Living with Integrity: The Pursuit of Holiness

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way with a full knowledge of all the Care and circumspection it entailed on himself and with as clear an app apprehension of all the risks of popularity had involved among his subjects this was David's deliberate Choice influenced by the grace of God he, like his son Solomon after him, chose wisdom as the principal thing and accounted the fear of the Lord as the choicest Safeguard. [00:04:47]

David might have chosen an empty conceit but he did better he elected a discreet conduct he said not I will behave myself grandly but I will behave myself wisely there are men too who having David's opportunity would have said I will have a merry time of it once let me Mount to Israel's Throne I will give myself up to the full Indulgence of every passion there shall be nothing that my soul shall Lust For but what my hand shall grasp. [00:05:54]

You shall be happy indeed if the grace of God leads you to say I choose wisdom the truest and best wisdom be it mine to live as God would have me live understanding his testimonies and yielding obedience to his laws Fain would I live as the Incarnate wisdom lived when he was here below I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way I say it was David's deliberate Choice oh that every young man here would emulate his example. [00:07:36]

Moreover David recognized that to behave oneself wisely one must be holy for but he says I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way observe that he felt he could not be wise if he were unacquainted with the true ideal of absolute unblemished perfection wisdom lay there Folly might suggest a specious but vacillating policy that however would be an imperfect way always remember this in common life the wisest thing is the right straight undeviating course. [00:12:55]

The way to act in every case is to fear God and keep his Commandments constantly I receive letters asking special counsel for peculiar emergencies it is to me an everyday annoyance persons tell me of painful dilemmas in which they are placed and frequently wish me to reply to such and such a place without giving their names now they need not ever write to me for indulgences I have no power to grant them all trouble might be spared Straight Ahead that is the way to go in every case. [00:14:54]

I must have more grace and I must get it too I must have help more than ever I can find in myself I must use all the means of Grace I must call in God to be my helper in this matter for whatever it may cost I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way he felt that character was too mous to be trifled with that it must be of Sterling metal or else it was was mere dross and that the actions of a man's life were too signal to be insignificant. [00:17:59]

I need the influence of thy Grace to guide me in thy ways Lord come and teach me then he meant further Lord come and assist me if there be any Holiness to which I have not yet attained Come Holy Spirit Lift Me Up unto it if there be any sin which I have not conquered Oh Come Thou conquering Spirit of Holiness and overcome the evil when wil Thou come unto me I am feeble I can do nothing but when I have thy Mighty Aid I become strong and can perform all things. [00:24:11]

As you know beloved we never walk a right unless we walk with God as I have said that Holiness is wisdom so let me say that communion is the mother of hly we must see God if we are to be like God and if from day to day we can live contented without a word from the mouth of God go to Business Without prayer come home and go to our beds without seeking the face of Our Father who is in heaven then to walk wisely is impossible the neglect of prayer is a fatal flaw in any life. [00:25:47]

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart with his house or household in view for which he felt a deep responsibility and a yearning anxiety he applies himself with a delicate consideration to the state of his own heart keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of Life A very wise thing Elisha healed the Springs when the currents ran foul it is of no use attempting to cleanse the courses when the fountain is corrupt the thing is to heal the Springs. [00:30:00]

If any man were to say to you I mean to be a good husband a good father if any woman shall say I mean to be a Good Mistress or a good servant that will not do unless you understand that the heart must first of all be altered if the heart be right other things will surely follow in their place now the heart if we are to walk rightly must show itself in the house I will walk within my house with a perfect heart the heart must be perfect and then we must show our heart in our actions. [00:31:41]

If you are a hypocrite and go out into the world you will soon be found out and the people who observe you will not be much influenced by your example they will come to the conclusion that you are what you are and they will treat you as such and there will be an end of it but that will not be so with little Master Johnny who sees his father's actions he is not able to criticize but he has a wonderful faculty for imagination and mother it is not likely the little Polly will begin to say mother is inconsistent. [00:37:52]

I love to expound Christian doctrine I love to open up the promises this is all sweet work but we must have the precepts we shall never have a large increase to an Unholy church or if we do that increase will be a bane instead of a blessing I believe that the greatest power in the world next to the ministry of the word is by the power of the Holy Ghost the holy living of Christian families let us plant in this Dark World garrisons of holy men and women with their children about them. [00:41:49]