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God's holy law。 The white robe which Jesus offers； and faith puts on；
must be our only righteousnessthe name of Christ our only
confidencethe Lamb's book of life our only title to heaven。 With all
our holiness we are no better than sinners。 Our best things are stained
and tainted with imperfection。 They are all more or less inplete；
wrong in the motive or defective in the performance。 By the deeds of
the law shall no child of Adam ever be justified。 〃By grace are ye
saved through faith； and that not of yourselves； it is the gift of God：
not of works； lest any man should boast。〃 （Ephes。 ii。 8； 9。）
Why then is holiness so important？ Why does the Apostle say； 〃Without
it no man shall see the Lord〃？ Let me set out in order a few reasons。
（a） For one thing； we must be holy； because the voice of God in
Scripture plainly mands it。 The Lord Jesus says to His people；
〃Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees； ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 20。） 〃Be ye perfect； even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect。〃 （Matt。 v。 48。） Paul tells the Thessalonians； 〃This
is the will of God； even your sanctification。〃 （1 Thess。 iv。 3。） And
Peter says； 〃As He which hath called you is holy； so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation；〃 because it is written； 〃Be ye holy； for I am
holy。〃 （1 Peter i。 15； 16。） 〃In this；〃 says Leighton； 〃law and Gospel
agree。〃
（b） We must be holy； because this is one grand end and purpose for
which Christ came into the world。 Paul writes to the Corinthians； 〃He
died for all； that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves； but unto Him which died for them and rose again。〃 （2 Cor。
v。 15。） And to the Ephesians； 〃Christ loved the Church； and gave
Himself for it； that He might sanctify and cleanse it。〃 （Ephes。 v。 25；
26。） And to Titus； 〃He gave Himself for us； that He might redeem us
from all iniquity； and purify unto Himself a peculiar people； zealous
of good works。〃 （Titus ii。 14。） In short； to talk of men being saved
from the guilt of sin； without being at the same time saved from its
dominion in their hearts； is to contradict the witness of all
Scripture。 Are believers said to be elect！it is 〃through
sanctification of the Spirit。〃 Are they predestinated？it is 〃to be
conformed to the image of God's Son。〃 Are they chosen？it is 〃that
they may be holy。〃 Are they called？is it 〃with a holy calling。〃 Are
they afflicted？it is that they may be 〃partakers of holiness。〃 Jesus
is a plete Saviour。 He does not merely take away the guilt of a
believer's sin； He does moreHe breaks its power； （1 Peter i。 2； Rom。
viii。 29； Eph。 i。 4； Heb。 xii。 10。）
（c） We must be holy； because this is the only sound evidence that we
have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ。 The Twelfth Article of
our Church says truly； that 〃Although good works cannot put away our
sins； and endure the severity of God's judgment； yet are they pleasing
and acceptable to God in Christ； and do spring out necessarily of a
true and lively faith； insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as
evidently known as a tree discerned by its fruits。〃 James warns us
there is such a thing as a dead faitha faith which goes no further
than the profession of the lips； and has no influence on a man's
character。 （James ii。 17。） True saving faith is a very different kind
of thing。 True faith will always show itself by its fruitsit will
sanctify； it will work by love； it will overe the world； it will
purify the heart。 I know that people are fond of talking about
death…bed evidences。 They will rest on words spoken in the hours of
fear； and pain； and weakness； as if they might take fort in them
about the friends they lose。 But I am afraid in ninety…nine cases out
of a hundred such evidences are not to be depended on。 I suspect that；
with rare exceptions； men die just as they have lived。 The only safe
evidence that we are one with Christ； and Christ in us； is holy life。
They that live unto the Lord are generally the only people who die in
the Lord。 If we would die the death of the righteous； let us not rest
in slothful desires only； let us seek to live His life。 It is a true
saying of Traill's； 〃That man's state is naught； and his faith unsound；
that find not his hopes of glory purifying to his heart and life。〃
（d） We must be holy； because this is the only proof that we love the
Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity。 This is a point on which He has spoken
most plainly； in the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of John。 〃If ye
love Me； keep my mandments。〃〃He that hath my mandments and
keepeth them； he it is that loveth Me。〃〃If a man love Me he will keep
my words。〃〃Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I mand you。〃
（John xiv。 15； 21； 23； xv。 14。）Plainer words than these it would be
difficult to find； and woe to those who neglect them！ Surely that man
must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of all that Jesus
suffered； and yet cling to those sins for which that suffering was
undergone It was sin that wove the crown of thornsit was sin that
pierced our Lord's hands； and feet； and sideit was sin that brought
Him to Gethsemane and Calvary； to the cross and to the grave。 Cold must
our hearts be if we do not hate sin and labour to get rid of it； though
we may have to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye in
doing it。
（e） We must be holy； because this is the only sound evidence that we
are true children of God。 Children in this world are generally like
their parents。 Some； doubtless； are more so； and some lessbut it is
seldom indeed that you cannot trace a kind of family likeness。 And it
is much the same with the children of God。 The Lord Jesus says； 〃If ye
were Abraham's children ye would do the works of Abraham。〃〃If God
were your Father ye would love Me。〃 （John viii。 39； 42。） If men have no
likeness to the Father in heaven； it is vain to talk of their being His
〃sons。〃 If we know nothing of holiness we may flatter ourselves as we
please； but we have not got the Holy Spirit dwelling in us： we are
dead； and must be brought to life againwe are lost； and must be
found。 〃As many as are led by the Spirit of God； they；〃 and they only；
〃are the sons of God。〃 （Rom。 viii。 14。） We must show by our lives the
family we belong to。We must let men see by our good conversation that
we are indeed the children of the Holy One； or our son…ship is but an
empty name。 〃Say not；〃 says Gurnall； 〃that thou hast royal blood in thy
veins； and art born of God； except thou canst prove thy pedigree by
daring to be holy。〃
（f） We must be holy； because this is the most likely way to do good to
others。 We cannot live to ourselves only in this world。 Our lives will
always be doing either good or harm to those who see them。 They are a
silent sermon which all can read。 It is sad indeed when they are a
sermon for the devil's cause； and not for God's。 I believe that far
more is done for Christ's kingdom by the holy living of believers than
we are at all aware of。 There is a reality about such living which
makes men feel； and obliges them to think。 It carries a weight and
influence with it which nothing else can give。 It makes religion
beautiful； and draws men to consider it； like a lighthouse seen afar
off。 The day of judgment will prove that many besides husbands have
been won 〃without the word〃 by a holy life； （1 Pet。 iii。 1。） You may
talk to persons about the doctrines of the Gospels； and few will
listen； and still fewer understand。 But your life is an argument that
none can escape。 There is a meaning about holiness which not even the
most unlearned can help taking in。 They may not understand
justification； but they can understand charity。 I believe there is far
more harm done by unholy and inconsistent Christians than we are aware
of。 Such men are among Sat