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PREFACE.
There is not in Scripture a word more distinctlyDivine in its origin and meaning than the wordholy. There is not a word that leads us higherinto the mystery of Deity, nor deeper into theprivilege and the blessedness of God’s children.And yet it is a word that many a Christian hasnever studied or understood.
There are not a few who can praise God thatduring the past twenty years the watchword BeHoly has been taken up in many a church andChristian circle with greater earnestness thanbefore. In books and magazines, in conventionsand conferences, in the testimonies and the livesof believers, we have abundant tokens that what iscalled the Holiness-movement is a reality.
And yet how much is still wanting! Whatmultitudes of believing Christians there are whohave none but the very vaguest thoughts of whatholiness is! And of those who are seeking after it[p6] how many who have hardly learnt what it is tocome to God’s Word and to God Himself for theteaching that can alone reveal this part of themystery of Christ and of God! To many, holinesshas simply been a general expression for theChristian life in its more earnest form, withoutmuch thought of what the term really means.
In writing this little book, my object has been todiscover in what sense God uses the word, that soit may mean to us what it means to Him. I havesought to trace the word through some of the mostimportant passages of Holy Scripture where itoccurs, there to learn what God’s holiness is, whatours is to be, and what the way by which we attainit. I have been specially anxious to point out howmany and various the elements are that go to makeup true holiness as the Divine expression of theChristian life in all its fulness and perfection. Ihave at the same time striven continually to keepin mind the wonderful unity and simplicity thereis in it, as centred in the person of Jesus. As Iproceeded in my work, I felt ever more deeply howhigh the task was I had undertaken in offering toguide others even into the outer courts of the HolyPlace of the Most High. And yet the very difficultyof the task convinced me of how needful it was.
I fear there are some to whom the book may[p7] be a disappo