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 wishes to live and move as if he was always before his
father s face； because he loves him。 What a noble example Nehemiah
gives us of this！ When he became Governor at Jerusalem he might have
been chargeable to the Jews and required of them money for his support。
The former Governors had done so。 There was none to blame him if he
did。 But he says； 〃So did not I； because of the fear of God。〃 （Nehem。
v。 15。）
（j） A holy man will follow after humility。 He will desire； in lowliness
of mind； to esteem all others better than himself。 He will see more
evil in his own heart than in any other in the world。 He will
understand something of Abraham's feeling； when he says； 〃I am dust and
ashes；〃and Jacob's； when he says； 〃I am less than the least of all
Thy mercies；〃and Job's； when he says； 〃I am vile；〃and Paul's； when
he says； 〃I am chief of sinners。〃 Holy Bradford； that faithful martyr
of Christ； would sometimes finish his letters with these words； 〃A most
miserable sinner； John Bradford。〃 Good old Mr。 Grimshaw's last words；
when he lay on his death…bed； were these； 〃Here goes an unprofitable
servant。〃
（k） A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and
relations in life。 He will try； not merely to fill his place as well as
others who take no thought for their souls； but even better； because he
has higher motives； and more help than they。 Those words of Paul should
never be forgotten； 〃Whatever ye do； do it heartily； as unto the
Lord；〃〃Not slothful in business； fervent in spirit； serving the
Lord。〃 （Col。 iii。 23； Rom。 xii。 11。） Holy persons should aim at doing
everything well； and should be ashamed of allowing themselves to do
anything ill if they can help it。 Like Daniel； they should seek to give
no 〃occasion〃 against themselves； except 〃concerning the law of their
God。〃 （Dan。 vi。 5。） They should strive to be good husbands and good
wives； good parents and good children； good masters and good servants；
good neighbours； good friends； good subjects； good in private and good
in public； good in the place of business and good by their firesides。
Holiness is worth little indeed； if it does not bear this kind of
fruit。 The Lord Jesus puts a searching question to His people； when He
says； 〃What do ye more than others？〃 （Matt。 v。 47。）
（l） Last； but not least； a holy man will follow after spiritual
mindedness。 He will endeavour to set his affections entirely on things
above； and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand。 He will not
neglect the business of the life that now is； but the first place in
his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to e。 He will aim to
live like one whose treasure is in heaven； and to pass through this
world like a stranger and pilgrim travelling to his home。 To mune
with God in prayer； in the Bible； and in the assembly of His
peoplethese things will be the holy man's chiefest enjoyments。 He
will value every thing and place and pany； just in proportion as it
draws him nearer to God。 He will enter into something of David's
feeling； when he says； 〃My soul followeth hard after Thee。〃 〃Thou art
my portion。〃 （Psalm lxiii。 8； cxix。 57。）
Such is the outline of holiness which I venture to sketch out。 Such is
the character which those who are called 〃holy〃 follow after。 Such are
the main features of a holy man。
But here let me say； I trust no man will misunderstand me。 I am not
without fear that my meaning will be mistaken； and the description I
have given of holiness will discourage some tender conscience。 I would
not willingly make one righteous heart sad； or throw a stumbling…block
in any believer's way。
I do not say for a moment that holiness shuts out the presence of
indwelling sin。 No： far from it。 It is the greatest misery of a holy
man that he carries about with him a 〃body of death；〃that often when
he would do good 〃evil is present with him〃； that the old man is
clogging all his movements； and； as it were； trying to draw him back at
every step he takes。 （Rom。 vii。 21。） But it is the excellence of a holy
man that he is not at peace with indwelling sin； as others are。 He
hates it； mourns over it； and longs to be free from its pany。 The
work of sanctification within him is like the wall of Jerusalemthe
building goes forward 〃even in troublous times。〃 （Dan。 ix。 25。）
Neither do I say that holiness es to ripeness and perfection all at
once； or that these graces I have touched on must be found in full
bloom and vigour before you can call a man holy。 No： far from it。
Sanctification is always a progressive work。 Some men's graces are in
the blade； some in the ear； and some are like full corn in the ear。 All
must have a beginning。 We must never despise 〃the day of small things。〃
And sanctification in the very best is an imperfect work。 The history
of the brightest saints that ever lived will contain many a 〃but；〃 and
〃howbeit；〃 and 〃notwithstanding；〃 before you reach the end。 The gold
will never be without some drossthe light will never shine without
some clouds； until we reach the heavenly Jerusalem。 The sun himself has
spots upon his face。 The holiest men have many a blemish and defect
when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary。 Their life is a continual
warfare with sin； the world； and the devil； and sometimes you will see
them not overing； but overe。 The flesh is ever lusting against
the spirit； and the spirit against the flesh； and 〃in many things they
offend all。〃 （Gal。 v。 17； James iii。 2。）
But still； for all this； I am sure that to have such a character as I
have faintly drawn； is the heart's desire and prayer of all true
Christians。 They press towards it； if they do not reach it。 They may
not attain to it； but they always aim at it。 It is what they strive and
labour to be； if it is not what they are。
And this I do boldly and confidently say；