Holy Living by J. N. Wilkinson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 28, 1865

Holy Living.

By J. N. Wilkinson

We are instructed by the apostle Paul, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Heb. xii, 14. And Peter says, "As he that has 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 Pet. i, 15, 16.

We understand that those who are the people of God, will ever be characterized by holiness, or, godly living. Says the Psalmist, "Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever." Ps. xciii, 5. Thus the children of God should ever exercise a holy zeal, and a meek and quiet spirit, and thereby show to those around them, that they have been instructed in the school of divine wisdom.

And again, we have a pattern of holiness and purity. Says Peter, "For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." 1 Pet. ii, 21, 22. We are exhorted also, to "let this mind be in us which was in Christ." Phil. ii, 5. Says John, "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked." 1 John ii, 6. We are informed how he walked, and we are taught to follow in his steps. And again, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." But how can we tell whether we have "the Spirit of Christ?" By the fruit we bring forth. Paul says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law; and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." Gal. v, 22-25.

It is important that the remnant church should live so as to be a light in the world, and an example to their enemies, so that they may have no evil to say in regard to their Christian character, or daily walk.

The following testimony in regard to the Waldenses, and the Albigenses, may be worth our attention. I select from M' Gavin's Protestant, Vol. I, p. 1289:

"The Waldenses and Albigenses were a simple, harmless people; they professed no principles, and were convicted of no practices hostile to the good order of society. Their very enemies bear ample testimony in behalf of their manner of life, as being more moral, than that of those who persecuted them. Even an inquisitor, who wrote against them, says: 'These heretics are known by their manners and conversation: for they are orderly and modest in their behavior, and deportment. They avoid all appearance of pride in their dress. They neither indulge in finery of attire, nor are they remarkable for being mean or ragged. They avoid commerce that they may be free from deceit and falsehood. They get their livelihood by manual industry, as day laborers, or mechanics, and their teachers are weavers or tailors. They are not anxious about amassing riches, but content themselves with the necessaries of life. They are chaste, temperate, and sober. They abstain from anger. Even when they work, they either learn or teach. In like manner also, their women are very modest; avoiding backbiting, foolish jesting, and levity of speech, especially abstaining from lies or swearing, not so much as making use of the common asseverations, 'in truth,' 'for certain' or the like; because they regard these as oaths—contenting themselves with simply answering 'yes' or 'no.'"

Claudius Leisselius, archbishop of Turin, says, that, "their heresy being excepted, they generally lived a purer life than other Christians." "In their lives and morals" says he, "they are perfect, irreprehensible and without reproach among men, addicting themselves with all their might, to the service of God." In the time of a great persecution of the Waldenses of Merindol and Provence, a certain monk was deputed by the Bishop of Cavaillon, to hold a conference with them, that they might be convinced of their errors, and the effusion of blood be prevented. But the monk returned in confusion, owning that in his whole life, he had never known so much of the scriptures, as he had learned during those few days, that he had been conversing with the heretics. The Bishop, however, sent among them a number of doctors—young men, who had lately come from the Sorbonne, which at that

time, was the very center of theological subtlety at Paris. One of these publicly owned, that he understood more of the doctrine of salvation, from the answers of the children in their catechisms, than by all the disputations that he had ever before heard.

Such was the character of those who professed the doctrines of the reformation, long before the reformation took place; and this is the character which their enemies gave them.

Oh, that we as a people might realize the time in which we live, and the importance of bringing ourselves entirely into subjection to the will of God, and of having our words few and well chosen, and our minds stayed on the Lord continually. "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." John xvii, 17. J. N. WILKINSON. Peterborough, N. H.