Zion’s Landmarks : Wilson^ N. C.
55
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By natiu-o we have no holiness,—
it belongs to the Lord. The Holy
(ilhost, who is God, implants a spirit
of holiness in the children of God.)
He is the author of all righteousness
and holiness.
If we attempt to define the holi
ness in which one worships God ac-
ce])tably, we could perhajts better tell
what it is not, than what it is. It
certainly requires the absence of all
corrupt offerings, and is a perfect
spiritual and real conformity to
righteousness in the joy of supreme
love, hlo corruption can be tolerated
where the ground is holy, as IMoses
at the burning bush is taught.
No defective offering can be accepted
Its we come to tiie' hol}' mount; no
vileness of nature can approach, unto
the God of holiness.
How ^len can a vile sinful mortal
of the dust and of corruption come
into the holy presence of God, which
forever repels and drives, away all
unholiness; before whose face the
I'.eavens and earth are unclean? It is
done by the imputation of the obe
dience and sprinkling of the blood
of Jesus, which slays and crucifies
the body of sin and death in us, and
imparts holiness unto us in spirit.
Hence we are chosen in him thative
should be holy and^ without blame
before him in love. The Holy Spirit
takes the things of Jesus and brings
them to us,and guides ns into all trntlu
A religion that js not inspired and
-G-Giitroled by ^the Holy Ghos^; is ef
nothing-v/orth before God. Those
who have received the holy Ghost
are doubly blest. They are sensible
both of their corruption, and of the
lioliness of God, and of ins service.
In its place a good sign of a birtli of
the Spirit is the discovery in us of a
body of sin and death making us
wretched. We also have joys the
world knows not of, joy in tlie Holy
Ghost,
As sui brings forth death as its
(.“ortain wages or reward, sjireading
mi.sery and ruin in its course, so ho
liness issues in eternal life and ever
blessed peace and joy. Where there
is no corruption there can be no sor
row nor death. God is holiness and
whei’e his holiness is communicated
there is no death. A AV('nder of
wonders is that God should dwell in
us, but he does, and that is the holi
ness we long for. Hence the longing
desire of sister Harding is f.r holi
ness, w'ishing to be like the Lord,
and hence her consciousness of nu-
wortliiness.
As the Holy Ghost, by his wonder
ful touches of divine life, quickens
us and changes us into the image of
Jesus the corruption still remaining
and larking w-ithin becomes the more
hateful, as well,as the more conspici-
mis to the individual himself. At
times wc are so in the spirit that we
wist not what we arc, and are not
conscious of our vileness so much,
or our attention is so captivated with
the glory of God that he fllleth all in
all.
But the p.articii!ar force of the
text under consideration is an exhor
tation made by Peter to the strangers
scattered abroad (christians) to be
holy in all manner of conversation,
because God is holy. That is, the
general and particular conduct of a
Christian in both word and deed, in
thought and desire, in character and
action, should be lioly.
The Israelites were not allowed to
cat or offer in sacrifice any thing un
clean. All cree])ing things, such as
go on all fours, or on tlieir bellies,
cleaving thus tm earth, the law for
bade their eating. So now the Chris
tian’s thoughts and desires must not
feed on the perishing things of earth,
but his affections should be on things
above where Christ sittedi at the
riglit hand of God. The lusts of the
flesh, which crawl on the earth and
feed on dust, must be denied, because
God is holy. Ncr can his offerings
be accepted if they are maimed.
They must be the first-born thouglits
and desires prompted by the renewed
spirit of the mind, for tliese are iioly.
The God that led Israel out of
Egypt is holy and there is no ether
God. He showed this to Isreal in
liis terrible judgments on Egypt,
hence they were to have no other
gods before him : So the Christian
of this day is to worship GlkI in
Spirit and in truth, having no con
fidence in the flesh, and must ascribe
salvation to God alone, who is glori
ous ill holiness, fearful in praises,
doing wonders. ^
The promises aiicf" comforts of God
are an abundant encouragement to
holy living. Christians should en
deavor to cleans themselves from all
filthlincs.s of the flesh and spirit, be
cause of the fear of God, by,keeping
their bodies under and denying un
godliness and worldly lusts, and by
livitig soberly, and righteously, and
godly in this present evil world, be
cause the holy God dwells in iiis
people, for they are the temple ©f
God: “Having therefore these prom
ises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God,” 2 Con. 7 : 1.
That every man keep Ids body
under, mortify his lusts ; that no man
defraud his brother in any matter;
for this is the will of God, even your
sanctification. Also that christians
love one another in deed and in
truth ; that each one walk honestly
towards them that are witliout, and
provide things honest (for a living)
in the sight of all men. Live in
such a way that all men must retjard
it honest. “For God hath not called
us unto unelcanness but unto holi
ness,” 1 Tiiess. 4 : 7.
Likewise the context in Peter pre
sents the same important view, and
commands christians to the most lov
ing devotion to holy living while in
the flesh. AVe should from the love
of true holiness manifest the indwell
ing of this principle of life, by our
righteous conformity to the teachings
of our heavenly Father.
God is holy, and wc profe.ss and
hope he has called us to holiness and
virtue—profess that he has created
uj in Christ Jesus unto good works,
therefore let us prove that we are
thus called by perfecting holiness in
the fear of the Lord.
Furthermore there is great reward
in living after the Spirit. There is
no death in this, but peace, life and
joy in the Holy Gho.st. But w'e are
so infirm : flesh is Aveak although the
spirit is willing: our mind or desire
is to holiness, and we hate sin, yet
we groan within ourselves. But he
is holy who hath called us, and his
lioly faithfulness will perform the
blessed w'ork unto the end, and not
forsake us, but perfect that Avhich
concerneth us: therefore faint not.
r ’
FearJIiot, thou ivorm Jacoby for the
Holy One of Israel is thy Iledeem-
cr.
Ye are even now come unto tlie
holy mount of God : “But ye are
come unto mount Sion, and unto the
city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels. To the general
assembly and church of the first-born
which are written in heaven and to
God the judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect.
And to Jesus the Mediator of the
new covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling thatspeaketh better things
than that of Abel,” Heb. 12 : 22,
24. Therefore v>'hat manner of per •
sons ought we to be in all holy con-
.^^^bou ? If at the first mount the
I^BInmes so trembled 4hat they could
not endure, how should our conduct
be, when wm have come to God the
judge of all who is a consuming fire.
In the gospel the grace and mercy
of God are especially dwelt upon as
motives for offering ourselves as ser
vants unto God. “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bfxlies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable ser-
vTe,” Koh. 12:1.
It is reasonable service to present
our bodies a living, (not dead) but
living sacrifice, and this is acceptable
to God because it is holy service
when rendered in faith.
The more the truth is received, and
the more we walk in the Snirit, beins;
conformed to Christ by the renewing
of our mind, the more we enjoy that
good, and acceptable, and perfect will
of God. Thus we add to our faith
virtue; and to virtue, knowledtre :
ami to kowled^^;temperance ; and to
temperance, patience; and to })atience,
godliness; and to godliness,brotherly
kindness ; and to brotherly kindness,
charity. These are comforting and
unmistakeablc evidencc.s of election,
and prove our calling and election
sure to us : and so an entrance is min
istered unto us abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Arm your
selves, bretliren, tiierefore with the
same mind, and cease from the flesh.
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were
not redeemed with corr,uptible things
as silver and gold, from your vain
conversation, received by tradition
from your fathers ; but with the j)rec-
ious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot.”
Eeeer James AVilson’s Post Office
is—Banks, AVake County, N. C.
The supply of “Naaman the Sy
rian” is exhausted.
AVile all correspondents, when
they write concerning any subscrib
ers, always give Post Offices, Coimtire
and States, of old subscribers as well
as of new ones?
The Toisnot Union met, in a full
representation of joyful brethren, Lit
AVilson, and held a harmonious session,
greatly enjoying the preaching and
each others company. AYe had a
large number of visiting preachers
from tlie Skewarkey Union, and we
much enjoyed their ministration of
the word.
Our next Union is appointed to lie
held at Moore’s AI. II. eight miles
from AAdlson, on the road to Tarboro,
and will commence on Saturday be
fore the 5th Sunday in May.
The Skewarkey Union will meet
at I eacii iree,h rankbn Cuinitv, com
mencing on Friday before the 5tli
Sunday in Alay.
\Vlien God shines tlie veil is rent,
love disperses the gloom, jicace suc
ceeds confusion, meekne.ss follows up
on hastiness, sorrow is exchanged for
rebellion, and sympathy for the Lord
instead pf enmity. I.ong have I
gone up i\nd down iii this bahrime,
and here I am to this day, nor will
times ever be better with me; every
time the jirince of this world coraeth,
he is sure to find something in me to
stir lip and work upon as his allies :
and nothing but death will ever cure
or cleanse me of them.
But the whole wm-k of God re
mains with me, all God’s work shall
outlive the spaw-n of Satan, “Grace
shall reign.” If we fall it raises ns
up, if we oackslide it restores us, if
we got dead it qniekens us, if sin gets
the mastery it nndermines it, if we
contract guilt Christ’s lo\'e and our
sorrow disperse it, and if we stand
fast it is God’s grace keeps us ; if we
get shut up, grace lets us out, if into
chains, grace makes us free again.
God’s eternal love, whidi is the foun
tain of all grace, shall reign tiiroiigh
the obedience of Christ unto eternal
life.
As sure as ever any fiery trial
coiiieth upon thee, so sure "will the
Holy Spirit give thee .some hint, or
item of it, before it comes, or else
alarm thee to fear, to look out, or
expect sonietliing as coining on,
prepare thee to receive it, without
being ovenniioli alarmed and dismav-
ed at him. “Behold,” sairs God to
Aloses, “I come unto thee in thick
darkness.” “The thing that I great
ly feareci is fallen iijion me',” says,
Job and that ^vil^ch 1 was afraid of*^
is come unto me,” Job, .3 : 25. ''The
Holy Gliost witncsselii in ('vc’rv city
saving, tliat bonds and afil:ctiunsabide
me,” Acts, 20 : 23,
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