divine glory and perfection against whatever might interfere with it3 ',there is none holy1 but the ,lord2' ',to whom will you liken me8 or shall ,i be equal8 saith the ,holy ,one4' ,as ,holy1 ,god is indeed the ,incomparable ,one2 ,holiness is ,his alone2 there is nothing like it in heaven or earth1 except when ,he gives it4 ,and so our holiness will consist1 not in a human separation in which we attempt to imitate ,god's1--no1 but in entering into ,his separateness2 belonging entirely to ,him2 set apart by ,him and for ,himself4 ,closely connected with this is the idea of ,exaltation3 ',thus saith the ,high and ,holy ,one1 whose name is ,holy4' ,it was the ,holy ,one who was seen sitting upon a throne high and lifted up1 the object of the worship of the seraphim4 ,in ,psalm xcix4 ,god's ,holiness is specially spoken of in connection with ,his exaltation4 ,for this reason1 too1 ,his ,holiness is so often connected with ,his ,glory and ,majesty 7see ',sixth ,day'74 ,and here our holiness will be seen to be nothing but the poverty and humility which comes when 'the loftiness of man is brought low1 and the ,lord alone is exalted4' ,if we inquire more closely wherein the infinite excellence of this ,separateness and ,exaltation consists1 we are led to think of the ,divine ,purity1 and that not only in its negative aspect--as hatred of sin--but with the more positive element of perfect beauty4 ,because we are sinners1 and the revelation of ,god's ,holiness is in a world of sin1 it is natural1 it is right and meet1 that the first1 that the abiding impression of ,god's ,holiness should be that of an ,infinite ,purity that cannot look upon sin1 in whose ,presence it becomes the sinner to hide his face and tremble4 ,the ,righteousness of ,god1 forbidding and condemning and punishing sin1 has its root in ,his ,holiness1 is one of its two elements--the devouring and destroying power of the consuming fire4 ',god the ,holy ,one is sanctified in righteousness' 7,isa4 v4 #af72 in righteousness the ,holiness of the ,holy ,one is maintained and revealed4 ,but ,light not only discovers what is impure1 that it may be purified1 but is in itself a thing of infinite beauty4 ,and so some of our holiest men have not hesitated to speak of ,god's ,holiness as the infinite ,pulchritude or ,beauty of the ,divine ,being1 the ,perfect ,purity and ,beauty of that ,light in which ,god dwelleth4 ,and if the ,holiness of ,god is to become ours1 to rest upon us1 and enter into us1 there must be1 without ceasing1 the holy fear that trembles at the thought of grieving the infinite sensitiveness of this ,holy ,one by our sins1 and yet side by side1 and in perfect harmony with it1 the deep longing to behold the ,beauty of the ,lord1 an admiration of its ,divine glory1 and a joyful surrender to be ,his alone4 ,we must go one step further4 ,when ,god says1 ',i am holy3 ,i make holy1' we see that one of the chief elements of ,his ,holiness is this1 that it seeks to communicate itself1 to make partaker of its own perfection and blessedness4 ,this is nought but ,love4 ,in the wonderful revelation in ,isaiah of what the ,holy ,one is to ,his people1 we must beware of misreading ,god's precious ,word4 ,it is not said1 that though ,god is the ,holy ,one1 and hates sin1 and ought to punish and destroy1 that notwithstanding this ,he will save4 ,by no means4 ,but we are taught that as the ,holy ,one1 just because ,he is the ,holy ,one1 who delights to make holy1 ,he will be the ,deliverer of ,his people4 7,see ,hos4 xi4 #i47 ,it is ,holiness above everything else that we are invited to look to1 to trust in1 to rejoice in4 ,the ,holy ,one is the ,holy-making ,one3 ,he redeems and saves that ,he may win our confidence for ,himself1 that ,he may draw us to ,himself as the ,holy ,one1 that in the personal attachment to ,himself we may learn to obey1 to become of one mind with ,him1 to be holy as ,he is holy4 ,the ,divine ,holiness is thus that infinite ,perfection of ,divinity in which ,righteousness and ,love are in perfect harmony1 out of which they proceed1 and which together they reveal4 ,it is that ,energy of the ,divine life in the power of which ,god not only keeps ,himself free from all creature weakness or sin1 but unceasingly seeks to lift the creature into union with ,himself and the full participation of ,his own purity and perfection4 ,the glory of ,god as ,god1 as the ,god of ,creation and ,redemption1 is ,his ,holiness4 ,it is in this that the ,separateness and ,exaltation of ,god1 even above all thought of man1 really consists4 ',god is ,light2' in ,his infinite ,purity ,he reveals all darkness1 and yet has no fellowship with it4 ,he judges and condemns it2 ,he saves out of it1 and lifts up into the fellowship of ,his own purity and blessedness4 ,this is the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,it is this ,god who speaks to us1 ',i am the ,lord your ,god3 ,i am holy3 ,i make holy4' ,it is in the adoring contemplation of ,his ,holiness1 in the trustful surrender to it1 in the loving fellowship with ,himself1 the ,holy ,one1 that we can be made holy4 ,my brother6 would you be holy8 listen again1 and let1 in the deep silence of trust1 ,god's words sink into your heart--',your ,holy ,one4' ,come to ,himself and claim ,him as your ,god1 and claim all that ,he1 as the ,holy ,one who makes holy1 can do for you4 ,just remember that ,holiness is ,himself4 ,come to ,him2 worship ,him2 give ,him the glory4 ,seek not1 even from ,him1 holiness in yourself2 let self be abased1 and be content that the ,holiness is ,his4 ,as ,his presence fills your heart1 as ,his ,holiness and ,glory are your one desire1 as ,his holy ,will and ,love are your delight1--as the ,holy ,one becomes all in all to you1--you will be holy with the holiness ,he loves to see4 ,and as1 to the end1 you see nothing to admire in self1 and only ,beauty in ,him1 you will know that ,he has laid of ,his glory on you2 and your holiness will be found in the song1 ,there is none holy1 but the ,lord4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o ,god6 we have again heard the wonderful revelation of ,thyself1 ',i am holy4' ,and as we felt how infinitely exalted above all our conceptions ,thy ,holiness is1 we heard ,thy call1 almost still more wonderful1 ',be ye holy1 as ,i am holy4' ,and as every thought of how we were to be holy1 as ,thou art holy1 failed us1 we heard ,thy voice once again1 in this most wonderful word of all1 ',i make you holy4' ,i am 'your ,holy ,one4' ,most ,holy ,god6 we do beseech ,thee1 give us in some due measure to realize how unholy we are1 and so to take the place that becomes us in ,thy presence4 ,oh that the sinfulness of our nature1 and all that is of self1 may be so discovered to us1 that it may be no longer possible to live in it6 ,may the ,light that reveals this1 reveal too1 how ,thy ,holiness is our only hope1 our sure refuge1 our complete deliverance4 ,o ,lord6 speak into our souls the word1 ',the ,holy ,one1 your ,redeemer1' ',your ,holy ,one1' with such power by ,thy ,spirit1 that our faith may grow into the assured confidence that we can be holy as ,thou art holy4 ,holy ,lord ,god6 we wait for ,thee4 ,reveal ,thyself in power within us1 and fit us to be the messengers of ,thy ,holiness1 to tell ,thy people how holy ,thou art1 and how holy we must be1 and how holy ,thou dost make us4 ,amen4 #a4 ,this ,holy ,one is ,god ,almighty4 ,before ,he revealed ,himself to ,israel as the ,holy ,one1 ,he made ,himself known to ,abraham as the ,almighty1 'who quickeneth the dead4' ,in all your dealings with ,god for holiness1 remember ,he is the ,almighty ,one1 who can do wonders in you4 ,say often1 ',glory to ,him who is mighty to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think4' #b4 ,this ,holy ,one is the ,righteous ,god1 a consuming fire4 ,cast yourself into it1 that all that is sinful may be destroyed4 ,as you lay yourself upon the altar1 expect the fire4 ',and yield your members unto ,god as instruments of ,righteousness4' #c4 ,this ,holy ,one is the ,god of ,love4 ,he is your ,father2 yield yourself to let the ,holy ,spirit cry in you1 ,abba ,father6 that is1 to let ,him shed abroad and fill your heart with ,god's father-love4 ,god's ,holiness is ,his fatherliness2 our holiness is childlikeness4 ,be simple1 loving1 trustful4 #d4 ,this ,holy ,one is ,god4 ,let ,him be ,god to you2 ruling all1 filling all1 working all4 ,worship ,him1 come near to ,him1 live with and in and for ,him3 ,he will be your holiness4 #d ',i am the ,lord your ,god2 ye shall therefore make holy yourselves1 and be holy1 for ,i am holy' 7,lev4 xi4 #dd74 ',i am the ,lord that bringeth you up out of the land of ,egypt to be your ,god3 ye shall therefore be holy1 for ,i am holy' 7,lev4 xi4 #de74 ',ye shall be holy1 for ,i the ,lord your ,god am holy' 7,lev4 xix4 #b74 ',make holy yourselves therefore1 and be ye holy1 for ,i am the ,lord your ,god2 ye shall keep my statutes and do them3 ,i am the ,lord which make you holy' 7,lev4 xx4 #g1 #h74 ',ye shall be holy unto me1 for ,i the ,lord am holy1 and have separated you from other people1 that ye should be mine' 7,lev4 xx4 #bf74 ',the priest shall be holy unto thee1 for ,i the ,lord which make you holy1 am holy' 7,lev4 xxi4 #h74 ',i will be hallowed among the children of ,israel2 ,i am the ,lord which make you holy' 7,lev4 xxii4 #cb74 ',i am the ,lord which make them holy' 7,lev4 xxi4 #ae1 #bc2 xxii4 #i1 #af74 #e ,see ,note ,c for some account of the different definitions that have been given4 ,twelfth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,the ,thrice ,holy ,one4 ',i saw the ,lord sitting on a throne1 high and lifted up4 ,above ,him stood the seraphim4 ,and one cried to another1 and said1 ,holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord of hosts3 the whole earth is full of ,his glory4'--,isa4 vi4 #a-c4 ',and the four living creatures1 they have no rest day and night1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord ,god1 the ,almighty1 which was1 and which is1 and which is to come4'--,rev4 iv4 #h4 ,it is not only on earth1 but in heaven too1 that the ,holiness of ,god is ,his chief and most glorious attribute4 ,it is not only on earth1 but in heaven too1 that the highest inspiration of adoration and praise makes mention of ,his ,holiness4 ,the brightest of living beings1 they who are ever before and around and above the throne1 find their glory in adoring and proclaiming the ,holiness of ,god3 surely there can be for us no higher honour than to study and to know1 to worship and adore1 to proclaim and show forth the glory of the ,thrice ,holy ,one4 ,after ,moses1 as we know1 ,isaiah was the chief messenger of the ,holiness of ,god4 ,each had a special preparation for his commission to make known the ,holy ,one4 ,moses saw the ,holy ,one in the fire1 and hid his face and feared to look upon ,god1 and so was prepared for being ,his messenger1 and for praising ,him as 'glorious in holiness4' ,isaiah1 as he heard the song of the seraphim1 and saw the fire on the altar1 and the house filled with the smoke1 cried out1 ',woe is me4' ,it was not till1 in the deep sense of the need of cleansing1 he had received the touch of the fire and the purging of his sin1 that he might bear to ,israel the ,gospel of the ,holy ,one as its ,redeemer4 ,may it be in the spirit of fear and lowly worship that we listen to the song of the seraphim1 and seek to know and worship the ,thrice ,holy ,one4 ,and may ours too be the cleansing with the fire1 that we may be found fit to tell ,god's people that ,he is the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 their ,redeemer4 ,the threefold repetition of the ,,holy has at all times by the ,church of ,christ been connected with the ,holy ,trinity4 ,the song of the living creatures around the throne 7,rev4 iv47 is evidence of the truth of this thought4 ,we there find it followed by the adoration of ,him who was1 and is1 and is to come1 the ,almighty3 the ,eternal ,source1 the present manifestation in the ,son1 the future perfecting of the revelation of ,god in the ,spirit's work in ,his ,church4 ,the truth of the ,holy ,trinity is often regarded as an abstract doctrine1 with little direct bearing on practical life4 ,so far is this from being the case1 that a living faith must root in it3 some spiritual insight into the relation and the operation of each of the ,three1 and the reality of their living ,oneness1 is an essential element of true growth in knowledge and spiritual understanding4#f ,let us here regard the ,trinity specially in its relation to ,god's ,holiness and as the source of ours4 ,what does it mean that we adore the ,thrice ,holy ,one8 ,god is not only holy1 but makes holy3 in the revelation of the ,three ,persons we have the revelation of the way in which ,god makes holy4 ,the ,trinity teaches us that ,god has revealed ,himself in two ways4 ,the ,son is the ,form of ,god1 ,his manifestation as ,he shows ,himself to man1 the ,image in which ,his unseen glory is embodied1 and to which man is to be conformed4 ,the ,spirit is the ,power of ,god1 working in man1 and leading him up to that ,image4 ,in ,jesus1 ,he who had been in the form of ,god took the form of man2 and the ,divine ,holiness was literally manifested in the form of a human life and the members of a human body4 ,a new holy human nature was formed in ,christ1 to be communicated to us4 ,in ,his death ,his own personal holiness was perfected as human obedience1 and so the power of sin conquered and broken4 ,therefore in the resurrection1 through the ,spirit of ,holiness1 ,he was declared to be the ,son of ,god with power to impart ,his life to us4 ,there the ,spirit of ,holiness was set free from the veil of the flesh1 the trammels that hindered it1 and obtained power to enter and dwell in man4 ,the ,holy ,spirit was poured out as the fruit of ,resurrection and ,ascension4 ,and the ,spirit is now the ,power of ,god in us1 working upwards towards ,christ1 to reproduce ,his life and ,holiness in us1 to fit us for fully receiving and showing forth ,him in our lives4 ,christ from above comes to us as the embodiment of the ,unseen ,holiness of ,god3 the ,spirit from within lifts us up to meet ,him1 and fits us to receive and make our own all that is in ,him4 ,the ,triune ,god whom we adore is the ,thrice ,holy ,one3 the mystery of the ,trinity is the mystery of ,holiness3 the ,glory and the ,power of the ,trinity is the ,glory and ,power of ,god who makes us holy4 ,there is ,god dwelling in light inaccessible1 a consuming fire of ,holy ,love1 destroying all that resists1 glorifying into its own purity all that yields4 ,there is the ,son1 casting ,himself into that consuming fire1 whether in its eternal blessedness in heaven1 or its angry wrath on earth1 a willing sacrifice1 to be its food and its satisfaction1 as well as the revelation of its power to destroy and to save4 ,and there is the ,spirit of ,holiness1 the flames of that mighty fire spreading on every side1 convicting and judging as the ,spirit of ,burning1 and then transforming into its own brightness and holiness all that it can reach4 ,all the relations of the ,three ,persons to each other and to us have their root and their meaning in the revelation of ,god as the ,holy ,one4 ,as we know and partake of ,him1 we shall know and partake of ,holiness4 ,and how shall we know ,him8 ,let us learn to know the ,holiness of ,god as the seraphs do3 in the worship of the ,thrice ,holy ,one4 ,let us with veiled faces join in the ceaseless song of adoration3 ',holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord of hosts4' ,each time we meditate on the ,word1 each prayer to the ,holy ,god1 each act of faith in ,christ the ,holy ,one1 each exercise of waiting dependence on the ,holy ,spirit1 let it be in the spirit of worship3 ,holy1 holy1 holy4 ,let us learn to know the ,holiness of ,god as ,isaiah did4 ,he was to be the chosen messenger to reveal and interpret to the people the name1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,his preparation was the vision that made him cry out1 ',woe is me6 for mine eyes have seen the ,king1 the ,lord of hosts4' ,let us bow in silence before the ,holy ,one1 until our comeliness too be turned into corruption4 ,and then let us believe in the cleansing fire from the altar1 the touch of the live coals of the burning holiness1 which not only consumes1 but purges lips and heart to say1 ',here am ,i1 send me4' ,yes1 let us worship1 whether like the adoring seraphim1 or like the trembling prophet1 until we know that our service too is accepted1 to tell forth the praise of the ,thrice ,holy ,one4 ,holy1 holy1 holy3 if we are indeed to be the messengers of the ,holy ,one1 let us seek to enter fully into what this ,thrice ,holy means4 ,,holy1 the ,father1 ,god above us1 ,high and ,lifted up1 whom no man hath seen or can see1 whose ,holiness none dare approach1 but who doth ,himself in ,his ,holiness draw nigh to make holy4 ,,holy1 the ,son1 ,god with us1 revealing ,divine ,holiness in human life1 maintaining it amid the suffering of death for us1 and preparing a holy life and nature for ,his people4 ,,holy1 the ,spirit1 ,god in us1 the ,power of ,holiness within us1 reaching out to and embracing ,christ1 and transforming our inner life into the union and communion of ,him in whom we are holy4 ,holy1 holy1 holy6 it is all holiness4 ,it is only holiness--perfect holiness4 ,this is ,divine holiness3 holiness hidden and unapproachable2 holiness manifested and maintained in human nature2 holiness communicated and made our very own4 ,the mystery of the ,holy ,trinity is the mystery of the ,christian life1 the mystery of ,holiness4 ,the ,three are ,one1 and we need to enter ever more deeply into the truth that neither of the ,three ever works separate or independent of the other4 ,the ,son reveals the ,father1 and the ,father reveals the ,son4 ,the ,father gives not ,himself1 but the ,spirit3 the ,spirit speaks not of ,himself1 but cries ,abba ,father6 ,the ,son is our ,sanctification1 our ,life1 our ,all3 the fulness is in ,him4 ,and yet we have ever to bow our knees to the ,father for ,him to reveal ,christ in us1 for ,him to establish us in ,christ4 ,and the ,father does not this without the ,spirit3 so that we have to ask to be strengthened mightily by the ,spirit1 that ,christ may dwell in us4 ,christ gives the ,spirit to them that believe and love and obey2 the ,spirit again gives ,christ1 formed within and dwelling in the heart4 ,and so in each act of worship1 and each step of growth1 and each blessed experience of grace1 all the ,three ,persons are actively engaged3 the ,one is ever ,three1 the ,three are ever ,one4 ,would you apply this in the life of holiness1 let faith in the ,holy ,trinity be a living practical reality4 ,in every prayer to the ,father to sanctify you1 take up your position in ,christ1 and do it in the power of the ,spirit within you4 ,in every exercise of faith in ,christ as your ,sanctification1 let your posture be that of prayer to the ,father and trust in ,him as ,he delights to honour the ,son1 and of quiet expectancy of the ,spirit's working1 through whom the ,father glorifies the ,son4 ,in every surrender of the soul to the sanctification of the ,spirit1 to ,his leading as the ,spirit of ,holiness1 look to the ,father who grants ,his mighty working1 and who sanctifies through faith in the ,son1 and expect the ,spirit's power to manifest itself in showing the will of ,god1 and ,jesus as your ,sanctification4 ,if for a time this appears at variance with the simplicity of childlike faith and prayer1 be assured that as ,god has thus revealed ,himself1 ,he will teach you so to worship and believe4 ,and so the ,holy1 holy1 holy will become the deep undertone of all our worship and all our life4 ,children of ,god6 called to be holy as ,he is holy1 oh1 come let us bow down and worship in ,his holy presence6 ,come and veil the face3 withdraw eye and mind from gazing on what passes knowledge1 and let the soul be gathered into that inner stillness1 in which the worship of the heavenly ,sanctuary alone can be heard4 ,come and cover the feet3 withdraw from the rush of work and haste1 be it worldly or religious1 and learn to worship4 ,come1 and as you fall down in self-abasement1 the glory of the ,holy ,one will shine upon you4 ,and as you hear and take up and sing the song1 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 you will find how in such knowledge and worship of the ,thrice ,holy ,one is the power that makes you holy4 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 the ,lord ,god ,almighty6 which wast1 and art1 and art to come6 ,i worship ,thee as the ,triune ,god4 ,with face veiled and feet covered1 ,i would bow in deep humility and silence1 till ,thy mercy lift me as on eagles' wings to behold ,thy glory4 ,most merciful ,god6 who hast called me to be holy as ,thou art holy1 oh1 reveal to me somewhat of ,thy ,holiness6 ,as it shines upon me and strikes death into the creature and the flesh1 may even the most involuntary taint of sin1 and its slightest movement1 become unbearable4 ,as it shines and revives the hope of being partaker of ,thy ,holiness1 may the confidence grow strong that ,thou ,thyself art making me holy1 wilt even make me a messenger of ,thy ,holiness4 ,thrice ,holy ,god6 ,i worship ,thee as my ,god4 ,,holy6 ,,the ,,father2 holy and making holy2 making holy ,his own ,son and sending ,him into the world1 that we might behold the very glory of ,god in a human face1 the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,holy6 ,,the ,,son2 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 fulfilling the will of the ,father1 and so making holy ,himself that ,he might be our holiness4 ,,holy6 ,,the ,,spirit2 the ,spirit of ,holiness1 dwelling within us1 making the ,son and ,his ,holiness our own1 and so making us partakers of the ,holiness of ,god4 ,o my ,god6 ,i bow down1 and worship1 and adore4 ,may even now the worship of heaven that rests not day or night be the worship my soul renders ,thee without ceasing4 ,may its song be1 down in the depths of the heart1 the keynote of my life3 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty6 which wast1 and art1 and art to come4 ,amen4 #a4 ,thought always needs to distinguish and separate3 in life alone there is perfect unity4 ,the more we know the living ,god1 the more we shall realize how truly the ,three are ,one4 ,in each act of ,one ,person the other ,two are present4 ,there is not a prayer rises but the ,presence of the ,holy ,three is needed through ,christ1 in the ,spirit1 we speak to the ,father4 #b4 ,in faith to apprehend this is to have the secret of holiness4 ,the ,holy ,god above us1 ever giving and working2 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 the living gift1 who has possession of us1 in whom we are2 the ,holy ,spirit1 ,god within us1 through whom the ,father works1 and the ,son is revealed3 this is the ,god who says1 ,i am holy1 ,i make holy4 ,in the perfect unity of the work of the ,three1 holiness is found4 #c4 ,no wonder that the love of the ,father and the grace of the ,son do not accomplish more1 when the fellowship of the ,holy ,spirit is little understood or sought or accepted4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the fruit and crown of the ,divine ,revelation1 through whom the ,son and the ,father come to us4 ,if you would know ,god1 if you would be holy1 you must be taught and led of the ,spirit4 #d4 ,as often as you worship the ,thrice ,holy ,one1 hearken if no voice be heard3 ,whom shall ,i send1 and who will go for us8 ,let the answer rise1 ,here am ,i1 send me1 and offer yourself to be a messenger of the holiness of ,god to those around you4 #e4 ,when in meditation and worship you have sought to take in and express what ,god's word has taught1 then comes the time for confessing how you know nothing1 and for waiting on ,god to reveal ,himself4 #f ,the ,divine necessity and meaning of the doctrine of the ,trinity is seen from the counterpart we have of it in nature4 ,in every living object that exists we distinguish first the life1 then the form or shape in which that life manifests itself1 then the power or effect as seen in the result which the life acting in its form or manifestation produces4 ,and so we have ,god as the ,unseen ,one1 the ,fountain of life2 the ,son as the ,form or ,image of ,god1 the manifestation of the ,unseen ,life2 and the ,holy ,spirit as the ,power of that life proceeding from the ,father and the ,son1 and working out the purpose of ,god's will in the ,church4 ,applying this thought to ,god as the ,holy ,one1 we shall understand better the place of the ,son and the ,spirit as they bring to us the ,holiness of ,god4 ,thirteenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,humility4 ',thus saith the ,high and ,lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity1 whose name is ,holy3 ,i dwell in the ,high and ,holy place1 with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit1 to revive the spirit of the humble1 and to revive the heart of the contrite ones4'--,isa4 lvii4 #ae4 ,very wonderful is the revelation we have in ,isaiah of ,god1 the ,holy ,one1 as the ,redeemer and the ,saviour of ,his people4 ,in the midst of the people whom ,he created and formed for ,himself1 ,he will as the ,holy ,one dwell1 showing forth ,his power and ,his glory1 filling them with joy and gladness4 ,all these promises have1 however1 reference to the people as a whole4 ,our text to-day reveals a new and specially beautiful feature of the ,divine ,holiness in its relation to the individual4 ,the ,high and ,lofty ,one1 whose name is ,holy1 and whose only fit dwelling-place is eternity1 ,he looks to the man who is of a humble and contrite heart2 with him will ,he dwell4 ,god's ,holiness is ,his condescending ,love4 ,as it is a consuming fire against all who exalt themselves before ,him1 it is to the spirit of the humble like the shining of the sun1 heart-reviving and life-giving4 ,the deep significance of this promise comes out clearly when we connect it with the other promises of ,new ,testament times4 ,the great feature of the ,new ,covenant1 in its superiority to the old1 is this1 that whereas in the law and its institution all was external1 in the ,new the kingdom of ,god would be within4 ,god's laws given and written into the heart1 a new spirit put within us1 ,god's own ,spirit given to dwell within our spirit1 and so the heart and the inner life fitted to be the temple and home of ,god2 it is this constitutes the peculiar privilege of the ministration of the ,spirit4 ,our text is perhaps the only one in the ,old ,testament in which this indwelling of the ,holy ,one1 not among the people only1 but in the heart of the individual believer1 is clearly brought out4 ,in this the two aspects of the ,divine ,holiness would reach their full manifestation3 ,i dwell in the ,high and ,holy place1 and with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit4 ,in ,his heaven above1 the high and lofty place1 and in our heart1 contrite and humble1 ,god has ,his home4 ,god's ,holiness is ,his glory that separates ,him by an infinite distance1 not only from sin1 but even from the creature1 lifting ,him high above it4 ,god's ,holiness is ,his ,love1 drawing ,him down to the sinner1 that ,he may lift him into ,his fellowship and likeness1 and make him holy as ,he is holy4 ,the ,holy ,one seeks the humble2 the humble find the ,holy ,one3 such are the two lessons we have to learn to-day4 ,the ,holy ,one seeks the humble4 ,there is nothing that has such an attraction for ,god1 that has such affinity with holiness1 as a contrite and humble spirit4 ,the reason is evident4 ,there is no law in the natural and the spiritual world more simple1 than that two bodies cannot at the same moment occupy the same space4 ,only so much as the new occupant can expel of what the space was filled with can it really possess4 ,in man1 self has possession1 and self-will the mastery1 and there is no room for ,god4 ,it is simply impossible for ,god to dwell or rule when self is on the throne4 ,as long as1 through the blinding influence of sin and self-love1 even the believer is not truly conscious of the extent to which this self-will reigns1 there can be no true contrition or humility4 ,but as it is discovered by ,god's ,spirit1 and the soul sees how it has just been self that has been secretly keeping out ,god1 with what shame it is broken down1 and how it longs to break utterly away from self1 that ,god may have ,his place6 ,it is this brokenness1 and continued breaking down1 that is expressed by the word contrition4 ,and as the soul sees what folly and guilt it has been1 by its secret honouring of self1 to keep the ,holy ,one from the place which ,he alone has a right to1 and which ,he would so blessedly have filled1 it casts itself down in utter self-abasement1 with the one desire to be nothing1 and to give ,god the place and the praise that is ,his due4 ,such breaking down and humiliation is painful4 ,its intense reality consists in this1 that the soul can see nothing in itself to trust or hope in4 ,and least of all can it imagine that it should be an object of ,divine complacency1 or a fit vessel for the ,divine blessing4 ,and yet just this is the message which the ,word of the ,lord brings to our faith4 ,it tells us that the ,holy ,one1 who dwells in the ,high and ,lofty place1 is seeking and preparing for ,himself a dwelling here on this earth4 ,it tells us1 just what the truly contrite and humble never could imagine1 and even now can hardly believe1 that it is even1 that it is only1 with such that ,he will dwell4 ,these are they in whom ,god can be glorified1 in whom there is room for ,him to take the place of self and to fill the emptied place with ,himself4 ,the ,holy ,one seeks the humble4 ,just when we see that there is nothing in us to admire or rest in1 ,god sees in us everything to admire and to rest in1 because there is room for ,himself4 ,the lowly one is the home of the ,holy ,one4 ,the humble find the ,holy ,one4 ,just when the consciousness of sin and weakness1 and the discovery of how much of self there is1 makes you fear that you can never be holy1 the ,holy ,one gives ,himself4 ,not as you look at self1 and seek to know whether now you are contrite and humble enough--no1 but when no longer looking at self1 because you have given up all hope of seeing anything in it but sin1 you look up to the ,holy ,one1 you will see how ,his promise is your only hope4 ,it is in faith that the ,holy ,one is revealed to the contrite soul4 ,faith is ever the opposite of what we see and feel2 it looks to ,god alone4 ,and it believes that in its deepest consciousness of unholiness1 and its fear that it never can be holy1 ,god1 the ,holy ,one1 who makes holy1 is near as ,redeemer and ,saviour4 ,and it is content to be low1 in the consciousness of unworthiness and emptiness1 and yet to rejoice in the assurance that ,god ,himself does take possession and revive the heart of the contrite one4 ,happy the soul who is willing at once to learn the lesson that1 all along1 it is going to be the simultaneous experience of weakness and power1 of emptiness and filling1 of deep1 real humiliation1 and the as real and most wonderful indwelling of the ,holy ,one4 ,this is indeed the deep mystery of the ,divine life4 ,to human reason it is a paradox4 ,when ,paul says of himself1 'as dying1 and behold we live2 as sorrowful1 yet always rejoicing2 as having nothing1 yet possessing all things1' he only gives expression to the law of the kingdom1 that as self is displaced and man becomes nothing1 ,god will become all4 ,side by side with deepest sense of nothingness and weakness1 the sense of infinite riches and the joy unspeakable can fill the heart4 ,however deep and blessed the experience becomes of the nearness1 the blessing1 the love1 the actual indwelling of the ,holy ,one1 it is never an indwelling in the old self2 it is ever a ,divine ,presence humbling self to make place for ,god alone to be exalted4 ,the power of ,christ's death1 the fellowship of ,his cross1 works each moment side by side with the power and the joy of ,his resurrection4 ',he that humbleth himself shall be exalted2' in the blessed life of faith the humiliation and the exaltation are simultaneous1 each dependent on the other4 ,the humble find the ,holy ,one2 and when they have found1 the possession only humbles all the more4 ,not that there is no danger or temptation of the flesh exalting itself in the possession1 but1 once knowing the danger1 the humble soul seeks for grace to fear continually1 with a fear that only clings more firmly to ,god alone4 ,never for a moment imagine that you attain a state in which self or the flesh are absolutely dead4 ,no2 by faith you enter into and abide in a fellowship with ,jesus1 in whom they are crucified2 abiding in ,him1 you are free from their power1 but only as you believe1 and1 in believing1 have gone out of self and dwell in ,jesus4 ,therefore1 the more abundant ,god's grace becomes1 and the more blessed the indwelling of the ,holy ,one1 keep so much the lower4 ,your danger is greater1 but your ,help is now nearer3 be content in trembling to confess the danger1 it will make you bold in faith to claim the victory4 ,believers1 who profess to be nothing1 and to trust in grace alone1 ,i pray you1 do listen to the wondrous message4 ,the ,high and ,lofty ,one1 whose name is ,holy1 and who dwells in the ,holy ,place1 and who can dwell nowhere but in a ,holy ,place1 seeks a dwelling here on earth4 ,will you give it ,him8 ,will you not fall down in the dust1 that ,he may find in you the humble heart ,he loves to dwell in8 ,will you not now believe that even in you1 however low and broken you feel1 ,he doth delight to make ,his dwelling8 ',blessed are the poor in spirit3 for theirs is the ,kingdom2' with them the ,king dwells4 ,oh1 this is the path to holiness6 be humble1 and the holy nearness and presence of ,god in you will be your holiness4 ,as you hear the command1 ,be holy1 as ,i am holy1 let faith claim the promise1 and answer1 ,i will be holy1 ,o ,most ,holy ,god6 if ,thou1 the ,holy ,one1 wilt dwell with me4 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o ,lord6 ,thou art the ,high and ,lofty ,one1 whose ,name is ,holy4 ,and yet ,thou speakest1 ',i dwell in the high and holy place1 and with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit4' ,yes1 ,lord6 when the soul takes the low place1 and has low thoughts of itself1 that it feels it is nothing1 ,thou dost love to come and comfort1 to dwell with it and revive it4 ,o my ,god6 my creature nothingness humbles me2 my many transgressions humble me2 my innate sinfulness humbles me2 but this humbles me most of all1 ,thine infinite condescension1 and the ineffable indwelling ,thou dost vouchsafe4 ,it is ,thy ,holiness1 in ,christ bearing our sin1 ,thy ,holy ,love bearing with our sin1 and consenting to dwell in us2 ,o ,god6 it is this love that passeth knowledge that humbles me4 ,i do beseech ,thee1 let it do its work1 until self hides its head and flees away at the presence of ,thy glory1 and ,thou alone art all4 ,holy ,lord ,god6 ,i pray ,thee to humble me4 ,didst ,thou not of old meet ,thy servants1 and show ,thyself unto them until they fell upon their faces and feared8 ,thou knowest1 my ,god6 ,i have no humility which ,i can bring ,thee4 ,in my blessed ,saviour1 who humbled ,himself in the form of a servant1 and unto the death of the cross1 ,i hide myself4 ,in ,him1 in ,his spirit and likeness1 ,i would live before ,thee4 ,work ,thou it in me1 by the ,holy ,spirit dwelling in me1 and as ,i am dead to self in ,him1 and ,his cross makes me nothing1 let ,thy holy indwelling revive and quicken me4 ,amen4 #a4 ,lowliness and holiness4 ,keep fast hold of the intimate connection4 ,lowliness is taking the place that becomes me2 holiness1 giving ,god the place that becomes ,him4 ,if ,i be nothing before ,him1 and ,god be all to me1 ,i am in the sure path of holiness4 ,lowliness is holiness1 because it gives all the glory to ,god4 #b4 ',blessed are the poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4' ,these first words of the ,master when ,he opened ,his lips to proclaim the ,kingdom1 are often the last in the hearts of ,his disciples4 ',the ,kingdom is in the ,holy ,ghost3' to the poor in spirit1 those who know they have nothing that is really spiritual1 the ,holy ,spirit comes to be their life4 ,the poor in spirit are the ,kingdom of the ,saints3 in them the ,holy ,spirit reveals the ,king4 #c4 ,many strive hard to be humble with ,god1 but with men they maintain their rights1 and nourish self4 ,remember that the great school of humility before ,god1 is to accept the humbling of man4 ,christ sanctified ,himself in accepting the humiliation and injustice which evil men laid upon ,him4 #d4 ,humility never sees its own beauty1 because it refuses to look to itself3 ,it only wonders at the condescension of the ,holy ,god1 and rejoices in the humility of ,jesus1 ,god's ,holy ,one1 our ,holy ,one4 #e4 ,the link between holiness and humility is indwelling4 ,the ,lofty ,one1 whose name is ,holy1 dwells with the contrite one4 ,and where ,he dwells is the ,holy ,place4 ,fourteenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ',therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the ,son of ,god4'--,luke i4 #ce4 ',we have believed and know that ,thou art the ,holy ,one of ,god4'--,john vi4 #fi4 ',the holy one of the ,lord'--only once 7,ps4 cvi4 #af7 the expression is found in the ,old ,testament4 ,it is spoken of ,aaron1 in whom holiness1 as far as it could then be revealed1 had found its most complete embodiment4 ,the title waited for its fulfilment in ,him who alone1 in ,his own person1 could perfectly show forth the holiness of ,god on earth--,jesus the ,son of the ,father4 ,in ,him we see holiness1 as ,divine1 as human1 as our very own4 #a4 ,in ,him we see wherein that ,incomparable ,excellence of the ,divine ,nature consists4 ',thou lovest righteousness1 and hatest iniquity1 therefore ,god1 even ,thy ,god1 hath anointed ,thee with the oil of gladness above ,thy fellows4' ,god's infinite hatred of sin1 and ,his maintenance of the ,right1 might appear to have little moral worth1 as being a necessity of ,his nature4 ,in the ,son we see ,divine ,holiness tested4 ,he is tried and tempted4 ,he suffers1 being tempted4 ,he proves that ,holiness has indeed a moral worth3 it is ready to make any sacrifice1 yea to give up life and cease to be1 rather than consent to sin4 ,in giving ,himself to die1 rather than yield to the temptation of sin2 in giving ,himself to die1 that the ,father's righteous judgment may be honoured2 ,jesus proved how ,righteousness is an element of the ,divine ,holiness1 and how the ,holy ,one is sanctified in ,righteousness4 ,but this is only one side of ,holiness4 ,the fire that consumes also purifies3 it makes partakers of its own beautiful ,light-nature all that is capable of assimilation4 ,so ,divine ,holiness not only maintains its own purity2 it communicates it too4 ,herein was ,jesus indeed seen to be the ,holy ,one of ,god1 that ,he never said1 ',stand by1 for ,i am holier than thou4' ,his holiness proved itself to be the very incarnation of ,him who had spoken1 ',thus saith the ,high and ,lofty ,one1 whose ,name is ,holy3 ,i dwell in the ,high and ,holy place1 and with him who is of a contrite spirit4' ,in ,him was seen the affinity holiness has for all that is lost and helpless and sinful4 ,he proved that holiness is not only the energy which in holy anger separates itself from all that is impure1 but which in holy love separates to itself even what is most sinful1 to save and to bless4 ,in ,him we see how the ,divine ,holiness is the harmony of ,infinite ,righteousness with ,infinite ,love4 #b4 ,such is the ,divine aspect of the character of ,christ1 as ,he shows in human form what ,god's ,holiness is4 ,but there is another aspect1 to us no less interesting and important4 ,we not only want to know how ,god is holy1 but how man must act to be holy as ,god is holy4 ,jesus came to teach us that it is possible to be men1 and yet to have the life of ,god dwelling in us4 ,we ordinarily think that the glory and the infinite ,perfection of ,deity are the proper setting in which the beauty of holiness is to be seen3 ,jesus proved the perfect adaptation and suitability of human nature for showing forth that which is the essential glory of ,deity4 ,he showed us how1 in choosing and doing the will of ,god1 and making it his own will1 man may truly be holy as ,god is holy4 ,the value of this aspect of the ,incarnation depends upon our realizing intensely the true humanity of our ,lord4 ,the awful separating and purifying process that is ever being carried on in the fiery furnace of the ,divine ,holiness1 ever consuming and ever assimilating1 we expect to see in ,him in the struggles of a truly human will4 ,holiness1 to be truly human1 must not only be a gift1 but an acquirement4 ,coming from ,god1 it must be accepted and personally appropriated1 in the voluntary surrender of all that is not in accordance with it4 ,in ,jesus1 as ,he distinctly gave up ,his own will1 and did and suffered the ,father's will1 we have the revelation of what human holiness is1 and how truly man1 through the unity of will1 can be holy as ,god is holy4 #c4 ,but what avails that we have seen in ,jesus that a man can be holy8 ,his example were indeed a mockery if ,he show us not the way1 and give us not the power1 to become like ,himself4 ,to bring us this1 was indeed the supreme object of the ,incarnation4 ,the ,divine nature of ,christ did not simply make ,his humanity partaker of its holiness1 leaving ,him still nothing more than an individual man4 ,his ,divinity gave the human holiness ,he wrought out1 the holy human nature which ,he perfected1 an infinite value and power of communication4 ,with ,him a new life1 the ,eternal ,life1 was grafted into the stem of humanity4 ,for all who believe in ,him1 ,he sanctified ,himself1 that they themselves might also be sanctified in truth4 ,because ,his death was the great triumph of ,his obedience to the will of the ,father1 it broke for ever the dominion of sin1 it atoned for our guilt1 and won for ,him from the ,father the power to make ,his people partakers of ,his own life and holiness4 ,in ,his ,resurrection and ,ascension the power of the ,new ,life1 and its right to universal dominion1 were made manifest1 and ,he is now in full truth the ,holy ,one of ,god1 holding in ,himself as ,head the power of a ,holiness1 at once ,divine and human1 to communicate to every member of ,his body4 ,,the ,,holy ,,one ,,of ,,god6 in a fulness of meaning that passeth knowledge1 in spirit and in truth1 ,jesus now bears this title4 ,he is now the ,one ,holy ,one whom ,god sees1 of such an infinite compass and power of holiness1 that ,he can be holiness to each of ,his brethren4 ,and even as ,he is to ,god the ,holy ,one1 in whom ,he delights1 and for whose sake ,he delights in all who are in ,him1 so ,christ may now be to us too the ,one ,holy ,one in whom we delight1 in whom the ,holiness of ,god is become ours4 ',we have believed and know that ,thou art the ,holy ,one of ,god1'--blessed they who can say this1 and know themselves to be holy in ,christ4 ,in speaking of the mystery of the ,holy ,trinity1 we saw how ,christ stands midway between the ,father and the ,spirit1 as the point of union in which they meet4 ,in the ,son1 'the very image of ,his substance' 7,heb4 i4 #c71 we have the objective revelation of ,deity1 the ,divine ,holiness embodied and brought nigh4 ,in the ,holy ,spirit we have the same revelation subjectively1 the ,divine ,holiness entering our inmost being and revealing itself there4 ,the work of the ,holy ,spirit is to reveal and glorify ,christ as the ,holy ,one of ,god1 as ,he takes of ,his ,holiness and makes it ours4 ,he shows us how all is in ,christ2 how ,christ is all for us2 how we are in ,christ2 and how1 as a living ,saviour1 ,christ through ,his ,spirit takes and keeps charge of us and our life of holiness4 ,he makes ,christ indeed to be to us the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,my ,brother6 wouldst thou be holy1 wouldst thou know ,god's way of holiness--learn to know ,christ as the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,thou art in ,him1 'holy in ,christ4' ,thou hast been placed1 by an act of ,divine ,power1 in ,christ1 and that same ,power keeps thee there1 planted and rooted in that ,divine fulness of life and holiness which there is in ,him4 ,his ,holy ,presence1 and the power of ,his eternal life1 surround thee3 let the ,holy ,spirit reveal this to thee4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is within thee as the power of ,christ and ,his life4 ,secretly1 silently1 but mightily1 if thou wilt look to the ,father for ,his working1 will ,he strengthen the faith that thou art in ,christ1 and that the ,divine life1 which thus encircles thee on every side1 will enter in and take possession of thee4 ,study and pray to believe and realize that it is in ,christ as the ,holy ,one of ,god1 in ,christ in whom the ,holiness of ,god is prepared for thee as a holy nature and holy living1 that thou art1 and that thou mayest abide4 ,and then remember1 also1 that this ,christ is thy ,saviour1 the most patient and compassionate of teachers4 ,study holiness in the light of ,his countenance1 looking up into ,his face4 ,he came from heaven for the very purpose of making thee holy4 ,his love and power are more than thy slowness and sinfulness4 ,do learn to think of holiness as the inheritance prepared for thee1 as the power of a new life which ,jesus waits and lives to dispense4 ,just think of it as all in ,him1 and of its possession as being dependent upon the possession of ,himself4 ,and as the disciples1 though they scarce understood what they confessed1 or knew whither the ,lord was leading them1 became ,his saints1 ,his holy ones1 in virtue of their intense attachment to ,him1 so wilt thou find that to love ,jesus fervently1 and obey ,him simply1 is the sure path to holiness and the fulness of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,holy ,lord ,god6 ,i do bless ,thee that ,thy beloved ,son1 whom ,thou didst sanctify and send into the world1 is now to us the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,i beseech ,thee that my inner life may so be enlightened by the ,spirit that ,i may in faith fully know what this means4 ,may ,i know ,him as the revelation of ,thy ,holiness1 the incarnation in human nature1 even unto the death1 of ,thine infinite and unconquerable hatred of sin1 as of ,thy amazing love to the sinner4 ,may my soul be filled with great fear and trust of ,thee4 ,may ,i know ,him as the exhibition of the ,holiness in which we are now to walk before ,thee4 ,he lived in ,thy holy will4 ,may ,i know ,him as ,he wrought out that holiness1 to be communicated to us in a new human nature1 making it possible for us to live a holy life4 ,may ,i know ,him as ,thou hast placed me in ,him in heaven1 holy in ,christ1 and as ,i may abide in ,him by faith4 ,may ,i know ,him1 as ,he dwells in me1 the ,holy ,one of ,god on the throne of my heart1 breathing ,his ,holy ,spirit and maintaining ,his holy rule4 ,so shall ,i live holy in ,christ4 ,o my ,father6 it pleased ,thee that in ,thy ,son should all the fulness dwell4 ,in ,him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge2 in ,him dwell the unsearchable riches of grace and holiness4 ,i beseech ,thee1 reveal ,him to me1 reveal ,him in me1 that ,i may not have to satisfy myself with thoughts and desires1 without the reality1 but that in the power of an endless life ,i may know ,him1 and be known of ,him1 the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,amen4 #a4 ,in the holiness of ,jesus we see what ours must be3 righteousness1 that hates sin and gives everything to have it destroyed2 love1 that seeks the sinner and gives everything to have him saved4 ',whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of ,god1 neither he that loveth not his brother4' #b4 ,it is a solemn thought that we may be studying earnestly to know what holiness is1 and yet have little of it1 because we have little of ,jesus4 ,it is a blessed thought that a man may directly be little occupied with the thought of holiness1 and yet have much of it1 because he is full of ,jesus4 #c4 ,we need the whole of what ,god teaches in ,his ,word in regard to holiness in all its different aspects4 ,we need still more to be ever returning to the living centre where ,god imparts holiness4 ,jesus is the ,holy ,one of ,god3 to have ,him truly1 to love ,him fervently1 to trust and obey ,him1 to be in ,him--this makes us holy4 #d4 ,your holiness is thus treasured up in this ,divine1 ,almighty1 and most gentle ,saviour--surely there need to be no fear that ,he will not be ready or able to make you holy4 #e4 ,with such a ,sanctifier1 how comes it that so many seekers after holiness fail so sadly1 and know so little of the joy of a holy life8 ,i am sure it is with very many this one thing3 they seek to grasp and hold this ,christ in their own strength1 and know not how it is the ,holy ,spirit within them who must be waited for to reveal this ,divine ,being1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 in their hearts4 ,fifteenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,the ,holy ,spirit4 ',but this spake ,he of the ,spirit1 which they that believed on ,him were to receive3 for the ,holy ,spirit was not yet3 because ,jesus was not yet glorified4'--,john vii4 #ci4 ',the ,comforter1 even the ,holy ,spirit1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 ,he shall teach you all things4'--,john xiv4 #bf4 ',god chose you to salvation in sanctification of the ,spirit1 and belief of the truth4'--#b ,thess4 ii4 #ac4 7,see #a ,pet4 i4 #b47 ,it has sometimes been said1 that while the ,holiness of ,god stands out more prominently in the ,old ,testament1 in the ,new it has to give way to the revelation of ,his love4 ,the remark could hardly be made if it were fully realized that the ,spirit is ,god1 and that when ,he takes up the epithet ,holy as ,his own proper name1 it is to teach us that now the ,holiness of ,god is to come nearer than ever1 and to be specially revealed as the power that makes us holy4 ,in the ,holy ,spirit1 ,god the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 and ,he who was the ,holy ,one of ,god1 come nigh for the fulfilment of the promise1 ',i am the ,lord that make you holy4' ,the unseen and unapproachable holiness of ,god had been revealed and brought near in the life of ,christ ,jesus2 all that hindered our participation in it had been removed by ,his death4 ,the name of ,holy ,spirit teaches us that it is specially the ,spirit's work to impart it to us and make it our own4 ,try and realize the meaning of this2 the epithet that through the whole ,old ,testament has belonged to the ,holy ,god1 is now appropriated to that ,spirit which is within you4 ,the ,holiness of ,god in ,christ becomes holiness in you1 because this ,spirit is in you4 ,the words1 and the ,divine realities the words express1 ,holy and ,spirit1 are now inseparably and eternally united4 ,you can only have as much of the ,spirit as you are willing to have of holiness4 ,you can only have as much holiness as you have of the indwelling ,spirit4 ,there are some who pray for the ,spirit because they long to have ,his light and joy and strength4 ,and yet their prayers bring little increase of blessing or power4 ,it is because they do not rightly know or desire ,him as the ,holy ,spirit4 ,his burning purity1 ,his searching and convicting light1 ,his making dead of the deeds of the body1 of self with its will and its power1 ,his leading into the fellowship of ,jesus as ,he gave up ,his will and ,his life to the ,father1--of all this they have not thought4 ,the ,spirit cannot work in power in them because they receive ,him not as the ,holy ,spirit1 in sanctification of the ,spirit4 ,at times1 in seasons of revival1 as among the ,corinthians and ,galatians1 ,he may indeed come with ,his gifts and mighty workings1 while ,his sanctifying power is but little manifest4 7#a ,cor4 xiv4 #d1 xiii4 #h1 iii4 #a-c2 ,gal4 iii4 #c1 v4 #ae-bf47 ,but unless that sanctifying power be acknowledged and accepted1 ,his gifts will be lost4 ,his gifts coming on us are but meant to prepare the way for the sanctifying power within us4 ,we must take the lesson to heart2 we can have as much of the ,spirit as we are willing to have of ,his ,holiness4 ,be full of the ,spirit1 must mean to us1 ,be fully holy4 ,the converse is equally true4 ,we can only have so much holiness as we have of the ,spirit4 ,some souls do very earnestly seek to be holy1 but it is very much in their own strength4 ,they will read books and listen to addresses most earnestly2 they will use every effort to lay hold of every thought1 and act out every advice4 ,and yet they must confess that they are still very much strangers to the true1 deep rest and joy and power of abiding in ,christ1 and being holy in ,him4 ,they sought for holiness more than for the ,spirit4 ,they must learn how even all the holiness which is so near and clear in ,christ1 is beyond our reach1 except as the ,holy ,spirit dwells within and imparts it4 ,they must learn to pray for ,him and ,his mighty strengthening 7,eph4 iii4 #af71 to believe for ,him 7,john iv4 #ad1 vii4 #cg71 in faith to yield to ,him as indwelling 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #ad1 vi4 #ai74 ,they must learn to cease from self-effort in thinking and believing1 in willing and in running2 to hope in ,god1 and wait patiently for ,him4 ,he will by ,his ,holy ,spirit make us holy4 ,be holy means1 ,be filled with the ,spirit4 ,if we inquire more closely how it is that this ,holy ,spirit makes holy1 the answer is1--,he reveals and imparts the ,holiness of ,christ4 ,scripture tells us3 ,christ is made unto us sanctification4 ,he sanctified ,himself for us1 that we ourselves might also be sanctified in truth4 ,we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4 ,we are sanctified in ,christ ,jesus4 ,the whole living ,christ is just a treasury of holiness for man4 ,in ,his life on earth ,he exchanged the ,divine ,holiness ,he possessed into the current coin needed for this human earthly life1 obedience to the ,father1 and humility1 and love1 and zeal4 ,as ,god1 ,he has a sufficiency of it for every moment of the life of every believer4 ,and yet1 it is all beyond our reach1 except as the ,holy ,spirit brings it to us and inwardly communicates it4 ,but this is the very work for which ,he bears the ,divine ,name1 the ,holy ,spirit1 to glorify ,jesus1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 within us1 and so make us partakers of ,his ,holiness4 ,he does it by revealing ,christ1 so that we begin to see what is in ,him4 ,he does it by discovering the deep unholiness of our nature 7,rom4 vii4 #ad-bc74 ,he does it by mightily strengthening us to believe1 to receive ,jesus ,himself as our life4 ,he does it by leading us to utter despair of self1 to absolute surrender of obedience to ,jesus as ,lord1 to the assured confidence of faith in the power of an indwelling ,christ4 ,he does it by1 in the secret silent depths of the heart and life1 imparting the dispositions and graces of ,christ1 so that from the inner centre of our life1 which has been renewed and sanctified in ,christ1 holiness should flow out and pervade all to the utmost circumference4 ,where the desire has once been awakened1 and the delight in the law of ,god after the inward man been created1 there1 as the ,spirit of this life in ,christ ,jesus1 ,he makes free from the law of sin and death in the members1 he leads into the glorious liberty of the sons of ,god4 ,as ,god within us1 ,he communicates what ,god in ,christ has prepared4 ,and if we ask once more how the working of this ,holy ,spirit1 who thus makes holy1 is to be secured1 the answer is very simple and clear4 ,he is the ,spirit of the ,holy ,father1 and of ,christ1 the ,holy ,one of ,god3 from them ,he must be received4 ',he showed me a river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of ,god and the ,lamb4' ,jesus speaks of 'the ,holy ,spirit1 whom the ,father will send in my ,name4' ,he taught us to ask the ,father4 ,paul prays for the ,ephesians3 ',i bow my knees to the ,father1 that ,he may grant unto you1 according to the riches of ,his glory1 that ye may be strengthened with might by ,his ,spirit in the inner man4' ,it is as we look to ,god in ,his ,holiness1 and all its revelation from ,creation downward1 and see how the ,spirit now flows out from the throne of ,his ,holiness as the water of life1 that our hope will be awakened that ,god will give ,him to work mightily in us4 ,and as we then see ,jesus revealing that holiness in human nature1 rending the veil in ,his atoning death1 that the ,spirit from the ,holiest of all may come forth and1 as the ,holy ,spirit1 be ,his representative1 making ,him present within us1 we shall become confident that faith in ,jesus will bring the fulness of the ,spirit4 ,as ,he told us to ask the ,father1 ,he told us to believe in ,himself4 ',he that believeth in me1 rivers of living water shall flow out of him4' ,let us bow to the ,father in the name of ,christ1 ,his ,son2 let us believe very simply in the ,son as ,him in whom we are well-pleasing to the ,father1 and through whom the ,father's love and blessing reach us1 and we may be sure the ,spirit1 who is already within us1 will1 as the ,holy ,spirit1 do ,his work in ever-increasing power4 ,the mystery of holiness is the mystery of the ,trinity3 as we bow to the ,father1 believing in the ,son1 the ,holy ,spirit will work4 ,and we shall see the true meaning of what ,god spake in ,israel3 ',i am holy1' thus speaks the ,father2 ',be holy1' as my ,son and in my ,son2 ',i make holy1' through the ,spirit of my ,son dwelling in you4 ,let our souls worship and cry out1 ',holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord ,god of hosts4' ,the ,holy ,spirit4 ,all true knowledge of the ,father in ,his adorable ,holiness1 and of the ,son in ,his1 which is meant to be ours1 and all participation of it1 depend upon our life in the ,spirit1 upon our knowing and owning ,him as abiding in us as our ,life4 ,oh1 what can it be that1 with such a ,thrice ,holy ,god1 ,his ,holiness does not more cover ,his ,church and children8 ,the ,holy ,spirit is among us1 is in us3 it must be we grieve and resist ,him4 ,if you would not do so1 at once bow the knee to the ,father1 that ,he may grant you the ,spirit's mighty workings in the inner man4 ,believe that the ,holy ,spirit1 bearer to you of all the ,holiness of ,god and of ,jesus1 is indeed in you4 ,let ,him take the place of self1 with its thoughts and efforts4 ,set your soul still before ,god in holy silence1 for ,him to give you wisdom2 rest1 in emptiness and poverty of spirit1 in the faith that ,he will work in ,his own way4 ,as ,divine as is the holiness that ,jesus brings1 so ,divine is the power in which the ,holy ,spirit communicates it4 ,yield yourself day by day in growing dependence and obedience1 to wait on and be led of ,him4 ,let the fear of the ,holy ,one be on you3 sanctify the ,lord ,god in your heart3 let ,him be your fear and dread4 ,fear not only sin3 fear above all self1 as it thrusts itself in before ,god with its service4 ,let self die1 in refusing and denying its work3 let the ,holy ,spirit1 in quietness1 and dependence1 in the surrender of obedience and trust1 have the rule1 the free disposal of every faculty4 ,wait for ,him--,he can1 ,he will in power reveal and impart the ,holiness of the ,father and the ,son4#g ,,be ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god of hosts6 the whole earth is full of ,thy glory6 ,let that glory fill the heart of ,thy child1 as he bows before ,thee4 ,i come now to drink of the river of the water of life that flows from under the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb4 ,glory be to ,god and to the ,lamb for the gift that hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive--the gift of the ,holy indwelling ,spirit4 ,o my ,father6 in the name of ,jesus ,i ask ,thee that ,i may be strengthened with might by ,thy ,spirit in the inner man4 ,teach me1 ,i pray ,thee1 to believe that ,thou hast given ,him1 to accept and expect ,him to fill and rule my whole inner being4 ,teach me to give up to ,him2 not to will or to run1 not to think or to work in my strength1 but in quiet confidence to wait and to know that ,he works in me4 ,teach me what it is to have no confidence in the flesh1 and to serve ,thee in the ,spirit4 ,teach me what it is in all things to be led by ,thy ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,thy ,holiness4 ,and grant1 gracious ,father1 that through ,him ,i may hear ,thee speak and reveal ,thyself to me in power3 ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,may ,he glorify to me and in me1 ,jesus1 in whom ,thy command ',,be ,,holy' hath been so blessedly fulfilled on my behalf4 ,and let the ,holy ,spirit give me the anointing and the sealing which bring the perfect assurance that in ,him ,thy promise is being gloriously fulfilled1 ',i ,,make ,,you ,,holy4' ,amen4 #a4 ,it it universally admitted that the ,holy ,spirit has not1 in the teaching of the ,church or the faith of believers1 that place of honour and power1 which becomes ,him as the ,revealer of the ,father and the ,son4 ,seek a deep conviction that without the ,holy ,spirit the clearest teaching on holiness1 the most fervent desires1 the most blessed experiences even1 will only be temporary1 will produce no permanent result1 will bring no abiding rest4 #b4 ,the ,holy ,spirit dwells within1 and works within1 in the hidden deep of your nature4 ,seek above everything the clear and habitual assurance that ,he is within you1 doing ,his work4 #c4 ,to this end1 deny self and its work in serving ,god4 ,your own power to think and pray and believe and strive--lay it all down expressly and distinctly in ,god's presence2 claim1 accept1 and believe in the hidden workings of the indwelling ,spirit4 #d4 ,as the ,son ever spake of the ,father1 so the ,spirit ever points to ,christ4 ,the soul that yields itself to the ,spirit will of ,him learn to know how ,christ is our holiness1 how we can always abide in ,christ our ,sanctification4 ,what a vain effort it has often been without the ,spirit6 ',as the anointing taught you1 ye abide in ,him4' #e4 ,in the temple of thine heart1 beloved believer1 there is a secret place1 within the veil1 where dwells1 often all unknown1 the ,spirit of ,god4 ,do bow in deep reverence before the ,father1 and ask that ,he may work mightily4 ,expect the ,spirit to do ,his work3 ,he will make ,thy inner man a fit home1 ,thy heart a throne1 for ,jesus1 and reveal ,him there4 #g ,i cannot say how deeply ,i feel that one of the great wants of believers is that they do not know the ,holy ,spirit1 who is within them1 and thereby lose the blessed life ,he would work in them4 ,if it please ,god1 ,i hope that the next volume of this series may be on ,the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,may the ,father give me a message that shall help ,his children to know what the ,holy ,spirit can be to them4 ,sixteenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,truth4 ',make them holy in the ,truth3 ,thy word is ,truth4'--,john xvii4 #ag4 ',god chose you unto salvation in sanctification and belief of the ,truth4'--#b ,thess4 ii4 #ab4 ,the chief means of sanctification that ,god uses is ,his word4 ,and yet how much there is of reading and studying1 of teaching and preaching the word1 that has almost no effect in making men holy4 ,it is not the word that sanctifies2 it is ,god ,himself who alone can sanctify4 ,nor is it simply through the word that ,god does it1 but through the ,truth which is in the word4 ,as a means the word is of unspeakable value1 as the vessel which contains the truth1 if ,god use it2 as a means it is of no value1 if ,god does not use it4 ,let us strive to connect ,god's ,holy ,word with the ,holy ,god ,himself4 ,god sanctifies in the ,truth through ,his word4 ,jesus had just said1 ',the words which ,thou gavest me1 ,i have given them4' ,let us try and realize what that means4 ,think of that great transaction in eternity3 the ,infinite ,being1 whom we call ,god1 giving ,his words to ,his ,son2 in ,his words opening up ,his heart1 communicating ,his mind and will1 revealing ,himself and all ,his purpose and love4 ,in a ,divine power and reality passing all conception1 ,god gave ,christ ,his words4 ,in the same living power ,christ gave them to ,his disciples1 all full of a ,divine life and energy to work in their hearts1 as they were able to receive them4 ,and just as in the words of a man on earth we expect to find all the wisdom or all the goodness there is in him1 so the word of the ,thrice ,holy ,one is all alive with the ,holiness of ,god4 ,all the holy fire1 alike of ,his burning zeal and ,his burning love1 dwells in ,his words4 ,and yet men can handle these words1 and study them1 and speak them1 and be entire strangers to their holiness1 or their power to make holy4 ,it is ,god ,himself1 the ,holy ,one1 who must make holy through the word4 ,every seed1 in which the life of a tree is contained1 has around it a husk or shell1 which protects and hides the inner life4 ,only where the seed finds a place in congenial soil1 and the husk is burst and removed1 can the seed germinate and grow up4 ,and it is only where there is a heart in harmony with ,god's ,holiness1 longing for it1 yielding itself to it1 that the word will really make holy4 ,it is the heart that is not content with the word1 but seeks the ,living1 ,holy ,one in the word1 to which ,he will reveal the truth1 and in it ,himself4 ,it is the word given to us by ,christ as ,god gave it ,him1 and received by us as it was by ,him1 to rule and fill our life1 which has power to make holy4 ,but we must notice very specially how our ,saviour says1 ,sanctify them1 not in the word1 but in the truth4 ,just as in man there is body1 soul1 and spirit1 so in truth too4 ,there is first word-truth2 a man may have the correct form of words while he does not really apprehend the truth they contain4 ,then there is thought-truth2 there may be a clear intellectual apprehension of truth without the experience of its power4 ,the ,bible speaks of truth as a living reality3 this is the life-truth1 in which the very ,spirit of the truth we profess has entered and possessed our inner being4 ,christ calls ,himself the ,truth3 ,he is said to be full of grace and truth4 ,the ,divine life and grace are in ,him as an actually substantial existence and reality4 ,he not only acts upon us by thoughts and motives1 but communicates1 as a reality1 the eternal life ,he brought for us from the ,father4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of ,truth2 what ,he imparts is all real and actual1 the very substance of unseen things2 ,he guides into the ,truth1 not thought-truth or doctrine only1 but life-truth1 the personal possession of the ,truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,as the ,spirit of ,truth ,he is the ,spirit of ,holiness2 the life of ,god1 which is ,his ,holiness1 ,he brings to us as an actual possession4 ,it is now of this living ,truth1 which dwells in the word1 as the seed-life dwells in the husk1 that ,jesus says1 ',make them holy in the ,truth3 ,thy word is ,truth4' ,he would have us mark the intimate connection1 as well as the wide difference1 between the word and the truth4 ,the connection is one willed by ,god and meant to be inseparable4 ',thy word is truth2' with ,god they are one4 ,but not with man4 ,just as there were men in close contact and continual intercourse with ,jesus1 to whom ,he was only a man1 and nothing more1 so there are ,christians who know and understand the word1 and yet are strangers to its true spiritual power4 ,they have the letter but not the spirit2 the ,truth comes to them in word but not in power4 ,the word does not make them holy1 because they hold it not in ,spirit and in ,truth4 ,to others1 on the contrary1 who know what it is to receive the truth in the love of it1 who yield themselves1 in all their dealings with the word1 to the ,spirit of ,truth who dwells in it and in them too1 the word comes indeed as ,truth1 as a ,divine reality1 communicating and working what it speaks of4 ,and it is of such a use of the word that the ,saviour says1 ',make them holy in the truth3 ,thy word is truth4' ,as the words1 which ,god gave ,him1 were all in the power of the eternal ,life and ,love and ,will of ,god1 the revelation and communication of the ,father's purpose1 as ,god's word was ,truth to ,him and in ,him1 so it can be in us4 ,and as we thus receive it1 we are made holy in the ,truth4 ,and what now are the lessons we have to learn here for the path of ,holiness8 ,the first is3 ,let us see to it that in all our intercourse with ,god's ,blessed ,word we rest content with nothing short of the experience of it1 as truth of ,god1 as spirit and as power4 ,jesus said1 ',if ye abide in my word1 ye shall know the truth4' ,no analysis can ever find or prove the life of a seed3 plant it in its proper soil1 and the growth will testify to the life4 ,it is only as the word of ,god is received in the love of it1 as it grows and works in us1 that we can know its truth1 can know that it is the ,truth of ,god4 ,it is as we live in the words of ,jesus1 in love and obedience1 keeping and doing them1 that the ,truth from heaven1 the ,power of the ,divine ,life which there is in them1 will unfold itself to us4 ,christ is the ,truth2 in ,him the love and grace1 the very life of ,god1 has come to earth as a substantial existence1 a ,living1 ,mighty ,power1 something new that was never on earth before 7,john i4 #ag72 let us yield ourselves to the ,living ,christ to possess us and to rule us as the ,living ,truth1 then will ,god's word be ,truth to us and in us4 ,the ,spirit of ,christ is the ,spirit of ,truth2 that actual heavenly reality of ,divine life and love in ,christ1 the ,truth1 has a ,spirit1 who comes to communicate and impart it4 ,let us beware of trying to study or understand or take possession of ,god's word without that ,spirit through whom the word was spoken of old2 we shall find only the husk1 the truth or thought and sentiment1 very beautiful perhaps1 but with no power to make us holy4 ,we must have the ,spirit of the ,truth within us4 ,he will lead us into the ,truth2 when we are in the ,truth1 ,god makes us holy in it and by it4 ,the ,truth must be in us1 and we in it4 ,god desires truth in the inward parts3 we must be of the people of whom ,christ says1 ',if ye were of the truth1' 'he that is of the truth knoweth me4' ,in the lower sphere of daily life and conduct1 of thought and action1 there must be an intense love of truth1 and a willingness to sacrifice everything for it2 in the spiritual life1 a deep hungering to have all our religion every day1 every moment1 stand fully in the truth of ,god4 ,it is to the simple1 humble1 childlike spirit that the truth of the word will be unsealed and revealed4 ,in such the ,spirit of truth comes to dwell4 ,in such1 as they daily wait before the ,holy ,one in silence and emptiness1 in reverence and holy fear1 ,his ,holy ,spirit works and gives the truth within4 ,in thus imparting ,christ as revealed in the word1 in ,his ,divine life and love1 as their own life1 ,he makes them holy with the holiness of ,christ4 ,there is another lesson4 ,listen to that prayer1 the earthly echo of the prayer which ,he ever liveth to pray1 ',holy ,father6 make them holy in the truth4' ,would you be holy1 child of ,god8 cast yourself into that mighty current of intercession ever flowing into1 ever reaching1 the ,father's bosom4 ,let yourself be borne upon it until your whole soul cries1 with the unutterable groanings1 too deep and too intense for human speech1 ',holy ,father6 make me holy in the truth4' ,as you trust in ,christ as the truth1 the reality of what you long for1 and in ,his all-prevailing intercession2 as you wait for the ,spirit within as the ,spirit of truth2 look up to the ,father1 and expect ,his own direct and almighty working to make you holy4 ,the mystery of holiness is the mystery of the ,triune ,one4 ,the deeper entrance into the holy life rests in the fellowship of the ,three in ,one4 ,it is the ,father who establishes us in ,christ1 who gives1 in a daily fresh giving1 the ,holy ,spirit2 it is to the ,father1 the ,holy ,father1 the soul must look up continually in the prayer1 ',make me holy in the truth4' ,it has been well said that in the word ,holy we have the central thought of the high-priestly prayer4 ,as the ,father's attribute 7,john xvii4 #aa71 as the ,son's work for ,himself and us 7ver4 #ai71 as the direct work of the ,father through the ,spirit 7vers4 #ag1 #bj71 it is the revelation of the glory of ,god in ,himself and in us4 ,let us enter into the ,holiest of all1 and as we bow with our ,great ,high ,priest1 let the deep1 unceasing cry go up for all the ,church of ,god1 ',holy ,father6 make them holy in the truth3 ,thy word is truth4' ,the word in which ,god makes holy is summed up in this1 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,may ,god make it truth in us6 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,blessed ,father6 to ,israel ,thou didst say1 ,i the ,lord am holy and make holy4 ,but it is only in ,thy beloved ,son that the full glory of ,thy ,holiness1 as making us holy1 has been revealed4 ,thou art our ,holy ,father1 who makest us holy in ,thy truth4 ,we thank ,thee that ,thy ,son hath given us the words ,thou gavest ,him1 and that as ,he received them from ,thee in life and power1 we may receive them too4 ,o ,father6 with our whole heart we do receive them2 let the ,spirit make them truth and life within us4 ,so shall we know ,thee as the ,holy ,one1 consuming the sin1 renewing the sinner4 ,we bless ,thee most for ,thy ,blessed ,son1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 the ,living ,word in whom the ,truth dwelleth4 ,we thank ,thee that in ,his never-ceasing intercession1 this cry ever reacheth ,thee1 ',father1 sanctify them in ,thy truth1' and that the answer is ever streaming forth from ,thy glory4 ,holy ,father6 make us holy in ,thy truth1 in ,thy wonderful revelation of ,thyself in ,him who is the truth4 ,let ,thy ,holy ,spirit so have dominion in our hearts that ,thy ,holy ,child ,jesus1 sanctifying ,himself for us that we may be sanctified in the truth1 may be to us the ,way1 the ,truth1 and the ,life4 ,may we know that we are in ,him in ,thy presence1 and that ,thy one word in answer to our prayer to make us holy is--,holy in ,christ4 ,amen4 #a4 ,god is the ,god of truth--not truth in speaking only1 or truth of doctrine--but truth of existence1 or life in its ,divine reality4 ,and ,christ is the truth2 the actual embodiment of this ,divine life4 ,and there is a kingdom of truth1 of ,divine ,spiritual realities1 of which ,christ is ,king4 ,and of all this truth of ,god in ,christ1 the very essence is1 the ,spirit4 ,he is the ,spirit of truth3 ,he leads us into it1 so that we are of the truth and walk in it4 ,of the truth1 the reality there is in ,god1 ,holiness1 is the deepest root2 the ,spirit of truth is the ,holy ,spirit4 #b4 ,it is the work of the ,father to make us holy in the truth3 let us bow very low in childlike trust as we breathe the prayer3 ',holy ,father6 make us holy in the truth4' ,he will do it4 #c4 ,it is the intercession of the ,son that asks and obtains this blessing3 let us take our place in ,him1 and rejoice in the assurance of an answer4 #d4 ,it is the ,spirit of truth through whom the ,father does this work1 so that we dwell in the truth1 and the truth in us4 ,let us yield very freely and very fully to the leading of the ,spirit1 in our intercourse with ,god's ,word1 that1 as the ,son prays1 the ,father may make us holy in the truth4 #e4 ,let us1 in the light of this work of the ,three-,one1 never read the ,word but with this aim3 to be made holy in the truth by ,god4 ,seventeenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,crucifixion4 ',for their sakes ,i sanctify myself1 that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth4'--,john xvii4 #ai4 ',he said1 ,lo1 ,i am come to do ,thy will4 ,in which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus once for all4 ,for by one offering ,he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified4'--,heb4 x4 #i1 #aj1 #ad4 ,it was in ,his ,high-priestly prayer1 on ,his way to ,gethsemane and ,calvary1 that ,jesus thus spake to the ,father3 ',i sanctify myself4' ,he had not long before spoken of ,himself as 'the ,son whom the ,father hath sanctified and sent into the world4' ,from the language of ,holy ,scripture we are familiar with the thought that1 what ,god has sanctified1 man has to sanctify too4 ,the work of the ,father1 in sanctifying the ,son1 is the basis and groundwork of the work of the ,son in sanctifying ,himself4 ,if ,his ,holiness as man was to be a free and personal possession1 accepted and assimilated in voluntary and conscious self-determination1 it was not enough that the ,father sanctify ,him3 ,he must sanctify ,himself too4 ,this self-sanctifying of our ,lord found place through ,his whole life1 but culminates and comes out in special distinctness in ,his crucifixion4 ,wherein it consists is made clear by the words from the ,epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,the ,messiah spake3 ',lo1 ,i come to do ,thy will4' ,and then it is added1 ',in the which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,christ4' ,it was the offering of the body of ,christ that was the will of ,god3 in doing that will ,he sanctified us4 ,it was of the doing that will in the offering ,his body that ,he spake1 ',i sanctify myself1 that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth4' ,the giving up of ,his will to ,god's will in the agony of ,gethsemane1 and then the doing of that will in the obedience unto death1 this was ,christ's sanctifying ,himself and us too4 ,let us try and understand this4 ,the ,holiness of ,god is revealed in ,his will4 ,holiness even in the ,divine ,being has no moral value except as it is freely willed4 ,in speaking of the ,trinity1 theologians have pointed out how1 as the ,father represents the absolute necessity of ,everlasting ,goodness1 the ,son proves its liberty3 within the ,divine ,being it is willed in love4 ,and this now was the work of the ,son on earth1 amid the trials and temptations of a human life1 to accept and hold fast at any sacrifice1 with ,his whole heart to will1 the will of the ,father4 ',though ,he was a ,son1 yet ,he learned obedience in that ,he suffered4' ,in ,gethsemane the conflict between the will of human nature and the ,divine will reached its height3 it manifests itself in language which almost makes us tremble for ,his sinlessness1 as ,he speaks of ,his will in antithesis to ,god's will4 ,but the struggle is a victory1 because in presence of the clearest consciousness of what it means to have ,his own will1 ,he gives it up1 and says1 ',thy will be done4' ,to enter into the will of ,god ,he gives up ,his very life4 ,in ,his crucifixion ,he thus reveals the law of sanctification4 ,holiness is the full entrance of our will into ,god's will4 ,or rather1 ,holiness is the entrance of ,god's will to be the death of our will4 ,the only end of our will and deliverance from it1 is death to it under the righteous judgment of ,god4 ,it was in the surrender to the death of the cross that ,christ sanctified ,himself1 and sanctified us1 that we also might be sanctified in truth4 ,and now1 just as the ,father sanctified ,him1 and ,he in virtue thereof appropriated it and sanctified ,himself1 so we1 whom ,he has sanctified1 have to appropriate it to ourselves4 ,in no other way than crucifixion1 the giving up of ,himself to the death1 could ,christ realize the sanctification ,he had from the ,father4 ,and in no other way can we realize the sanctification we have in ,him4 ,his own and our sanctification bears the common stamp of the cross4 ,we have seen before that obedience is the path to holiness4 ,in ,christ we see that the path to perfect holiness is perfect obedience4 ,and that is obedience unto death1 even to the giving up of life1 even the death of the cross4 ,as the sanctification which ,christ wrought out for us1 even unto the offering of ,his body1 bears the death mark1 we cannot partake of it1 we cannot enter it1 except as we die to self and its will4 ,crucifixion is the path to sanctification4 ,this lesson is in harmony with all we have seen4 ,the first revelation of ,god's ,holiness to ,moses was accompanied with the command1 ,put off4 ,god's praise1 as ,glorious in ,holiness1 ,fearful in ,praises1 was sounded over the dead bodies of the ,egyptians4 ,when ,moses on ,sinai was commanded to sanctify the ,mount1 it was said1 ',if any touch it1 man or beast1 it shall not live4' ,the ,holiness of ,god is death to all that is in contact with sin4 ,only through death1 through blood-shedding1 was there access to the ,holiest of all4 ,christ chose death1 even death as a curse1 that ,he might sanctify ,himself for us1 and open to us the path to ,holiness1 to the ,holiest of all1 to the ,holy ,one4 ,and so it is still4 ,no man can see ,god and live4 ,it is only in death1 the death of self and of nature1 that we can draw near and behold ,god4 ,christ led the way4 ,no man can see ,god and live4 ',then let me die1 ,lord1' one has cried1 'but see ,thee ,i must4' ,yes1 blessed be ,god1 so real is our interest in ,christ and our union to ,him1 that we may live in ,his death2 as day by day self is kept in the place of death1 the life and the holiness of ,christ can be ours4#h ,and where is the place of death8 ,and how can the crucifixion which leads to ,holiness and to ,god be accomplished in us8 ,thank ,god6 it is no work of our own1 no weary process of self-crucifixion4 ,the crucifixion that is to sanctify us is an accomplished fact4 ,the cross bears the banner1 ',it is finished4' ,on it ,christ sanctified ,himself for us1 that we might be sanctified in truth4 ,our crucifixion1 as our sanctification1 is something that in ,christ has been completely and perfectly finished4 ',we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4' ',by one offering ,he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified4' ,in that fulness1 which it is the ,father's good pleasure should dwell in ,christ1 the crucifixion of our old man1 of the flesh1 of the world1 of ourselves1 is all a spiritual reality2 he that desires and knows and accepts ,christ1 fully receives all this in ,him4 ,and as the ,christ1 who had previously been known more in ,his pardoning1 quickening1 and saving grace1 is again sought after as a real deliverer from the power of sin1 as a sanctifier1 ,he comes and takes up the soul into the fellowship of the sacrifice of ,his will4 ',he put away sin by the sacrifice of ,himself1' must become true of us as it is of ,him4 ,he reveals how it is a part of ,his salvation to make us partakers of a will entirely given up to the will of ,god1 of a life that had yielded itself to the death1 and had then been given back from the dead by the power of ,god1 a life of which the crucifixion of self-will was the spirit and the power4 ,he reveals this1 and the soul that sees it1 and consents to it1 and yields its will and its life1 and believes in ,jesus as its death and its life1 and in ,his crucifixion as its possession and its inheritance1 enters into the enjoyment and experience of it4 ,the language is now1 ',i died that ,i might live3 ,i have been crucified with ,christ1 and it is no longer ,i that live1 but ,christ that liveth in me4' ,and the life it now lives is by the faith on the ,son of ,god1 the daily acceptance in faith of ,him who lives within us in the power of a death that has been passed through and for ever finished4 ',i sanctify myself for them1 that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth4' ',i come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god4 ,in the which will1' the will of ,god accomplished by ,christ1 'we have been sanctified through the one offering of the body of ,christ4' ,let us understand and hold it fast3 ,christ's giving up ,his will in ,gethsemane and accepting ,god's will in dying2 ,christ's doing that will in the obedience to the death of the cross1 this is ,his sanctifying ,himself1 and this is our being sanctified in truth4 ',in the which will we have been sanctified4' ,the death to self1 the utter and most absolute giving up of our own life1 with its will and its power and its aims1 to the cross1 and into the crucifixion of ,christ1 the daily bearing the cross--not a cross on which we are yet to be crucified1 but the cross of the crucified ,christ in its power to kill and make dead--this is the secret of the life of holiness--this is true sanctification4 ,believer6 is this the holiness which you are seeking8 ,have you seen and consented that ,god alone is holy1 that self is all unholy1 and that there is no way to be made holy but for the fire of the ,divine ,holiness to come in and be the death of self8 ',always bearing about in the body the dying of ,jesus1 that the life also of ,jesus may be manifested in our mortal body'--is the pathway for each one who seeks to be sanctified in truth1 even as ,he sanctified ,himself2 sanctified just like ,jesus4 ,he sanctified ,himself for us1 that we ourselves also might be sanctified in truth4 ,yes1 our sanctification rests and roots in ,his1 in ,himself4 ,and we are in ,him4 ,the secret roots of our being are planted into ,jesus3 deeper down than we can see or feel1 there is ,he our ,vine1 bearing and quickening us4 ,let us by faith understand that1 in a manner and a measure which are far beyond our comprehension1 intensely ,divine and real1 we are in ,him who sanctified ,himself for us4 ,let us dwell there1 where we have been placed of ,god4 ,and let us bow our knees to the ,father1 that ,he would grant us to be mightily strengthened by ,his ,spirit1 that ,christ as our ,sanctification may dwell in our hearts1 that the power of ,his death and ,his life may be revealed in us1 and ,god's will be done in us as it was in ,him4 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,holy ,father6 ,i do bless ,thee for this precious blessed word1 for this precious blessed work of ,thy beloved ,son4 ,in ,his never-ceasing intercession ,thou ever hearest the wonderful prayer1 ',i sanctify myself for them1 that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth4' ,blessed ,father6 ,i beseech ,thee to strengthen me mightily by ,thy ,spirit1 that in living faith ,i may be able to accept and live the holiness prepared for me in my ,lord ,jesus4 ,give me spiritual understanding to know what it means that ,he sanctified ,himself1 that my sanctification is secured in ,his1 that as by faith ,i abide in ,him1 its power will cover my whole life4 ,let ,his sanctification indeed be the law as it is the life of mine4 ,let ,his surrender to ,thy fatherly will1 ,his continual dependence and obedience1 be its root and its strength4 ,let ,his death to the world and to sin be its daily rule4 ,above all1 let ,himself1 ,o my ,father6 let ,himself1 as sanctified for me1 the living ,jesus1 be my only trust and stay4 ,he sanctified ,himself for me1 that ,i myself also may be sanctified in truth4 ,beloved ,saviour6 how shall ,i rightly bless and love and glorify ,thee for this wondrous grace6 ,thou didst give ,thyself1 so that now ,i am holy in ,thee4 ,i give myself1 that in ,thee ,i myself may be made holy in truth4 ,amen4 ,lord ,jesus6 ,amen4 #a4 ',if any man would come after me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross1 and follow me4' ,jesus means that our life shall be the exact counterpart of ,his1 including even the crucifixion4 ,the beginning of such a life is the denial of self1 to give ,christ its place4 ,the ,jews would not deny self1 but 'denied the ,holy ,one1 and killed the ,prince of ,life4' ,the choice is still between ,christ and self4 ,let us deny the unholy one1 and give him to the death4 #b4 ,the steps in this path are these3 ,first1 the deliberate decision that self shall be given up to the death2 then1 the surrender to ,christ crucified to make us partakers of ,his crucifixion2 then1 'knowing that our old man is crucified1' the faith that says1 ',i am crucified with ,christ2' and then1 the power to live as a crucified one1 to glory in the cross of ,christ4 #c4 ,this is ,god's way of holiness1 a ,divine mystery1 which the ,holy ,spirit alone can daily maintain in us4 ,blessed be ,god1 it is the life which a ,christian can live1 because ,christ lives in us4 #d4 ,the central thought is3 ,we are in ,christ1 who gave up ,his will and did the will of ,god4 ,by the ,holy ,spirit the mind that was in ,him is in us1 the will of self is crucified1 and we live in the will of ,god4 #h ,see ,note ,d4 ,eighteenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,faith4 ',that they may receive remission of sins1 and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me4'--,acts xxvi4 #ah4 ,the more we study ,scripture in the light of the ,holy ,spirit1 or practise the ,christian life in ,his power1 the deeper becomes our conviction of the unique and central place faith has in ,god's plan of salvation4 ,and we learn1 too1 to see that it is meet and right that it should be so3 the very nature of things demands it4 ,because ,god is a ,spiritual and ,invisible ,being1 every revelation of ,himself1 whether in ,his works1 ,his word1 or ,his ,son1 calls for faith4 ,faith is the spiritual sense of the soul1 being to it what the senses are to the body2 by it alone we enter into communication and contact with ,god4 ,faith is that meekness of soul which waits in stillness to hear1 to understand1 to accept what ,god says2 to receive1 to retain1 to possess what ,god gives or works4 ,by faith we allow1 we welcome ,god ,himself1 the ,living ,person1 to enter in to make ,his abode with us1 to become our very life4 ,however well we think we know it1 we always have to learn the truth afresh1 for a deeper and fuller application of it1 that in the ,christian life faith is the first thing1 the one thing that pleases ,god1 and brings blessing to us4 ,and because ,holiness is ,god's highest glory1 and the highest blessing ,he has for us1 it is especially in the life of holiness that we need to live by faith alone4 ,our ,lord speaks here of 'them that are sanctified by faith in me4'#i ,he ,himself is our ,sanctification as ,he is our ,justification3 for the one as for the other it is faith that ,god asks1 and both are equally given at once4 ,the participle used here is not the present1 denoting a process or work that is being carried on1 but the aorist1 indicating an act done once for all4 ,when we believe in ,christ1 we receive the whole ,christ1 our justification and our sanctification3 we are at once accepted by ,god as righteous in ,him1 and as holy in ,him4 ,god counts and calls us1 what we really are1 sanctified ones in ,christ4 ,it is as we are led to see what ,god sees1 as our faith grasps that the holy life of ,christ is ours in actual possession1 to be accepted and appropriated for daily use1 that we shall really be able to live the life ,god calls us to1 the life of holy ones in ,christ ,jesus4 ,we shall then be in the right position in which what is called our progressive sanctification can be worked out4 ,it will be1 the acceptance and application in daily life of the power of a holy life which has been prepared in ,jesus1 which has in the union with ,him become our present and permanent possession1 and which works in us according to the measure of our faith4#aj ,from this point of view it is evident that faith has a twofold operation4 ,faith is the evidence of things not seen1 though now actually existing1 the substance of things hoped for1 but not yet present4 ,it deals with the unseen present1 as well as with the unseen future4 ,as the evidence of things not seen1 it rejoices in ,christ our complete sanctification1 as a present possession4 ,through faith ,i simply look to what ,christ is1 as revealed in the ,word by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,claiming all ,he is as my own1 ,i know that ,his ,holiness1 ,his holy nature and life1 are mine2 ,i am a holy one3 by faith in ,him ,i have been sanctified4 ,this is the first aspect of sanctification3 it looks to what is a complete and finished thing1 an absolute reality4 ,as the substance of things hoped for1 this faith reaches out in the assurance of hope to the future1 to things ,i do not yet see or experience1 and claims1 day by day1 out of ,christ our sanctification1 what it needs for practical holiness1 'to be holy in all manner of living4' ,this is the second aspect of sanctification3 ,i depend upon ,jesus to supply1 in personal experience1 gradually and unceasingly1 for the need of each moment1 what has been treasured up in ,his fulness4 ',of ,god are ye in ,christ ,jesus1 who of ,god is made unto us sanctification4' ,under its first aspect faith says1 ,i know ,i am in ,him1 and all ,his ,holiness is mine2 in its second aspect it speaks1 ,i trust in ,him for the grace and the strength ,i need each moment to live a holy life4 ,and yet1 it need hardly be said1 these two are one4 ,it is one ,jesus who is our sanctification1 whether we look at it in the light of what ,he is made for us once for all1 or what1 as the fruit of that1 ,he becomes to our experience day by day4 ,and so it is one faith which1 the more it studies and adores and rejoices in ,jesus as made of ,god unto us sanctification1 as ,him in whom we have been sanctified1 becomes the bolder to expect the fulfilment of every promise for daily life1 and the stronger to claim the victory over every sin4 ,faith in ,jesus is the secret of a holy life3 all holy conduct1 all really holy deeds1 are the fruit of faith in ,jesus as our holiness4 ,we know how faith acts1 and what its great hindrances are1 in the matter of justification4 ,it is well that we remind ourselves that there are the same dangers in the exercise of sanctifying as of justifying faith4 ,faith in ,god stands opposed to trust in self3 specially to its willing and working4 ,faith is hindered by every effort to do something ourselves4 ,faith looks to ,god working1 and yields itself to ,his strength1 as revealed in ,christ through the ,spirit2 it allows ,god to work both to will and to do4 ,faith must work2 without works it is dead1 by works alone can it be perfected2 in ,jesus ,christ1 as ,paul says1 nothing avails but 'faith working by love4' ,but these works1 which faith in ,god's working inspires and performs1 are very different from the works in which a believer often puts forth his best efforts1 only to find that he fails4 ,the true life of holiness1 the life of them who are sanctified in ,christ1 has its root and its strength in an abiding sense of utter impotence1 in the deep restfulness which trusts to the working of a ,divine power and life1 in the entire personal surrender to the loving ,saviour1 in that faith which consents to be nothing1 that ,he may be all4 ,it may appear impossible to discern or describe the difference between the working that is of self and the working that is of ,christ through faith3 if we but know that there is such a difference1 if we learn to distrust ourselves1 and to count on ,christ working1 the ,holy ,spirit will lead us into this secret of the ,lord too4 ,faith's works are ,christ's works4 ,and as by effort1 so faith is also hindered by the desire to see and feel4 ',if thou believest1 thou shalt see2' the ,holy ,spirit will seal our faith with a ,divine experience2 we shall see the glory of ,god4 ,but this is ,his work3 ours is1 when all appears dark and cold1 in the face of all that nature or experience testifies1 still each moment to believe in ,jesus as our all-sufficient sanctification1 in whom we are perfected before ,god4 ,complaints as to want of feeling1 as to weakness or deadness1 seldom profit3 it is the soul that refuses to occupy itself with itself1 either with its own weakness or the strength of the enemy1 but only looks to what ,jesus is1 and has promised to do1 to whom progress in holiness will be a joyful march from victory to victory4 ',the ,lord ,himself doth fight for you2' this thought1 so often repeated in connection with ,israel's possession of the promised land1 is the food of faith3 in conscious weakness1 in presence of mighty enemies1 it sings the conqueror's song4 ,when ,god appears to be not doing what we trusted ,him for1 then is just the time for faith to glory in ,him4 ,there is perhaps nothing that more reveals the true character of faith than joy and praise4 ,you give a child the promise of a present to-morrow3 at once it says1 ,thank you1 and is glad4 ,the joyful thanks are the proof of how really your promise has entered the heart4 ,you are told by a friend of a rich legacy he has left you in his will3 it may not come true for years1 but even now it makes you glad4 ,we have already seen what an element of holiness joy is3 it is especially an element of holiness by faith4 ,each time ,i really see how beautiful and how perfect ,god's provision is1 by which my holiness is in ,jesus1 and by which ,i am to allow ,him to work in me1 my heart ought to rise up in praise and thanks4 ,instead of allowing the thought that it is1 after all1 a life of such difficult attainment and such continual self-denial1 this life of holiness through faith1 we ought to praise ,him exceedingly that ,he has made it possible and sure for us3 we can be holy1 because ,jesus the ,mighty and the ,loving ,one is our holiness4 ,praise will express our faith2 praise will prove it2 praise will strengthen it4 ',then believed they ,his words2 they sang ,his praise4' ,praise will commit us to faith3 we shall see that we have but one thing to do1 to go on in a faith that ever trusts and ever praises4 ,it is in a living1 loving attachment to ,jesus1 that rejoices in ,him1 and praises ,him continually for what ,he is to us1 that faith proves itself1 and receives the power of holiness4 ',sanctified by faith in me4' ,yes1 'by faith in ,me3' it is the personal living ,jesus who offers ,himself1 ,himself in all the riches of ,his ,power and ,love1 as the object1 the strength1 the life of our faith4 ,he tells us that if we would be holy1 always and in everything holy1 we must just see to one thing3 to be always and altogether full of faith in ,him4 ,faith is the eye of the soul3 the power by which we discern the presence of the ,unseen ,one1 as ,he comes to give ,himself to us4 ,faith not only sees1 but appropriates and assimilates3 let us set our souls very still for the ,holy ,spirit who dwells in us1 to quicken and strengthen that faith1 for which ,he has been given us4 ,faith is surrender3 yielding ourselves to ,jesus to allow ,him to do ,his work in us1 giving up ourselves to ,him to live out ,his life and work out ,his will in us1 we shall find ,him giving ,himself entirely to us1 and taking complete possession4 ,so faith will be power3 the power of obedience to do ,god's will3 'our most holy faith1' 'the faith delivered to the holy ones4' ,and we shall understand how simple1 to the single-hearted1 is the secret of holiness3 just ,jesus4 ,we are in ,him1 our ,sanctification3 ,he personally is our ,holiness2 and the life of faith in ,him1 that receives and possesses ,him1 must necessarily be a life of holiness4 ,jesus says1 ',sanctified by faith in me4' ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,beloved ,lord6 again have ,i seen1 with adoring wonder1 what ,thou art willing to be to me4 ,it is in ,thyself1 and a life of living fellowship with ,thyself1 that ,i am to become holy4 ,it is in the simple life of personal attachment1 of trust and love1 of surrender and consecration1 that ,thou dost become my all1 and make me partaker of ,thyself and ,thy ,holiness4 ,blessed ,lord ,jesus6 ,i do believe in ,thee1 help ,thou mine unbelief4 ,i confess what still remains of unbelief1 and count on ,thy presence to conquer and cast it out4 ,my soul is opening up continually to see more how ,thou ,thyself art my ,life and my ,holiness4 ,thou art enlarging my heart to rejoice in ,thyself as my all1 and to be assured that ,thou dost ,thyself take possession and fill the temple of my being with ,thy glory4 ,thou art teaching me to understand that1 however feeble and human and disappointing experiences may be1 ,thy ,holy ,spirit is the strength of my faith1 leading me on to grow up into a stronger and a larger confidence in ,thee in whom ,i am holy4 ,o my ,saviour6 ,i take ,thy word this day1 ',sanctified by faith in me1' as a new revelation of ,thy love and its purpose with me4 ,in ,thee ,thyself is the ,power of my holiness2 in ,thee is the ,power of my faith4 ,blessed be ,thy name that ,thou hast given me too a place among them of whom ,thou speakest3 ',sanctified by faith in me4' ,amen4 #a4 ,let us remember that it is not only the faith that is dealing specially with ,christ for sanctification1 but all living faith1 that has the power to sanctify4 ,anything that casts the soul wholly on ,jesus1 that calls forth intense and simple trust1 be it the trial of faith1 or the prayer of faith1 or the work of faith1 helps to make us holy1 because it brings us into living contact with the ,holy ,one4 #b4 ,it is only through the ,holy ,spirit that ,christ and ,his ,holiness are day by day revealed and made ours in actual possession4 ,and so the faith which receives ,him is of the ,spirit too4 ,yield yourself in simplicity and trust to ,his working4 ,do not be afraid1 as if you cannot believe3 you have 'the ,spirit of faith' within you3 you have the power to believe4 ,and you may ask ,god to strengthen you mightily by ,his ,spirit in the inner man1 for the faith that receives ,christ in the indwelling that knows no break4 #c4 ,i have only so much of faith as ,i have of the ,spirit4 ,is not this then what ,i most need--to live entirely under the influence of the ,spirit8 #d4 ,just as the eye in seeing is receptive1 and yields to let the object placed before it make its impression1 so faith is the impression ,god makes on the soul when ,he draws nigh4 ,was not the faith of ,abraham the fruit of ,god's drawing near and speaking to him1 the impression ,god made on him8 ,let us be still to gaze on the ,divine mystery of ,christ our holiness3 ,his ,presence1 waited for and worshipped1 will work the faith4 ,that is1 the ,spirit that proceeds from ,him into those who cling to ,him1 will be faith4 #e4 ,holiness by faith in ,jesus1 not by effort of thine own1 ,sin's dominion crushed and broken by the power of grace alone1-- ,god's own holiness within thee1 ,his own beauty on thy brow1-- ,this shall be thy pilgrim brightness1 this thy blessed portion now4 ,f4 ,r4 ,h4 #i ,the best commentators connect the expression1 'by faith in me1' not with the word 'sanctified1' but with the whole clause1 'that by faith in me they may receive4' ,this will1 however1 in no way affect the application to the word sanctified4 ,thus read1 the text tells us that the remission of sin1 and the inheritance1 and the sanctification which qualifies for the inheritance1 are all received by faith4 #aj ,see ,note ,e4 ,nineteenth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,resurrection4 ',the ,son of ,god1 who was born of the seed of ,david according to the flesh1 who was declared to be the ,son of ,god with power1 according to the ,spirit of holiness1 by the resurrection of the dead4'--,rom4 i4 #d4 ,these words speak of a twofold birth of ,christ4 ,according to the flesh1 ,he was born of the seed of ,david4 ,according to the ,spirit1 ,he was the first begotten from the dead4 ,as ,he was a ,son of ,david in virtue of ,his birth through the flesh1 so ,he was declared to be the ,son of ,god with power1 in virtue of ,his resurrection-birth through the ,spirit of holiness4 ,as the life ,he received through ,his first birth was a life in and after the flesh with its weakness1 so the new life ,he received in the resurrection was a life in the power of the ,spirit of holiness4 ,the expression1 the ,spirit of holiness1 is a peculiar one4 ,it is not the ordinary word for ,god's ,holiness that is here used as in ,heb4 xii4 #aj1 describing holiness in the abstract as the attribute of an object1 but another word 7also used in #b ,cor4 vii4 #a and #a ,thess4 iii4 #ac7 expressing the habit of holiness in its action--practical holiness or sanctity4#aa ,paul used this word1 because ,he wished to emphasize the thought1 that ,christ's resurrection was distinctly the result of that life of holiness and self-sanctifying which had culminated in ,his death4 ,it was the spirit of the life of holiness which he had lived1 in the power of which ,he was raised again4 ,he teaches us that that life and death of self-sanctification1 in which alone our sanctification stands1 was the root and ground of ,his resurrection1 and of its declaration that ,he was the ,son of ,god with power1 the first begotten from the dead4 ,the resurrection was the fruit which that ,life of ,holiness bore4 ,and so the ,life of ,holiness becomes the property of all who are partakers of the resurrection4 ,the ,resurrection ,life and the ,spirit of ,holiness are inseparable4 ,christ sanctified ,himself in death1 that we ourselves might be sanctified in truth3 when in virtue of the ,spirit of sanctity ,he was raised from the dead1 that ,spirit of holiness was proved to be the power of ,resurrection ,life1 and the ,resurrection ,life to be a ,life of ,holiness4 ,as a believer you have part in this ,resurrection ,life4 ,you have been 'begotten again by the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the dead4' ,you are 'risen with ,christ4' ,you are commanded 'to reckon yourself to be alive unto ,god in ,christ ,jesus4' ,but the life can work in power only as you seek to know it1 to yield to it1 to let it have full possession and mastery4 ,and if it is to do this1 one of the most important things for you to realize is1 that as it was in virtue of the ,spirit of holiness that ,christ was raised1 so the ,spirit of that same holiness must be in you the mark and the power of your life4 ,study to know and possess the ,spirit of holiness as it was seen in the life of your ,lord4 ,and wherein did it consist8 ,its secret was1 we are told3 ',lo1 ,i am come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god4' ',in the which will1' as done by ,christ1 'we have been sanctified by the one offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ4' ,this was ,christ's sanctifying ,himself1 in life and in death2 this was what the ,spirit of holiness wrought in ,him2 this is what the same ,spirit1 the ,spirit of the life in ,christ ,jesus1 will work in us3 a life in the will of ,god is a life of holiness4 ,seek earnestly to grasp this clearly4 ,christ came to reveal what true holiness would be in the conditions of human life and weakness4 ,he came to work it out for you1 that ,he might communicate it to you by ,his ,spirit4 ,except you intelligently apprehend and heartily accept it1 the ,spirit cannot work it in you4 ,do seek with your whole heart to take hold of it3 the will of ,god unhesitatingly accepted1 is the power of holiness4 ,it is in this that any attempt to be holy as ,christ is holy1 with and in ,his ,holiness1 must have its starting-point4 ,many seek to take single portions of the life or image of ,christ for imitation1 and yet fail greatly in others4 ,they have not seen that the self-denial1 to which ,jesus calls1 really means the denial of self1 in the full meaning of that word4 ,in not one single thing is the will of self to be done3 ,jesus1 as ,he did the will of the ,father only1 must rule1 and not self4 ,to 'stand perfect and complete in all the will of ,god' must be the purpose1 the prayer1 the expectation of the disciple4 ,there need be no fear that it is not possible to know the will of the ,father in everything4 ',if any man will do1 he shall know4' ,the ,father will not keep the willing child in ignorance of ,his will4 ,as the surrender to the ,spirit of holiness1 to ,jesus and the dominion of ,his holy life1 becomes more simple1 sin and self-will will be discovered1 the spiritual understanding will be opened up1 and the law written in the inward parts become legible and intelligible4 ,there need be no fear that it is not possible to do the will of the ,father when it is known4 ,when once the grief of failure and sin has driven the believer into the experience of ,rom4 vii41 and the 'delight in the law of ,god after the inward man' has proved its earnestness in the cry1 ',o wretched man that ,i am1' deliverance will come through ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,spirit works not only to will but to do2 where the believer could only complain1 ',to perform that which is good1 ,i find not1' ,he gives the strength and song1 ',the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death4' ,in this faith1 that it is possible to know and do the will of ,god in all things1 take over from ,him1 in whom alone you are holy1 as your life-principle2 ',i come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god4' ,it is the principle of the resurrection life3 without it ,jesus had never been raised again4 ,it is the principle of the new life in you4 ,accept it2 study it2 realize it2 act it out4 ,many a believer has found that some simple words of dedication1 expressive of the purpose in everything to do ,god's will1 have been an entrance into the joy and power of the resurrection life previously unknown4 ,the will of ,god is the complete expression of ,his moral perfection1 ,his ,divine ,holiness4 ,to take one's place in the centre of that will1 to live it out1 to be borne and sustained by it1 was the power of that life of ,jesus that could not be held of death1 that could not but burst out in resurrection glory4 ,what it was to ,jesus it will be to us4 ,holiness is ,life3 this is the simplest expression of the truth our text teaches4 ,there can be no holiness until there be a new life implanted4 ,the new life cannot grow and break forth in resurrection power1 cannot bring forth fruit1 but as it grows in holiness4 ,as long as the believer is living the mixed life1 part in the flesh and part in the spirit1 with some of self and some of ,christ1 he seeks in vain for holiness4 ,it is the ,new ,life that is the holy life3 the full apprehension of it in faith1 the full surrender to it in conduct1 will be the highway of holiness4 ,jesus lived and died and rose again to prepare for us a new nature1 to be received day by day in the obedience of faith3 we 'have put on the new man1 which after ,god is created in righteousness and true holiness4' ,let the inner life1 hid with ,christ in ,god1 hid also deep in the recesses of our inmost being1 be acknowledged1 be waited on1 be yielded to1 it will work itself out in all the beauties of holiness4 ,there is more4 ,this life is not like the life of nature1 a blind1 non-conscious principle1 involuntarily working out its ideal in unresisting obedience to the law of its being4 ,there is the ,spirit of the life in ,christ ,jesus--the ,spirit of holiness--the ,holy ,spirit dwelling in us as a ,divine ,person1 entering into fellowship with us1 and leading us into the fellowship of the ,living ,christ4 ,it is this fills our life with hope and joy4 ,the ,risen ,saviour breathed the ,holy ,spirit on ,his disciples3 the ,spirit brings the ,risen ,one into the field1 into our hearts1 as a personal friend1 as a ,living ,guide and ,strengthener4 ,the ,spirit of holiness is the ,spirit1 the ,presence1 and the ,power of the ,living ,christ4 ,jesus said of the ,spirit1 ',ye know ,him4' ,is not our great need to know this ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,christ1 of ,his ,holiness and of ours8 ,how can we 'walk after the ,spirit' and follow ,his leading1 if we know not ,him and ,his voice and ,his way8 ,let us learn one more lesson from our text4 ,it is out of the grave of the flesh and the will of self that the ,spirit of holiness breaks out in resurrection power4 ,we must accept death to the flesh1 death to self with its willing and working1 as the birthplace of our experience of the power of the ,spirit of holiness4 ,in view of each struggle with sin1 in each exercise of faith or prayer1 we must enter into the death of ,jesus1 the death to self1 and as those who say1 'we are not sufficient to think anything as of ourselves1' in quiet faith expect the ,spirit of ,christ to do ,his work4 ,the ,spirit will work1 strengthening you mightily in the inner man1 and building up within you an holy temple for the ,lord4 ,and the time will come1 if it has not come to you yet1 and it may be nearer than you dare hope1 when the conscious indwelling of ,christ in your heart by faith1 the full revelation and enthronement of ,him as ruler and keeper of heart and life1 shall have become a personal experience4 ,according to the ,spirit of holiness1 by the resurrection from the dead1 will the ,son of ,god be declared with power in the kingdom that is within you4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,holy ,lord ,god6 we do bless ,thee that ,thou didst raise ,thy ,son from the dead and give ,him glory1 that our faith and hope might be in ,thee4 ,thou didst make ,his resurrection the power of eternal life in us1 and now1 even as ,he was raised1 so we may walk in newness of life4 ,as the ,spirit of holiness dwelt and wrought in ,him1 it dwells and works in us1 and becomes in us the ,spirit of life4 ,o ,god6 we beseech ,thee to perfect ,thy work in ,thy saints4 ,give them a deeper sense of the holy calling with which ,thou hast called them in ,christ1 the ,risen ,one4 ,give all to accept the ,spirit of ,his life on earth1 delight in the will of ,god1 as the spirit of their life4 ,may those who have never yet fully accepted this be brought to do it1 and in faith of the power of the new life to say1 ,i accept the will of ,god as my only law4 ,may the ,spirit of holiness be the spirit of their lives6 ,father6 we beseech ,thee1 let ,christ thus1 in ever increasing experience of ,his resurrection power1 be revealed in our hearts as the ,son of ,god1 ,lord and ,ruler within us4 ,let ,his life within inspire all the outer life1 so that in the home and society1 in thought and speech and action1 in religion and in business1 ,his life may shine out from us in the beauty of holiness4 ,amen4 #a4 ,scripture regards the resurrection in two different aspects4 ,in one view1 it is the title to the new life1 the source of our justification4 7,rom4 iv4 #be1 #a ,cor4 xv4 #ag47 ,in another it is our regeneration1 the power of the new life working in us1 the source of our sanctification4 7,rom4 vi4 #d2 #a ,pet4 i4 #c47 ,pardon and holiness are inseparable2 they have the same source1 union with the ,risen ,living ,christ4 #b4 ,the blessedness to the disciples of having a ,risen ,christ was this3 ,he1 whom they thought dead1 came and revealed ,himself to them4 ,christ lives to reveal ,himself to thee and to me2 wait on ,him1 trust ,him for this4 ,he will reveal ,himself to thee as thy sanctification4 ,see to it that thou hast ,him in living possession1 and thou hast ,his ,holiness4 #c4 ,the life of ,christ is the holiness of ,christ4 ,the reason we so often fail in the pursuit of holiness is that the old life1 the flesh1 in its own strength seeks for holiness as a beautiful garment to wear and enter heaven with4 ,it is the daily death to self out of which the life of ,christ rises up4 #d4 ,to die thus1 to live thus in ,christ1 to be holy--how can we attain it8 ,it all comes 'according to the ,spirit of holiness4' ,have the ,holy ,spirit within thee4 ,say daily1 ',i believe in the ,holy ,ghost4' #e4 ,holy in ,christ4 ,when ,christ lives in us1 and ,his mind1 as it found expression in ,his words and work on earth1 enters and fills our will and personal consciousness1 then our union with ,him becomes what ,he meant it to be4 ,it is the ,spirit of ,his holy conduct1 the ,spirit of ,his sanctity1 must be in us4 #aa ,see ,note ,f4 ,twentieth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,liberty4 ',being made free from sin1 ye became servants of righteousness3 now present your members as servants of righteousness unto sanctification4 ,now being made free from sin1 and become servants unto ,god1 ye have your fruit unto sanctification1 and the end eternal life4'--,rom4 vi4 #ah1 #ai1 #bb4 ',our liberty which we have in ,christ ,jesus4'--,gal4 ii4 #d4 ',with freedom did ,christ set us free3 stand fast therefore1 and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage4'--,gal4 v4 #a4 ,there is no possession more precious or priceless than liberty4 ,there is nothing more inspiring and elevating2 nothing1 on the other hand1 more depressing and degrading than slavery4 ,it robs a man of what constitutes his manhood1 the power of self-decision1 self-action1 of being and doing what he would4 ,sin is slavery2 the bondage to a foreign power that has obtained the mastery over us1 and compels often a most reluctant service4 ,the redemption of ,christ restores our liberty and sets us free from the power of sin4 ,if we are truly to live as redeemed ones1 we need not only to look at the work ,christ did to accomplish our redemption1 but to accept and realize fully how complete1 how sure1 how absolute the liberty is wherewith ,he hath made us free4 ,it is only as we 'stand fast in our liberty in ,christ ,jesus1' that we can have our fruit unto sanctification4 ,it is remarkable how seldom the word holy occurs in the great argument of the ,epistle to the ,romans1 and how1 where twice used in chap4 vi4 in the expression 'unto sanctification1' it is distinctly set forth as the aim and fruit to be reached through a life of righteousness4 ,the twice repeated 'unto sanctification1' pointing to a result to be obtained1 is preceded by a twice repeated 'being made free from sin and become servants of righteousness4' ,it teaches us how the liberty from the power of sin and the surrender to the service of righteousness are not yet of themselves holiness1 but the sure and only path by which it can be reached4 ,a true insight and a full entering into our freedom from sin in ,christ are indispensable to a life of holiness4 ,it was when ,israel was freed from ,pharaoh that ,god began to reveal ,himself as the ,holy ,one3 it is as we know ourselves 'freed from sin1' delivered from the hand of all our enemies1 that we shall serve ,god in righteousness and holiness all the days of our life4 ',being made free from sin3' to understand this word aright1 we must beware of a twofold error4 ,we must neither narrow it down to less1 nor import into it more1 than the ,holy ,spirit means by it here4 ,paul is speaking neither of an imputation nor an experience4 ,we must not limit it to being made free from the curse or punishment of sin4 ,the context shows that he is speaking1 not of our judicial standing1 but of a spiritual reality1 our being in living union with ,christ in ,his death and resurrection1 and so being entirely taken out from under the dominion or power of sin4 ',sin shall not have dominion over you4' ,nor is he as yet speaking of an experience1 that we feel that we are free from all sin4 ,he speaks of the great objective fact1 ,christ's having finally delivered us from the power which sin had to compel us to do its will and its works1 and urges us1 in the faith of this glorious fact1 boldly to refuse to listen to the bidding or temptation of sin4 ,to know our liberty which we have in ,christ1 our freedom from sin's mastery and power1 is the way to realize it as an experience4 ,in olden times1 when ,turks or ,moors often made slaves of ,christians1 large sums were frequently paid for the ransom of those who were in bondage4 ,but it happened more than once1 away in the interior of the slave country1 that the ransomed ones never got the tidings2 the masters were only too glad to keep it from them4 ,others1 again1 got the tidings1 but had grown too accustomed to their bondage to rouse themselves for the effort of reaching the coast4 ,slothfulness or hopelessness kept them in slavery2 they could not believe that they would be able ever in safety to reach the land of liberty4 ,the ransom had been paid2 in truth they were free2 and yet in their experience1 by reason of ignorance or want of courage1 they were still in bondage4 ,christ's redemption has so completely made an end of sin and the legal power it had over us1--for 'the strength of sin is the law1'--that in very deed1 in the deepest reality1 sin has no power to compel our obedience4 ,it is only as we allow it again to reign1 as we yield ourselves again as its servants1 that it can exercise the mastery4 ,satan does his utmost to keep believers in ignorance of the completeness of this their freedom from his slavery4 ,and because believers are so content with their own thoughts of what redemption means1 and so little long and plead to see it and possess it in its fulness of deliverance and blessing1 the experience of the extent to which the freedom from sin can be realized is so feeble4 ',where the ,spirit of the ,lord is1 there is liberty4' ,it is by the ,holy ,spirit1 ,his light and leading within1 humbly watched for and yielded to1 that this liberty becomes our possession4 ,in the sixth chapter ,paul speaks of freedom from sin1 in chap4 vii4 7vers4 #c1 #d1 #f7 of freedom from the law1 as both being ours in ,christ and union with ,him4 ,in chap4 viii4 7ver4 #b7 he speaks of this freedom as become ours in experience4 ,he says1 ',the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death4' ,the freedom which is ours in ,christ1 must become ours in personal appropriation and enjoyment through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the latter depends on the former3 the fuller the faith1 the clearer the insight1 the more triumphant the glorying in ,christ ,jesus and the liberty with which ,he has made us free1 the speedier and the fuller the entrance into the glorious liberty of the children of ,god4 ,as the liberty is in ,christ alone1 so it is the ,spirit of ,christ alone that makes it ours in practical possession1 and keeps us dwelling in it3 'the spirit of the life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death4' ',where the ,spirit of the ,lord is1 there is liberty4' ,as the ,spirit reveals ,jesus to us as ,lord and ,master1 the new ,master1 who alone has ought to say over us1 and leads us to yield ourselves1 to present our members1 to surrender our whole life to the service of ,god in ,christ1 our faith in the freedom from sin becomes a consciousness and a realization4 ,believing in the completeness of the redemption1 the captive goes forth as 'the ,lord's freedman4' ,he knows now that sin has no longer power for one moment to command obedience4 ,it may seek to assert its old right2 it may speak in the tone of authority2 it may frighten us into fear and submission2 power it has none over us1 except as we1 forgetting our freedom1 yield to its temptation1 and ourselves give it power4 ,we are the ,lord's freedmen4 ',we have our liberty in ,christ ,jesus4' ,in ,rom4 vii4 ,paul describes the terrible struggles of the soul who still seeks to fulfil the law1 but finds itself utterly helpless2 sold under sin1 a captive and a slave1 without the liberty to do what the whole heart desires4 ,but when the ,spirit takes the place of the law1 the complaint1 ',o wretched man that ,i am1' is changed into the song of victory3 ',i thank ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ1 the law of the ,spirit of life hath made me free4' ,what numberless complaints of insufficient strength to do ,god's will1 of unsuccessful effort and disappointed hopes1 of continual failure1 re-echo in a thousand different forms the complaint of the captive1 ',o wretched man that ,i am6' ,thank ,god6 there is deliverance4 ',with freedom did ,christ set us free6 ,stand fast therefore1 and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage4' ,satan is ever seeking to lay on us again the yoke either of sin or the law1 to beget again the spirit of bondage1 as if sin or the law with their demands somehow had power over us4 ,it is not so3 be not entangled2 stand fast in the liberty with which ,christ has made you free4 ,let us listen to the message3 ',being made free from sin1 ye became servants unto righteousness2 now yield your members servants to righteousness unto sanctification4' ',having been made free from sin1 and having been enslaved unto ,god1 ye have your fruit unto sanctification4' ,to be holy1 you must be free1 perfectly free2 free for ,jesus to rule you1 to lead you2 free for the ,holy ,spirit to dispose of you1 to breathe in you1 to work ,his secret1 gentle1 but mighty work1 so that you may grow up unto all the liberty ,jesus has won for you4 ,the temple could not be sanctified by the indwelling of ,god1 except as it was free from every other master and every other use1 to be for ,him and ,his service alone4 ,the inner temple of our heart cannot be truly and fully sanctified1 except as we are free from every other master and power1 from every yoke of bondage1 or fear1 or doubt1 to let ,his ,spirit lead us into the perfect liberty which has its fruit in true holiness4 ,being made free from sin1 having become servants unto righteousness1 ye have your fruit unto holiness1 and the end life everlasting4 ,freedom1 ,righteousness1 ,holiness--these are the steps on the way to the coming glory4 ,the more deeply we enter by faith into our liberty1 which we have in ,christ1 the more joyfully and confidently we present our members to ,god as instruments of righteousness4 ,the ,god is the ,father whose will we delight to do1 whose service is perfect liberty4 ,the ,redeemer is the ,master1 to whom love binds us in willing obedience4 ,the liberty is not lawlessness3 'we are delivered from our enemies1 that we may serve ,him in righteousness and holiness all the days of our life4'#ab ,the liberty is the condition of the righteousness2 and this again of the holiness4 ,the doing of ,god's will leads up into that fellowship1 that heart sympathy with ,god ,himself1 out of which comes that reflection of the ,divine ,presence1 which is ,holiness4 ,being made free from sin1 being made the slaves of righteousness and of ,god1 we have our fruit unto holiness1 and the end--the fruit of holiness becomes1 when ripe1 the seed of--everlasting life4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most glorious ,god6 ,i pray ,thee to open my eyes to this wonderful liberty with which ,christ has made me free4 ,may ,i enter fully into ,thy word1 that sin shall have no dominion over me because ,i am not under the law but under grace4 ,may ,i know my liberty which ,i have in ,christ ,jesus1 and stand fast in it4 ,father6 ,thy service is perfect liberty3 reveal this too to me4 ,thou art the infinitely ,free1 and ,thy will knows no limits but what its own perfection has placed4 ,and ,thou invitest us into ,thy will1 that we may be free as ,thou art4 ,o my ,god6 show me the beauty of ,thy will1 as it frees me from self and from sin1 and let it be my only blessedness4 ,let the service of righteousness so be a joy and a strength to me1 having its fruit unto sanctification1 leading me into ,thy ,holiness4 ,blessed ,lord ,jesus6 my ,deliverer and my ,liberty1 ,i belong to ,thee4 ,i give myself to ,thy will1 to know no will but ,thine4 ,master6 ,thee and ,thee alone would ,i serve4 ,i have my liberty in ,thee6 be ,thou my ,keeper4 ,i cannot stand for one moment out of ,thee4 ,in ,thee ,i can stand fast3 in ,thee ,i put my trust4 ,most ,holy ,god6 as ,thy free1 obedient1 loving child1 ,thou wilt make me holy4 ,amen4 #a4 ,liberty is the power to carry out unhindered the impulse of our nature4 ,in ,christ the child of ,god is free from every power that could hinder his acting out the law of his new nature4 #b4 ,this liberty is of faith 7,gal4 v4 #e1 #f74 ,by faith in ,christ ,i enter into it1 and stand in it4 #c4 ,this liberty is of the ,holy ,spirit4 ',where the ,spirit of the ,lord is1 there is liberty4' ',if ye be led of the ,spirit1 ye are not under the law4' ,a heart filled with the ,spirit is made free indeed4 ,but we are not made free that we may do our own will4 ,no1 made free to follow the leading of the ,holy ,spirit4 ',where the ,spirit is1 there is liberty4' #d4 ,this liberty is in love4 ',ye were called for freedom2 only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh1 but through love be servants1 one to another4' ,the freedom with which the ,son makes free is a freedom to become like ,himself1 to love and to serve4 ',though ,i was free from all men1 ,i brought myself under bondage to all1 that ,i might gain the more4' ,this is the liberty of love4 #e4 ',being made free from sin1 ye became servants of righteousness unto sanctification4' ',let my people go1 that they may serve me4' ,it is only the man that doeth righteousness that can become holy4 #f4 ,this liberty is a thing of joy and singing4 #g4 ,this liberty is the groundwork of holiness4 ,the ,redeemer who makes free is ,god the ,holy ,one4 ,as the ,holy ,spirit ,he leads into the full possession of it4 ,to be so free from everything that ,god can take complete possession1 is to be holy4 #ab ,see ,note ,g4 ,twenty-first ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,happiness4 ',the kingdom of ,god is joy in the ,holy ,ghost4'--,rom4 xiv4 #ag4 ',the disciples were filled with joy and the ,holy ,ghost4'--,acts xiii4 #eb4 ',then ,nehemiah said1 ,this day is holy unto the ,lord3 neither be ye sorry1 for the joy of the ,lord is your strength4 ,so the ,levites stilled the people1 saying1 ,hold your peace2 for the day is holy2 neither be ye grieved4 ,and all the people went their way to make great mirth1 because they had understood the words4'--,neh4 viii4 #aj-ab4 ,the deep significance of joy in the ,christian life is hardly understood4 ,it is too often regarded as something secondary2 whereas its presence is essential as the proof that ,god does indeed satisfy us1 and that ,his service is our delight4 ,in our domestic life we do not feel satisfied if all the proprieties of deportment are observed1 and each does his duty to the other2 true love makes us happy in each other2 as love gives out its warmth of affection1 gladness is the sunshine that fills the home with its brightness4 ,even in suffering or poverty1 the members of a loving family are a joy to each other4 ,without this gladness1 especially1 there is no true obedience on the part of the children4 ,it is not the mere fulfilment of a command1 or performance of a service1 that a parent looks to2 it is the willing1 joyful alacrity with which it is done that makes it pleasing4 ,it is just so in the intercourse of ,god's children with their ,father4 ,even in the effort after a life of consecration and gospel obedience1 we are continually in danger of coming under the law again1 with its1 ,thou shalt4 ,the consequence always is failure4 ,the law only worketh wrath2 it gives neither life nor strength4 ,it is only as long as we are standing in the joy of our ,lord1 in the joy of our deliverance from sin1 in the joy of ,his love1 and what ,he is for us1 in the joy of ,his presence1 that we have the power to serve and obey4 ,it is only when made free from every master1 from sin and self and the law1 and only when rejoicing in this liberty1 that we have the power to render service that is satisfying either to ,god or to ourselves4 ',i will see you again1' ,jesus said1 'and your heart shall rejoice1 and your joy shall no man take from you4' ,joy is the evidence and the condition of the abiding personal presence of ,jesus4 ,if holiness be the beauty and the glory of the life of faith1 it is manifest that here especially the element of joy may not be wanting4 ,we have already seen how the first mention of ,god as the ,holy ,one was in the song of praise on the shore of the ,red ,sea2 how ,hannah and ,mary in their moments of inspiration praised ,god as the ,holy ,one2 how the name of the ,thrice ,holy in heaven comes to us in the song of the seraphs2 and how before the throne both the living creatures and the conquering multitude who sing the song of the ,lamb1 adore ,god as the ,holy ,one4 ,we are to 'worship ,him in the beauty of holiness1' 'to sing praise at the remembrance of ,his ,holiness2' it is only in the spirit of worship and praise and joy that we fully can know ,god as holy4 ,much more1 it is only under the inspiration of adoring love and joy that we can ourselves be made holy4 ,it is as we cease from all fear and anxiety1 from all strain and effort1 and rest with singing in what ,jesus is in ,his finished work as our sanctification1 as we rest and rejoice in ,him1 that we shall be made partakers of ,his ,holiness4 ,it is the day of rest1 is the day that ,god has blessed1 the day of blessing and gladness2 and it is the day ,he blessed that is ,his holy day4 ,holiness and blessedness are inseparable4 ,but is not this at variance with the teaching of ,scripture and the experience of the saints8 ,are not suffering and sorrow among ,god's chosen means of sanctification8 ,are not the promises to the broken in heart1 the poor in spirit1 and the mourner8 ,are not self-denial and the forsaking of all we have1 the crucifixion with ,christ and the dying daily1 the path to holiness8 and is not all this more matter of sorrow and pain than of joy and gladness8 ,the answer will be found in the right apprehension of the life of faith4 ,faith lifts above1 and gives possession of1 what is the very opposite of what we feel or experience4 ,in the ,christian life there is always a paradox3 what appear irreconcilable opposites are found side by side at the same moment4 ,paul expresses it in the words1 ',as dying1 and1 behold1 we live2 as sorrowful1 yet always rejoicing2 as poor1 yet making many rich2 as having nothing1 yet possessing all things4' ,and elsewhere thus1 ',when ,i am weak1 then am ,i strong4' ,the apparent contradiction has its reconciliation1 not only in the union of the two lives1 the human and the ,divine1 in the person of each believer1 but specially in our being1 at one and the same moment1 partakers of the death and the resurrection of ,christ4 ,christ's death was one of pain and suffering1 a real and terrible death1 a rending asunder of the bonds that united soul and body1 spirit and flesh4 ,the power of that death works in us3 we must let it work mightily if we are to live holy2 for in that death ,he sanctified ,himself1 that we ourselves might be sanctified in truth4 ,our holiness is1 like ,his1 in the death to our own will1 and to all our own life4 ,but--this we must seek to grasp--we do not approach death from the side from which ,christ met it1 as an enemy to be conquered1 as a suffering to be borne1 before the new life can be entered on4 ,no1 the believer who knows what ,christ is as the ,risen ,one1 approaches death1 the crucifixion of self and the flesh and the world1 from the resurrection side1 the place of victory1 in the power of the ,living ,christ4 ,when we were baptized into ,christ1 we were baptized into ,his death and resurrection as ours2 and ,christ ,himself1 the ,risen ,living ,lord1 leads us triumphantly into the experience of the power of ,his death4 ,and so1 to the believer who truly lives by faith1 and seeks not in his own strugglings to crucify and mortify the flesh1 but knows the living ,lord1 the deep resurrection joy never for a moment forsakes ,him1 but is his strength for what may appear to others to be only painful sacrifice and cross-bearing4 ,he says with ,paul1 ',i glory in the cross through which ,i have been crucified4' ,he never1 as so many do1 asks ,paul's question1 ',who shall deliver me from the body of this death8' without sounding the joyful and triumphant answer as a present experience1 ',i thank ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4' ',thanks be to ,god1 which always leadeth us in triumph in ,christ4' ,it is the joy of a ,present ,saviour1 of the experience of a perfect salvation1 the joy of a resurrection life1 which alone gives the power to enter deeply and fully into the death that ,christ died1 and yield our will and our life to be wholly sanctified to ,god4 ,in the joy of that life1 from which the power of the death is never absent1 it is possible to say with the ,apostle each moment1 ',as dying1 and1 behold1 we live2 as sorrowful1 yet always rejoicing4' ,let us seek to learn the two lessons3 ,holiness is essential to true happiness2 happiness essential to true holiness4 ,holiness is essential to true happiness4 ,if you would have joy1 the fulness of joy1 an abiding joy which nothing can take away1 be holy as ,god is holy4 ,holiness is blessedness4 ,nothing can darken or interrupt our joy but sin4 ,whatever be our trial or temptation1 the joy of ,jesus of which ,peter says1 'in whom ye now rejoice with joy unspeakable1' can more than compensate and outweigh4 ,if we lose our joy1 it must be sin4 ,it may be an actual transgression1 or an unconscious following of self or the world2 it may be the stain on conscience of something doubtful1 or it may be unbelief that would live by sight1 and thinks more of itself and its joy than of the ,lord alone3 whatever it be1 nothing can take away our joy but sin4 ,if we would live lives of joy1 assuring ,god and man and ourselves that our ,lord is everything1 is more than all to us1 oh1 let us be holy6 ,let us glory in ,him who is our holiness3 in ,his presence is fulness of joy4 ,let us live in the ,kingdom which is joy in the ,holy ,ghost2 the ,spirit of holiness is the ,spirit of joy1 because ,he is the ,spirit of ,god4 ,it is the saints1 ,god's holy ones1 who will shout for joy4 ,and happiness is essential to true holiness4 ,if you would be a holy ,christian1 you must be a happy ,christian4 ,jesus was anointed by ,god with 'the oil of gladness1' that ,he might give us 'the oil of joy4' ,in all our efforts after holiness1 the wheels will move heavily if there be not the oil of joy2 this alone removes all strain and friction1 and makes the onward progress easy and delightful4 ,study to understand the ,divine worth of joy4 ,it is the evidence of your being in the ,father's presence1 and dwelling in ,his love4 ,it is the proof of your being consciously free from the law and the strain of the spirit of bondage4 ,it is the token of your freedom from care and responsibility1 because you are rejoicing in ,christ ,jesus as your ,sanctification1 your ,keeper1 and your ,strength4 ,it is the secret of spiritual health and strength1 filling all your service with the childlike happy assurance that the ,father asks nothing that ,he does not give strength for1 and that ,he accepts all that is done1 however feebly1 in this spirit4 ,true happiness is always self-forgetful3 it loses itself in the object of its joy4 ,as the joy of the ,holy ,ghost fills us1 and we rejoice in ,god the ,holy ,one1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 as we lose ourselves in the adoration and worship of the ,thrice ,holy1 we become holy4 ,this is1 even here in the wilderness1 'the ,highway of ,holiness3 the ransomed of the ,lord shall come with singing2 the redeemed shall walk there2 everlasting joy shall be upon their heads2 they shall obtain joy and gladness4' ,do all ,god's children understand this8 that holiness is just another name1 the true name1 that ,god gives for happiness2 that it is indeed unutterable blessedness to know that ,god does make us holy1 that our holiness is in ,christ1 that ,christ's ,holy ,spirit is within us4 ,there is nothing so attractive as joy3 have believers understood it that this is the joy of the ,lord--to be holy8 ,or is not the idea of strain1 and sacrifice1 and sighing1 of difficulty and distance so prominent1 that the thought of being holy has hardly ever made the heart glad8 ,if it has been so1 let it be so no longer4 ',thou shalt glory in the ,holy ,one of ,israel3' let us claim this promise4 ,let the believing assurance that our ,loving ,father1 and our ,beloved ,lord ,jesus1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 who in dove-like gentleness rests within us1 have engaged to do the work1 and are doing it1 fill us with gladness4 ,let us not seek our joy in what we see in ourselves of holiness3 let us rejoice in the ,holiness of ,god in ,christ as ours2 let us rejoice in the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,so shall our joy be unspeakable and unceasing2 so shall we give ,him the glory4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,blessed ,god6 ,i beseech ,thee to reveal to me and to all ,thy children the secret of rejoicing in ,thee1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,thou seest how much of the service of ,thine own dear children is still in the spirit of bondage1 and how many have never yet believed that the ,highway of ,holiness is one on which they may walk with singing1 and shall obtain joy and gladness4 ,o ,father6 teach ,thy children to rejoice in ,thee4 ,i ask ,thee especially to teach us that1 in deep poverty of spirit1 in humility and contrition and utter emptiness1 in the consciousness that there is no holiness in us1 we can sing all the day of ,thy ,holiness as ours1 of ,thy glory which ,thou layest upon us1 and which yet all the time is ,thine alone4 ,o ,father6 open wide to ,thy children the blessed mystery of the ,kingdom1 even the faith which sees all in ,christ and nothing in itself2 which indeed has and rejoices in all in ,him2 which never has or rejoices in ought in itself4 ,blessed ,god1 in ,thy ,word ,thou hast said1 ',the meek shall increase their joy in the ,lord1 and the poor among men shall rejoice in the ,holy ,one of ,israel4' ,oh1 give us1 by ,thy ,holy ,spirit1 in meekness and poverty of spirit1 to live so in ,christ1 that ,his ,holiness may be our ever-increasing joy1 and that in ,thyself1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 we may rejoice all the day4 ,and may all see in us what blessedness it is to live as ,god's holy ones4 ,amen4 #a4 ,the great hindrance to joy in ,god is expecting to find something in ourselves to rejoice over4 ,at the commencement of this pursuit of holiness we always expect to see a great change wrought in ourselves4 ,as we are led deeper into what faith1 and the faith-life is1 we understand how1 though we do not see the change as we expected1 we may yet rejoice with joy unspeakable in what ,jesus is4 ,this is the secret of holiness4 #b4 ,joy must be cultivated4 ,to rejoice is a command more frequently given than we know4 ,it is part of the obedience of faith1 to rejoice when we do not feel like doing so4 ,faith rejoices and sings1 because ,god is holy4 #c4 ',filled with joy and the ,holy ,ghost1' ',the ,kingdom is joy in the ,holy ,ghost4' ,the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,blessed ,spirit of ,jesus is within thee1 a very fountain of living water1 of joy and gladness4 ,oh1 seek to know ,him1 who dwells in thee1 to work all that ,jesus has for thee3 ,he will be in thee the ,spirit of faith and of joy4 #d4 ,love and joy ever keep company4 ,love1 denying and forgetting itself for the brethren and the lost1 living in them1 finds the joy of ,god4 ',the kingdom of ,god is joy in the ,holy ,ghost4' ,twenty-second ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,in ,christ our ,sanctification4 ',of ,god are ye in ,christ ,jesus1 who was made unto us wisdom from ,god1 both righteousness and sanctification and redemption2 that1 according as it is written1 ,he that glorieth1 let him glory in the ,lord4'--#a ,cor4 i4 #cj1 #ca4 ,these words lead us on now to the very centre of ,god's revelation of the way of holiness4 ,we know the steps of the road leading hither4 ,he is holy1 and holiness is ,his4 ,he makes holy by coming near4 ,his presence is holiness4 ,in ,christ's life1 the holiness that had only been revealed in symbol1 and as a promise of good things to come1 had really taken possession of a human will1 and been made one with true human nature4 ,in ,his death every obstacle had been removed that could prevent the transmission of that holy nature to us3 ,christ had truly become our sanctification4 ,in the ,holy ,spirit the actual communication of that holiness took place4 ,and now we want to understand what the work is the ,holy ,spirit does1 and how ,he communicates this holy nature to us3 what our relation is to ,christ as our sanctification1 and what the position we have to take up toward ,him1 that in its fulness and its power it may do its work for us4 ,the ,divine answer to this question is1 ',of ,god are ye in ,christ4' ,the one thing we need to apprehend is1 what this our position and life in ,christ is1 and how that position and life may on our part be accepted and maintained4 ,of this we may be sure1 that it is not something that is high and beyond our reach4 ,there need be no exhausting effort or hopeless sighing1 ',who shall ascend into heaven1 that is1 to bring ,christ down from above8' ,it is a life that is meant for the sinful and the weary1 for the unworthy and the impotent4 ,it is a life that is the gift of the ,father's love1 and that ,he ,himself will reveal in each one who comes in childlike trust to ,him4 ,it is a life that is meant for our every-day life1 that in every varying circumstance and situation will make and keep us holy4 ',of ,god are ye in ,christ4' ,ere our ,blessed ,lord left the world1 ,he spake3 ,lo6 ,i am with you alway1 even to the end of the world4 ,and it is written of ,him3 ',he that descended is the same that ascended far above all the heavens1 that ,he might fill all things4' ',the ,church is ,his body1 the fulness of ,him that filleth all in all4' ,in the ,holy ,spirit the ,lord ,jesus is with ,his people here on earth4 ,though unseen1 and not in the flesh1 ,his ,personal ,presence is as real on earth as when ,he walked with ,his disciples4 ,in regeneration the believer is taken out of his old place 'in the flesh2' he is no longer in the flesh1 but in the spirit 7,rom4 viii4 #i72 he is really and actually in ,christ4 ,the living ,christ is around him by ,his holy ,presence4 ,wherever and whatever he be1 however ignorant of his position or however unfaithful to it1 there he is in ,christ4 ,by an act of ,divine and omnipotent grace1 he has been planted into ,christ1 encircled on every side by the ,power and the ,love of ,him who filleth all things1 whose fulness specially dwells in ,his body here below1 the ,church4 ,and how can one who is longing to know ,christ fully as his sanctification1 come to live out what ,god means and has provided in this--'in ,christ'8 ,the first thing that must be remembered is that it is a thing of faith and not of feeling4 ,the promise of the indwelling and the quickening of the ,holy ,one is to the humble and contrite4 ,just when ,i feel most deeply that ,i am not holy1 and can do nothing to make myself holy1 when ,i feel ashamed of myself1 just then is the time to turn from self and very quietly to say3 ,i am in ,christ4 ,here ,he is all around me4 ,like the air that surrounds me1 like the light that shines on me1 here is my ,lord ,jesus with me in ,his hidden but ,divine and most real presence4 ,my faith must in quiet rest and trust bow before the ,father1 of whom and by whose ,mighty ,grace ,i am in ,christ3 ,he will reveal it to me with ever-growing clearness and power4 ,he does it as ,i believe1 and in believing open my whole soul to receive what is implied in it3 the sense of sinfulness and unholiness must become the strength of my trust and dependence4 ,in such faith ,i abide in ,christ4 ,but because it is of faith1 therefore it is of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,of ,god are ye in ,christ4 ,it is not as if ,god placed and planted us in ,christ1 and left it to us now to maintain the union4 ,no1 ,god is the ,eternal ,one1 the ,god of the everlasting life1 who works every moment in a power that does not for one moment cease4 ,what ,god gives1 ,he continues with a never-ceasing giving4 ,it is ,he who by the ,holy ,spirit makes this life in ,christ a blessed reality in our consciousness4 ',we have received the ,spirit of ,god that we might know the things that are freely given us of ,god4' ,faith is not only dependent on ,god for the gift it is to accept1 but for the power to accept4 ,faith not only needs the ,son as its filling and its food2 it needs the ,spirit as its power to receive and hold4 ,and so the blessed possession of all that it means to be in ,christ our sanctification comes as we learn to bow before ,god in believing prayer for the mighty workings of the ,spirit1 and in the deep childlike trust that ,he will reveal and glorify in us this ,christ our sanctification in whom we are4 ,and how will the ,spirit reveal this ,christ in whom we are8 ,it will specially be as the ,living ,one1 the ,personal ,friend and ,master4 ,christ is not only our ,example and our ,ideal4 ,his life is not only an atmosphere and an inspiration1 as we speak of a man who mightily influences us by his writings4 ,christ is not only a treasury and a fulness of grace and power1 into which the ,spirit is to lead us4 ,but ,christ is the ,living ,saviour1 with a heart that beats with a love that is most tenderly human1 and yet ,divine4 ,it is in this love ,he comes near1 and into this love ,he receives us1 when the ,father plants us into ,him4 ,in the power of a personal love ,he wishes to exercise influence1 and to attach us to ,himself4 ,in that love of ,his we have the guarantee that ,his ,holiness will enter us2 in that love the great power by which it enters4 ,as the ,spirit reveals to us where we are dwelling1 in ,christ and ,his love1 and that this ,christ is a living ,lord and ,saviour1 there wakens within us the enthusiasm of a personal attachment1 and the devotion of a loving allegiance1 that make us wholly ,his4 ,and it becomes possible for us to believe that we can be holy3 we feel sure that in the path of holiness we can go from strength to strength4 ,such believing insight into our relation to ,christ as being in ,him1 and such personal attachment to ,him who has received us into ,his love and keeps us abiding there1 becomes the spring of a new obedience4 ,the will of ,god comes to us in the light of ,christ's life and ,his love--each command first fulfilled by ,him1 and then passed on to us as the sure and most blessed help to more perfect fellowship with the ,father and ,his ,holiness4 ,christ becomes ,lord and ,king in the soul1 in the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 guiding the will into all the perfect will of ,god1 and proving ,himself to be its sanctification1 as ,he crowns its obedience with ever larger inflow of the ,presence and the ,holiness of ,god4 ,is there any dear child of ,god at all disposed to lose heart as he thinks of what manner of man he ought to be in all holy living1 let me call him to take courage4 ,could ,god have devised anything more wonderful or beautiful for such sinful1 impotent creatures8 ,just think1 ,christ1 ,god's own ,son1 made to be sanctification to you4 ,the ,mighty1 ,loving1 ,holy ,christ1 sanctified through suffering that ,he might have sympathy with you1 given to make you holy4 ,what more could you desire8 ,yes1 there is more3 ',of ,god you are in ,him4' ,whether you understand it or not1 however feebly you realize it1 there it is1 a thing most ,divinely true and real4 ,you are in ,christ1 by an act of ,god's own ,mighty ,power4 ,and there1 in ,christ1 ,god ,himself longs to establish and confirm you to the end4 ,and you have1 greatest wonder of all1 the ,holy ,spirit within you to teach you to know1 and believe1 and receive1 all that there is in ,christ for you4 ,and if you will but confess that there is in you no wisdom or power for holiness1 none at all1 and allow ,christ1 'the ,wisdom of ,god and the ,power of ,god1' by the ,holy ,spirit within you1 to lead you on1 and prove how completely1 how faithfully1 how mightily1 ,he can be your sanctification1 ,he will do it most gloriously4 ,o my brother6 come and consent more fully to ,god's way of holiness4 ,let ,christ be your sanctification4 ,not a distant ,christ to whom you look1 but a ,christ very near1 all around you1 in whom you are4 ,not a ,christ after the flesh1 a ,christ of the past1 but a present ,christ in the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,not a ,christ whom you can know by your wisdom1 but the ,christ of ,god1 who is a ,spirit1 and whom the ,spirit within you1 as you die to the flesh and self1 will reveal in power4 ,not a ,christ such as your little thoughts can frame a conception of1 but a ,christ according to the greatness of the heart and the love of ,god4 ,oh1 come and accept this ,christ1 and rejoice in ,him6 ,be content now to leave all your feebleness1 and foolishness1 and faithlessness to ,him1 in the quiet confidence that ,he will do for you more than you can think4 ,and so let it henceforth be1 as it is written1 ,he that glorieth1 let him glory in the ,lord4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,blessed ,father6 ,i bow in speechless adoration before the holy mystery of ,thy ,divine ,love4444 ,oh1 forgive me1 that ,i have known and believed it so little as it is worthy of being known and believed4 ,accept my praise for what ,i have seen and tasted of its ,divine blessedness4 ,accept1 ,lord ,god6 of the praise of a glad and loving heart that only knows that it never can praise ,thee aright4 ,and hear my prayer1 ,o my ,father6 that in the power of ,thy ,holy ,spirit1 who dwells in me1 ,i may each day accept and live out fully what ,thou hast given me in ,christ my sanctification4 ,may the unsearchable riches there are in ,him be the daily supply for my every need4 ,may ,his ,holiness1 ,his delight in ,thy will1 indeed become mine4 ,teach me1 above all1 how this can most surely be1 because ,i am1 through the work of ,thine ,almighty ,quickening ,power1 in ,him1 kept there by ,thyself4 ,my ,father6 my faith cries out3 ,i can be holy1 blessed be my ,lord ,jesus6 ,in this faith ,i yield myself to ,thee1 ,lord ,jesus1 my ,king and ,master1 to do ,thy will alone4 ,in everything ,i do1 great or small1 ,i would act as one sanctified in ,jesus1 united to ,god's will in ,him4 ,it is ,thou alone canst teach me to do this1 canst give me strength to perform it4 ,but ,i trust in ,thee--art ,thou not ,christ my sanctification8 ,blessed ,lord6 ,i do trust ,thee4 ,amen4 #a4 ,christ1 as ,he lived and died on earth1 is our sanctification4 ,his life1 the ,spirit of ,his life1 is what constitutes our holiness4 ,to be in perfect harmony with ,christ1 to have ,his mind1 is to be holy4 #b4 ,christ's ,holiness had two sides4 ,god sanctified ,him by ,his ,spirit3 ,christ sanctified ,himself by following the leading of the ,spirit1 by giving up ,his will to ,god in everything4 ,so ,god has made us holy in ,christ2 and so we follow after and perfect holiness by yielding ourselves to ,god's ,spirit1 by giving up our will and living in the will of ,god4 #c4 ,it is well that we take in every aspect of what ,god has revealed of holiness in ,his word4 ,but let us never weary ourselves by seeking to grasp all completely4 ,let us even return to the simplicity that is in ,jesus4 ,to bow at ,his feet1 to believe that ,he knows all we need1 and has it all1 and loves to give it all1 is rest4 ,and holiness is resting in ,jesus the rest of ,god4 ,let all our thoughts be gathered up into this one3 ,jesus1 ,blessed ,jesus4 #d4 ,this holy life in ,christ is for to-day1 when you read this4 ,for to-day ,he is made of ,god unto you sanctification3 to-day ,he will indeed be your holiness4 ,believe in ,him for it2 trust ,him1 praise ,him4 ,and remember3 you are in ,him4 ,twenty-third ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and the ,body4 ',the temple of ,god is holy1 which temple ye are4 ,the body is for the ,lord1 and the ,lord for the body4 ,know ye not that your body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you2 therefore glorify ,god in your body4'--#a ,cor4 iii4 #af1 vi4 #ac1 #ai4 ',she that is unmarried is careful for the things of the ,lord1 that she may be holy both in body and spirit4'--#a ,cor4 vii4 #cd4 ',present your bodies a living sacrifice1 holy1 acceptable to ,god4'--,rom4 xii4 #a4 ,coming into the world1 our ,blessed ,lord spake3 ',a body didst ,thou prepare for me2 lo1 ,i come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god4' ,leaving this world again1 it was in ,his own body that ,he bore our sins upon the tree4 ,so it was in the body1 no less than in soul and spirit1 that ,he did the will of ,god4 ,and therefore it is said1 ',by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4' ,when praying for the ,thessalonians and their sanctification1 ,paul says1 ',and the ,god of peace ,himself sanctify you wholly2 and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire1 without blame1 at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4' ,of himself he had spoken as 'always bearing about in the body the dying of ,jesus1 that the life also of ,jesus may be manifested in our body4 ,for we which live are always delivered unto death for ,jesus' sake1 that the life also of ,jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh4' ,his earnest expectation and hope was1 'that ,christ be magnified in my body1 whether by life or by death4' ,the relation between body and spirit is so intimate1 the power of sin in the spirit comes so much through the body1 the body is so distinctly the object both of ,christ's redemption and the ,holy ,spirit's renewal1 that our study of holiness will be seriously defective if we do not take in the teaching of ,scripture on holiness in the body4 ,it has been well said that the body is1 to the soul and spirit dwelling and acting within it1 like the walls of the city4 ,through them the enemy enters in4 ,in time of war1 everything yields to the defence of the walls4 ,it is often because the believer does not know the importance of keeping the walls defended1 keeping the body sanctified1 that he fails in having the soul and spirit preserved blameless4 ,or it is because he does not understand that the guarding and sanctifying of the body in all its parts must be as distinctly a work of faith1 and as directly through the mighty power of ,jesus and the indwelling of the ,spirit1 as the renewing of the inner life1 that progress in holiness is so feeble4 ,the rule of the city we entrust to ,jesus3 but the defence of the walls we keep in our own hands2 the ,king does not keep us as we expected1 and we cannot discover the secret of failure4 ,it is the ,god of peace ,himself1 who sanctifies wholly1 who must preserve spirit and soul and body entire and without blame4 ,the tabernacle with its wood1 the temple with its stone1 were as holy as all included within their walls3 ,god's holy ones need the body to be holy4 ,to realize the full meaning of this1 let us remember how it was through the body sin entered4 ',the woman saw that the tree was good for food1' this was the temptation in the flesh2 through this the soul was reached1 'it was a delight to the eyes2' through the soul it then passed into the spirit1 'and to be desired to make one wise4' ,in ,john's description of what is in the world 7#a ,john ii4 #ae71 we find the same threefold division1 'the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eyes1 and the pride of life4' ,and the three temptations of ,jesus by ,satan correspond exactly3 he first sought to reach ,him through the body1 in the suggestion to satisfy ,his hunger by making bread2 the second 7see ,luke iv47 appealed to the soul1 in the vision of the kingdoms of this world and their glory2 the third to the spirit1 in the call to assert and prove ,his ,divine ,sonship by casting ,himself down4 ,even to the ,son of ,god the first temptation came1 as to ,adam and all in the world1 as lust of the flesh1 the desire to gratify the natural and lawful appetite of hunger4 ,we cannot note too carefully that it was on a question of eating what appeared good for food that man's first sin was committed1 and that that same question of eating to satisfy hunger was the battleground on which the ,redeemer's first encounter with ,satan took place4 ,it is on the question of eating and drinking what is good and lawful that more ,christians than are aware of it are foiled by ,satan4 ,to have every appetite of the body under the rule and regulation of the ,holy ,spirit appears to some needless1 to others too difficult4 ,and yet it must be1 if the body is to be holy1 as ,god's temple1 and we are to glorify ,him in our body and our spirit4 ,the first approaches of sin are made through the body3 in the body the complete victory will be gained4 ,what ,scripture teaches as to the intimacy of the connection between the body and spirit1 physiology confirms4 ,what appear at first merely physical transgressions leave a stain and have a degrading influence on the soul1 and through it drag down the spirit4 ,and on the other side1 spiritual sins1 sins of thought and imagination and disposition1 pass through the soul into the body1 fix themselves in the nervous constitution1 and express themselves even in the countenance and the habits or tendencies of the body4 ,sin must be combated not only in the region of the spirit3 if we are to perfect holiness1 we must cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit4 ',if through the ,spirit ye do make dead the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4' ,if we are indeed to be cleansed from sin and made holy unto ,god1 the body1 as the outworks1 must very specially be secured from the power of ,satan and of sin4 ,and how is this to be done8 ,god has made very special provision for this4 ,holy ,scripture speaks so explicitly of the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit that communicates holiness1 in connection with the body4 ,at first sight it looks as if the word1 your bodies1 were simply used as equivalent to1 your persons1 yourselves4 ,but as the deeper insight into the power of sin in the body1 and the need of a deliverance specially there1 quickens our perception1 we see what is meant by the body being the temple of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we notice how very specially it is of sins in the body that ,paul speaks as defiling ,god's holy temple2 and how it is through the power of the ,holy ,ghost in the body that he would have us glorify ,god4 ',know ye not that your body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost3 glorify ,god therefore1 in the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 in your body4' ,the ,holy ,spirit must not only exercise a restraining and regulating influence on the appetites of the body and their gratification1 so that they be in moderation and temperance1--this is only the negative side1--but there must be a positively spiritual element1 making the exercise of natural functions a service of holy joy and liberty to the glory of ,god2 no longer a threatened hindrance to the life of obedience and fellowship1 but a means of grace1 a real help to the spiritual life4 ,it is only in a body that is full of the holy life1 very entirely possessed of ,god's ,spirit1 that this will be the case4 ,and how can this be obtained8 ,in the true ,christian life1 self-denial is the path to enjoyment1 renunciation to possession1 death to life4 ,as long as there is ought that we think we have liberty and power to use or enjoy aright1 if we but do so in moderation1 we have not yet seen or confessed our own unholiness1 or the need of the entire renewing of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is not enough to say1 ',every creature of ,god is good1 if it be received with thanksgiving2' we must remember the addition1 'for it is sanctified by the word and by prayer4' ,this sanctifying of every creature and its use is a thing as real and solemn as the sanctifying of ourselves4 ,and this will only be where1 if need be1 we sacrifice the gift and the liberty to use it1 until ,god gives us the power truly to use it to ,his glory alone4 ,of one of the most sacred of ,divine institutions1 marriage1 ,paul1 who so denounces those who would forbid to marry1 says distinctly that there may be cases in which a voluntary celibacy may be the surest and acceptable way of being 'holy both in body and spirit4' ,when to be holy as ,god is holy indeed becomes the great desire and aim of life1 everything will be cherished or given up as it promotes the chief end4 ,the actual and active presence of the ,holy ,spirit in the life of the body will be the fire that is kept burning continually on the altar4 ,and how is this to be attained8 ,of the body as of the spirit it is ,god1 ,god in ,christ1 who is our ,keeper and our ,sanctifier4 ,the guarding of the walls of the city must be entrusted to ,him who rules within4 ',i am persuaded that ,he is able to guard my deposit1' to keep that which ,i have committed to ,him1 must become as definitely true of the body1 and of each of its functions of which we are conscious that it is the occasion of doubt or of stumbling1 as it has been of the soul we entrusted to ,him for salvation4 ,a fixed deposit in a bank is money given away out of my hands to be kept there3 the body or any part of it that needs to be made holy must be a deposit with ,jesus4 ,faith must trust ,his acceptance and guarding of it2 prayer and praise must daily afresh renew the assurance1 must confirm the committal of the deposit1 and maintain the fellowship with ,jesus4 ,abiding thus in ,him and ,his ,holiness1 we shall receive1 in a life of trust and joy1 the power to prove1 even in the body1 how fully and wholly we are in ,him who is made unto us sanctification1 how real and true the ,holiness of ,god is in ,his people4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,blessed ,lord6 who art my sanctification1 ,i come to ,thee now with a very special request4 ,o ,thou who didst in ,thine own body bear our sins on the tree1 and of whom it is written1 ',we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all1' be pleased to reveal to me how my body may to the full experience the power of ,thy wonderful redemption4 ,i do desire in soul and body to be holy to the ,lord4 ,lord6 ,i have too little understood that my body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost1 that there is nothing in it that can be matter of indifference1 that its every state and function is to be holiness to the ,lord4 ,and where ,i saw that this should be so1 ,i have still sought myself to guard from the enemy's approaches these the walls of the city4 ,i forgot how this part of my being too could alone be kept and sanctified by faith1 by ,thy taking and keeping charge of what faith entrusted to ,thee4 ,lord ,jesus6 ,i come now to surrender this body with all its needs into ,thy hands4 ,in weariness and nervousness1 in excitement and enjoyment1 in hunger and want1 in health and plenty1 ,o my holy ,saviour1 let my body be in ,thy keeping every moment4 ,thou callest us1 'being made free from sin1 to present our members as servants of righteousness unto sanctification4' ,saviour6 in the faith of the freedom from sin which ,i have in ,thee1 ,i present every member of my body to ,thee3 ,i believe the ,spirit of life in ,thee makes me free from the law of sin in my members4 ,whether living or dying1 be ,thou magnified in my body4 ,amen4 #a4 ,in the tabernacle and temple1 the material part was to be in harmony with1 and the embodiment of1 the holiness that dwelt within4 ,it was therefore all made according to the pattern shown in the mount4 ,in the two last chapters of ,exodus1 we have eighteen times 'as the ,lord commanded4' ,everything1 even in the exterior1 was the embodiment of the will of ,god4 ,even so our body1 as ,god's temple1 must in everything be regulated by ,god's word1 quickened and sanctified by the ,holy ,spirit4 #b4 ,as part of this holiness in the body1 ,scripture mentions dress4 ,speaking of the 'outward adorning of plaiting the hair1 of wearing jewels1 or the putting on of apparel1' as inconsistent with 'the apparel of a meek and quiet spirit1' ,peter says1 ',after this manner aforetime the holy women1 who hoped in ,god1 adorned themselves4' ,holiness was seen in their dressing2 their body was the temple of the ,holy ,spirit4 #c4 ',if ye through the ,spirit do make dead the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4' ,his quickening energy must reign through the whole4 ,we are so accustomed to connect the spiritual with the ideal and invisible1 that it will need time and thought and faith to realize how the physical and the sensible influence our spiritual life1 and must be under the mastery and inspiration of ,god's ,spirit4 ,even ,paul says1 ',i buffet my body1 and bring it into bondage1 lest ,i myself should be rejected4' #d4 ,if ,god actually breathed ,his ,spirit into the body of ,adam formed out of the ground1 let it not be thought strange that the ,holy ,spirit should now animate our bodies too with ,his sanctifying energy4 #e4 ',corporeality is the end of the ways of ,god4' ,this deep saying of an old divine reminds us of a much neglected truth4 ,the great work of ,god's ,spirit is to ally ,himself with matter1 and form it into a spiritual body for a dwelling for ,god4 ,in our body the ,holy ,spirit will do it1 if ,he gets complete possession4 #f4 ,it is on this truth of the ,holy ,spirit's power in the body that what is called ,faith-healing rests4 ,through all ages1 in times of special spiritual quickening1 ,god has given it to some to see how ,christ would make1 even here1 the body partaker of the life and power of the ,spirit4 ,to those who do see it1 the link between ,holiness and ,healing is a very close and blessed one1 as the ,lord ,jesus takes possession of the body for ,himself4 ,twenty-fourth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,cleansing4 ',having therefore these promises1 beloved1 let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god4'--#b ,cor4 vii4 #a4 ,that holiness is more than cleansing1 and must be preceded by it1 is taught us in more than one passage of the ,new ,testament4 ',christ loved the ,church1 and gave ,himself up for it1 that ,he might sanctify it1 having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word4' ',if a man cleanse himself from these1 he shall be a vessel sanctified4' ,the cleansing is the negative side1 the being separate and not touching the unclean thing1 the removal of impurity2 the sanctifying is the positive union and fellowship with ,god1 and the participation of the graces of the ,divine life and holiness 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ag1 #ah74 ,so we read too of the altar1 that ,god spake to ,moses3 ',thou shalt cleanse the altar1 when thou makest atonement for it1 and thou shalt anoint it1 to sanctify it' 7,ex4 xxix4 #cf74 ,cleansing must ever prepare the way1 and ought always to lead on to holiness4 ,paul speaks of a twofold defilement1 of flesh and spirit1 from which we must cleanse ourselves4 ,the connection between the two is so close1 that in every sin both are partakers4 ,the lowest and most carnal form of sin will enter the spirit1 and1 dragging it down into partnership in crime1 will defile and degrade it4 ,and so will all defilement of spirit in course of time show its power in the flesh4 ,still we may speak of the two classes of sins as they owe their origin more directly to the flesh or the spirit4 ',let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh4' ,the functions of our body may be classed under the three heads of the nourishment1 the propagation1 and the protection of our life4 ,through the first the world daily solicits our appetite with its food and drink4 ,as the fruit good for food was the temptation that overcame ,eve1 so the pleasures of eating and drinking are among the earliest forms of defilement of the flesh4 ,closely connected with this is what we named second1 and which is in ,scripture specially connected with the word flesh4 ,we know how in ,paradise the sinful eating was at once followed by the awakening of sinful lust and of shame4 ,in his ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 ,paul closely connects the two 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #ac1 #ae71 as he also links drunkenness and impurity 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #i1 #aj74 ,then comes the third form in which the vitality of the body displays itself3 the instinct of self-preservation1 setting itself against everything that interferes with our pleasures and comfort4 ,what is called temper1 with its fruits of anger and strife1 has its roots in the physical constitution1 and is one among the sins of the flesh4 ,from all this1 the ,christian1 who would be holy1 must most determinedly cleanse himself4 ,he must yield himself to the searching of ,god's ,spirit1 to be taught what there is in the flesh that is not in harmony with the temperance and self-control demanded both by the law of nature and the law of the ,spirit4 ,he must believe1 what ,paul felt that the ,corinthians so emphatically needed to be taught1 that the ,holy ,spirit dwells in the body1 making its members the members of ,christ1 and in this faith put off the works of the flesh2 he must cleanse himself from all defilement of flesh4 ',and of spirit4' ,as the source of all defilement of the flesh is self-gratification1 so self-seeking is at the root of all defilement of the spirit4 ,in relation to ,god1 it manifests itself in idolatry1 be it in the worship of other gods after our own heart1 the love of the world more than ,god1 or the doing our will rather than ,his4 ,in relation to our fellow-men it shows itself in envy1 hatred1 and want of love1 cold neglect or harsh judging of others4 ,in relation to ourselves it is seen as pride1 ambition1 or envy1 the disposition that makes self the centre round which all must move1 and by which all must be judged4 ,for the discovery of such defilement of spirit1 no less than of the sins of the flesh1 the believer needs the light of the ,holy ,spirit2 that the uncleanness may indeed be cleansed out and cast away for ever4 ,even unconscious sin1 if we are not earnestly willing to have it shown to us1 will most effectually prevent our progress in the path of holiness4 ',beloved6 let us cleanse ourselves4' ,the cleansing is sometimes spoken of as the work of ,god 7,acts xv4 #i2 #a ,john i4 #i72 sometimes as that of ,christ 7,john xv4 #c2 ,eph4 v4 #bf2 ,tit4 ii4 #ad74 ,here we are commanded to cleanse ourselves4 ,god does ,his work in us by the ,holy ,spirit2 the ,holy ,spirit does ,his work by stirring us up and enabling us to do4 ,the ,spirit is the strength of the new life2 in that strength we must set ourselves determinedly to cast out whatever is unclean4 ',come out1 and be ye separate1 and touch not the unclean thing4' ,it is not only the doing what is sinful1 it is not only the willing of it1 that the ,christian must avoid1 but even the touching it3 the involuntary contact with it must be so unbearable as to force the cry1 ,o wretched man that ,i am6 and to lead on to the deliverance which the ,spirit of the life of ,christ does bring4 ,and how is this cleansing to be done8 ,when ,hezekiah called the priests to sanctify the temple that had been defiled1 we read 7#b ,chron4 xxix471 ',the priests went in unto the inner part of the house of the ,lord to cleanse it1 and brought out all the uncleanness that they found4' ,only then could the sin-offering of atonement and the burnt-offering of consecration1 with the thankofferings1 be brought1 and ,god's service be restored4 ,even thus must all that is unclean be looked out1 and brought out1 and utterly cast out4 ,however deeply rooted the sin may appear1 rooted in constitution and habit1 we must cleanse ourselves of it if we would be holy4 ',if we walk in the light1 as ,he is in the light1 the blood of ,jesus ,christ cleanseth from all sin4' ,as we bring out every sin from the inner part of the house into the light of ,god and walk in the light1 the precious blood that justifies will work mightily to cleanse too3 the blood brings into living contact with the life and the love of ,god4 ,let us come into the light with the sin3 the blood will prove its mighty power4 ,let us cleanse ourselves in yielding ourselves to the light to reveal and condemn1 to the blood to cleanse and sanctify4 ',let us cleanse ourselves1 perfecting holiness in the fear of the ,lord4' ,we read in ,hebrews 7x4 #ad71 ',christ hath perfected forever them that are sanctified4' ,as we have so often seen that what ,god has made holy man must make holy too1 as he accepts and appropriates the holiness ,god has bestowed1 so here with the perfection which the saints have in ,christ4 ,we must perfect holiness3 holiness must be carried out into the whole of life1 and carried on even to its end4 ,as ,god's holy ones1 we must go on to perfection1 perfecting holiness4 ,do not let us be afraid of the word4 ,our ,blessed ,lord used it when ,he gave us the command1 ',be ye perfect1 even as your ,father in heaven is perfect4' ,a child striving after the perfection in knowledge of his profession1 which he hopes to attain when he has finished school1 is told by his teacher that the way to the perfection he hopes for at the end of his course is to seek to be perfect in the lessons of each day4 ,to be perfect in the small portion of the work that each hour brings1 is the path to the perfection that will crown the whole4 ,the ,master calls us to a perfection like that of the ,father3 ,he hath already perfected us in ,himself3 ,he holds out the prospect of perfection ever growing4 ,his word calls us here day by day to be perfecting holiness4 ,let us seek in each duty to be whole-hearted and entire4 ,let us1 as teachable scholars1 in every act of worship or obedience1 in every temptation and trial1 do the very best which ,god's ,spirit can enable us to do4 ',let patience have its perfect work1 that ye may be perfect and entire1 lacking in nothing4' ',the ,god of peace make you perfect in every good work to do ,his will4' ',having therefore these promises1 beloved1 let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god4' ,it is faith that gives the courage and the power to cleanse from all defilement1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god4 ,it is as the promises of the ,divine love and indwelling 7#b ,cor4 vi #af-ah7 are made ours by the ,holy spirit1 that we shall share the victory which overcometh the world1 even our faith4 ,in the path along which we have already come1 from the rest in ,paradise down through ,holy ,scripture1 we have seen the wondrous revelation of these promises in ever-growing splendour4 ,that ,god the ,holy ,one will make us holy2 that ,god the ,holy ,one will dwell with the lowly2 that ,god in ,his ,holy ,one has come to be our holiness2 that ,god has planted us in ,christ that ,he may be our sanctification2 that ,god1 who chose us in sanctification of the ,spirit1 has given us the ,holy ,spirit in our hearts1 and now watches over us in ,his love to work out through ,him ,his purposes and to perfect our holiness3 such are the promises that have been set before us4 ',having therefore these promises1 beloved1 let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god4' ,beloved brother6 see here again ,god's way of holiness4 ,arise and step on to it in the faith of the promise1 fully persuaded that what ,he hath promised ,he is mighty to perform4 ,bring out of the inner part of the house all uncleanness2 bring it into the light of ,god2 confess it and cast it at ,his feet1 who takes it away1 and cleanses you in ,his blood4 ,yield yourself in faith to perfect1 in ,christ your ,strength1 the ,holiness to which you are called4 ,as your ,father in heaven is perfect1 give yourself to ,him as a little child to be perfect too in your daily lessons and your daily walk4 ,believe that your surrender is accepted3 that the charge committed to ,him is undertaken4 ,and give glory to ,him who is able to do above what you can ask or think4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,holy ,lord ,jesus6 ,thou didst give ,thyself for us1 that1 having cleansed us for ,thyself as ,thine own1 ,thou mightest sanctify us and present us to ,thyself a glorious ,church1 not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing4 ,blessed be ,thy ,name for the wonderful love4 ,blessed be ,thy ,name for the wonderful cleansing4 ,through the washing by the word and the washing in the blood1 ,thou hast made us clean every whit4 ,and as we walk in the light1 ,thou cleansest every moment4 ,with these promises1 in the power of ,thy word and blood1 ,thou callest us to cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit4 ,blessed ,lord6 graciously reveal in ,thy ,holy ,light all that is defilement1 even its most secret working4 ,let me live as one who is to be presented to ,thee without spot or wrinkle or any such thing--cleansed with a ,divine cleansing1 because ,thou gavest ,thyself to do it4 ,under the living power of ,thy word and blood1 applied by the ,holy ,spirit1 let my way be clean1 and my hands clean1 my lips clean1 and my heart clean4 ,cleanse me thoroughly1 that ,i may walk with ,thee in white here on earth1 keeping my garments unspotted and undefiled4 ,for ,thy great love's sake1 my ,blessed ,lord4 ,amen4 #a4 ,cleansing has almost always one aim3 a cleansed vessel is fit for use4 ,spiritual work done for ,god1 with the honest desire that ,he may through ,his ,spirit use us1 will give urgency to our desire for cleansing4 ,a vessel not cleansed cannot be used3 is not this the reason that there are some workers ,god cannot bless8 #b4 ,all defilement3 one stain defiles4 ',let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement4' #c4 ,no cleansing without ,light4 ,open the heart for the ,light to shine in4 #d4 ,no cleansing like fire4 ,give the defilement over to the fire of ,his ,holiness1 the fire that consumes and purifies4 ,give it into the death of ,jesus1 to ,jesus ,himself4 #e4 ',perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god3' it is a solemn work4 ,rejoice with trembling--work out your salvation with fear and trembling4 #f4 ',having these promises1' it is a blessed work to cleanse ourselves--entering into the promises1 the purity1 the love of our ,lord4 ,the fear of ,god need never hinder the faith in ,him4 ,and true faith will never hinder the practical work of cleansing4 #g4 ,if we walk in the light1 the blood cleanseth4 ,the light reveals2 we confess and forsake1 and accept the blood2 so we cleanse ourselves4 ,let there be a very determined purpose to be clean from all defilement1 everything that our ,father considers a stain4 ,twenty-fifth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holy and ,blameless4 ',ye are witnesses1 and ,god also1 how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe4--,the ,lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another1 and toward all men1 to the end ,he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our ,god and ,father at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus with all ,his holy ones4'--#a ,thess4 ii4 #aj1 iii4 #ab1 #ac4 ',he chose us in ,him before the foundation of the world1 that we should be holy and without blemish before ,him in love4'--,eph4 i4 #d4 ,there are two ,greek words1 signifying nearly the same1 used frequently along with the word holy1 and following it1 to express what the result and effect of holiness will be as manifested in the visible life4 ,the one is translated without blemish1 spotless1 and is that also used of our ,lord and ,his sacrifice1 the ,lamb without blemish 7,heb4 ix4 #ad2 #a ,pet4 i4 #ai74 ,it is then used of ,god's children with holy--holy and without blemish 7,eph4 i4 #d1 #e1 #bg2 ,col4 i4 #bb2 ,phil4 ii4 #ae2 ,jude #bd2 #b ,pet4 iii4 #ad74 ,the other is without blame1 faultless 7as in ,luke i4 #f2 ,phil ii4 #ae1 iii4 #f71 and is also found in conjunction with holy 7#a ,thess4 ii4 #aj1 iii4 #ac1 v4 #bc74 ,in answer to the question as to whether this blamelessness has reference to ,god's estimate of the saints or men's1 ,scripture clearly connects it with both4 ,in some passages 7,eph4 i4 #d1 v4 #bg2 ,col4 i4 #bb2 #a ,thess4 iii4 #ae2 #b ,pet4 iii4 #ad7 the words 'before ,him1' 'to ,himself1' 'before our ,god and ,father1' indicate that the first thought is of the spotlessness and faultlessness in the presence of a ,holy ,god1 which is held out to us as ,his purpose and our privilege4 ,in others 7such as ,phil4 ii4 #ae2 #a ,thess4 ii4 #aj71 the blamelessness in the sight of men stands in the foreground4 ,in each case the word may be considered to include both aspects3 without blemish and without blame must stand the double test of the judgment of ,god and man too4 ,and what is now the special lesson which this linking together of these two words in ,scripture1 and the exposition of holy by the addition of blameless1 is meant to teach us8 ,a lesson of deep importance4 ,in the pursuit of holiness1 the believer1 the more clearly he realizes what a deep spiritual blessing it is1 to be found only in separation from the world1 and direct fellowship with ,god1 to be possessed fully only through a real ,divine indwelling1 may be in danger of looking too exclusively to the ,divine side of the blessing1 in its heavenly and supernatural aspect4 ,he may forget how repentance and obedience1 as the path leading up to holiness1 must cover every1 even the minutest detail of daily life4 ,he may not understand how faithfulness to the leadings of the ,spirit1 in such measure as we have ,him already1 faithfulness to ,his faintest whisper in reference to ordinary conduct1 is essential to all fuller experience of ,his power and work as the ,spirit of holiness4 ,he may1 above all1 not have learnt how1 not only obedience to what he knows to be ,god's will1 but a very tender and willing teachableness to receive all that the ,spirit has to show him of his imperfections and the ,father's perfect will concerning him1 is the only condition on which the ,holiness of ,god can be more fully revealed to us and in us4 ,and so1 while most intent on trying to discover the secret of true and full holiness from the ,divine side1 he may be tolerating faults which all around him can notice1 or remaining1--and that not without sin1 because it comes from the want of perfect teachableness1--ignorant of graces and beauties of holiness with which the ,father would have had him adorn the doctrine of holiness before men4 ,he may seek to live a very holy1 and yet think little of a perfectly blameless life4 ,there have been such saints1 holy but hard1 holy but distant1 holy but sharp in their judgments of others2 holy1 but men around said1 unloving and selfish2 the half-heathen ,samaritan more kind and self-sacrificing than the holy ,levite and priest4 ,if this be true1 it is not the teaching of ,holy ,scripture that is to blame4 ,in linking holy and without blemish 7or without blame7 so closely1 the ,holy ,spirit would have led us to seek for the embodiment of holiness as a spiritual power in the blamelessness of practice and of daily life4 ,let every believer who rejoices in ,god's declaration that he is holy in ,christ seek also to perfect holiness1 reach out after nothing less than to be 'unblameable in holiness4' ,that this blamelessness has very special reference to our intercourse with our fellow-men we see from the way in which it is linked with love4 ,so in ,eph4 i4 #d1 ',that we should be holy and without blemish before ,him in love4' ,but specially in that remarkable passage3 ',the ,lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another1 and toward all men1 to the end ,he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness4' ,the holiness and the blamelessness1 the positive hidden ,divine life-principle1 and the external and human life-practice--both are to find their strength1 by which we are to be established in them1 in our abounding and ever-flowing love4 ,holiness and lovingness--it is of deep importance that these words should be inseparably linked in our minds1 as their reality in our lives4 ,we have seen1 in the study of the holiness of ,god1 how love is the element in which it dwells and works1 drawing to itself and making like itself all that it can get possession of4 ,of the fire of ,divine holiness love is the beautiful flame1 reaching out to communicate itself and assimilate to itself all it can lay hold of4 ,in ,god's children true holiness is the same2 the ,divine fire burns to bring into its own blessedness all that comes within its reach4 ,when ,jesus sanctified ,himself that we might be sanctified in truth1 that was nothing but love giving itself to the death that the sinful might share ,his holiness4 ,selfishness and holiness are irreconcilable4 ,ignorance may think of sanctity as a beautiful garment with which to adorn itself before ,god1 while underneath there is a selfish pride saying1 ',i am holier than thou1' and quite content that the other should want what it boasts of4 ,true holiness1 on the contrary1 is the expulsion and the death of selfishness1 taking possession of heart and life to be the ministers of that fire of love that consumes itself1 to reach and purify and save others4 ,holiness is love4 ,abounding love is what ,paul prays for as the condition of unblameable holiness4 ,it is as the ,lord makes us to increase and abound in love1 that ,he can establish our hearts unblameable in holiness4 ,the ,apostle speaks of a twofold love1 'love toward each other1 and toward all men4' ,love to the brethren was what our ,lord ,himself enjoined as the chief mark of discipleship4 ,and ,he prayed the ,father for it as the chief proof to the world of the truth of ,his ,divine mission4 ,it is in the holiness of love1 in a loving holiness1 that the unity of the body will be proved and promoted1 and prepared for the fuller workings of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the ,epistles to the ,corinthians and ,galatians1 division and distance among believers are named as the sure proof of the life of self and the flesh4 ,oh1 let us1 if we would be holy1 begin by being very gentle1 and patient1 and forgiving1 and kind1 and generous in our intercourse with all the ,father's children4 ,let us study the ,divine image of the love that seeketh not its own1 and pray unceasingly that the ,lord may make us to abound in love to each other4 ,the holiest will be the humblest and most self-forgetting1 the gentlest and most self-denying1 the kindest and most thoughtful of others for ,jesus' sake4 ',put on therefore1 as ,god's elect1 holy and beloved1 a heart of compassion1 kindness1 humility1 meekness1 long-suffering' 7,col4 iii4 #ab1 #ac74 ,and then the love toward all men4 ,a love proved in the conduct and intercourse of daily life4 ,a love that not only avoids anger and evil temper and harsh judgments1 but exhibits the more positive virtue of active devotion to the welfare and interests of all4 ,a charitable love that cares for the bodies as well as the souls4 ,a love that not only is ready to help when it is called1 but that really gives itself up to self-denial and self-sacrifice to seek out and relieve the needs of the most wretched and unworthy4 ,a love that does indeed take ,christ's love1 that brought ,him from heaven and led ,him to choose the cross1 as the only law and measure for its conduct1 and makes everything subordinate to the ,godlike blessedness of giving1 of doing good1 of embracing and saving the needy and lost4 ,thus abounding in love1 we shall be unblameable in holiness4 ,it is in ,christ we are holy2 of ,god we are in ,christ1 who is made of ,god unto us sanctification3 it is in this faith that ,paul prays that the ,lord1 our ,lord ,jesus1 may make us increase and abound in love4 ,the ,father is the fountain1 ,he is the channel2 the ,holy ,spirit is the living stream4 ,and ,he is our ,life1 through the ,spirit4 ,it is by faith in ,him1 by abiding in ,him and in ,his love1 by allowing1 in close union with ,him1 the ,spirit to shed abroad the love of ,god1 that we shall receive the answer to our prayer1 and shall by ,himself be established unblameable in holiness4 ,let it be with us a prayer of faith that changes into praise3 ,blessed be the ,lord1 who will make us increase and abound in love1 and will establish us unblameable in holiness before our ,god and ,father1 at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus with ,his holy ones4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,gracious ,god and ,father6 again do ,i thank ,thee for that wondrous salvation1 through sanctification of the ,spirit1 which has made us holy in ,christ4 ,and ,i thank ,thee that the ,spirit can so make us partakers of the life of ,christ1 that we too may be unblameable in holiness4 ,and that it is the ,lord ,himself who makes us to increase and abound in love1 to the end our hearts may be so established2 that the abounding love and the unblameable holiness are both from ,him4 ,blessed ,lord and ,saviour6 ,i come now to claim and take as my own1 what ,thou art able to do for me4 ,i am holy only in ,thee2 in ,thee ,i am holy4 ,in ,thee there is for me the power to abound in love4 ,o ,thou1 in whom the fulness of ,god's love abides1 and in whom ,i abide1 the ,lord1 my ,lord1 make me to abound in love4 ,in union with ,thee1 in the life of faith in which ,thou livest in me1 it can be and it shall be4 ,by the teaching of ,thy ,holy ,spirit lead me in all the footsteps of ,thy self-denying love1 that ,i too may be consumed in blessing others4 ,and thus1 ,lord6 mightily establish my heart to be unblameable in holiness4 ,let self perish at ,thy presence4 ,let ,thy ,holiness1 giving itself to make the sinner holy1 take entire possession1 until my heart and life are sanctified wholly1 and my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto ,thy coming4 ,amen4 #a4 ,let us pray very earnestly that our interest in the study of holiness may not be a thing of the intellect or the emotions1 but of the will and the life1 seen of all men in the daily walk and conversation4 ',abounding in love1' 'unblameable in holiness1' will give favour with ,god and man4 #b4 ',god is ,love2' ,creation is the outflow of love4 ,redemption is the sacrifice and the triumph of love4 ,holiness is the fire of love4 ,the beauty of the life of ,jesus is love4 ,all we enjoy of the ,divine we owe to love4 ,our holiness is not ,god's1 is not ,christ's1 if we do not love4 #c4 ',love seeketh not its own4' ',love never faileth4' ',love is the fulfilling of the law4' ',the greatest of these is love4' ',the end of the commandment is love4' ,to love ,god and man is to be holy4 ,in the intercourse of daily life1 holiness can have its simple and sweet beginnings and its exercise2 so1 in its highest attainment1 holiness is love made perfect4 #d4 ,faith has all its worth from love1 from the love of ,god1 whence it draws and drinks1 and the love to ,god and man which streams out of it4 ,let us be strong in faith1 then shall we abound in love4 #e4 ',the love of ,god hath been shed abroad in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost which was given unto us4' ,let this be our confidence4 ,twenty-sixth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and the ,will of ,god4 ',this is the will of ,god1 even your sanctification4'--#a ,thess4 iv4 #c4 ',lo1 ,i am come to do ,thy will4 ,by which will we have been sanctified1 through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4'--,heb4 x4 #i1 #aj4 ,in the will of ,god we have the union of ,his ,wisdom and ,power4 ,the ,wisdom decides and declares what is to be3 the ,power secures the performance4 ,the declarative will is only one side2 its complement1 the executive will1 is the living energy in which everything good has its origin and existence4 ,so long as we only look at the will of ,god in the former light1 as law1 we feel it a burden1 because we have not the power to perform--it is too high for us4 ,when faith looks to the ,power that works in ,god's will1 and carries it out1 it has the courage to accept it and fulfil it1 because it knows ,god ,himself is working it out4 ,the surrender in faith to the ,divine will as ,wisdom thus becomes the pathway to the experience of it as a ,power4 ',he doeth according to ,his will1' is then the language not only of forced submission1 but of joyful expectation4 ',this is the will of ,god1 your sanctification4' ,in the ordinary acceptation of these words1 they simply mean that among many other things that ,god has willed1 sanctification is one2 it is something in accordance with ,his will4 ,this thought contains teaching of great value4 ,god very distinctly and definitely has willed your sanctification3 your sanctification has its source and certainty in its being ,god's will4 ,we are 'elect in sanctification of the ,spirit1' 'chosen to be holy2' the purpose of ,god's will from eternity1 and ,his will now1 is our sanctification4 ,we have only to think of what we said of ,god's will being a ,divine power that works out what ,his wisdom has chosen1 to see what strength this truth will give to our faith that we shall be holy3 ,god wills it1 and will work it out for all and in all who do not resist it1 but yield themselves to its power4 ,seek your sanctification1 not only in the will of ,god1 as a declaration of what ,he wants you to be1 but as a revelation of what ,he ,himself will work out in you4 ,there is1 however1 another most precious thought suggested4 ,if our sanctification be ,god's will1 its central thought and its contents1 every part of that will must bear upon it1 and the sure entrance to sanctification will be the hearty acceptance of the will of ,god in all things4 ,to be one with ,god's will is to be holy4 ,let him who would be holy take his place here and 'stand in all the will of ,god4' ,he will there meet ,god ,himself1 and be made partaker of ,his ,holiness1 because ,his will works out its purpose in power to each one who yields himself to it4 ,everything in a life of holiness depends upon our being in the right relation to the will of ,god4 ,there are many ,christians to whom it appears impossible to think of their accepting all the will of ,god1 or of their being one with it4 ,they look upon the will of ,god in its thousand commands1 and its numberless providential orderings4 ,they have sometimes found it so hard to obey one single command1 or to give up willingly to some light disappointment4 ,they imagine that they would need to be a thousandfold holier and stronger in grace1 before venturing to say that they do accept all ,god's will1 whether to do or to bear4 ,they cannot understand that all the difficulty comes from their not occupying the right standpoint4 ,they are looking at ,god's will as at variance with their natural will1 and they feel that that natural will will never delight in all ,god's will4 ,they forget that the new man has a renewed will4 ,this new will delights in the will of ,god1 because it is born of it4 ,this new will sees the beauty and the glory of ,god's will1 and is in harmony with it4 ,if they are indeed ,god's children1 the very first impulse of the spirit of a child is surely to do the will of the ,father in heaven4 ,and they have but to yield themselves heartily and wholly to this spirit of sonship1 and they need not fear to accept ,god's will as theirs4 ,the mistake they make is a very serious one4 ,instead of living by faith they judge by feeling1 in which the old nature speaks and rules4 ,it tells them that ,god's will is often a burden too hard to be borne1 and that they never can have the strength to do it4 ,faith speaks differently4 ,it reminds us that ,god is ,love1 and that ,his will is nothing but ,love revealed4 ,it asks if we do not know that there is nothing more perfect or beautiful in heaven or earth than the will of ,god4 ,it shows us how in our conversion we have already professed to accept ,god as ,father and ,lord4 ,it assures us1 above all1 that if we will but definitely and trustingly give ourselves to that will which is ,love1 it will as ,love fill our hearts and make us delight in it1 and so become the power that enables us joyfully to do and to bear4 ,faith reveals to us that the will of ,god is the power of ,his love1 working out its plan in ,divine beauty in each one who wholly yields to it4 ,and which shall we now choose8 ,and where shall we take our place8 ,shall we attempt to accept ,christ as a ,saviour without accepting ,his will8 ,shall we profess to be the ,father's children1 and yet spend our life in debating how much of ,his will we shall perform8 ,shall we be content to go on from day to day with the painful consciousness that our will is not in harmony with ,god's will8 ,or shall we not at once and for ever give up our will as sinful to ,his1--to that ,will which ,he has already written on our heart8 ,this is a thing that is possible4 ,it can be done4 ,in a simple1 definite transaction with ,god1 we can say that we do accept ,his holy will to be ours4 ,faith knows that ,god will not pass such a surrender unnoticed1 but accept it4 ,in the trust that ,he now takes us up into ,his will1 and undertakes to breathe it into us1 with the love and the power to perform it--in this faith let us enter into ,god's will1 and begin a new life2 standing in1 abiding in the very centre of this most holy will4 ,such an acceptance of ,god's will prepares the believer1 through the ,holy ,spirit1 to recognise and know that will in whatever form it comes4 ,the great difference between the carnal and the spiritual ,christian is that the latter acknowledges ,god1 under whatever low and poor and human appearances ,he manifests ,himself4 ,when ,god comes in trials which can be traced to no hand but ,his1 he says1 ',thy will be done4' ,when trials come through the weakness of men or his own folly1 when circumstances appear unfavourable to his religious progress1 and temptations threaten to be too much for him and to overcome him1 he learns first of all to see ,god in everything1 and still to say1 ',thy will be done4' ,he knows that a child of ,god cannot possibly be in any situation without the will of ,his ,heavenly ,father1 even when that will has been to leave him to his own wilfulness for a time1 or to suffer the consequences of his own or others' sin4 ,he sees this1 and in accepting his circumstances as the will of ,god to try and prove him1 he is in the right position for now knowing and doing what is right4 ,seeing and honouring ,god's will thus in everything1 he learns always to abide in that will4 ,he does so also by doing that will4 ,as his spiritual discernment grows to say of whatever happens1 ',all things are of ,god1' so he grows too in wisdom and spiritual understanding to know the will of ,god as it is to be done4 ,in the indications of conscience and of ,providence1 in the teaching of the word and the ,spirit1 he learns to see how ,god's will has reference to every part and duty of life1 and it becomes his joy1 in all things1 to live1 'doing the will of ,god from the heart1 as unto the ,lord and not unto men4' ',labouring fervently in prayer to stand complete and fully assured in all the will of ,god1' he finds how blessedly the ,father has accepted his surrender1 and supplies all the light and strength that is needed that ,his will may be done by him on earth as it is in heaven4 ,let me ask every reader to say to a ,holy ,god1 whether he has indeed given himself to ,him to be made holy8 ,whether he has accepted1 and entered into1 and is living in1 the good and perfect will of ,god8 ,the question is not1 whether1 when affliction comes1 he accepts the inevitable and submits to a will he cannot resist4 ,but whether he has chosen the will of ,god as his chief good1 and has taken the life-principle of ,christ to be his3 ',i delight to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god4' ,this was the holiness of ,christ1 in which ,he sanctified ,himself and us1 the doing ,god's will4 ',in which will we have been sanctified4' ,it is this will of ,god which is our sanctification4 ,brother6 are you in earnest to be holy8 wholly possessed of ,god8 ,here is the path4 ,i plead with you not to be afraid or to hold back4 ,you have taken ,god to be your ,god2 have you really taken ,his will to be your will8 ,oh1 think of the privilege1 the blessedness1 of having one will with ,god6 and fear not to surrender yourself to it most unreservedly4 ,the will of ,god is1 in every part of it1 and in all its ,divine power1 your sanctification4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,blessed ,father6 ,i come to say that ,i see that ,thy will is my sanctification1 and there alone ,i would seek it4 ,graciously grant that1 by ,thy ,holy ,spirit which dwelleth in me1 the glory of that will1 and the blessedness of abiding in it1 may be fully revealed to me4 ,teach me to know it as the ,will of ,love1 purposing always what is the very best and most blest for ,thy child4 ,teach me to know it as the ,will of ,omnipotence1 able to work out its every counsel in me4 ,teach me to know it in ,christ1 fulfilled perfectly on my behalf4 ,teach me to know it as what the ,spirit wills and works in each one who yields to ,him4 ,o my ,father6 ,i acknowledge ,thy claim to have ,thy will alone done1 and am here for it to do with me as ,thou pleasest4 ,with my whole heart ,i enter into it1 to be one with it for ever4 ,thy ,holy ,spirit can maintain this oneness without interruption4 ,i trust ,thee1 my ,father1 step by step1 to let the light of ,thy will shine in my heart and on my path1 through that ,spirit4 ,may this be the holiness in which ,i live1 that ,i forget and lose self in pleasing and honouring ,thee4 ,amen4 #a4 ,make it a study1 in meditation and prayer and worship1 to get a full impression of the ,majesty1 the ,perfection1 the ,glory of the ,will of ,god1 with the privilege and possibility of living in it4 #b4 ,study it1 too1 as the expression of an infinite ,love and ,fatherliness2 its every manifestation full of loving-kindness4 ,every providence is ,god's will2 whatever happens1 meet ,god in it in humble worship4 ,every precept is ,god's will2 meet ,god in it with loving obedience4 ,every promise is ,god's will2 meet ,god in it with full trust4 ,a life in the will of ,god is rest and strength and blessing4 #c4 ,and forget not1 above all1 to believe in its ,omnipotent ,power4 ,he worketh all things after the counsel of ,his will4 ,in nature and those who resist ,him1 without their consent4 ,in ,his children1 according to their faith1 and as far as they will it4 ,do believe that the will of ,god will work out its counsel in you1 as you trust it to do so4 #d4 ,this will is ,infinite ,benevolence and ,beneficence revealed in the self-sacrifice of ,jesus4 ,live for others3 so can you become an instrument for the ,divine will to use 7,matt4 xviii4 #ad2 ,john vi4 #ci1 #dj74 ,yield yourselves to this redeeming will of ,god1 that it may get full possession1 and work out through you too its saving purpose4 #e4 ,christ is just the embodiment of ,god's will3 ,he is1 ,god's will done4 ,abide in ,him1 by abiding in1 by doing heartily and always1 the will of ,god4 ,a ,christian is1 like ,christ1 a man given up to the ,will of ,god4 ,twenty-seventh ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,service4 ',if a man therefore cleanse himself from these1 he shall be a vessel unto honour1 sanctified1 meet for the ,master's use1 prepared unto every good work4'--#b ,tim4 ii4 #ba4 ',a holy priesthood1 to offer up spiritual sacrifices4 ,a holy nation1 that ye may show forth the excellences of ,him who called you out of darkness into ,his marvellous light4'--#a ,pet4 ii4 #e1 #i4 ,through the whole of ,scripture we have seen that whatever ,god sanctifies is to be used in the service of ,his ,holiness4 ,his ,holiness is an infinite energy that only finds its rest in making holy3 to the revelation of what ,he is in ,himself1 ',i the ,lord am holy1' ,god continually adds the declaration of what ,he does1 ',i am the ,lord that make holy4' ,holiness is a burning fire that extends itself1 that seeks to consume what is unholy1 and to communicate its own blessedness to all that will receive it4 ,holiness and selfishness1 holiness and inactivity1 holiness and sloth1 holiness and helplessness1 are utterly irreconcilable4 ,whatever we read of as holy1 was taken into the service of the ,holiness of ,god4 ,let us just look back on the revelation of what is holy in ,scripture4 ,the seventh day was made holy1 that in it ,god might make ,his people holy4 ,the tabernacle was holy1 to serve as a dwelling for the ,holy ,one1 as the centre whence ,his ,holiness might manifest itself to the people4 ,the altar was most holy1 that it might sanctify the gifts laid on it4 ,the priests with their garments1 the house with its furniture and vessels1 the sacrifices and the blood1--whatever bore the name of holy had a use and a purpose4 ,of ,israel1 whom ,god redeemed from ,egypt that they might be a holy nation1 ,god said1 ',let my people go1 that they may serve me4' ,the holy angels1 the holy prophets and apostles1 the holy ,scriptures1--all bore the title as having been sanctified for the service of ,god4 ,our ,lord speaks of ,himself 'as the ,son1 whom the ,father sanctified and sent into the world4' ,and when ,he says1 ',i sanctify myself1' ,he adds at once the purpose3 it is in the service of the ,father and ,his redeemed ones1--'that they themselves may be sanctified in truth4' ,and can it be thought possible1 now that ,god1 in ,christ the ,holy ,one1 and in the ,holy ,spirit1 is accomplishing ,his purpose1 and gathering a people of saints1 'holy ones1' 'made holy in ,christ1' that now holiness and service would be put asunder8 ,impossible6 ,here first we shall fully realize how essential they are to each other4 ,let us try and grasp their mutual relation4 ,we are only made holy that we may serve4 ,we can only serve as we are holy4 ,holiness is essential to effectual service4 ,in the ,old ,testament we see degrees of holiness1 not only in the holy places1 but as much in the holy persons4 ,in the nation1 the ,levites1 the priests1 and then the ,high ,priest1 there is an advance from step to step3 as in each succeeding stage the circle narrows1 and the service is more direct and entire1 so the holiness required is higher and more distinct4 ,it is even so in this more spiritual dispensation3 the more of holiness1 the greater the fitness for service2 the more there is of true holiness1 the more there is of ,god1 and the more true and deep is the entrance ,he has had into the soul4 ,the hold ,he has on the soul to use it in ,his service is more complete4 ,in the ,church of ,christ there is a vast amount of work done which yields very little fruit4 ,many throw themselves into work in whom there is but little true holiness1 little of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,they often work most diligently1 and1 as far as human influence is concerned1 most successfully4 ,and yet true spiritual results in the building up of a holy temple in the ,lord are but few4 ,the ,lord cannot work in them1 because ,he has not the mastery of their inner life4 ,his personal indwelling and fellowship1 the rest of ,his ,holy ,presence1 ,his ,holiness reigning and ruling in the heart and life1--to all these they are comparative strangers4 ,it has been rightly said that work is the cure for spiritual poverty and disease2 to some believers who had been seeking holiness apart from service1 the call to work has been an unspeakable blessing4 ,but to many it has only been an additional blind to cover up the terrible want of heart-holiness and heart-fellowship with the living ,god4 ,they have thrown themselves into work more earnestly than ever1 and yet have not in their heart the rest-giving and refreshing witness that their work is acceptable and accepted4 ,my brother6 listen to the message4 ',if a man cleanse himself1 he shall be a vessel unto honour1 sanctified1 meet for the ,master's use1 prepared unto every good work4' ,you cannot have the law of service more clearly or beautifully laid down4 ,a vessel of honour1 one whom the ,king will delight to honour1 must be a vessel cleansed from all defilement of flesh and spirit4 ,then only can it be a sanctified vessel1 possessed and indwelt by ,god's ,holy ,spirit4 ,so it becomes meet for the ,master's use4 ,he can use it1 and work in it1 and wield it4 ,and so1 clean and holy1 and yielded into the ,master's hands1 we are ,divinely prepared for every good work4 ,holiness is essential to service4 ,if service is to be acceptable to ,god1 and effectual for its work on souls1 and to be a joy and a strength to ourselves1 we must be holy4 ,the will of ,god must first live in us1 if it is to be done by us4 ,how many faithful workers there are1 mourning the want of power2 longing and praying for it1 and yet not obtaining it6 ,they have spent their strength more in the outer court of work and service1 than in the inner life of fellowship and faith4 ,they truly have never understood that only as the ,master gets possession of them1 as the ,holy ,spirit has them at ,his disposal1 can ,he use them1 can they have true power4 ,they often long and cry for what they call a baptism of power4 ,they forget that the way to have ,god's power in us is for ourselves to be in ,his power4 ,put yourself into the power of ,god2 let ,his holy will live in you2 live in it and in obedience to it1 as one who has no power to dispose of himself2 let the ,holy ,spirit dwell within1 as in ,his ,holy ,temple1 revealing the ,holy ,one on the throne1 ruling all2 ,he will without fail use you as a vessel of honour1 sanctified and meet for the ,master's use4 ,holiness is essential to effectual service4 ,and service is no less essential to true holiness4 ,we have repeated it so often3 ,holiness is an energy1 an intense energy of desire and self-sacrifice1 to make others partakers of its own purity and perfection4 ,christ sacrificed ,himself--wherein did that sacrifice consist1 and what was its aim8 ,he sanctified ,himself that we might be sanctified too4 ,a holiness that is selfish is a delusion4 ,true holiness1 ,god's holiness in us1 works itself out in love1 in seeking and loving the unholy1 that they may become holy too4 ,self-sacrificing love is of the very essence of holiness4 ,the ,holy ,one of ,israel is its ,redeemer4 ,the ,holy ,one of ,god is the dying ,saviour4 ,the ,holy ,spirit of ,god makes holy4 ,there is no holiness in ,god but what is most actively engaged in loving and saving and blessing4 ,it must be so in us too4 ,let every thought of holiness1 every act of faith or prayer1 every effort in pursuit of it1 be animated by the desire and the surrender to the ,holiness of ,god for use in the attaining of its object4 ,let your whole life be one distinctly and definitely given up to ,god for ,his use and service4 ,your circumstances may appear to be unfavourable4 ,god may appear to keep the door closed against your working for ,him in the way you would wish2 your sense of unfitness may be painful4 ,still1 let it be a matter settled between ,god and the soul1 that your longing for holiness is that you may be fitter for ,him to use1 and that what ,he has given you of ,his ,holiness in ,christ and the ,spirit is all at ,his disposal1 waiting to be used4 ,be ready for ,him to use2 live out1 in a daily life of humble1 self-denying1 loving service of others1 what grace you have received4 ,you will find that in the union and interchange of worship and work1 ,god's ,holiness will rest upon you4 ',the ,father sanctified the ,son1 and sent ,him into the world4' ,the world is the place for the sanctified one1 to be its light1 its salt1 its life4 ,we are 'sanctified in ,christ ,jesus1' and sent into the world too4 ,oh1 let us not fear to accept our position--our double position2 in the world1 and in ,christ6 ,in the world1 with its sin and sorrow1 with its thousands of needs touching us at every point1 and its millions of souls all waiting for us4 ,and in ,christ too4 ,for the sake of that world we 'have been sanctified in ,christ1' we are 'holy in ,christ1' we have 'the spirit of sanctification' dwelling in us4 ,as a holy salt in a sinful world1 let us give ourselves to our holy calling4 ,let us come nearer and nearer to ,god who has called us4 ,let us root deeper and deeper in ,christ our sanctification1 in whom we are of ,god4 ,let us enter more firmly and more fully into that faith in ,him in whom we are1 by which our whole life will be covered and taken up in ,his4 ,let us beseech the ,father to teach us that ,his ,holy ,spirit does dwell in us every moment1 making1 if we live by faith1 ,christ with ,his ,holiness1 our home1 our abode1 our sure defence1 and our infinite supply4 ,as ,he which hath called us is holy1 let us be holy in ,his own ,son1 through ,his own ,spirit1 and the fire of ,his ,holy ,love will work through us its work of judging and condemning1 of saving and sanctifying4 ,a sanctified soul ,god will use to save4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,blessed ,master6 ,i thank ,thee for being anew reminded of the purpose of ,thy ,redeeming ,love4 ,thou gavest ,thyself that ,thou mightest cleanse for ,thyself a people of ,thine own1 zealous in good works4 ,thou wouldest make of each of us a vessel of honour1 cleansed and sanctified1 meet for ,thy use1 and prepared for every good work4 ,blessed ,lord6 write the lessons of ,thy word deep in my heart4 ,teach me and all ,thy people that if we would work for ,thee1 if we would have ,thee work in us1 and use us1 we must be very holy1 holy as ,god is holy4 ,and that if we would be holy1 we must be serving ,thee4 ,it is ,thy own ,spirit1 by which ,thou dost sanctify us to use us1 and dost sanctify in using4 ,to be entirely possessed of ,thee is the path to sanctity and service both4 ,most ,holy ,saviour6 we are in ,thee as our sanctification3 in ,thee we would abide4 ,in the rest of a faith that trusts ,thee for all1 in the power of a surrender that would have no will but ,thine1 in a love that would lose itself to be wholly ,thine1 ,blessed ,jesus1 we do abide in ,thee4 ,in ,thee we are holy3 in ,thee we shall bear much fruit4 ,oh1 be pleased to perfect ,thine own work in us6 ,amen4 #a4 ,it is difficult to make it clear in words how growth in holiness will simply reveal itself as an increasing simplicity and self-forgetfulness1 accompanied by the restful and most blessed assurance that ,god has complete possession of us and will use us4 ,we pass from the stage in which work presses as an obligation2 it becomes the joy of fruit-bearing2 faith's assurance that ,he is working out ,his will through us4 #b4 ,it has sometimes been said that people might be better employed in working for ,god than attending ,holiness ,conventions4 ,this is surely a misunderstanding4 ,it was before the throne of the ,thrice ,holy ,one1 and as he heard the ,seraphim sing of ,god's ,holiness1 that the prophet said1 ',here am ,i1 send me4' ,as the mission of ,moses1 and ,isaiah1 and the ,son1 whom the ,father sanctified and sent1 each had its origin in the revelation of ,god's ,holiness1 our missions will receive new power as they are more directly born out of the worship of ,god as the ,holy ,one1 and baptized into the ,spirit of ,holiness4 #c4 ,let every worker take time to hear ,god's double call4 ,if you would work1 be very holy4 ,if you would be holy1 give yourself to ,god to use in ,his work4 #d4 ,note the connection between 'sanctified' and 'meet for the ,master's use4' ,true holiness is being possessed of ,god2 true service being used of ,god4 ,how much service there is in which we are the chief agents1 and ask ,god to help and to bless us4 ,true service is being yielded up to the ,master for ,him to use4 ,then the ,holy ,ghost is the ,agent1 and we are the ,instruments of ,his will4 ,such service is ,holiness4 #e4 ',i sanctify ,myself1 that they also3' a reference to others is the root principle of all true holiness4 ,twenty-eighth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,the ,way into the ,holiest4 ',having therefore1 brethren1 boldness to enter into the ,holiest by the blood of ,jesus1 by the way which ,he dedicated1 a new and living way1 through the veil1 that is to say1 ,his flesh3 and having a great ,priest over the house of ,god2 let us draw near with a true heart1 in fulness of faith4'--,heb4 x4 #ai-bb4 ,when the ,high ,priest once a year entered into the second tabernacle within the veil1 it was1 we are told in the ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 'the ,holy ,ghost signifying that the way into the ,holiest of all was not yet made manifest4' ,when ,christ died1 the veil was rent2 all who were serving in the holy place had free access at once into the ,most ,holy2 the way into the ,holiest of all was opened up4 ,when the ,epistle passes over to its practical application 7x4 #ai71 all its teaching is summed up in the words3 ',having therefore1 brethren1 boldness to enter into the ,holiest1 let us draw near4' ,christ's redemption has opened the way to the ,holiest of all3 our acceptance of it must lead to nothing less than our drawing near and entering in4 ,the words of our text suggest to us four very precious thoughts in regard to the place of access1 the right of access1 the way of access1 the power of access4 ,the place of access4 ,whither are we invited to draw nigh8 ',having boldness to enter into the ,holiest4' ,the priests in ,israel might enter the holy place1 but were always kept excluded from the ,holiest1 ,god's immediate presence4 ,the rent veil proclaimed liberty of access into that ,presence4 ,it is there that believers as a royal priesthood are now to live and walk4 ,within the veil1 in the very ,holiest of all1 in the same place1 the heavenlies1 in which ,god dwells1 in ,god's very ,presence1 is to be our abode--our home4 ,some speak as if the1 ',let us draw near1' meant prayer1 and that in our special approach to ,god in acts of worship we enter the ,holiest4 ,no2 great as this privilege is1 ,god has meant something for us infinitely greater4 ,we are to draw near1 and dwell always1 to live our life and do our work within the sphere1 the atmosphere1 of the inner sanctuary4 ,it is ,god's ,presence makes holy ground2 ,god's immediate ,presence in ,christ makes any place the ,holiest of all3 and this is it into which we are to draw nigh1 and in which we are to abide4 ,there is not a single moment of the day1 there is not a circumstance or surrounding1 in which the believer may not be kept dwelling in the secret place of the ,most ,high4 ,as by faith he enters into the completeness of his reconciliation with ,god1 and the reality of his oneness with ,christ1 as he thus1 abiding in ,christ1 yields to the ,holy ,spirit to reveal within the ,presence of the ,holy ,one1 the ,holiest of all is around him1 he is indeed in it4 ,with an uninterrupted access he draws near4#ac ,the right of access4 ,the thought comes up1 and the question is asked3 ,is this not simply an ideal8 can it be a reality1 an experience in daily life to those who know how sinful their nature is8 ,blessed be ,god6 it is meant to be4 ,it is possible1 because our right of access rests not in what we are1 but in the blood of ,jesus4 ',having boldness to enter into the ,holiest by the blood of ,jesus1 let us draw near4' ,in the ,passover we saw how redemption1 and the holiness it aimed at1 were dependent on the blood4 ,in the sanctuary1 ,god's dwelling1 we know how in each part1 the court1 the holy place1 the ,most ,holy1 the sprinkling of blood was what alone secured access to ,god4 ,and now that the blood of ,jesus has been shed--oh6 in what ,divine power1 what intense reality1 what everlasting efficacy1 we now have access into the ,holiest of all1 the ,most ,holy of ,god's heart and ,his love6 ,we are indeed brought nigh by the blood4 ,we have boldness to enter by the blood4 ',the worshippers1 being once cleansed1 have no more conscience of sins4' ,walking in the light1 the blood of ,jesus cleanses in the power of an endless life1 with a cleansing that never ceases4 ,no consciousness of unworthiness or remaining sinfulness need hinder the boldness of access3 the liberty to draw near rests in the never-failing1 ever-acting1 ever-living efficacy of the ,precious ,blood4 ,it is possible for a believer to dwell in the ,holiest of all4 ,the way of access4 ,it is often thought that what is said of the new and living way1 dedicated for us by ,jesus1 means nothing different from the boldness through ,his blood4 ,this is not the case4 ,the words mean a great deal more4 ',having boldness by the blood of ,jesus1 let us draw near by the way which ,he dedicated for us4' ,that is1 ,he opened for us a way to walk in1 as ,he walked in it1 'a new and living way1 through the veil1 that is to say1 ,his flesh4' ,the way in which ,christ walked when ,he gave ,his blood1 is the very same in which we must walk too4 ,that way is the way of the ,cross4 ,there must not only be faith in ,christ's sacrifice1 but fellowship with ,him in it4 ,that way led to the rending of the veil of the flesh1 and so through the rent veil of the flesh1 in to ,god4 ,and was the veil of ,christ's holy flesh rent that the veil of our sinful flesh might be spared8 ,verily1 no4 ,he meant us to walk in the very same way in which ,he did1 following closely after ,himself4 ,he dedicated for us a new and living way through the veil1 that is1 ,his flesh4 ,as we go in through the rent veil of ,his flesh1 we find in it at once the need and the power for our flesh being rent too3 following ,jesus ever means conformity to ,jesus4 ,it is ,jesus with the rent flesh1 in whom we are1 in whom we walk4#ad ,there is no way to ,god but through the rending of the flesh4 ,in acceptance of ,christ's life and death by faith as the power that works in us1 in the power of the ,spirit which makes us truly one with ,christ1 we all follow ,christ as ,he passes on through the rent veil1 that is1 ,his flesh1 and become partakers with ,him of ,his crucifixion and death4 ,the way of the cross1 'by which ,i have been crucified1' is the way through the rent veil4 ,man's destiny1 fellowship with ,god in the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 is only reached through the sacrifice of the flesh4 ,and here we find now the solution of a great mystery--why so many ,christians remain standing afar off1 and never enter this ,holiest of all2 why the holiness of ,god's ,presence is so little seen on them4 ,they thought that it was only in ,christ that the flesh needed to be rent1 not in themselves4 ,they thought that the liberty they had in the blood was the new and living way4 ,they knew not that the way into true and full holiness1 into the ,holiest of all1 that the full entrance into the fellowship of the holiness of the ,great ,high ,priest1 was only to be reached through the rent veil of the flesh1 through conformity to the death of ,jesus4 ,this is in very deed the way ,he dedicated for us4 ,he is ,himself the way2 into ,his self-denial1 ,his self-sacrifice1 ,his crucifixion1 ,he takes up all who long to be holy with ,his ,holiness1 holy as ,he is holy4 ,the power of access4 ,does any one shrink back from entering the very ,holiest for fear of this rending of the flesh1 because he doubts whether he could bear it1 whether he could indeed walk in such a path8 ,let him listen once more4 ,hear what follows3 ',and having a ,great ,priest over the ,house of ,god1 let us draw near4' ,we have not only the ,holiest of all inviting us1 and the blood giving us boldness1 and the way through the rent veil consecrated for us1 but the ,great ,priest over the ,house of ,god1 the ,blessed ,living ,saviour1 to draw1 to help1 and to welcome us4 ,he is our ,aaron4 ,on ,his heart we see our name1 because ,he only lives to think of us1 and pray for us4 ,on ,his forehead we see ,god's name1 ',holy to the ,lord1' because in ,his ,holiness the sins of our holy things are covered4 ,in ,him we are accepted and sanctified2 ,god receives us as holy ones4 ,in the power of ,his love and ,his ,spirit1 in the power of ,him the ,holy ,one1 in the joy of drawing nearer to ,him and being drawn by ,him1 we gladly accept the way ,he has dedicated1 and walk in ,his holy footsteps of self-denial and self-sacrifice4 ,we see how the flesh is the thick veil that separates from the ,holy ,one who is a ,spirit1 and it becomes an unceasing and most fervent prayer1 that the crucifixion of the flesh may1 in the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 be in us a blessed reality4 ,with the glory of the ,holiest of all shining out on us through the opened veil1 and the ,precious ,blood speaking so loudly of boldness of access1 and the ,great ,priest beckoning us with ,his loving ,presence to draw near and be blessed1--with all this1 we dare no longer fear1 but choose the way of the rent veil as the path we love to tread1 and give ourselves to enter in and dwell within the veil1 in the very ,holiest of all4 ,and so our life here will be the earnest of the glory that is to come1 as it is written--note how we have the four great thoughts of our text over again--',these are they which came out of great tribulation1' that is1 by the way of the rent flesh2 'and they washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb1' their boldness through the blood2 'therefore are they before the throne of ,god1' their dwelling in the ,holiest of all2 'the ,lamb1 which is in the midst of the throne1 shall be their ,shepherd1' the ,great ,priest still the ,shepherd1 ,jesus ,himself their all in all4 ,brother6 do you see what holiness is1 and how it is to be found8 ,it is not something wrought in yourself4 ,it is not something put on you from without4 ,holiness is the ,presence of ,god resting on you4 ,holiness comes as you consciously abide in that ,presence1 doing all your work1 and living all your life as a sacrifice to ,him1 acceptable through ,jesus ,christ1 sanctified by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,oh1 be no longer fearful1 as if this life were not for you6 ,look to ,jesus2 having a ,great ,priest over the ,house of ,god1 let us draw near4 ,be occupied with ,jesus4 ,our ,brother has charge of the ,temple2 ,he has liberty to show us all1 to lead us into the secret of the ,father's presence4 ,the entire management of the ,temple has been given into ,his hands with this very purpose1 that all the feeble and doubting ones might come with confidence4 ,only trust yourself to ,jesus1 to ,his leading and keeping4 ,only trust ,jesus1 ,god's ,holy ,one1 your ,holy ,one2 it is ,his delight to reveal to you what ,he has purchased with ,his blood4 ,trust ,him to teach you the ordinances of the sanctuary4 ',that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the ,house of ,god1' ,he has been given4 ,having a ,great ,priest1 let us enter in1 let us dwell in the ,holiest of all4 ,in the power of the blood1 in the power of the new and living way1 in the power of the ,living ,jesus1 let the ,holiest of all1 the ,presence of ,god1 be the home of our soul4 ,you are ',holy in ,christ2' in ,christ you are in ,god's ,holy ,presence and ,love2 just stay there4 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,holy ,god6 how shall ,i praise ,thee for the liberty to enter into the ,holiest of all1 and dwell there8 ,and for the precious ,blood1 that brings us nigh8 ,and for the new and living way1 through the rent veil of that flesh which had separated us from ,thee1 in which my flesh now too has been crucified8 ,and for the ,great ,priest over the ,house of ,god1 our ,living ,lord ,jesus1 with ,whom and in ,whom we appear before ,thee8 ,glory be to ,thy ,holy ,name for this wonderful and most complete redemption4 ,i beseech ,thee1 ,o my ,god6 give me1 and all ,thy children1 some right sense of how really and surely we may live each day1 may spend our whole life1 within the veil1 in ,thine own ,immediate ,presence4 ,give us the spirit of revelation1 ,i pray ,thee1 that we may see how1 through the rent veil1 the glory of ,thy ,presence streameth forth from the ,most ,holy into the holy place2 how1 in the pouring out of the ,holy ,spirit1 the kingdom of heaven came to earth1 and all who yield themselves to that ,spirit may know that in ,christ they are indeed so near1 so very near to ,thee4 ,o ,blessed ,father6 let ,thy ,spirit teach us that this indeed is the holy life3 a life in ,christ the ,holy ,one1 always in the ,light and the ,presence of ,thy ,holy ,majesty4 ,most ,holy ,god6 ,i draw nigh4 ,in the power of the ,holy ,spirit ,i enter in4 ,i am now in the ,holiest of all4 ,and here ,i would abide in ,jesus1 my ,great ,priest--here1 in the ,holiest of all4 ,amen4 #a4 ,to abide in ,christ is to dwell in the ,holiest of all4 ,christ is not only the ,sacrifice1 and the ,way1 and the ,great ,priest1 but also ,himself the ,temple4 ',the ,lamb is the ,temple4' ,as the ,holy ,spirit reveals my union to ,christ more clearly1 and heart and will lose themselves in ,him1 ,i dwell in the ,holy ,presence1 which is the ,holiest of all4 ,you are 'holy in ,christ'--draw near1 enter in with boldness1 and take possession--have no home but in the ,holiest of all4 #b4 ',christ loved the ,church1 and gave ,himself for it1 that ,he might sanctify it4' ,he gave ,himself6 ,have you caught the force of that word8 ,because ,he would have no one else do it1 because none could do it2 to sanctify ,his ,church1 ,he gave ,himself to do it4 ,and so it is ,his own special beloved work to sanctify the ,church ,he loved4 ,just accept ,himself to do it4 ,he can and will make you holy1 that ,he may present you to ,himself glorious1 without spot or wrinkle4 ,let that word ,himself live in you4 ,the whole life and walk in the ,house of ,god is in ,his charge4 ,having a ,great ,priest1 let us draw near4 #c4 ,this entrance into the ,holiest of all--an ever fresh and ever deeper entrance--is1 at the same time1 an ever blessed resting in the ,father's ,presence4 ,faith in the blood1 following in the way of the rent flesh1 and fellowship with the ,living ,jesus1 are the three chief steps4 #d4 ,enter into the ,holiest of all1 and dwell there4 ,it will enter into thee1 and transform thee1 and dwell in thee4 ,and thy heart will be the ,holiest of all1 in which ,he dwells4 #e4 ,have we not at times been lifted1 by an effort of thought and will1 or in the fellowship of the saints1 into what seemed the ,holiest of all1 and speedily felt that the flesh had entered there too8 ,it was because we entered not by the new way of life--the way through death to life--the way of the rent veil of the flesh4 ,o our crucified ,lord6 teach us what this means2 give it us2 be it ,thyself to us4 #f4 ,let me remember that my access into the ,holiest is as a ,priest4 ,let me dwell before the ,lord all the day as an ,intercessor1 offering1 unceasingly1 pleadings which are acceptable in ,christ4 ,may ,god's ,church be like her of whom it is written1 ',she departed not from the temple1 but served ,god with fastings and prayers night and day4' ,it is for this we have access to the ,holiest of all4 #ac ,so near1 so very near to ,god1 ,i cannot nearer be2 ,for in the person of ,his ,son1 ,i am as near as ,he4 #ad ',christ suffered1 that ,he might bring us to ,god1 being put to death in the flesh1 but quickened in the ,spirit4' ',forasmuch then as ,christ suffered in the flesh1 arm ye yourselves also with the same mind4' ,the flesh and the ,spirit are antagonistic3 as the flesh dies1 the ,spirit lives4 ,twenty-ninth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,chastisement4 ',he chasteneth us for our profit1 that we may be partakers of ,his holiness4 ,follow after sanctification1 without which no man shall see the ,lord4'--,heb4 xii4 #aj1 #ad4 ,there is perhaps no part of ,god's word which sheds such ,divine light upon suffering as the ,epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,it does this because it teaches us what suffering was to the ,son of ,god4 ,it perfected ,his humanity4 ,it so fitted ,him for ,his work as the ,compassionate ,high ,priest4 ,it proved that ,he1 who had fulfilled ,god's will in suffering obedience1 was indeed worthy to be its executor in glory1 and to sit down on the right hand of the ,majesty on high4 ',it became ,god1 in bringing many sons unto glory1 to make the ,author of their salvation perfect through sufferings4' ',though ,he was a ,son1 yet learned ,he obedience by the things which ,he suffered1 and having been made perfect1 became the ,author of eternal salvation to all them that obey ,him4' ,as ,he said ,himself of ,his suffering1 ',i sanctify myself1' so we see here that ,his sufferings were indeed to ,him the pathway to perfection and holiness4 ,what ,christ was and won was all for us4 ,the power which suffering was proved to have in ,him to work out perfection1 the power which ,he imparted to it in sanctifying ,himself through suffering1 is the power of the new life that comes from ,him to us4 ,in the light of ,his example we can see1 in the faith of ,his power we too can prove1 that suffering is to ,god's child the token of the ,father's love1 and the channel of ,his richest blessing4 ,to such faith the apparent mystery of suffering is seen to be nothing but a ,divine need--the light affliction that works out--yea1 works out and actually effects the exceeding weight of glory4 ,we agree not only to what is written1 ',it became ,him to make the ,author of salvation perfect through suffering1' but understand somewhat how ,divinely becoming and meet it is that we too should be sanctified by suffering4 ',he chasteneth us for our profit1 that we should be made partakers of ,his holiness4' ,of all the precious words ,holy ,scripture has for the sorrowful1 there is hardly one that leads us more directly and more deeply into the fulness of blessing that suffering is meant to bring4 ,it is ,his ,holiness1 ,god's own ,holiness1 we are to be made partakers of4 ,the ,epistle had spoken very clearly of our sanctification from its ,divine side1 as wrought out for us1 and to be wrought in us1 by ,jesus ,himself4 ',he which sanctifieth and they which are sanctified are all of one4' ',we have been sanctified by the one offering of ,christ4' ,in our text we have the other side1 the progressive work by which we are personally to accept and voluntarily to appropriate this ,divine ,holiness4 ,in view of all there is in us that is at variance with ,god's will1 and that must be discovered and broken down1 before we understand what it is to give up our will and delight in ,god's2 in view of the personal fellowship of suffering which alone can lead to the full appreciation of what ,jesus bore and did for us2 in view1 too1 of the full personal entrance into and satisfaction with the love of ,god as our sufficient portion2 chastisement and suffering are indispensable elements in ,god's work of making holy4 ,in these three aspects we shall see how what the ,son needed is what we need1 how what was of such unspeakable value to the ,son will to us be no less rich in blessing4 ,chastisement leads to the acceptance of ,god's will4 ,we have seen how ,god's will is our sanctification2 how it is in the will of ,god ,christ has sanctified us2 yea more1 how ,he found the power to sanctify us in sanctifying ,himself by the entire surrender of ,his will to ,god4 ,his ',i delight to do ,thy will' derived its worth from ,his continual ',not my will4' ,and wherever ,god comes with chastisement or suffering1 the very first object ,he has in view is1 to ask and to work in us union with ,his own blessed will1 that through it we may have union with ,himself and ,his love4 ,he comes in some one single point in which ,his will crosses our most cherished affection or desire1 and asks the surrender of what we will to what ,he wills4 ,when this is done willingly and lovingly1 ,he leads the soul on to see how the claim for the sacrifice in the individual matter is the assertion of a principle--that in everything ,his will is to be our one desire4 ,happy the soul to whom affliction is not a series of single acts of conflict and submission to single acts of ,his will1 but an entrance into the school where we prove and approve all the good and perfect and acceptable will of ,god4 ,it has sometimes appeared1 even to ,god's children1 as if affliction were not a blessing3 it so rouses the evil nature1 and calls forth all the opposition of the heart against ,god's will1 that it has brought the loss of the peace and the piety that once appeared to reign4 ,even in such cases it is working out ,god's purpose4 ',that ,he might humble thee1 to prove thee1 to know what was in thine heart1' is still ,his object in leading into the wilderness4 ,to an extent we are not aware of1 our religion is often selfish and superficial3 when we accept the teaching of chastisement in discovering the self-will and love of the world which still prevails1 we have learnt one of its first and most needful lessons4 ,this lesson has special difficulty when the trial does not come direct from ,god1 but through men or circumstances4 ,in looking at second causes1 and in seeking for their removal1 in the feeling of indignation or of grief1 we often entirely forget to see ,god's will in everything ,his ,providence allows4 ,as long as we do so1 the chastisement is fruitless2 and perhaps only hardens the more4 ,if1 in our study of the pathway of ,holiness1 there has been awakened in us the desire to accept and adore1 and stand complete in1 all the will of ,god1 let us in the very first place seek to recognise that will in everything that comes on us4 ,the sin of him who vexes us is not ,god's will4 ,but it is ,god's will that we should be in that position of difficulty to be tried and tested4 ,let our first thought be3 this position of difficulty is my ,father's will for me3 ,i accept that will as my place now where ,he sees it fit to try me4 ,such acceptance of the trial is the way to turn it into blessing4 ,it will lead on to an ever clearer abiding in all the will of ,god all the day4 ,chastisement leads to the fellowship of ,god's ,son4 ,the will of ,god out of ,christ is a law we cannot fulfil4 ,the will of ,god in ,christ is a life that fills us4 ,he came in the name of our fallen humanity1 and accepted all ,god's will as it rested on us1 both in the demands of the law1 and in the consequences which sin had brought upon man4 ,he gave ,himself entirely to ,god's will1 whatever it cost ,him4 ,and so ,he paved for us a way through suffering1 not only through it in the sense of past it and out of it1 but by means and in virtue of it1 into the love and glory of the ,father4 ,and it is in the power which ,christ gives in fellowship with ,himself that we too can love the way of the ,cross1 as the best and most blessed way to the ,crown4 ,scripture says that the will of ,god is our sanctification1 and also that ,christ is our ,sanctification4 ,it is only in ,christ that we have the power to love and rejoice in the will of ,god4 ,in ,him we have the power4 ,he became our ,sanctification once for all by delighting to do that will2 ,he becomes our ,sanctification in personal experience1 by teaching us to delight to do it4 ,he learned to do it2 ,he could not become perfect in doing it otherwise than by suffering4 ,in suffering ,he draws nigh2 ,he makes our suffering the fellowship of ,his suffering2 and in it makes ,himself1 who was perfected through suffering1 our ,sanctification4 ,o ye suffering ones6 all ye whom the ,father is chastening6 come and see ,jesus suffering1 giving up ,his will1 being made perfect1 sanctifying ,himself4 ,his suffering is the secret of ,his ,holiness1 of ,his ,glory1 of ,his ,life4 ,will you not thank ,god for anything that can admit you into the nearer fellowship of your blessed ,lord8 ,shall we not accept every trial1 great or small1 as the call of ,his love to be one with ,himself in living only for ,god's will4 ,this is ,holiness1 to be one with ,jesus as ,he does the will of ,god1 to abide in ,jesus who was made perfect through suffering4 ,chastisement leads to the enjoyment of ,god's love4 ,many a father has been surprised as he made his first experience of how a child1 after being punished in love1 began to cling to him more tenderly than before4 ,even so1 while to those who live at a distance from their ,father1 the misery in this world appears to be the one thing that shakes their faith in ,god's ,love1 it is just through suffering that ,his children learn to know the ,reality of that ,love4 ,the chastening is so distinctly a father's prerogative2 it leads so directly to the confession of its needfulness and its lovingness2 it wakens so powerfully the longing for pardon and comfort and deliverance1 that it does indeed become1 strange though this may seem1 one of the surest guides into the deeper experience of the ,divine ,love4 ,chastening is the school in which the blessed lesson is learnt that the will of ,god is all ,love1 and that ,holiness is the fire of ,love1 consuming that it may purify1 destroying the dross only that it may assimilate into its own perfect purity all that yields itself to the wondrous change4 ',we know and have believed the love which ,god hath in us4 ,god is love3 and he that abideth in love abideth in ,god1 and ,god in ,him4' ,man's destiny is fellowship with ,god1 the fellowship1 the mutual indwelling of love4 ,it is only by faith that this ,love of ,god can be known4 ,and faith can only grow by exercise1 can only thrive in trial3 when visible things fail1 its energy is roused to yield itself to be possessed by the ,invisible1 by the ,divine4 ,chastisement is the nurse of faith2 one of its chosen attendants1 to lead deeper into the ,love of ,god4 ,this is the new and living way1 the way of the rent flesh in fellowship with ,jesus leading up into the ,holiest of all4 ,there it is seen how the ,justice that will not spare the child1 and the ,love that sustains and sanctifies it1 are both one in the ,holiness of ,god4 #j ye chastened saints6 who are so specially being led in the way that goes through the rent veil of the flesh1 you have boldness to enter in4 ,draw near2 come and dwell in the ,holiest of all4 ,make your abode in the ,holiest of all3 there you are made partakers of ,his ,holiness4 ,chastisement is bringing your heart into unity with ,god's ,will1 ,god's ,son1 ,god's ,love4 ,abide in ,god's ,will4 ,abide in ,god's ,son4 ,abide in ,god's ,love4 ,dwell1 within the veil1 in the ,holiest of all4 ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,holy ,god6 once again ,i bless ,thee for the wondrous revelation of ,thy ,holiness4 ,not only have ,i heard ,thee speak1 ',i am holy1' but ,thou hast invited me to fellowship with ,thyself3 ',be holy1 as ,i am holy4' ,blessed be ,thy name6 ,i have heard more even3 ',i make holy1' is ,thy word of promise1 pledging ,thine own ,power to work out the purpose of ,thy ,love4 ,i do thank ,thee for what ,thou hast revealed in ,thy ,son1 in ,thy ,spirit1 in ,thy ,word1 of the path of ,holiness4 ,but how shall ,i bless ,thee for the lesson of this day1 that there is not a loss or sorrow1 not a pain or care1 not a temptation or trial1 but ,thy love also means it1 and makes it1 to be a help in working out the holiness of ,thy people4 ,through each ,thou drawest to ,thyself1 that they may taste how1 in accepting ,thy ,will of ,love1 there is blessing and deliverance4 ,blessed ,father6 ,thou knowest how often ,i have looked upon the circumstances and the difficulties of this life as hindrances4 ,oh1 let them all1 in the light of ,thy holy purpose to make us partakers of ,thy ,holiness1 in the light of ,thy ,will and ,thy ,love1 from this hour be helps4 ,let1 above all1 the path of ,thy ,blessed ,son1 proving how suffering is the discipline of a ,father's love1 and surrender the secret of holiness1 and sacrifice the entrance to the ,holiest of all1 be so revealed that in the power of ,his ,spirit and ,his grace that path may become mine4 ,let even chastening1 even the least1 be from ,thine own hand1 making me partaker of ,thy ,holiness4 ,amen4 #a4 ,how wonderful the revelation in the ,epistle to the ,hebrews of the holiness and the holy making power of suffering1 as seen in the ,son of ,god6 ',he learned obedience by the things which ,he suffered4' ',it became ,god to make the ,author of our salvation perfect through suffering1 for both ,he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one4' ',in that ,he ,himself hath suffered1 ,he is able to succour4' ',we behold ,jesus1 because of the suffering of death1 crowned with glory and honour4' ,suffering is the way of the rent veil1 the new and living way ,jesus walked in and opened for us4 ,let all sufferers study this4 ,let all who are 'holy in ,christ' here learn to know the ,christ in whom they are holy1 and the way in which ,he sanctified ,himself and sanctifies us4 #b4 ,if we begin by realizing the sympathy of ,jesus with us in our suffering1 it will lead us on to what is more3 sympathy with ,jesus in ,his suffering1 fellowship with ,him to suffer even as ,he did4 #c4 ,let suffering and holiness be inseparably linked1 as in ,god's mind and in ,christ's person1 so in your life through the ,spirit4 ',it became ,god to make ,him perfect through suffering2 for both ,he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one4' ,let every trial1 small or great1 be the touch of ,god's hand1 laying hold on you1 to lead you to holiness4 ,give yourself into that hand4 #d4 ',insomuch as ye are partakers of ,christ's sufferings1 rejoice2 for the ,spirit of glory and of ,god resteth on you4' ,thirtieth ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,the ,unction from the ,holy ,one4 ',and ye have an anointing from the ,holy ,one1 and ye know all things4 ,and as for you1 the anointing which ye received of ,him abideth in you1 and ye need not that any one teach you2 but as ,his anointing teacheth you concerning all things1 and is true1 and is no lie1 and even as it taught you1 ye abide in ,him4'--#a ,john ii4 #bj1 #bg4 ,in the revelation by ,moses of ,god's ,holiness and ,his way of making holy1 the priests1 and specially the high priests1 were the chief expression of ,god's ,holiness in man4 ,in the priests themselves1 the holy anointing oil was the one great symbol of the grace that made holy4 ,moses was to make an holy anointing oil3 ',and thou shalt take of the anointing oil1 and sprinkle it upon ,aaron and upon his sons1 and he shall be hallowed1 and his sons with him4' ',this shall be an holy anointing oil unto me4 ,upon man's flesh shall it not be poured2 neither shall ye make any other like it2 it is holy1 it shall be holy unto you' 7,exod4 xxix4 #ba1 xxx4 #be-cb74 ,with this the priests1 and specially the high priests1 were to be anointed and consecrated3 ',he that is the high priest among you1 upon whose head the anointing oil was poured1 shall not go out of the holy place1 nor profane the holy place of his ,god2 for the crown of the anointing oil of his ,god is upon him' 7,lev4 xxi4 #aj1 #ab74 ,and even so it is said of ,david1 as type of the ,messiah1 ',our king is of the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,i have found ,david1 my servant2 with my holy oil have ,i anointed him4' ,we know how the ,hebrew name ,messiah1 and the ,greek ,christ1 has reference to this4 ,so1 in the passage just quoted1 the ,hebrew is1 'with my holy oil ,i have messiahed him4' ,and so in a passage like ,acts x4 #ch3 ',concerning ,jesus of ,nazareth1 whom ,god christed with the ,holy ,ghost and with power4' ,or ,ps4 xlv43 ',god hath messiahed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows2' in ,heb4 i4 #i1 ',thy ,god hath christed thee with the oil of gladness4' ,and so 7as one of our ,reformed ,catechisms1 the ,heidelberg1 has it1 in answer to the question1 ,why art thou called a ,christian87 we are called ,christians1 because we are fellow-partakers with ,him of ,his christing1 ,his anointing4 ,this is the anointing of which ,john speaks1 the chrisma or christing of the ,holy ,one4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the holy anointing which every believer receives3 what ,god did to ,his ,son to make ,him the ,christ1 ,he does to me to make me a ,christian4 ',ye have the anointing of the ,holy ,one4' #a4 ,ye have an anointing from the ,holy ,one4 ,it is as the ,holy ,one that the ,father gives the anointing3 that wherewith ,he anoints is called the oil of holiness1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,holiness is indeed a ,divine ointment4 ,just as there is nothing so subtle and penetrating as the odour with which the ointment fills a house1 so holiness is an indescribable1 all-pervading breath of heavenliness which pervades the man on whom the anointing rests4 ,holiness does not consist in certain actions3 this is righteousness4 ,holiness is the unseen and yet manifest presence of the ,holy ,one resting on ,his anointed4 ,direct from the ,holy ,one1 the anointing is alone received1 or rather1 only in the abiding fellowship with ,him in ,christ1 who is the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,and who receives it8 ,only he who has given himself entirely to be holy as ,god is holy4 ,it was the priest1 who was separated to be holy to the ,lord1 who received the anointing3 upon other men's flesh it was not to be poured4 ,how many would fain have the precious ointment for the sake of its perfume to themselves6 ,no1 only he who is wholly consecrated to the service of the ,holy ,one1 to the work of the sanctuary1 may receive it4 ,if any one had said3 ,i would fain have the anointing1 but not be made a priest2 ,i am not ready to go and always be at the call of sinners seeking their ,god1 he could have no share in it4 ,holiness is the energy that only lives to make holy1 and to bless in so doing3 the anointing of the ,holy ,one is for the priest1 the servant of ,god ,most ,high4 ,it is only in the intensity of a soul truly roused and given up to ,god's glory1 ,god's kingdom1 ,god's work1 that holiness becomes a reality4 ,the holy garments were only prepared for priests and their service4 ,in all our seekings after holiness1 let us remember this4 ,as we beware of the error of thinking that work for ,christ will make holy1 let us also watch against the other1 the straining after holiness without work4 ,it is the priest who is set apart for the service of the holy place and the ,holy ,one1 it is the believer who is ready to live and die that the ,holiness of ,god may triumph among men around him1 who will receive the anointing4 #b4 ',the anointing teacheth you4' ,the new man is created in knowledge1 as well as in righteousness and holiness4 ,christ is made to us wisdom1 as well as righteousness and sanctification4 ,god's service and our holiness are above all to be a free and full1 an intelligent and most willing1 approval of ,his blessed will4 ,and so the anointing1 to fit us for the service of the sanctuary1 teaches us to know all things4 ,just as the perfume of the ointment is the most subtle essence1 something that has never yet been found or felt1 except as it is smelt1 so the spiritual faculty which the anointing gives is the most subtle there can be4 ,it makes 'quick of scent in the fear of the ,lord3' it teaches us by a ,divine instinct1 by which the anointed one recognises what has the heavenly fragrance in it1 and what is of earth4 ,it is the anointing that makes the ,word and the name of ,jesus in the ,word to be indeed as ointment poured forth4 ,the great mark of the anointing is thus1 teachableness4 ,it is the great mark of ,christ1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 the ,anointed ,one1 that ,he listens3 ',i speak not of myself2 as ,i hear1 so ,i speak4' ,and so it is of the ,holy ,spirit too3 ',he shall not speak out of ,himself3 whatsoever ,he shall hear1 that shall ,he speak4' ,it cannot be otherwise3 one anointed with the anointing of this ,christ1 with this ,holy ,spirit1 will be teachable1 will listen to be taught4 ',the anointing teacheth4' ',and ye need not that any one teach you3 but the anointing teacheth you concerning all things4' ',they shall be all taught of ,god1' includes every believer4 ,the secret of true holiness is a very direct and personal relation to the ,holy ,one3 all the teaching through the word or men made entirely dependent on and subordinate to the personal teaching of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the teaching comes through the anointing4 ,not1 in the first place1 in the thoughts or feelings1 but in that all-pervading fragrance which comes from the fresh oil having penetrated the whole inner man4 #c4 ',and the anointing abideth in you4' ',in you4' ,in the spiritual life it is of deep importance ever to maintain the harmony between the objective and the subjective3 ,god in ,christ above me1 ,god in the ,spirit within me4 ,in us1 not as in a locality1 but in us1 as one with us1 entering into the most secret part of our being1 and pervading all1 dwelling in our very body1 the anointing abideth in us1 forming part of our very selves4 ,and this just in proportion as we know it and yield ourselves to it1 as we wait and are still to let the secret fragrance permeate our whole being4 ,and this1 again1 not interruptedly1 but as a continuous and unvarying experience4 ,above circumstances and feelings1 'the anointing abideth4' ,not1 indeed1 as a fixed state or as something in our own possession2 but1 according to the law of the new life1 in the dependence of faith on the ,holy ,one1 and in the fellowship of ,jesus4 ',i am anointed with fresh oil1'--this is the objective side2 every new morning the believer waits for the renewal of the ,divine gift from the ,father4 ',the anointing abideth in you1'--this is the subjective side2 the holy life1 the life of faith and fellowship1 the anointing1 is always1 from moment to moment1 a spiritual reality4 ,the holy anointing oil1 always fresh1 the anointing abiding always1 is the secret of holiness4 #d4 ',and even as it taught you1 ye abide in ,him4' ,here we have again the ,holy ,trinity3 the ,holy ,one1 from whom the holy anointing comes2 the ,holy ,spirit1 who is ,himself the anointing2 and ,christ1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 in whom the anointing teaches us to abide4 ,in ,christ the unseen holiness of ,god was set before us1 and brought nigh3 it became human1 vested in a human nature1 that it might be communicated to us4 ,within us dwells and works the ,holy ,spirit1 drawing us out to the ,christ of ,god1 uniting us in heart and will to ,him1 revealing ,him1 forming ,him within us1 so that ,his likeness and mind are embodied in us4 ,it is thus we abide in ,christ3 the holy anointing of the ,holy ,one teacheth it to us4 ,it is this that is the test of the true anointing3 abiding in ,christ1 as ,he meant it1 becomes truth in us4 ,here is the life of holiness as the ,thrice ,holy gives it3 the ,father1 the first1 the ,holy ,one1 making holy2 the ,son1 the second1 ,his ,holy ,one1 in whom we are2 the ,spirit1 the third1 who dwells in us1 and through whom we abide in ,christ1 and ,christ in us4 ,thus it is that the ,thrice ,holy makes us holy4 ,let us study the ,divine anointing4 ,it comes from the ,holy ,one4 ,there is no other like it4 ,it is ,god's way of making us holy--,his holy priests4 ,it is ,god's way of making us partakers of holiness in ,christ4 ,the anointing1 received of ,him day by day1 abiding in us1 teaching us all things1 especially teaching us to abide in ,christ1 must be on us every day4 ,its subtle1 all-pervading power must go through our whole life3 the odour of the ointment must fill the house4 ,blessed be ,god1 it can do so6 ,the anointing that abideth makes the abiding in ,christ a reality and a certainty2 and ,god ,himself1 the ,holy ,one1 makes the abiding anointing a reality and a certainty too4 ,to ,his ,holy ,name be the praise6 ,,be ,,holy1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,o ,thou1 who art the ,holy ,one1 ,i come to ,thee now for the renewed anointing4 ,o ,father6 this is the one gift ,thy child may most surely count on--the gift of ,thy ,holy ,spirit4 ,grant me now to sing1 ',thou anointest my head2' ',i am anointed with fresh oil4' ,i desire to confess with deep shame that ,thy ,spirit has been sorely grieved and dishonoured4 ,how often the fleshly mind has usurped ,his place in ,thy worship6 ,how much the fleshly will has sought to do ,his work6 ,o my ,father6 let ,thy light shine through me to convince me very deeply of this4 ,let ,thy judgment come on all that there is of human willing and running4 ,blessed ,father6 grant me1 according to the riches of ,thy glory1 even now to be strengthened with might by ,thy ,spirit in the inner man4 ,strengthen my faith to believe in ,christ for a full share in ,his anointing4 ,oh1 teach me day by day to wait for and receive the anointing with fresh oil6 ,o my ,father6 draw me and all ,thy children to see that for the abiding in ,christ we need the abiding anointing4 ,father6 we would walk humbly1 in the dependence of faith1 counting upon the inner and ever-abiding anointing4 ,may we so be a sweet savour of ,christ to all4 ,amen4 #a4 ,i think ,i know now the reason why at times we fail in the abiding4 ,we think and read1 we listen and pray1 we try to believe and strive to look to ,jesus only1 and yet we fail4 ,what was wanting was this3 ',his anointing teacheth you2 even as it taught you1 ye abide in him2' so far1 and no farther4 #b4 ,the washing always precedes the anointing3 we cannot have the anointing if we fail in the cleansing4 ,when cleansed and anointed we are fit for use4 #c4 ,would you have the abiding anointing8 ,yield yourself wholly to be sanctified and made meet for the ,master's use3 dwell in the ,holiest of all1 in ,god's presence3 accept every chastisement as a fellowship in the way of the rent flesh3 be sure the anointing will flow in union with ,jesus4 ',it is like the precious ointment upon the head of ,aaron1 that went down to the skirts of his garments4' #d4 ,the anointing is the ,divine eye-salve1 opening the eyes of the heart to know ,jesus4 ,so it teaches to abide in ,him4 ,i am sure most ,christians have no conception of the danger and deceitfulness of a thought religion1 with sweet and precious thoughts coming to us in books and preaching1 and little power4 ,the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit is in the heart first2 man's teaching in the mind4 ,let all our thinking ever lead us to cease from thought1 and to open the heart and will to the ,spirit to teach there in ,his own ,divine way1 deeper than thought and feeling4 ,unseen1 within the veil1 the ,holy ,spirit abideth4 ,be silent and still1 believe and expect1 and cling to ,jesus4 #e4 ,oh that ,god would visit ,his ,church1 and teach ,his children what it is to wait for1 and receive1 and walk in the full anointing1 the anointing that abideth and teacheth to abide6 ,oh that the truth of the personal leading of the ,holy ,spirit in every believer were restored in the ,church6 ,he is doing it2 ,he will do it4 ,thirty-first ,day4 ,,holy ,,in ,,christ4 ,holiness and ,heaven4 ',seeing that all these things shall be dissolved1 what manner of men ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness8'--#b ,pet4 iii4 #aa4 ',follow after the sanctification without which no man shall see the ,lord4'--,heb4 xii4 #ad4 ',he that is holy1 let him be made holy still4444 ,the grace of the ,lord ,jesus be with the holy ones4 ,amen4'--,rev4 xxii4 #aa1 #ba4 ,o my brother1 we are on our way to see ,god4 ,we have been invited to meet the ,holy ,one face to face4 ,the infinite mystery of holiness1 the glory of the ,invisible ,god1 before which the seraphim veil their faces1 is to be unveiled1 to be revealed to us4 ,and that not as a thing we are to look upon and to study4 ,but we are to see the ,thrice ,holy ,one1 the ,living ,god ,himself4 ,god1 the ,holy ,one1 will show ,himself to us3 we are to see ,god4 ,oh1 the infinite grace1 the inconceivable blessedness6 we are to see ,god4 ,we are to see ,god1 the ,holy ,one4 ,and all our schooling here in the life of holiness is simply the preparation for that meeting and that vision4 ',blessed are the pure in heart1 for they shall see ,god4' ',follow after the sanctification1 without which no man shall see the ,lord4' ,since the time when ,god said to ,israel1 ',be ye holy1 as ,i am holy1' ,holiness was revealed as the only meeting-place between ,god and ,his people4 ,to be holy was to be the common ground on which they were to stand with ,him2 the one attribute in which they were to be like ,god2 the one thing that was to prepare them for the glorious time when ,he would no longer need to keep them away1 but would admit them to the full fellowship of ,his glory1 to have the word fulfilled in them3 ',he that is holy1 let him be made yet more holy4' ,in his second epistle1 ,peter reminds believers that the coming of the day of the ,lord is to be preceded and accompanied by the most tremendous catastrophe--the dissolution of the heavens and the earth4 ,he makes it a plea with them to give diligence that they may be found without spot and blameless in ,his sight4 ,and he asks them to think and say1 under the deep sense of what the coming of the day of ,god would be and would bring1 what the life of those ought to be who look for such things3 ',what manner of person ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness8' ,holiness must be its one1 its universal characteristic4 ,at the close of our meditations on ,god's call to ,holiness1 we may take ,peter's question1 and in the light of all that ,god has revealed of ,his ,holiness1 and all that waits still to be revealed1 ask ourselves1 ',what manner of men ought we to be in all holy living and godliness8' ,note first the meaning of the question4 ,in the original ,greek1 the words living and godliness are plural4 ,alford says1 ',in holy behaviours and pieties2 the plurals mark the holy behaviour and piety in all its forms and examples4' ,peter would plead for a life of holiness pervading the whole man3 our behaviours towards men1 and our pieties towards ,god4 ,true holiness cannot be found in anything less4 ,holiness must be the one1 the universal characteristic of our ,christian life4 ,in ,god we have seen that holiness is the central attribute1 the comprehensive expression for ,divine perfection1 the attribute of all the attributes1 the all-including epithet by which ,he ,himself1 as ,redeemer and ,father1 ,his ,son and ,his ,spirit1 ,his ,day1 ,his ,house1 ,his ,law1 ,his ,servants1 ,his ,people1 ,his ,name1 are marked and known4 ,always and in everything1 in ,judgment as in ,mercy1 in ,his ,exaltation and ,his ,condescension1 in ,his ,hiddenness and ,his ,revelation1 always and in everything1 ,god is the ,holy ,one4 ,and the ,word would teach us that the reign of ,holiness1 to be true and pleasing to ,god1 must be supreme1 must be in all holy living and godliness4 ,there must not be a moment of the day1 nor a relation in life2 there must be nothing in the outer conduct1 nor in the inmost recesses of the heart2 there must be nothing belonging to us1 whether in worship or in business1 that is not holy4 ,the ,holiness of ,jesus1 the ,holiness which comes of the ,spirit's anointing1 must cover and pervade all4 ,nothing1 nothing may be excluded1 if we are to be holy2 it must be as ,peter said when he spoke of ,god's call--holy in all manner of living2 it must be as he says here--'in all holy living and godliness4' ,to use the significant language of the ,holy ,spirit3 ,everything must be done1 'worthily of the holy ones1' 'as becometh holy ones' 7,rom4 xvi4 #c2 ,eph4 v4 #c74 ,note1 too1 the force of the question4 ,peter says1 ',wherefore1 beloved1 seeing that ye look for these things4' ,yes1 let us think what that means4 ,we have been studying1 down through the course of ,revelation1 the wondrous grace and patience with which ,god has made known and made partaker of ,his holiness1 all in preparation for what is to come4 ,we have heard ,god1 the ,holy ,one1 calling us1 pleading with us1 commanding us to be holy1 as ,he is holy4 ,and we expect to meet ,him1 and to dwell through eternity in ,his ,light1 holy as ,he is holy4 ,it is not a dream2 it is a living reality2 we are looking forward to it1 as the only one thing that makes life worth living4 ,we are looking forward to ,love to welcome us1 as with the confidence of childlike love we come as ,his holy ones to cry1 ,holy ,father6 ,we have learnt to know ,jesus1 the ,holy ,one of ,god1 our ,sanctification4 ,we are living in ,him1 day by day1 as those who are holy in ,christ ,jesus4 ,we are drawing on ,his ,holiness without ceasing4 ,we are walking in that will of ,god which ,he did1 and which ,he enables us to do4 ,and we are looking forward to meet ,him with great joy1 'when ,he shall come to be glorified in the holy ones1 and to be admired in all them that believe4' ,we have within us the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,holiness of ,god in ,christ come down to be at home within us1 as the earnest of our inheritance4 ,he1 the ,spirit of ,holiness1 is secretly transforming us within1 sanctifying our spirit1 soul1 and body1 to be blameless at ,his coming1 and making us meet for the inheritance of the holy ones in light4 ,we are looking forward to the time when ,he shall have completed ,his work1 when the body of ,christ shall be perfected1 and the bride1 all filled and streaming with the life and glory of the ,spirit within her1 shall be set with ,him on ,his throne1 even as ,he sat with the ,father on ,his throne4 ,we hope through eternity to worship and adore the mystery of the ,thrice ,holy ,one4 ,even here it fills our souls with trembling joy and wonder3 when ,god's work of making holy is complete1 how we shall join in the song1 ',holy1 ,holy1 ,holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 which wast1 and art1 and art to come6' ,in preparation for all this the most wonderful events are to take place4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,himself is to appear1 the power of sin and the world is to be destroyed2 this visible system of things is to be broken up2 the power of the ,spirit is to triumph through all creation2 there is to be a new heaven and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness4 ,and holiness is then to be unfolded in ever-growing blessedness and glory in the fellowship of the ,thrice ,holy3 ',he that is holy1 let him be holy yet more4' ,surely it but needs the question to be put for each believer to feel and acknowledge its force3 ',wherefore1 beloved1 seeing that ye look for these things1 what manner of men ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness8' ,and note now the need and the point of the question4 ',what manner of persons ought ye to be8' ,but is such a question needed8 ,can it be that ,god's holy ones1 made holy in ,christ ,jesus1 with the very spirit of holiness dwelling with them1 on the way to meet the ,holy ,one in ,his ,glory and ,love1 can it be that they need the question8 ,alas6 alas6 it was so in the time of ,peter2 it is but too much so in our days too4 ,alas6 how many ,christians there are to whom the very word ,holy1 though it be the name by which the ,father1 in ,his ,new ,testament1 loves to call ,his children more than any other1 is strange and unintelligible4 ,and again1 alas6 for how many ,christians there are for whom1 when the word is heard1 it has but little attraction1 because it has never yet been shown to them as a life that is indeed possible1 and unutterably blessed4 ,and yet again1 alas6 for how many are there not1 even workers in the ,master's service1 to whom the 'all holy living and godliness' is yet a secret and a burden1 because they have not yet consented to give up all1 both their will and their work1 for the ,holy ,one to take and fill with ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,and yet once more1 alas6 as the cry comes1 even from those who do know the power of a holy life1 lamenting their unfaithfulness and unbelief1 as they see how much richer their entrance into the ,holy ,life might have been1 and how much fuller the blessing they still feel so feeble to communicate to others4 ,oh1 the question is needed6 ,shall not each of us take it1 and keep it1 and answer it by the ,holy ,spirit through whom it came1 and then pass it on to our brethren1 that we and they may help each other in faith1 and live in joy and hope to give the answer our ,god would have8 ',seeing that these things are1 then1 all to be dissolved1 what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy living and godliness8' ,brethren6 the time is short4 ,the world is passing away4 ,the heathen are perishing4 ,christians are sleeping4 ,satan is active and mighty4 ,god's holy ones are the hope of the ,church and the world4 ,it is they their ,lord can use4 ',what manner of persons shall we be in all holy living and godliness6' ,shall we not seek to be such as the ,father commands1 ',holy1 as ,he is holy'8 ,shall we not yield ourselves afresh and undividedly to ,him who is our ,sanctification1 and to ,his ,blessed ,spirit1 to make us holy in all behaviours and pieties8 ,oh6 shall we not1 in thought of the love of our ,lord ,jesus1 in thought of the coming glory1 in view of the coming end1 of the need of the ,church and the world1 give ourselves to be holy as ,he is holy1 that we may have power to bless each believer we meet with the message of what ,god will do1 and that in concert with them we may be a light and a blessing to this perishing world8 ,i close with the closing words of ,god's ,blessed ,book1 ',he which testifieth these things saith1 ,yea1 ,i come quickly4 ,amen3 ,come1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,the grace of the ,lord ,jesus be with the holy ones4 ,amen4' ,,be ,,ye ,,holy1 ,,as ,i ,,am ,,holy4 ,most ,holy ,god6 who hast called us to be holy1 we have heard ,thy voice asking1 ,what manner of persons we ought to be in all holy living and godliness8 ,with our whole soul we answer in deep contrition and humility3 ,holy ,father6 we ought to be so different from what we have been4 ,in faith and love1 in zeal and devotion1 in ,christlike humility and holiness1 ,o ,father6 we have not been1 before ,thee and the world1 what we ought to be1 what we could be4 ,holy ,father6 we now pray for all who unite with us in this prayer1 and implore of ,thee to grant a great revival of ,true ,holiness in us and in all ,thy ,church4 ,visit1 we beseech ,thee1 visit all ministers of ,thy word1 that in view of ,thy coming they may take up and sound abroad the question1 ,what manner of persons ought ye to be8 ,lay upon them1 and all ,thy people1 such a burden under surrounding unholiness and worldliness1 that they may not cease to cry to ,thee4 ,grant them such a vision of the highway of holiness1 the new and living way in ,christ1 that they may preach ,christ our ,sanctification in the power and the joy of the ,holy ,ghost1 with the confident and triumphant voice of witnesses who rejoice in what ,thou dost for them4 ,o ,god6 roll away the reproach of ,thy people1 that their profession does not make them humbler or holier1 more loving1 and more heavenly than others4 ,o ,holy ,god6 give ,thou ,thyself the answer to ,thy question1 and teach us and the world what manner of persons ,thy people can be1 in the day of ,thy power1 in the beauty of holiness4 ,we bow our knee to ,thee1 ,o ,father1 that ,thou wouldst grant us1 according to the riches of ,thy glory1 to be mightily strengthened in the inner man by the ,spirit of ,holiness4 ,amen4 #a4 ,what manner of men ought ye to be in all the holy living8 ,this is a question ,god has written down for us4 ,might it not help us if we were to write down the answer1 and say how holy we think we ought to be8 ,the clearer and more distinct our views are of what ,god wishes1 of what ,he has made possible1 of what in reality ought to be1 the more definite our acts of confession1 of surrender1 and of faith can become4 #b4 ,let every believer1 who longs to be holy1 join in the daily prayer that ,god would visit ,his people with a great outpouring of the ,spirit of ,holiness4 ,pray without ceasing that every believer may live as a holy one4 #c4 ',seeing that ye look for these things4' ,our life depends1 in more than one sense1 upon what we look at4 ',we look not at the things which are seen4' ,it is only as we look at the ,invisible and ,spiritual1 and come under its power1 that we shall be what we ought to be in all holy living and godliness4 #d4 ,holy in ,christ4 ,let this be our parting word4 ,however strong the branch becomes1 however far away it reaches round the home1 out of sight of the vine1 all its beauty and all its fruitfulness ever depend upon that one point of contact where it grows out of the vine4 ,so be it with us too4 ,all the outer circumference of my life has its centre in the ego--the living1 conscious ,i myself1 in which my being roots4 ,and this ,i is rooted in ,christ4 ,down in the depths of my inner life1 there is ,christ holding1 bearing1 guiding1 quickening me into holiness and fruitfulness4 ,in ,him ,i am1 ,in ,him ,i will abide4 ,his will and commands will ,i keep2 ,his ,love and ,power will ,i trust4 ,and ,i will daily seek to praise ,god that ,i am ,holy in ,christ4 ,,notes4 ,,note ,a4 ,holiness as ,proprietorship4 ,in a little book--,holiness1 as understood by the ,writers of the ,bible2 ,a ,bible ,study by ,joseph ,agar ,beet--the thought that by ,holiness is meant our relation to ,god1 and the claim ,he has upon us1 has been very carefully worked out4 ,holy ground was such because 'it stood in special relation to ,himself4' ,the first-born 'were to stand in a special relation to ,god as ,his property4' ,so with the entire nation2 when ,god declares that they shall be holy1 ,he means 'that they shall render to ,him the devotion ,he requires4' ',all holy objects stand in a special relation to ,god as ,his property4' ,the priests are said to sanctify themselves2 they did this 'by formally placing themselves at ,god's disposal1 or by separating themselves from whatever was inconsistent with the service of ,god4' ',when ,god declares ,he is holy1 the word must represent the same idea in the hundreds of passages in which it is predicated of men and things4' ',holiness is ,god's claim to the ownership of men and things2 and the objects claimed were called holy4 ,now1 ,god's claim was a new and wondrous revelation of ,his nature4 ,to ,aaron ,god was now the ,great ,being who had claimed from him a lifelong and exclusive service4 ,this claim was a new era1 not only in his everyday life1 but in his conception of ,god4 ,consequently the word holy1 which expressed ,aaron's relation to ,god1 was suitably used to express ,god's relation to ,aaron4 ,in other words1 to ,aaron and ,israel ,god was holy in the sense that ,he claimed the exclusive ownership of the entire nation4 ,when men yielded to ,god the devotion ,he claimed1 they were said to sanctify ,god4' ',jehovah and ,israel stood in special relation to each other2 therefore ,jehovah was the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 and ,israel was ,holy to ,jehovah4 ,this mutual relation rested upon ,god's claim that ,israel should specially be ,his2 and this claim implied that in a special manner ,he would belong to ,israel4 ,this claim was a manifestation of the nature of ,god4' ',the peculiar relation arises from ,god's own claim1 in consequence of which they stand in a new and solemn relation to ,him4 ,this may be called objective holiness4 ,this is the most common sense of the word4 ,in this sense ,god sanctified these objects for ,himself4 ,but since some of these objects were intelligent beings1 and the others were in control of such1 the word sanctify denotes these ones' formal surrender of themselves and their possessions to ,god4 ,this may be called subjective holiness4 ,from the word holy predicated of ,god1 we learn that ,god's claim was not merely occasional1 but an outflow of ,his ,essence4 ,as the one ,being who claims unlimited and absolute ownership and supreme devotion1 ,god is the ,holy ,one4' ,in the ,new ,testament the ,spirit of ,god claims the epithet holy 'as being in a very special manner the source and influence of which ,god is the one and only aim4' ,here 'our conception of the holiness of ,god increases with our increasing perception of the greatness of ,his claim upon us1 and that this claim springs from the very essence of ,god4 ,in the incarnate ,son of ,god we see the full development and realization of the ,biblical idea of holiness4 ,we find ,him standing in a special relation to ,god1 and living a life of which the one and only aim is to advance the purposes of ,god4' ,we see in ,him 'holiness in its highest degree1 i4e4 the highest conceivable devotion to ,god and to the advancement of ,his kingdom4' ',in virtue of ,his intelligent1 hearty1 continued appropriation of the ,father's purpose1 and in virtue of its realization in all the details of the ,saviour's life1 ,he was called the ,holy ,one of ,god4' ',the word saint is very appropriate as a designation of the followers of ,christ2 for it declares what ,god requires them to be4 ,by calling ,his people saints1 ,god declares ,his will that we live a life of which ,he is the one and only aim4 ,this is the objective holiness of the ,church of ,christ4 ,in some passages holiness is set before the people of ,god as a standard for their attainment4 ,in these passages holy denotes a realization in man of ,god's purpose that he live a life of which ,god is the one and only aim4 ,this is the subjective holiness of ,god's people4 ',holiness is ,god's claim that ,his creatures use all their powers and opportunities to work out ,his purposes4 ,holiness1 thus understood1 is an attribute of ,god4 ,for ,his claim springs from ,his nature1 even from that love which is the very essence of ,god4 ,his love to us moves ,him to claim our devotion2 for only by absolute devotion to ,him can we attain our highest happiness4' ',though without purity we cannot be subjectively holy1 yet holiness is much more than purity4 ,purity is a mere negative excellence2 holiness implies the most intense mental and bodily activity of which we are capable4 ,for it is the employment of all our powers and opportunities to advance ,god's purposes4' ,the question ',how we become holy1' is answered thus3 ',our devotion to ,god is a result of inward spiritual contact with ,him who once lived a human life on earth1 and now lives a glorified human life on the throne1 simply and only to work out the ,father's purposes4 ,we live for ,god because ,christ does so1 and because ,christ lives in us1 and we in ,him3 the ,spirit of ,christ is the ,agent of the spiritual contact with ,christ which imparts to us ,his life1 and reproduces in us ,his life4 ,he is the bearer of the power as well as of the holiness of ,christ4' ',that ,god claims from ,his people unreserved devotion to ,himself1 and that what ,he claims ,he works in all who believe it1 by ,his own power operating through the inward presence of the ,holy ,spirit1 placing us in spiritual contact with ,christ1 is the great doctrine of sanctification by faith4' ,the same view1 that holiness is a relation1 had previously been worked out very elaborately by ,diestel4 ,in what has been said on redemption and proprietorship as related to holiness 7see ',sixth ,day'71 we have seen what truth there is in the thought4 ,but holiness is something more4 ,what is holy is not only ,god-devoted1 but ,god-accepted1 ,god-appropriated1 ,god-possessed4 ,god not only possesses the heart1 but absolutely occupies and fills it with ,his life4 ,it is this makes it holy4 ,however much truth there be in the above exposition1 it hardly meets our desire for an insight into what is one of the highest attributes of the very ,being of ,god4 ,when the seraphs worship ,him as the ,holy ,one1 and in their ,thrice ,holy reflect something of the deepest mystery of ,godhead1 it surely means more than merely the expression of ,god's claim as ,sovereign ,proprietor of all4 ,the mistake appears to originate in taking first the meaning of the word holy from earthly objects1 and then from that deducing that holiness in ,god cannot mean more than it does when applied to men4 ,the ,scriptures point to the opposite way4 ,when ,old and ,new ,testaments say1 ',be ye holy1 for ,i am holy1 ,i make holy1' they point to ,god's ,holiness as the first1 both the reason and the source of ours4 ,we ought first to discover what holiness in ,god is4 ,when we read at creation of ,god's sanctifying the ,sabbath day1 we have to do1 not with a thought or word of ,moses as to what ,god had done1 but with a ,divine revelation of a ,power in ,god greater and more wonderful than creation1 the ,power which is later on revealed as the deepest mystery of the ,divine ,being4 ,this ,holiness in ,god1 as it appears to me1 cannot be a mere relation4 ,to indicate a relation1 tells me nothing positively about the personal character or worth of the related parties4 ,to say that when ,god sanctifies men ,he claims them as ,his own1 does not say what the nature is of the work ,he does for them and in them1 or what the ,power by which ,he does it4 ,and yet that word ought to reveal to me what it is that ,god bestows4 ,to say that that claim has its root in ,his very nature1 and in ,his love1 and that holiness is therefore an attribute1 makes it an attribute1 not like love or wisdom1 immanent in the ,divine ,being1 ere creatures were1 but simply an effect of ,love1 moving ,god to claim ,his creatures as ,his special possession4 ,we should then have no attribute expressive of ,god's moral perfection4 ,nor would the word holy of the ,son and the ,spirit any longer indicate that deep and mysterious communication of the very nature and life of ,god in which sanctification has its glory4 ,in the ,divine holiness we have the highest and inconceivably glorious revelation of the very essence of the ,divine ,being2 in the holiness of the saints the deepest revelation of the change by which their inmost nature is renewed into the likeness of ,god4 ,,note ,b4 ,on the ,word for ,holiness4 ,the proper meaning of the ,hebrew word for holy1 kadosh1 is matter of uncertainty4 ,it may come from a root signifying to shine4 7,so ,gesenius1 ,oehler1 ,frst1 and formerly ,delitzsch1 on ,heb4 ii4 #aa47 ,or from another denoting new and bright 7,diestel71 or an ,arabic form meaning to cut1 to separate4 7,so ,delitzsch now1 on ,ps4 xxii4 #d47 ,whatever the root be1 the chief idea appears to be not only separate or set apart1 for which the ,hebrew has entirely different words1 but that by which a thing that is separated from others for its worth is distinguished above them4 ,it indicates not only separation as an act or fact1 but the superiority or excellence in virtue of which1 either as already possessed or sought after1 the separation takes place4 ,in his ,lexicon of ,new ,testament ,greek1 ,cremer has an exhaustive article on the ,greek hagios1 pointing out how holiness is an entirely ,biblical idea1 and 'how the scriptural conceptions of ,god's ,holiness1 notwithstanding the original affinity1 is diametrically opposite to all the ,greek notions2 and how1 whereas these very views of holiness exclude from the gods all possibility of love1 the scriptural conception of holiness unfolds itself only when in closest connection with ,divine love4' ,it is a most suggestive thought that we owe both the word and the thought distinctly to revelation4 ,every other attribute of ,god has some notion to correspond with it in the human mind3 the thought of holiness is distinctly ,divine4 ,is not this the reason that1 though ,god has so distinctly in the ,new ,testament called ,his people holy ones1 the word holy has so little entered into the daily language and life of the ,christian ,church8 ,,note ,c4 ,the ,holiness of ,god4 ,there is not a word so exclusively scriptural1 so distinctly ,divine1 as the word holy in its revelation and its meaning4 ,as a consequence of this its ,divine origin1 it is a word of inexhaustible significance4 ,there is not one of the attributes of ,god which theologians have found it so difficult to define1 or concerning which they differ so much4 ,a short survey of the various views that have been taken may teach us how little the idea of the ,divine ,holiness can be comprehended or exhausted by human definition1 and how it is only in the life of fellowship and adoration that the holiness which passes all understanding can1 as a truth and a reality1 be apprehended4 #a4 ,the most external view1 in which the ethical was very much lost sight of1 is that in which holiness is identified with ,god's ,separateness from the creation1 and elevation above it4 ,holiness was defined as the incomparable ,glory of ,god1 ,his exclusive adorableness1 ,his infinite ,majesty4 ,sufficient attention was not paid to the fact that though all these thoughts are closely connected with ,god's ,holiness1 they are but a formal definition of the results and surroundings of the ,holiness1 but do not lead us to the apprehension of that wherein its real essence consists4 #b4 ,another view1 which also commences from the external1 and makes that the basis of its interpretation1 regards holiness simply as the expression of a relation4 ,because what was set apart for ,god's service was called holy1 the idea of separation1 of consecration1 of ownership1 is taken as the starting-point4 ,and so1 because we are said to be holy1 as belonging to ,god1 ,god is holy as claiming us and belonging to us too4 ,instead of regarding holiness as a positive reality in the ,divine nature1 from which our holiness is to be derived1 our holiness is made the starting-point for expounding the ,holiness of ,god4 ',god is holy as being1 within the covenant1 not only the ,proprietor1 but the ,property of ,his people1 their highest good and their only rule' 7,diestel74 ,of this view mention has already been made in the note to ',sixth ,day1' on ,holiness as ,proprietorship4 #c4 ,passing over to the views of those who regard holiness as being a moral attribute1 the most common one is that of purity1 freedom from sin4 ',holiness is a general term for the moral excellence of ,god4 ,there is none holy as the ,lord3 no other being absolutely pure and free from all limitations in ,his moral perfection4 ,holiness1 on the one hand1 implies entire freedom from moral evil2 and1 upon the other1 absolute moral perfection4' 7,hodge1 ,syst4 ,theol47 ,the idea of holiness as the infinite ,purity which is free from all sin1 which hates and punishes it1 is what in the popular conception is the most prominent idea4 ,the negative stands more in the foreground than the positive4 ,the view has its truth and its value from the fact that in our sinful state the first impression the ,holiness of ,god must make is that of fear and dread in the consciousness of our sinfulness and unholiness4 ,but it does not tell us wherein this moral excellence or perfection of ,god really consists4 #d4 ,it is an advance on this view when the attempt is made to define what this perfection of ,god is4 ,a thing is perfect when it is in everything as it ought to be4 ,it is easy thus to define perfection1 but not so easy to define what the perfection of any special object is3 this needs the knowledge of what its nature is4 ,and we have to rest content with very general terms defining ,god's ,holiness as the essential and absolute good4 ',holiness is the free1 deliberate1 calm1 and immutable affirmation of ,himself1 who is goodness1 or of goodness1 which is ,himself' 7,godet on ,john xvii4 #aa74 ',holiness is that attribute in virtue of which ,jehovah makes ,himself the absolute standard of ,himself1 of ,his being and revelation4' 7,kubel47 #e4 ,closely allied to this is the view that holiness is not so much an attribute1 but the 'whole complex of that which we are wont to look at and represent singly in the individual attributes of ,god4' ,so ,bengel looked upon holiness as the ,divine nature1 in which all the attributes are contained4 ,in the same spirit what ,howe says of holiness as the ,divine beauty1 the result of the perfect harmony of all the attributes1 ',holiness is intellectual beauty4 ,divine holiness is the most perfect beauty1 and the measure of all other4 ,the ,divine ,holiness is the most perfect pulchritude1 the ineffable and immortal pulchritude1 that cannot be declared by words1 or seen by eyes4 ,this may therefore be called a transcendental attribute that1 as it were1 runs through the rest1 and casts a glory upon every one4 ,it is an attribute of attributes4 ,these are fit predications1 holy power1 holy love4 ,and so it is the very lustre and glory of ,his other perfections4 ,he is glorious in holiness4' 7,howe in ,whyte's ,shorter ,catechism47 ,this was the aspect of the ,divine ,holiness on which ,jonathan ,edwards delighted to dwell4 ',the mutual love of the ,father and the ,son makes the third1 the personal ,holy ,spirit1 or the ,holiness of ,god1 which is ,his infinite beauty4' ',by the communication of ,god's ,holiness the creature partakes of ,god's moral excellence1 which is perfection1 the beauty of the ,divine nature4' ',holiness comprehends all the true moral excellence of intelligent beings4 ,so the ,holiness of ,god is the same with the moral excellency of the ,divine nature1 comprehending all ,his perfections1 ,his righteousness1 faithfulness1 and goodness4 ,there are two kinds of attributes in ,god1 according to our way of conceiving ,him3 ,his moral attributes1 which are summed up in ,his ,holiness1 and ,his natural1 as strength1 knowledge1 etc41 which constitute ,his greatness4 ,holy persons1 in the exercise of holy affection1 love ,god in the first place for the beauty of ,his ,holiness4' ',the holiness of an intelligent creature is that which gives beauty to all his natural perfections4 ,and so it is in ,god3 holiness is in a peculiar manner the beauty of the ,divine being4 ,hence we often read of the beauty of holiness 7,ps4 xxix4 #b1 xcvi4 #i1 cx4 #c74 ,this renders all the other attributes glorious and lovely4' ',therefore1 if the true loveliness of ,god's perfections arise from the loveliness of ,his ,holiness1 the true love of all ,his perfections will arise from the love of ,his ,holiness4 ,and as the beauty of the ,divine nature primarily consists in ,god's ,holiness1 so does the beauty of all ,divine things4' #f4 ,in speaking of ,god's ,holiness as denoting the essential good1 the absolute excellence of ,his nature1 some press very strongly the ethical aspect4 ,the good in ,god must not be from mere natural impulse only1 flowing from the necessity of ,his nature1 without being freely willed by ,himself4 ',what is naturally good is not the true realization of the good4 ,the actual and living will to be the good ,he is1 must also have its place in ,god1 otherwise ,god would only be naturally ethical4 ,only in the will which consciously determines itself1 is there the possibility given of the ethical4 ,the ethical has such a power in ,god that ,he is the holy ,power1 who cannot and will not renounce ,himself1 who must be1 and would be thought to be1 the holy necessity of the goodness which is ,himself1--to be the ,holy4 ,the love of ,god is essentially holy2 it desires and preserves the ethically necessary or holy1 which ,god is4' 7,dorner1 ,system1 vol4 i47 #g4 ,it was felt in such views that there was not a sufficient acknowledgment of the truth that it is especially as the ,holy ,one that ,god is called the ,redeemer1 and that ,he does the work of love to make holy4 ,this led to the view that holiness and love are1 if not identical1 at least correlated expressions4 ',god is holy1 exalted above all the praise of the creature in ,his incomparable praise-worthiness1 on account of ,his free and loving condescension to the creature1 to manifest in it the glory of ,his love4' ',god is holy1 inasmuch as love in ,him has restrained and conquered the righteous wrath 7as ,hosea says1 xi4 #i71 and judgment is exercised only after every way of mercy has been tried4 ,this holiness is disclosed in the ,new ,testament name1 as exalted as it is condescending1 of ,father4' 7,stier on ,john xvii47 #h4 ,the large measure of truth in this view is met by an expression in which the true aspects of the ,holiness of ,god are combined4 ,it is defined as being the harmony of self-preservation and self-communication4 ,as the ,holy ,one1 ,god hates sin1 and seeks to destroy it4 ,as the ,holy ,one1 ,he makes the sinner holy1 and then takes him up into ,his love4 ,in maintaining ,his love1 ,he never for a moment loses ,his ,divine purity and perfection2 in maintaining ,his righteousness1 ,he still communicates ,himself to the fallen creature4 ,holiness is the ,divine glory1 of which love and righteousness are the two sides1 and which in their work on earth they reveal4 ',holiness is the self-preservation of ,god1 whereby ,he keeps ,himself free from the world without ,him1 and remains consistent with ,himself and faithful to ,his ,being1 and whereby ,he1 with this view1 creates a ,divine world that lives for ,himself alone in the organization of ,his ,church4' 7,lange47 ',the ,holiness of ,god is ,god's self-preservation1 or keeping to ,himself1 in virtue of which ,he remains the same in all relationships which exist within ,his ,deity1 or into which ,he enters1 never sacrifices what is ,divine1 or admits what is not ,divine4 ,but this is only one aspect4 ,god's ,holiness would not be holiness1 but exclusiveness1 if it did not provide for ,god's entering into manifold relations1 and so revealing and communicating ,himself4 ,holiness is therefore the union and interpretation of ,god's keeping to ,himself and communicating ,himself2 of ,his nearness and ,his distance2 of ,his exclusiveness and ,his self-revelation2 of separateness and fellowship4' 7,schmieder47 ',the ,divine ,holiness is mainly seclusion from the impurity and sinfulness of the creature1 or1 expressed positively1 the cleanness and purity of the ,divine nature1 which excludes all connection with the wicked4 ,in harmony with this1 the ,divine ,holiness1 as an attribute of revelation1 is not merely an abstract power1 but is the ,divine self-representation and self-testimony for the purpose of giving to the world the participation in the ,divine life4' 7,oehler1 ,theol4 of ,o4 ,t4 i4 #afj47 ',opposition to sin is the first impression which man receives of ,god's ,holiness4 ,exclusion1 election1 cleansing1 redemption--these are the four forms in which ,god's ,holiness appears in the sphere of humanity2 and we may say that ,god's ,holiness signifies ,his opposition to sin manifesting itself in atonement and redemption1 or in judgment4 ,or as holiness1 so far as it is embodied in law1 must be the highest moral perfection1 we may say1 holiness is the purity of ,god manifesting itself in atonement and redemption1 and correspondingly in judgment4 ,by this view all the above elements are done justice to2 holiness asserts itself in judging righteousness1 and in electing1 purifying1 and redeeming love1 and thus it appears as the impelling and formative principle of the revelation of redemption1 without a knowledge of which an understanding of the revelation is impossible1 and by the perception of which it is seen in its full1 clear light4 ,god is light3 this is a full and exhaustive ,new ,testament phrase for ,god's ,holiness' 7#a ,john i4 #e74 7,cremer47 ,this view is brought out with special distinctness in the writings of ,j4 ,t4 ,beck4 ',it is ,god's ,holiness which1 taking the good which was given in creation in strict faithfulness to that good and perfect will of ,god1 as the eternal life-purpose of love1 in righteousness and mercy carried out to its completion in ,god ,himself to a life of perfection4 ,god does this as the ,alone ,holy4 ,in the world of sin ,divine love can only bring deliverance by a mediation in which it is reconciled to the ,divine wrath within their common centre1 the ,holiness of ,god1 in such a way that while wrath manifests its destroying reality1 love shall prove its restoring power in the life it gives4' 7,beck1 ,lehrwissenschaft1 #afh1 #edg47 ',holiness is the sum and substance of the ,divine life1 as1 in comparison with all that is created1 it exists as a perfect life1 but as it1 at the same time1 opens itself to the creature to take it up into a ,godlike perfection--that is1 to be holy as ,god is holy4 ,holiness is thus so far from being in opposition to the ,divine love that it is its essential feature or norm1 and the actual contents of love4 ,in holiness there is combined the ,divine self-existence as a perfection of life1 and the ,divine self-exertion in the realizing a ,godlike perfection of life in the world4 ,holiness as an attribute of the ,divine ,being is ,his pure and inviolably self-contained personality in its absolute perfection4 ,hence it is that in holiness1 as the absolute unity and purity of the ,divine ,being and working1 all the attributes of ,divine revelation centre4 ,and so holiness1 as expressive of the ,being of ,god1 qualifies the love as essentially ,divine4 ',love is the groundform of the ,divine will1 but as such it receives its ,divine filling and character from the ,divine ,holiness1 as the ,divine self-existence and self-exertion4 ,as such the ,divine will manifests itself in two modes--in its pure love as ,goodness1 in its holy harmony as ,righteousness4 ,these two do not exist separately1 but permeate each other in reciprocal immanence1 just as ,god in ,his ,holiness is love1 and in ,his love is holiness4 ,in goodness the ,divine love shows itself as the pleasure in well-being4 ,but in this goodness the righteousness of ,god1 to secure the well-doing1 also acts4' 7,j4 ,t4 ,beck1 ,glaubenslehre47 ',god is holy1 separate from all darkness and sin1 but not in isolated majesty banishing the imperfect and the sinful from ,his presence3 for ,god is light1 ,god is love4 ,it is the nature of light to communicate itself4 ,remaining pure and bright1 undiminished and unsullied1 it overcomes darkness and kindles light4 ,the ,holiness of ,god is likewise mentioned in ,scripture1 mostly in connection with love1 communicating itself and drawing into itself4 ,i am holy--but ,god does not remain alone1 separate--be ye also holy4' 7,saphir on ,hebrews xii47 ',when we think of ,god as light and love1 we realize most fully the idea of holiness1 combining separateness and purity with communion4' 7,saphir1 ,the ,lord's ,prayer1 p4 #abh47 ',it is especially as the spirit of ,his ,church1 and as dwelling in the human heart1 that ,god is the ,holy ,one4' 7,nitsch47 ,that in the ,holiness of ,god we have the union of love and righteousness1 has been perhaps put by no one more clearly than ,godet4 ,in his ,commentary on ,romans iii4 #be1 #bf1 he writes3-- ',the necessity of the expiatory sacrifice arises from ,his whole ,divine character2 in other words1 from ,his ,holiness1 the principle at once of ,his love and righteousness1 and not of ,his righteousness exclusively4' ',in this question we have to do not with ,god in ,his essence1 but with ,god in ,his relation to free man4 ,now the latter is not holy to begin with2 the use which he makes of his liberty is not yet regulated by love4 ,the attribute of righteousness1 and the firm resolution to maintain the ,divine holiness1 must therefore appear as a necessary safeguard as soon as liberty comes on the stage1 and with it the possibility of disorder2 and this attribute must remain in exercise as long as the educational period of the creature lasts--that is to say1 until he has reached perfection in love4 ,then all these factors--right1 law1 justice--will return to their latent state4444 ',it is common to regard love as the fundamental feature of the ,divine character2 in this way it is very difficult to reach the attribute of righteousness4 ,most thinkers1 indeed1 do not reach it at all4 ,this one fact should show the error in which they are entangled4 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 say the creatures nearest to ,god1 and not ,good1 good1 good4 ,holiness1 such is the essence of ,god2 and holiness is the absolute love of the good1 the absolute horror of the evil4 ,from this it is not difficult to deduce both love and righteousness4 ,love is the goodwill of ,god toward all free beings who are destined to realize the good4 ,love goes out to the individuals1 as holiness itself to the good which they ought to produce4 ,righteousness1 on the other hand1 is the firm purpose of ,god to maintain the normal relations between all these creatures by ,his blessings and punishments4 ,it is obvious that righteousness is included1 no less than love itself1 in the fundamental feature of the ,divine character1 holiness4 ,it is no offence1 therefore1 by ,god to speak of ,his justice and ,his rights4 ,it is1 on the contrary1 a glory to ,god1 who knows that in preserving ,his place ,he is securing the good of others4 ,for ,god1 in maintaining ,his supreme dignity1 preserves to ,his creatures their most precious treasure1 a ,god worthy of their respect and love4' ,and in his ,defence of the ,christian ,faith ,godet writes1 on ',the ,perfect ,holiness of ,jesus ,christ1' as follows3-- ',the supernatural in its highest form is not the miraculous1 it is holiness4 ,in the miraculous we see ,omnipotence breaking forth to act upon the material world in the interests of the moral order4 ,but holiness is morality itself in its sublimest manifestation4 ,what is goodness8 ,it has recently been said1 with a precision which leaves nothing to be desired1 ,goodness is not an entity--a thing4 ,it is a law determining the relations between things1 relations which have to be realized by free wills4 ,perfect good is therefore the realization1 at once normal and free1 of the right relations to one another of all beings2 each being occupying1 by virtue of this relation1 that place in the great whole1 and playing that part in it1 which befits it4 ',now1 just as in a human family there is one central relation on which all the rest depend1--that of the father to all the members of this little whole1--so is there in the universe one supreme position1 which is the support of all the rest1 and which1 in the interest of all beings1 must be above all others preserved intact--that of ,god4 ,and just here1 in the general sphere of good1 is the special domain of holiness4 ,holiness in ,god ,himself is ,his fixed determination to maintain intact the order which ought to reign among all beings that exist1 and to bring them to realize that relation to each other which ought to bind them together in a great unity1 and consequently to preserve1 above all1 intact and in its proper dignity1 ,his own position relatively to free beings4 ,the ,holiness of ,god thus understood comprehends two things--the importation of all the wealth of ,his own ,divine life to each free being who is willing to acknowledge ,his sovereignty1 and who sincerely acquiesces in it2 and the withholding or the withdrawal of that perfect life from every being who either attacks or denies that sovereignty1 and who seeks to shake off that bond of dependence by which he ought to be bound to ,god4 ,holiness in the creature is its own voluntary acquiescence in the supremacy of ,god4 ,the man who1 with all the powers of his nature1 does homage to ,god as the ,supreme1 the absolute ,being1 the only ,one who veritably is2 the man who1 in ,his presence1 voluntarily prostrates himself in the sense of his own nothingness1 and seeks to draw all his fellow-creatures into the same voluntary self-annihilation1 in so doing puts on the character of holiness4 ,this holiness comprehends in him1 as it does in ,god1 love and righteousness2 love by which he rejoices in recognising ,god1 and all beings who surround ,god1 as placed where they are by ,him4 ,he loves them and wills their existence1 because he loves and wills the existence of ,god1 and at the same time of all that ,god wills and loves2 and righteousness1 by which he respects and1 as much as in him lies1 causes others to respect ,god1 and the sphere assigned by ,god to each being4 ,such is holiness as it exists in ,god and in man3 in ,god it is ,his own inflexible self-assertion2 in man it is his inflexible assertion of ,god4 ',it is in ,jesus that human nature sees how man can assert ,god and all that ,god asserts1 not only humbly1 but joyously and filially1 with all the powers of his being1 and even to the complete sacrifice of himself4' ,careful reflection will show us that in each of the above views there is a measure of truth4 ,it will convince us how the very difficulty of formulating to human thought the conception of the ,divine ,holiness proves that it is the highest expression for that ineffable and inconceivable glory of the ,divine ,being which constitutes ,him the ,infinite and ,glorious ,god4 ,every attribute of ,god--wisdom and power1 righteousness and love--has its image in human nature1 and was in the religion or the philosophy of the heathen connected with the idea of ,god4 ,from ourselves1 when we take away the idea of imperfection1 we can form some conception of what ,god is4 ,but holiness is that which is characteristically ,divine1 the special contents of a ,divine revelation4 ,let us learn to confess that however much we may seek1 now from one1 then from another side1 to grasp the thought1 the holiness of ,god is something that transcends all thought1 a glory not so much to be thought1 as to be known1 in adoration and fellowship4 ,scripture speaks not so much of holiness1 as the ,holy ,one4 ,it is as we worship and fear1 obey and love2 it is in a life with ,god1 that something of the mystery of ,his glory will be unfolded4 ,as the ,divine light shines in us and through us1 will the ,holy ,one be revealed4 ,,note ,d4 ',our holiness does not consist in our changing and becoming better ourselves3 it is rather ,he1 ,he ,himself1 born and growing in us1 in such a way as to fill our hearts1 and to drive out our natural self1 our old man1 which cannot itself improve1 and whose destiny is only to perish4 ',and how is this kind of incarnation effected1 by which ,christ ,himself becomes our new self8 ,by a process of a free and moral nature1 described by ,jesus in words which surprise1 because they place ,his sanctification upon nearly the same footing as our own3 ,as the living ,father hath sent me1 and ,i live by the ,father1 so he that eateth me shall live by me4 ',jesus derived the nourishment of ,his life from the ,father who had sent ,him3 ,he lived by the ,father4 ,the meaning of that1 doubtless1 is1 that every time ,he had to act or speak1 ,he first effaced ,himself2 then left it to the ,father to think1 to will1 to act1 to be everything in ,him4 ,similarly1 when we are called upon to do any act1 or speak any word1 we must first efface ourselves in presence of ,jesus2 and after having suppressed in ourselves1 by an act of the will1 every wish1 every thought1 every act of our own self1 we are to leave it to ,jesus to manifest in us ,his will1 ,his wisdom1 ,his power4 ,then it is that we live by ,him1 as ,he lives by the ,father4 ,the process is identical in ,jesus and in us4 ,only in ,jesus it was carried on with ,god directly1 because ,he was in immediate communion with ,him2 whilst in our case the transaction is with ,jesus1 because it is with ,him that the believer holds direct communication1 and through ,him that we can find and possess the living ,father4 ,in that lies the secret1 generally so little understood1 of ,christian sanctification4' 7,godet1 ,biblical ,studies1 ,n4 ,t41 p4 #aij47 ,,note ,e4 ,let me once more refer all students of holiness to ,marshall on ,sanctification1 and specially his third and fourth chapters4 ,if they will compare him with our modern works--say1 for instance1 ,god's ,way of ,holiness1 by so eminent an author as ,dr4 ,h4 ,bonar--they cannot but be struck by the prominence which ,marshall gives to the one thought1 that our holiness1 a holy nature1 is provided in ,jesus1 and that as faith accepts and maintains our union with ,jesus in personal intercourse1 sanctification is by faith4 ,while1 in other works1 the union to ,jesus1 and faith in ,him1 are but incidentally mentioned1 and the chief stress is laid upon duties and the motives which urge to their performance1 ,marshall points out how motives never can supply the strength we need3 it is the power of ,christ's life in us1 it is ,christ ,himself1 as we by faith are rooted in ,him1 who works all our works in us4 ,an abridgment of the work1 for popular use1 is published by ,nisbet ,co4 ,,note ,f4 ,note from ,bengel on ,rom4 i4 #d4 ',according to the ,spirit of ,holiness4 ,the word hagios1 holy1 when ,god is spoken of1 not only denotes the blameless rectitude in action1 but the very ,godhead1 or to speak more properly1 the divinity1 or excellence of the ,divine nature4 ,hence hagiosune 7the word here used7 has a kind of middle sense between hagiotes1 holiness1 and hagiasmos1 sanctification4 ,comp4 ,heb4 xii4 #aj 7hagiotes or holiness71 v4 #ad 7hagiasmos or sanctification74 ,so that there are1 as it were1 three degrees3 sanctification1 sanctity of life1 holiness4 ,holiness is ascribed to the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and since here the ,holy ,spirit is not mentioned1 but the spirit of holiness 7prop4 sanctity1 hagiosune71 we must further inquire what this remarkable expression denotes4 ,the name spirit is expressly and very frequently given to the ,holy ,spirit2 but ,god is also called a spirit2 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is called a spirit1 but in contrast to the latter4 7#b ,cor4 iii4 #ag47 ,with this we must compare the fact that1 as in this passage1 so often the antithesis of flesh and spirit is found where ,christ is spoken of4 7#a ,tim4 iii4 #af2 #a ,pet4 iii4 #ah47 ,in these passages the ,spirit is applied to whatever belongs to ,christ 7apart from the flesh1 although this was pure and holy1 and above the flesh71 through ,his generation of the ,father1 who sanctified ,him3 in short1 ,his ,godhead itself4 ,for here1 flesh and spirit1 and chap4 ix4 #e1 flesh and ,godhead1 stand in mutual contrast4 ,this spirit is here called not the spirit of holiness1 the usual title of the ,holy ,spirit2 but it is called in this passage the spirit of sanctity1 to suggest at once the efficacy of that holiness or divinity1 which led of necessity to the ,saviour's resurrection1 and by which it was most forcibly illustrated1 and also that spiritual and holy1 or ,divine power of ,jesus who has been glorified and yet retained a spiritual body4 ,before the resurrection the spirit was concealed under the flesh2 after the resurrection the spirit of sanctity concealed the flesh4 ,in reference to the former1 ,he was wont to call ,himself the ,son of man2 in reference to the latter1 ,he is known as the ,son of ,god4' ,beck1 in his ,lehrwissenschaft1 p4 #fjd1 puts it very clearly1 thus-- ',inasmuch as the innocence and purity of ,christ were not present in ,his sufferings and death as a quiescent attribute1 but were in full action in the indestructible life-power of the ,spirit1 as ,he sanctified ,his own self to ,god for us 7through the eternal spirit1 ,heb4 ix4 #ad--therefore1 in ,rom4 i4 #d1 hagiosune1 the habit of holiness in its action or sanctity1 not hagiotes1 only an inner attribute1 or hagiasmos1 holiness in its formation7--,his suffering effected an everlasting redemption4' ,,note ,g4 ',freed' and ',possessed'--,the ,twofold ,result of ,redemption4 7,from an address by ,pastor ,stockmaiev47 ',who gave ,himself for us1 that ,he might redeem us from all iniquity1 and purify unto ,himself a people for ,his own possession1 zealous of good works4' ',in the redemption work of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 there are two definite parts4 ,you will never find the secret of abiding in ,christ1 so long as you cannot see these two definite distinct parts4 ,the first is ,jesus for me1 the other ,i for ,jesus4 ,blessed be our ,saviour that ,he came for sinners4 ,he for us4 ,blessed be the ,lord that there is redemption from penalty2 but that is not yet all that redemption means4 ,you must have a clear apprehension of the second part of redemption1 by that same ,holy ,ghost who is the guide to introduce us into the full possession of all that ,christ1 living and dying1 has wrought out for us4 ,he gave ,himself that ,he might redeem us from all iniquity--not that we might have the pleasure of being pleased with our own purity or holiness1 or such things2 but that ,he might have us altogether for ,himself1 to purify unto ,himself1 for ,himself1 not for ,himself and themselves1 but unto ,himself1 a people of ,his own possession4 ',what is now redemption8--freedom from self1 even spiritual self4 ,we are not to be our own centre1 the centre of our joy1 our progress1 having in our poor weak hands the threads of our spiritual life4 ,there is no real spiritual life but ,christ's life1 and ,he must have the care of it altogether from the beginning to the end4 ,lift up your eyes1 dear brethren1 you who were creeping on the ground4 ,we are made for the glory of ,god1 to be possessed by ,jesus4 ,the ,lord ,god found a way1 in giving ,his ,son1 the ,lamb of ,god1 ,his ,lamb1 to get such selfish people1 who even in the line of the ,christian life found means to seek and to nourish self1 to get such people into ,his own real practical possession1 to be possessed by ,jesus4 ,that is redemption1 and that only2 that is liberty1 and that is reality2 that is what satisfies1 not to be satisfied with any experiences of your own1 but to let go your experiences1 and to say1 ,i am free1 so free as the people of ,israel were coming out of ,egypt1 free to serve ,god4 ,let my people go1 that they may serve me4 ,you are free1 free through the blood of ,christ1 free through the power of the ,holy ,ghost--no flesh1 no hand1 no self being able to keep you back4 ,the ,lord has stretched out ,his arms upon all the powers who had kept us in the bondage of ,egypt1 and ,he triumphed over them4 ,you are free as the bird of the air to live in ,jesus--that is freedom2 you are free in your daily life1 free in the deepest1 inmost depths of your being1 free for ,jesus1 possessed by ,him1 a people of ,his own possession4 ,let my people go1 said ,god4 ,so1 ,i have given my blood1 said ,jesus2 and no flesh1 no sin1 no self can claim against the blood of ,jesus4 ,he has redeemed unto ,himself1 not for us1 a people of ,his own possession4444 ',you are inquiring about the secret of abiding in ,jesus4 ,have you not seen this in the #aeth of ,john1 that abiding and bearing fruit are inseparable8 ,you cannot abide in ,jesus for ,his joy1 and your inward satisfaction4 ,the secret of abiding is to stand as a redeemed one1 as firmly in the second part of redemption as the first4 ,i am now living for ,jesus1 and ,i have only to ask1 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have done now8 ,i am for ,thee4 ,i am for ,jesus4 ,i have only to follow1 to follow as a sanctified one1 as a possessed one1 as one who is no more living for himself1 who has given his life up into the hands of ,jesus4 ,oh1 how these questions of abiding become simple6 ,it is not mysticism2 it is not some special experience4 ,it is simply a fact4 ,i need ,jesus for every moment1 and my temptations as well as my duties become opportunities of realizing this life of fellowship with ,christ4 ,oh1 yes1 this is redemption6 ,oh1 mighty power of ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 engaged to keep such a weak1 helpless1 unfaithful thing as you and myself in the centre of life6 ,sealed by the ,holy ,ghost1 and ,god will never break ,his own seal4' ,,the ,,end4 ,,morrison ,,and ,,gibb1 ,,printers1 ,,edinburgh4