The Power of Holiness to be Maintained Because of ITS OWN EXCELLENCY 3/4

           Fifth. Holiness has a mighty influence upon others.  When this appears with power in the lives of Christians, it works mightily upon the spirits of men; it stops the mouths of the ungodly, who are ready to reproach religion, and to throw the dirt of professors’ sins on the face of profession itself.  They say that frogs will cease croaking when a light is brought near unto them.  The light of a holy conversation hangs as it were a padlock on profane lips; yea, it forceth them to acknowledge God in them.  ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,’ Matt. 5:16.  Yea more, this would not only stop their mouths, but be a means to open their very hearts to the embracing of Christ and his grace.

           One reason why such shoals of souls came into the net of the gospel in primitive times was, because then the divinity of the gospel doctrine appeared in the divinity and holiness of Christians’ lives.  Justin Martyr, when converted, professed, ‘That the holiness that shined in Christians’ lives and patience, that triumphed over their enemies’ cruelty at their deaths, made him conclude the doctrine of the gospel was truth.’  Yea, Julian himself, vile wretch as he was, could say, that the Christian religion came to be propagated so much, ‘propter Christianorum erga omnes beneficia—because Christians were a people that did good to all, and hurt to none.’  I am sure we find, by woeful experience, that in these debauched times, wherein religion is so bespattered with frequent scandals, yea, a common looseness of professors, it is hard to get any that are out to come under the net of the gospel.  Some beasts there are, that if they have once blown upon a pasture, others will hardly eat of the grass for some while after.  Truly I have had some such sad thoughts as these concerning our unhappy times; that, till the ill favour, which the pride, conten­tions, errors, and looseness of professors now-a-days, have left upon the truths and ordinances of Christ be worn off, there is little hope of any great comings in of new converts.  The minister cannot be always preaching.  Two or three hours, may be, in a week, he spends among his people in the pulpit, holding the glass of the gospel before their faces; but the lives of professors, these preach all week long.  If they were but holy and exemplary, they would be as a repetition of the preacher's sermon to the families and neigh­bours among whom they converse, and would keep the sound of his doctrine continually ringing in their ears.  

This would give Christians an admirable advan­tage in doing good to their carnal neighbours, by counsel and reproof, which is now seldom done, and when done, it proves to little purpose, because not backed with their own exemplary walking.  ‘It behoves him,’ saith Tertullian, ‘that would counsel or reprove another, to guard his speech—autoritate propriæ conversationis, ne dicta factis deficientibus erubes­cant—with the authority of his own conversation, lest, wanting that, what he says may put himself to the blush.’  We do not love that one that hath the stink­ing breath should come very near us; and truly we count one comes very near us that reproves us.  Such therefore had need have a sweet-scented life.  Re­proofs are good physic, but they have an unpleasing farewell.  It is hard for men not to vomit them up on the face of him that gives them.  Now nothing is more powerful to keep a reproof from thus coming up, than the holiness of the person that reproves.  ‘Let the righteous smite me,’ saith David, ‘it shall be a kind­ness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head,’ Ps. 141:5.  See how well it is taken from such a hand, because of the authority that holiness carries with it.  None but a vile wretch will smite a righteous man with reproach, for smiting him with a reproof, especially if it be softly laid on, and like oil fomented, and wrought into him, as it should, with compassion and love to his soul. Thus we see how influential the power of holiness would be unto the wicked.  Neither would it be less upon our brethren and fellow-Christians.

           When one Christian sees holiness sparkle in the life of another he converses with, he shall find his own grace spring within him, as the babe in Elizabeth at the salutation of Mary.  Truly one eminently holy is enough to put life into a whole society; on the con­trary, the error or looseness of one professor, en­dangers the whole company that are acquainted with him.  Therefore we have so strict a charge—‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness;...looking dili­gently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled,’ Heb. 12:14.  It is spoken to professors.  The heathen’s drunkenness, uncleanness, unrighteous walk­ing did not so much endanger them.  But, when ‘a root of bitterness springs up’ among professors themselves, this hazards the defiling of many.  A scab on the wolf’s back is not so dangerous to the sheep —because they will not be easily drawn among such company; but, when it gets into the flock, among professors that feed together, pray, hear, and walk in fellowship together, then is there fear it will spread.  A loose erroneous professor doth the devil more serv­ice in his kind, than a whole troop of such as pretend to no religion.  

The devil gets no credit by them.  There are many errors and sinful practices which have long lain upon his hands, and he could not put them off, till he found his way—viz. to employ some professors as his brokers to commend them to others, and to disperse them for him.  And if such do not en­snare and defile others by their unholy walking, to be sure they grieve their hearts, and put them to shame in the world.  O how Christians hang down their heads upon the scandal of any of their company!—as all the patriarchs were troubled, when the cup was found in one of their sacks.  And it is no small matter to make sad the hearts of God’s people.  In a word, he that keeps not up, in some measure, the power of a holy life, renders himself useless and unprofitable.  Wouldst thou pray for others?  A heathen could bid a wicked man hold his peace, and not let the gods know he was in a ship when a storm was on them.  Wouldst thou speak a word of comfort to any mourn­ful soul?  O how unsavoury are comforts dropping from such a mouth!  Wouldst thou counsel another? Thy friend will think thou dost but jest.  Whatever thou sayest in commendation of holiness, he will not believe that thou thyself dost think it good; for then thou wouldst take that thyself, which thou com­mendest to another.