Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-12-11
HOLINESS.

Mr.. WHITE: As the Armenian
views of MI. Wesley have not been as
clearly set forth in the sanctlfication
sermons, lately published in your pa
per, as have been the Calvanistic held
by DIR. Hodge, please insert the fol-
lowing extracts from Bucks iheoiog-
ical Dictionary, taken originally from
questions and answers in the minutes
of conference:
CUES. What is implied in being a
perfect christian?
Ans. The loving the Lord, our God
with all our heart, and with all our
mind and soul and strength.
CUES. Does this imply that all in
ward sin is taken away?
Ans. Without doubt or how could
we be said to be saved from all un-
cleanliness?
CUES. How much is allowed by u
brethren who differ from US with re-
gard to entire sanctification?
Ans. They grant: 1st. That every
one must be entirely sanctified in the
article of death. End. That till then,
a believer grows in grace. Games
nearer and nearer to- perfection. 3rd.
That we ought TO be continually
pressing after this, and to eXiort all
others TO do &c.
CUES. What do we allow them?
Ans. We grant: LIST. That many
of those who hav, died in the faith
yea, the greater part Of those we have
known, were not sanctiied throughout,
not made perfect in love till q little
before death End. That the term
sanctified is continually applied. by
Saint Paul to all that were justified
that were true believers. 3rd. That
by this term alone, he rarely (ifever)
means saved from all sin. 4th. That
consequently, 1T is net proper to use it
in this sense without adding the word
wholly, entirely, or the like. 9TH.
That the inspired writer's almost con-
tinually speak OF or to those who
were justified, but very rarely either
of or to those who were sanctiffed.
6. That consequently, it behooves us
to speak in public, almost continually,
of the state of justification, but more
rarely IN full and explicit terms con-
corning entire sanctlfication.
Cues. What theEs is the point
wherein we divide?
Ans. 1t is this: Whether we should
expect to be saved from all sin before
the article of death.
CUES. Is there any clear Scripture
promise of this, that God will save US
from all sin?
Ans. There is. Ps. 1908. she
shall redeem Israel from all his SINS"
This is more largely expressed in
Eek. Sc .26-29, IL. Cor. I'll, Deut.
3G:6, 1. John, 3:S, Eph. 5:35,27,
John, II :20-23. 1. John, 4:l7.
Great clamor was raised against
Mr.. Wesley because he called his view
of sanctification perfection. Let 1t be
remembered, however, that saHctiti-
cation is not a word used by Inspired
writer's. 1t is to be found, first, in
the latin vulgate, and is a term used
by the Church CT Rome to teach the
construction placed by it upon the
Scriptures. Whether Mr.. Wesley
selected g name for his views wholly
free from objection, is questionable.
In Hebrews, Paul seems to use per-
lection in another sense. Heb. 6:l.
Therefore, leaving the principles of
the doctrine Of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection" Heb. Gall. "And
we desire that every one of you do
show the same diligence to the full
assurance of hope unto the end"
Heb. IL, 1-2. Wherefore, seeing we
also are comprised about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight and the sin which
doth so easily beset US, and let us run
with patience the race that is set be-
fore us, looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith" These
verses seem to express what Paul
meant by perfection-the perfection
of faith. Mr.. Wesley meant another
sort-the perfection of obedience.
s!He often explained that what he
meant by perfection, was such 3 de-
gree of the love of God and the love
of man-such a degree of the love of
justice, truth, holiness and purity as
will remove from the heart every con-
trary disposition :towar'ls God or man,
and that this should be our state Of
mind in every situation and in every
circumstance of life" This is what
Christ declared to be the summary Of
the law.