It is about purity

NORSK
Yesterday I mentioned that the restoration of the image of God was an important focus for Catherine Booth. Both she and her husband always had a strong focus on holiness: 

“Next to the word salvation the word most often on the lips of Salvationists is the word holiness. Even before there was a Salvation Army the two people destined, under God, to be its founders, were concerned with this second word.” (1)
 
For William Booth, holiness is purity. “A pure heart will ensure a Holy Life!” he stated in the 4th chapter of his book “Purity of heart” (2) – the tittle confirms his focus. Purity is ensured through complete deliverance:

“Hunger and thirst after all inward and outward righteousness with God and before Him is natural to the spiritual man. And the possibility of complete deliverance must, whatever be his opinion, interest him and deserve his most careful attention…. It means happiness… Holiness… means usefulness.” (3)

If David did not know the importance of purity of heart before his great fall, he knew it then. He lost both his hapiness and usefulness, and I believe he also knew that he was about to lose the anointing he needed to remain a king if he did not repent. In his psalm of repentance, he prays: 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me”
Psalm 51:10

Holiness is the focus of William Booth's best known songs “O, boundless salvation” (4) and “Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire” (5). Booth also wrote the following even before our movement had taken the name 'The Salvation Army':
  
“It (holiness) stands on the forefront of our doctrines. We write it on our banners. It is in no shape or form an open debatable question as to whether God can sanctify wholly, whether Jesus does save his people from their sins...” (6)

'Manna' for today: 

Holiness is about purity of heart

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(1) Frederick Coutts: “The Splendour of Holiness” SP&S 1988 p. 75
(2) William Booth in “The Founder Speaks again” SP&S 1960 p 20
(3) William Booth: “How far can I be saved?” The War Cry, March 13 1880
(4) O boundless salvation - #509 in The Song Book of TSA 2015 - I have written about the theology of the song HERE - unfortunately it is only available in google-translate in English.
(5) Thou Christ of burning... - #326 in The Song Book of TSA 2015 - I have written about the theology of the song HERE - unfortunately it is only available in google-translate in English.
NB See this prayer in verse 2 'To burn up every trace of sin, To bring the light and glory in....send the fire!'
(6) William Booth: “Holiness” The Christian Mission Magazine, August 1877 p 193