this scripture, were both heathens, and yet they had in their famihes those that were in the Lord, those that were gracious, &c. Heathens were so ingenuous, that they would not despise that holiness in others that they wanted in themselves ; they were so noble, that they would give holiness house-room, though they knew not how to give it heart- room. So Potiphar, though he was a heathen, yet he gave holy Joseph both house-room and heart-room. Gen. xxxix. 1-4. These, and several other heathens of the like spirit with them, will one day rise in judgment against many in these days that are so far fallen out with holiness, as that they will not endure it under the roof of their houses, yea, as that they make it the greatest matter of scorn and derision. Like those in Lam. ii. 15, 16, ' All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth ? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee ; they hiss and gnash the teeth ; they say, We have swallowed her up,' &c. Ah, how many such monsters are there in these days, who express their derision, disdain, and contempt of holiness and holy persons, by all the scornful gestures, postures, and expressions imaginable; that clap their hands, that hiss, that wag their head, that gnash their teeth, and that say, Lo, these are your saints, these are your holy ones, your perfect ones, your beautiful ones ! It is very sad to want holiness, but it is saddest of all to deride holi- ness, to disdain holiness. Of this evil spirit Salvian complained in his time. What madness is this, saith he, amongst Christians, that if a man be good he is despised as if he were evil ! if he be evil, he is honoured as if he were good ! i And as great cause have we to com- plain of the prevalency of the same evil spirit in our times. If the wife be holy, how is she despised by her unholy husband as if she were wicked ! 1 Cor. vii. 16 ; if she be wicked, how is she honoured as if she were holy ! So if the child be gracious, how is he disdained as if he were graceless ! if he be graceless, how is he admired as if he were gracious ! So if a servant be godly, how is he scorned as if he were godless ! if he be godless, how is he applauded as if he were godly ! Certainly God will never endure such to stand in his sight, who cannot endure the sight of holiness, Ps. i. 5. Doubtless God will never give them any room in heaven, who will not so much as give holiness a little house-room, I say not heart-room, here. He that now despises and disdains holiness in others, shall at last be eternally despised and disdained for want of holiness himself
Use 2. — The second use is a use of trial and examination. Is it so, that real holiness is the only way to happiness ? must men be holy on earth, or else they shall never come to a blessed vision or fruition of God in heaven ? Oh then, what cause hath every one to try and examine whether he hath this real holiness, without which there is no happiness, or no ! Now because this is a point of great importance, and a mistake here may undo a man for ever ; and considering the great averseness and backwardness of men's hearts to this noble and necessary work, I shall therefore in the first place propose some con- siderations to provoke all your hearts to fall in good earnest upon
^ Salvian de Quber., lib. iy.
96 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [HeB. XII. 14.
this great point of trial and examination. Now to this purpose consider,
1. First, It is 'possible for you to know whether you have this real holiness or not ; it is possible for you by the light of the Spirit, by the light of the word, and by the light of your own consciences, to see whether holiness, which is the image of God, be stamped upon your souls or no.i Though it be impossible for thee to climb up to heaven to search the records of glory, to see whether thy name be written in the book of life, yet it is possible for thee to go down into the cham- bers of thine own soul, to enter into the withdrawing-rooms of thine own heart, and there to read what impressions of holiness are upon thee. Though this work be hard and difficult, yet it is noble and possible ; though the heart be deceitful and full of shifts, yet it is possible for a man to make such a curious, such a narrow, such a diligent, such a faithful, and such an impartial search into his own soul, as that he may certainly know whether he hath that real holi- ness that is the pledge of immortal happiness or no ; it is possible for him that hath this jewel, this holiness, to know it, to find it, and in the beautiful face of holiness to read his own everlasting happiness. I might call in the experiences of many precious saints — as Abraham, Noah, Jacob, David, Job, Paul, and others — to bear witness to this truth ; but I suppose it is needless. What great and weighty, what high and hard, what hazardous and dangerous things do many sol- diers, saUors, sick patients, and others, attempt and undertake, upon the mere account of a possibility ! It is possible that the soldier may win the field; it is possible that the mariner may make a happy voyage ; it is possible that the sick patient may recover ; it is possible that he that strives for mastery may overcome, &c. Now upon this very account, that it is possible, what will they stick at ? what will they not attempt and endeavour to effect ? And why then should not Christians, upon the account of a possibility, make a diligent search after that holiness that will at last throne the soul in everlasting hap- piness? Well, Christians, as a possibility of obtaining grace and mercy should bear up your hearts against despair ; as a possibility of obtaining a pardon should keep up your hearts in a seeking and a waiting way; and as a possibility of salvation by Christ should be argument sufficient to work a soul to venture itself upon Christ ; so a possibility of knowing whether you have this pearl of price, holiness, should work you to make a diligent search and inquiry after it. 2 Let no man do more upon the account of a possibility for this world, than you will do upon the account of a possibility for another world : let no man do more upon the account of a possibility for his body, than you will do upon the account of a possibility for your souls : let no man do more upon the account of a possibility for temporals, than you will do upon the account of a possibility for eternals. It is possible for you to know whether this babe of giace, holiness, be formed in your souls or no ; and therefore search and inquire after it. 2. Secondly, Consider this, that it is a point of very great concem-
^ See my Treatise of ' Assurance,' page 1 to 26, where you have this truth made fully evident. [In this edition, vol. ii. pp. 318, seq. — G.] » Mark x. 27, xiv. 36, and ix. 23 ; Luke xviii. 27.
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