A silver vein of sanctity

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
 or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)


"In that day shall there be upon the bridles of the horses, 
 Holiness unto the Lord. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem
 and in Judah shall be Holiness unto the Lord Almighty."
    Zechariah 14:20-21

Here is holiness written upon the bridles of the horses they 
ride on, and upon the cups and pots they drink with. A holy
heart will be holy in the use of common things. Every 
piece of his life shall savor of sanctity; and in all the parts of 
his every-day life, you shall be able to discern something of 
the power of true religion.

He who is truly holy—will be holy in the use of earthly and 
common things, as well as in the use of spiritual and heavenly 
things. He will be spiritual in the use of mundane things; and 
heavenly in the use of earthly things. There is a silver vein
of sanctity which runs through all his worldly concernments. 
If you look upon him in his eating and drinking—you shall find 
him holy. If you look upon him in his buying and selling—you 
shall find him holy. He is holy in his commerce, and holy in his 
converse. Holiness is written upon his dealings with others, and 
upon his behavior towards his family and friends. Whatever he 
puts his hand to in his home—has holiness written upon it.

A holy man makes a Jacob's ladder of all his earthly enjoyments. 
All the comforts in his home, lead him on in a way of holiness, 
and lead him up to a holy God. Look upon a holy man in his 
vocation—and you shall find him holy. Look upon him in the 
use of earthly things—and you shall find him holy. Look upon 
him in his recreations—and you shall find him holy. The habitual
frame and bent of his heart is to be holy in every earthly thing 
which he puts his hand unto. A spirit of holiness runs and shines 
in all the common actions of his life.

But for the false professor—all his religion, all his holiness, lies in 
a few religious duties! Take him out of these, and you shall find 
him as carnal, as vain, as foolish, as filthy and as frothy, as light 
and as slight—as those who have not so much as a cloak of
holiness upon them!

Look! as an unholy heart is carnal in spiritual things, and earthly 
in heavenly things, and unholy in holy things—just so, a man who 
is truly holy—he is as well holy in the ordinary affairs and actions 
of this life, as he is holy in any of the exercises of piety.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do—do it
 all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31