The Globe-republican., 1894-11-02
Religious Department.
The Wesleyan Doctrine OF Entire
SanctificatiOn.
CT kESSEI

lie wesleyan DOctflHe vi EHtife
Specification.
Go. KEssEL.
OF this doctrine much is said. both in
favor and against it. Some say it is a
new doctrine, but as we search the Scrip
lures we find it to be as old as the Bible.
As justification by faith was not widely
taught until the rise of Luther and his
co -iabOrers, so the doctrine of entire
Sanctification largely owes its spread to
the Wesley's and their contemporaries,
hence called the Wesleyan doctrine of
entire specification. But what is meant
by entire Specification. LIST we answer,
Holiness, heart purity. perfect love,
christian perfection. Mr.. Webster says:
To Sanctify is to dedicate wholly to
sacred or religious purposes. Fletcher
says: 1t is spiritual constellation made
up of these graces: perfect repentance.
perfect faith, perfect humility, perfect
meekness, perfect self denial, perfect
perfect hope, perfect charity
for visible enemys as well as friends,
perfect love for our invisible God.
Mr.. Wesleyan his christian perfection,
says, the sum of this doctrine is included
in Math. %. 81 80 that is that we should
love God with our whole heart soul and
mind; and love our neighbor as ourself.
Lee says: 1t is the renewal of the fallen
nature by the Holy Ghost, received
through faith in Christ Jesus. whose
blood of atOnement washes from all in
EQUITY. cleanseth from all sin and causes
us to walk blameless before the Ford.
Dr.Gibson, Bishop of London, and Mr..
Wesley, were in conversation, when the
Bishop asked Mr.. Wesley to explain
this doctrine. After the explanation was
given, the Bishop said ''if that is all you
mean by perfection, tell it to the whole
world. No one with sane mind and
right understanding of this doctrine will
be guilty of fighting it, The Bible,
Bishop Taylor's rule and exercises of
Holy living and dying, Kemp's christian
Pattern. and Mr.. Laus' Serious call. and
Christian Perfection, were the books
which convinced the Mr., Wesley's Of
their privilege to enjoy, and convict
them for the experience of entire sancti-
ficatiOn. On Jan. l, 1888. Mr.. Wesley
preached his first sermon on entire sacti
ficatiOn using for his subject the circum
cisiOu of the heart. In what respect is
one not perfect in their life? In knowl-
edge. liable to error, not absolutely per-
feet, not free from ignorance or infirm-
ties. In what sense may one be perfect
sins of the heart such are y: evil thoughts.
wrong tempers. pride, envy, selfwill.
covetuous, or hatred. Understand we do
not plead for absolute angelic or Adamic,
but only christian perfection.
When is this work of grace wrought in
man? At or after justification: Jinzen-
dorf taught that it accompanied justifi-
cation.
Let US examine the Word of the Lord
and take it rather than mans theory.
First Thess. ) :23: And the very God Of
peace sanctify you wholly. This text
implies that the work of Sanctification
was begun but not completed. Heb 81
Here Paul exhOrts the Hebrew brethren
to go on unto perfection. Were they not
justified when this eXhOrtatiOn was
given: II not they were not brethren.
In Cor. to ), we read. | brethren
could not speak unto you as unto spiritual
but as carnal even as unto babes in Christ.
Notice they were brethren and in Christ.
Then in the 18th chapter he sets before
them the character of one perfect in love.
In the 9TH chapter of his second epistle
he says: Having therefore these promises
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthinesS of flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of the
Lord. Perfecting Holiness implies it as
already begun and that it may be COM
pleted in this life. In Rom. 81 we find
the brethren were justified by faith and
had peace with God and in the 9th ch.
Paul exhorts them to Holiness. Enough
Bible to prove the Zinzendorf doctrine
or teaching unscriptural, and that Entire
is not received at justifi-
cation. The Bible plainly speaks of two
separate and instantaneous works OF
grace being wrought in the heart. Some
say they believe in Entire SanctificatiOn.
but do not think it attainable in this
life.