11. Eleventhly, Consider this to provoke you to be holy ; that holi- ness is the most gainfullest and the most thriving trade in the world. Now that every one cries out that all trading is gone, oh that every one would settle to the trade of holiness ! Oh, there is no gain, there is no advantage, to the gain that comes in upon the account of godliness ! 1 Tim. vi, 6, ' But godliness with contentment is great gain.' Though godliness itself be great gain, yet godliness brings in a great deal of gain besides itself.^ The godly man is still of the gaining side, his piety brings him in the greatest plenty : chap. iv. 8, ' Godliness is profitable to all things.' A man is as well able to tell the stars of heaven, and to number the hairs of his head, as he is able to tell the several commo- dities, or to number up the variety of blessings, or multitude of mer- cies, that comes flying in upon the wings of godliness. Godliness hath the promise of both lives, that is, both of earthly favours and of eternal blessings also. It is profitable, not for some things, but for everything ; both temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings do grow upon this tree of life — holiness. There is no trade to the trade of godliness : Prov. xxii. 4, * By humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, and honour, and life.' Godliness hath the promise of gold as well as of grace, of honour as well as of heaven ; of life and happiness here, as well as of glory and blessedness hereafter. The good things of this life, as well as the great things of a better life, follows holiness hard at heels. Holi- ness is not a barren but a fruitful womb ; it is like that tree in Rev. xxii. 2, which did bear twelve manner of fruits, and that yielded fruit every month. What is of greater value among men than riches ? and what is more glorious among men than honour ? and what is more sweet among men than life ? Why, all these fruits, and ten thousand more, grow upon the tree of holiness. The bag of riches, the robe of honour and life, that is, the comfort and sweet of both, hangs all upon the back of holiness. But that I may the more effectually win upon you, and provoke you to look after holiness, let me by an induction of particu- lars further confirm the truth of this last consideration, especially con- sidering that there is no argument under heaven that is so taking with all men as this of gain. Profit is a bait that all bite at ; it is the great god of the world.2 And therefore thus,
(1.) First, Consider that holiness brings m present gain; and what gain to present gain ? There are many that lay out much, and ven- ture far, and run the hazard of all, and yet it is long before they see returns. Oh, but holiness, that brings in present profit : Rom. vi. 22, • But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye
1 Godliness is the greatest riches, the best treasure, the highest honour, and the most lasting fame.
^ There is no argument to that which is drawn ab utili. ' Haec omnia tibi dabo,' said Satan to Christ.
174 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [Heb. XII. 14.
have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.' The apostle doth not say, ye may have your fruit unto holiness, but ye have your fruit unto holiness ; he doth not say, ye shall have your fruit unto holiness, but ye have your fruit unto holiness ; he doth not say, oh that ye had your fruit unto holiness, but ye have your fruit unto holiness. So Ps. xix. 11: Not only for keeping but also in keeping of his com- mands there is great reward. Holiness is its own reward. Whilst a Christian is in the very exercise of holiness, oh what blessed sights, what sweet tastes, what glorious incomes,^ from heaven hath he ! Oh the secret visits, the secret whispers, the secret joggings, the secret love-tokens that Christians meet with in the very practice of holiness ! Holiness brings in present comfort and joy: 2 Cor. i. 12, 'For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our consciences, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.'2 There is no mirth, no joy, to that that holiness brings in. Let a man's load be never so heavy, yet holiness will bring in that joy that will make him bear up bravely and cheerfully under it. Holiness brings in present peace ; hence it is that you read of ' the peaceable fruits of righteousness,' Heb. xii. 10, 11. And holiness will bring in present communion with God : 1 John i. 7, ' But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another :' that is, God and we have fellowship together, as it is ver. 3. Now to walk in the light as he is in the light, what is it but to walk in holiness, to walk in paths of sanctity ? for only in such paths the Lord walks. And there- fore as you love present gain, labour after holiness. But,
(2.) Secondly, As holiness brings in present gain, so holiness brings in the best and greatest gain ; and this I shall evidence thus :
[1.] First, Holiness will make a man rich in the midst of poverty, James ii. 5 : Kev. ii. 9, 'I know thy poverty, but thou art rich ;' though the church of Smyrna was poor in goods, yet she was rich in grace, she was rich in faith, and rich in hope, and rich in patience, and rich in contentment, &c. ; she was rich in Christ her head, and rich in promises, and rich in experiences ; she had spiritual riches in possession, and glorious riches in reversion. So in 2 Cor. vi. 10, ' As poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.' A holy man cannot be a poor man. A holy man is still the richest man. But this is a riddle the world understands not. The riches of a Christian have no bottom ; all a saint's bags are bottomless bags. Experience tells us that un- holy men's bags, purses, coffers, and mints, may be drawn dry ; but the treasury, the riches of a saint, can never be exhausted, for he still possesses all things in Christ and with Christ, 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23; though he hath nothing in hand, yet he hath all things in hope ; though he hath nothing in the cistern, yet he hath all things in the fountain. 3 Gen. xxxiii. 9, Esau could say, {Li Rah,) 'I have much;' and
^ ' In-coinings.' — G.
" Seneca, a heathen, hath confessed, that the best receipt to drive away sadness, was to live well.
' Recollections of Sibbes are very apparent throughout this paragraph. Cf. under ' Treasure.' — G.
HeB. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 175