The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-03-19

insisted on, and wherever this is not
done, be the preachers ever so eloquent
there is little increase, either in the
number or the grace of the hearers.
(Vol. 4, p. 220.) Will not the same ac-
count for the coldness in all churches
today where christian perfection is not
preached in its fullness and power? He
says he preached at Bradford, where
the people are all alive. Many here
have lately experienced the great saliva
tion and their zeal has been general
blessing. Indeed this always observe
wherever a work of sanctitication
breaks ont, the whole work of God
prospers. "Some," he says, "are con-
vinced of sin, others justified, and all
stirred up to greater earnestness for
salvation" (Vol. 4, p. 437.)
Why is it that preachers nowadays
think that such a blessing is curse,
when Mr.. Wesley says that they were
great blessing. Mr.. Wesley says he
found, "where preachers did not urge
people to go on to perfection, that the
work of God did not prosper" (Vol.
4, p. 459.) Maybe that is what is the
matter with your little audience, my
brother; try it and see. Mr.. Wesley
says: cat Yorkshire, in 1850, began
that glorious work of sanctifcation
which had been nearly at a standstill
for twenty years. But from time to
time it spread, and wherever the work
of sanctification increased the whole
work of God increased in all its branches
(Yol. z, p. 376.) Who dare say in the
face of all these truths, copied from
his own pen, that he did not believe in
sanctifcation as q second blessing, to-
tally distinct from that of justification?
In 1745 he said it should be preached
scarce at all to those who are not press
ing forward; to those who are always
by way of promise; always drawing
rather than driving. (Vol. 6, p. 496. J
In 174G he said: ''It behooves us to
speak almost continually of the state of
justification, but more rarely at least,
in full and explicit terms, concerning
entire sanctifcation." (Vol. 6, p. 497. }
Mr.. Henry Moore, his friend and BIZ
ographer, remarks respecting this pas
sage: cat that time our congregations
in general needed to be taught the first
| principles of the oracles of God" (Heb.
5, 12.) He says now that they need to
be urged to leave these principles of
the doctrine of Christ and to go on to
perfection and not few have lost their
first love and turned back to the world
for want of being so urged. A sister
who was soundly converted several
years ago told me, just few days ago,
that when she first heard the doctrine
of sanctifcation she was convicted fol
the blessing and commenced to read
the word and seek the blessing, but
that she did not receive any encourage.
ment from either brothers, sisters ol
pastor, and she says, 81 am now back
slider and / want you to pray for me. ;
MayGod help us who preach and teacl
the word to press toward the mark fol
, the prize of the high calling of God il
Christ Jesus, so that we shall ever bt
J ready and able to call Gods children tC
: higher and holier life, and to q richer
and fuller experience in the kingdom
! of God. When the pupil finds himsel
3 ahead of his teacher he quits the school
Mr.. Wesley so clearly saw the same ne
cessity that in 1884 he said: "All ou
(! preachers should make a point o
: preaching perfection to believers con
1 stantly, strongly and explicitly; and al
: believers should mind this one thin,
4 and continually agonize for it," (Vol
' 6, p. 529.) In 1862 he said: "The NOR
o / converse with believers in Cornwall
L the more / am convinced that. the,
+ have sustained great loss for want @
Y hearing the doctrine of christian per
Y fection, clearly and strongly enforced
d 81 see," says Mr.. Wesley, "whereve
s this is not done the believers grow, dea
8 and cold. Now, can this be prevente
n but by keeping up in them an hourl
!, expectation of being perfection in love
7. (Vol. 4, p. 1877 In 1866 he writes to
n friend; "Where christian perfection
not strongly and explicitly preache
e there is seldom any remarkable bless
If ing from God; and consequently littl
II addition to the society and little life j
n the members of it" He says: "Spea
,s and sTare not. Let not regard for an
If man induce you to betray the truth {
d God. Amen. Till you press believer
N to expect full salvation now you mu
g. not look for any revival" " (Vol. 6, !
l. 76t.) In 1771 he,writes: 81 hope thi
er Brother O. is not ashamed to preaC
ID full salvation receivable now by faith
i. Not only Brother c., but Brother d
and down to a., are ashamed to preat
in q full salvation as Mr.. Wesley preacht
r it. Are they Methodist? will new
: believe it. He says further; "This
the word which God will always bles
l. IL 1