Directions to be Holy
W. Gouge. Hebrews 3:1 Why, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; That we may be such "holy brethren" as are here set down — 1. Be well informed in the nature of holiness. If the mark be mistaken, the more diligence we use, the further we shall be off from it. The faster a traveller goes in a wrong way, the farther he may be from the place to which he desires to go. The Jews, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, were farthest off from true holiness. 2. "Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit." Thus may you "perfect holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). It is a course which all of all sorts observe for perfecting a thing, namely, first to remove the impediments; thus physicians purge out peccant humours, chirurgians draw out festering matter, husbandmen stock up broom, briars, thorns, and all noisome weeds. 3. Have special care of your company. Avoid the society of unholy ones (Psalm 16:3). That this means is very powerful is evident (Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 22:24, 25). 4. Be constant in using such means as God hath sanctified for attaining holiness; for God will be found in His own way. The means are — (1) Public; (2) private; (3) secret. Public means are the Word and Sacraments. 5. Be instant and constant in prayer, and that for the Holy Spirit which is promised to those that ask Him (Luke 11:13). This Spirit it is which makes us holy. 6. Be patient under crosses; for God cloth chasten His, that they might be "partakers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). (W. Gouge.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; WEB: Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;