we see the Lord？
That question can never be out of season。 The wise man tells us； 〃There
is a time to weep； and a time to laugha time to keep silence； and a
time to speak〃 （Eccles。 iii。 4； 7）； but there is no time； no； not a
day； in which a man ought not to be holy。 Are we？
That question concerns all ranks and conditions of men。 Some are rich
and some are poorsome learned and some unlearnedsome masters； and
some servants； but there is no rank or condition in life in which a man
ought not to be holy。 Are we？
I ask to be heard to…day about this question。 How stands the account
between our souls and God？ In this hurrying； bustling world； let us
stand still for a few minutes and consider the matter of holiness。 I
believe I might have chosen a subject more popular and pleasant。 I am
sure I might have found one more easy to handle。 But I feel deeply I
could not have chosen one more seasonable and more profitable to our
souls。 It is a solemn thing to hear the Word of God saying； 〃Without
holiness no man shall see the Lord。〃 （Heb。 xii。 14。）
I shall endeavour； by God's help； to examine what true holiness is； and
the reason why it is so needful。 In conclusion； I shall try to point
out the only way in which holiness can be attained。 I have already； in
the second paper in this volume； approached this subject from a
doctrinal side。 Let me now try to present it to my readers in a more
plain and practical point of view。
I。 First； then； let me try to show what true practical holiness
iswhat sort of persons are those whom God calls holy。
A man may go great lengths； and yet never reach true holiness。 It is
not knowledgeBalaam had that： nor great professionJudas Iscariot
had that： nor doing many thingsHerod had that： nor zeal for certain
matters in religionJehu had that： nor morality and outward
respectability of conductthe young ruler had that： nor taking
pleasure in hearing preachersthe Jews in Ezekiel's time had that： nor
keeping pany with godly peopleJoab and Gehazi and Demas had that。
Yet none of these was holy！ These things alone are not holiness。 A man
may have any one of them； and yet never see the Lord。
What then is true practical holiness？ It is a hard question to answer。
I do not mean that there is any want of Scriptural matter on the
subject。 But I fear lest I should give a defective view of holiness；
and not say all that ought to be said； or lest I should say things
about it that ought not to be said； and so do harm。 Let me； however；
try to draw a picture of holiness； that we may see it clearly before
the eyes of our minds。 Only let it never be forgotten； when I have said
all； that my account is but a poor imperfect outline at the best。
（a） Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God； according as
we find His mind described in Scripture。 It is the habit of agreeing in
God's judgmenthating what He hatesloving what He lovesand
measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word。 He who
most entirely agrees with God； he is the most holy man。
（b） A holy man will endeavour to shun every known sin； and to keep
every known mandment。 He will have a decided bent of mind toward
God； a hearty desire to do His willa greater fear of displeasing Him
than of displeasing the world； and a love to all His ways。 He will feel
what Paul felt when he said；〃I delight in the law of God after the
inward man〃 （Rom。 vii。 22）； and what David felt when he said； 〃I esteem
all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right； and I hate every
false way。〃 （Psalm cxix。 128。）
（c） A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ。 He will
not only live the life of faith in Him； and draw from Him all his daily
peace and strength； but he will also labour to have the mind that was
in Him； and to be 〃conformed to His image。〃 （Rom。 viii。 29。） It will be
his aim to bear with and forgive others； even as Christ forgave usto
be unselfish； even as Christ pleased not Himselfto walk in love； even
as Christ loved usto be lowly…minded and humble； even as Christ made
Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself。 He will remember that
Christ was a faithful witness for the truththat He came not to do His
own willthat it was His meat and drink to do His Father's willthat
He would continually deny Himself in order to minister to othersthat
He was meek and patient under undeserved insultsthat He thought more
of godly poor men than of kingsthat He was full of love and
passion to sinnersthat He was bold and unpromising in
denouncing sinthat He sought not the praise of men； when He might
have had itthat He went about doing goodthat He was separate from
worldly peoplethat He continued instant in prayerthat He would not
let even His nearest relations stand in His way when God's work was to
be done。 These things a holy man will try to remember。 By them he will
endeavour to shape his course in life。 He will lay to heart the saying
of John； 〃He that saith he abideth in Christ ought himself also so to
walk； even as He walked〃 （1 John ii。 6）； and the saying of Peter； that
〃Christ suffered for us； leaving us an example that ye should follow
His steps。〃 （1 Peter ii。 21。） Happy is he who has learned to make
Christ his 〃all；〃 both for salvation and example！ Much time would be
saved； and much sin prevented； if men would oftener ask themselves the
question； 〃What would Christ have said and done； if He were in my
place？〃
（d） A holy man will follow after meekness； longsuffering； gentleness；
patience； kind tempers； government of his tongue。 He will bear much；
forbear much； overlook much； and be slow to talk of standing on his
rights。 We see a bright example of this in the behaviour of David when
Shimei cursed himand of Moses when Aaron and Miriam spake against
him。 （2 Sam。 xvi。 10； Num。 xii。 3。）
（e） A holy man will follow after temperance and self…denial。 He will
labour to mortify the desires of his bodyto crucify his flesh with
his affections and luststo curb his passionsto restrain his carnal
inclinations； lest at any time they break loose。 Oh； what a word is
that of the Lord Jesus to the Apostles； 〃Take heed to yourselves； lest
at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness；
and cares of this life〃 （Luke xxi。 34）； and that of the Apostle Paul；
〃I keep under my body； and bring it into subjection； lest that by any
means when I have preached to others； I myself should be a castaway。〃
（1 Cor。 ix。 27。）
（f） A holy man will follow after charity and brotherly kindness。 He
will endeavour to observe the golden rule of doing as he would have men
do to him； and speaking as he would have men speak to him。 He will be
full of affection towards his brethrentowards their bodies； their
property； their characters； their feelings； their souls。 〃He that
loveth another；〃 says Paul； 〃hath fulfilled the law。〃 （Rom。 xiii。 8。）
He will abhor all lying； slandering； backbiting； cheating； dishonesty；
and unfair dealing； even in the least things。 The shekel and cubit of
the sanctuary were larger than those in mon use。 He will strive to
adorn his religion by all his outward demeanour； and to make it lovely
and beautiful in the eyes of all around him。 Alas； what condemning
words are the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians； and the Sermon on the
Mount； when laid alongside the conduct of many professing Christians！
（g） A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence
towards others。 He will not stand all the day idle。 He will not be
content with doing no harmhe will try to do good。 He will strive to
be useful in his day and generation； and to lessen the spiritual wants
and misery around him； as far as he can。 Such was Dorcas； 〃full of good
works and almsdeeds； which she did；〃not merely purposed and talked
about； but did。 Such an one was Paul： 〃I will very gladly spend and be
spent for you；〃 he says； 〃though the more abundantly I love you the
less I be loved。〃 （Acts ix。 36； 2 Cor。 xii。 15。）
（h） A holy man will follow after purity of heart。 He will dread all
filthiness and uncleanness of spirit； and seek to avoid all things that
might draw him into it。 He knows his own heart is like tinder； and will
diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation。 Who shall dare to
talk of strength when David can fall？ There is many a hint to be
gleaned from the ceremonial law。 Under it the man who only touched a
bone； or a dead body； or a grave； or a diseased person； became at once
unclean in the sight of God。 And these things were emblems and figures。
Few Christians are ever too watchful and too particular about this
point。
（i） A holy man will follow after the fear of God。 I do not mean the
fear of a slave； who only works because he is afraid of punishment； and
would be idle if he did not dread discovery。 I mean rather the fear of
a child； who wishe