Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-02-13
r,ev. N. d. Carlisle ON the Second
Blessing Theory.

lpsI3aS u, Dl6SSlnB IueOrys t teit#i
AS previously announced, Roy, NJ. IT,.
Carlisle preaohed last Sunday att "a. NJ.
In tho Methodist church, taking for his
theme tile second blessing theory, and
concluding his rcmarks from the preced-
ing Sunday on the great doctrine of "Ho-
i liness," or "Sanctification.o The text
was LIST Petor, 3, 1916: "But sanctify the
Lord God in your hearts; and be ready to
giee an answer to ovory man t.iat asketh
you, n reason of the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear; having good
conscienco; that whereas they speak OWL
of you, as of OWL doerB, they NAV be
ashamed of your good conversation in
Christ" He began by repeating tho po-
stion of tho Methodist church on this
important doptrine of Christianity as
given in his first sermon. This doctrine
is hold to be that regeneration is sanctifl-
cation begun, and that there is continual
advance in the state in which the work of
conversion leaves one; in other words,
that holiness is the maturity Of the graces
resulting from regeneration.
/! Having thus briefly defined the doc
trine, as held by at least nine-tenths of
tho Methodist church to day, the able
divine devoted the major part of his dis
course to tho discussion of tho second
blessing theory, which is. that there is
necessary n second instantaneous change
aftcr conversion by which ono is made
perfectly holy, which second change is
tho result of n second and distinct act of
faith. In tho clear exposition of tho fall
lacy of this theory, it was first shown
that thorc were many serious and fatal
objections to the doctrine. AS a general
principle of construction of all Biblc
truth, that doctrine, or code of Christian
ethics, is tho best which is Tho simplest.
In the Scriptures the great doctrine of re-
generation, or tho new birth, Is made 80
plain that ho who runs may read. by re-
pcntanco and faith tho heart is changed
and tho believer is constituted now
creature in Christ Jesus. Tho work of
| God in converting u human soul is perfect
and complete, and from that moment the
work of sanctiication is begun. The
second blessing theory mintics CONVEX
sion and causes confusion of terms.
| The terms in which these theorists define
the second blessing were shown to be the
same by which Mr.. Wesley defines re-
generation, or tho now birth. 1t is true
that, as q matter of metaphysical contcm-
plation, thcologians arc pleased to scpa-
ratio in thought regeneration and sanotif-
cation, but this is only mental tisjoin-
der of things Which are always oocxistent
III point of tmc. Or, in other words, no
one is ever justified who is not sanctificd,
and being thus in state of grace, it is
his duty and privilege to grow and de-
| vclop, tins going on to perfection. This
Wow gives conversion its proper signif-
cameo and Importance rs taught in tho
Bible.
| Again, it neccsstatcs an unscriptural
distinction of terms referring to sin, by
which they would make tho singular
form, wherever it appears in the Bible,
the synonym of inbred sin, and the plural
form refer to act,al transgrcssions of the
law of God, when no such distinction is
made in the original Greek, both forms
being used imdiscriminatcly to denote sin
in generic sense. Moreover, the theory
leads to error, N that many who profess
1T claim that they cannot commit sim
lis true that thc wiscst of those who are
| adhcrcnts to this belief claim no such alb
surd perfection for themselves, but many
of this school do make the mistaken pro-
fession and say they can never become
any moro holy in this life. Therefore
it puts a stop to Christian growth and de-
volopmcnt.
Finally, it tends to a disregard of tho
church and it's regular constituted
authority. Until the seeds of this doc
trinc were sown within the last fow years,
there never was known any interference
by outside parties with tho work of the
regular pastor in tho territory assigned
to his care and oversight by tho Annual
Conference. Now it has come to pass
that even local preacher from distant
Conference can go out as an evangelist,
and by utterly ignoring tho preacher in
charge of any given circuit in another
Conference, hold his "Holiness Meet
ings," and because, forsooth, the preach
CT in charge there, nor tho membership
of tho church., do not fall in with him
and his'aggressivc ways, tho allegation is
made that thore is no religion or Chris.
e''hioJ III clpncl pastor OF people, All
such unsolicited interference with tho
work of tho regular constituted ministry,
in any given territory, musta and will work
an injury to tho interests of the church.
He did not bclieyo that thrcc-fourths of
tho Methodist church were backslidors
and apostatcs, and that thoir salvation
depended on the acceptance of the
second blessing theory of sanctincation.
Then were passed in review the Bible
worthics who, it is claimed, had gotten tho
second blessing. BY closo examination
and reading of what is recorded about
Abraham, Jacob, David, Paul, and Apol-
los, it was shown that no such thing was
true in their experiences.
Next it was shown that the descent of
the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentccost
in no way proved tho second blessing
doctrine.
Finally, number Of passages, much
quoted on that side, wore examined one
by one, among them, Acts 10, II, 2 Cor
|, 10, Cor. B, l-3, l'Thcss. 4, 3, John