_WHITE ROBES IN THE STREETS_
JOHN xvii. 11-28.
The man who has been fed with the "bread of life" must remain "in the
world." The Lord gives no countenance to the life of the ascetic. Our
sanctification is not to be gained by withdrawal and retreat. At the best,
that would be a holiness sickly and anæmic, a coddled virtue devoid of
firm muscle and iron nerve. Our Lord purposes a holiness which shall wear
white robes in the streets, and shine like virgin snow in the market, and
keep itself chivalrous and stately in the common fellowships of men.
"In the world," but "_not of the world_." The man who is fed on "the bread
of life" is endowed with powers of resistance against "the noisome
pestilence." The germs of worldly epidemics find no nutriment in him. "The
prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me." When an evil microbe
finds no foothold it withers away. If I am not "of the world" I shall
quite naturally and instinctively be able to resist "all the wiles of the
devil."
And my Lord purposes me to have this positive, masculine holiness in order
"_that the world may believe_." He wants disciples who will arrest the
world by their glorious health, and by their invincible moral defences. He
wants my purity to advertise His grace; He wants my faith to increase "the
household of the faith."