The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-03-12

tue neuTb III 100 eApreSSeu I'LL tnht no
afterward taught under the name of
christian perfection, although he would
have then "started at the word" But
he knew not the way to attain it. He
says, 81 was utterly ignorant of the ma.
ture and condition of justification.
Sometimes / confounded it with sane
LITIGATION, at other times ] had some
confused notion about the forgiveness
OF sins; but then took il for granted
the time Of this must be either the hour
OF death or the day Of judgement. /
have no doubt but what many today
are preaching, or rather trying to
preach, the gospel who know as little
about salvation and the spiritual gifts
of God as did Mr.. Wesley when he first
commenced to preach. And further he
says, 81 was equally ignorant of the
nature of saving faith; apprehending it
to mean no more than q firm assent to
all the propositions contained in the
Old and New Testament" (See vol. 8, p.
SO.) In April, 1888, he saw from Scrip
ture and living witnesses that conyer-
sion is an instantaneous work obtained
by simple faith; and May Gath he prov
ed it in his own expeperience. IsGod's
spirit able to witness the fact, the place
and time to every one? 1t surely is,
for on the 9th of December, 1885, l re-
ceived the grand intelligence on the
wireless telephone. Have you receiv-
ed it? Do you know when and where?
Mr.. Wesley thought he was all right
when he was preaching to others be-
fore he was converted. He says till the
date of his conversion sin had dominat-
ed over him. He saw clearly from the
time of his conversion that all grace,
even in its highest degree, is received
by faith, and in this he never wavered,
but he was weak in the faith and q
babe in Christ, as all young converts
are. Doubts and fears crowded upon
him. He found it necessary to sit at
the feet of those who had more perfect
knowledge. of. the way of faith. So
there were holy men and women before
Wesley got the blessing, the power, OF
even the name of Methodist. Precisely
when he saw that entire sanctifcation
as distinct work is offered by simple
faith we do not know He says, "By
viewing it in every point of light, and
comparing it again and again with the
word of God on the one hand and the
experience of the children of God OIL
the other, we saw farther into the ma
ture and properties of christian perfec
ton (Vol, 6, page 495.)
Mr.. Wesley and Thomas Walsh me
all in London who had the same expe
rience and asked them the most search
ing questions they could devise. Ii
1859 and 1862 the witnesses of full sal
vation multiplied exceedingly, ant
most of these lin London alone ther
were 652) he examined in the sam
manner (Vol. 2, p. 223.)
Those in whom the foundation is al
ready laid we exhort to go on to perfeC
tion, which we did not see so clearly O
first, although we occasionally spoke G
it from the beginning, so he says i
l745 (vol. 8, p. 2OO): "Time in like man
ner disclosed clearly the successiv
steps Of seeking this blessing, its tru
evidences, and the mode of retainin
. it," 1t was not till 1853 that he VIC
, convinced one could lose it, and b
: even then thought for time that whe
= once lost it could not be regained ii
= near the death. What o blessed though
that what God has done for us once /
= can do again, if we do not become will
full sinners after obtaining knowlede
:, OF the truth (Heb. 10, 26) The gre
!, revival of holiness about 1850 furnisht
him abundant facilities for obtainir
q light. After this time his language
q always clear and explicit. He sa,
10 many things which he did not say b
- fore, for he did not know them, but
does not contradict his former teac
A. ings on any national point. There
- no reason to believe that his viey
= changed at all after 17G5. He died
1901.
- What is entire sanctifcation? N
% Wesley variously, but clearly, answe
!, this question. ''It does not imply
- exemption, either from ignorance,
"a mistake, or infrmities, or temptation
% Indeed, it is only another term for /
liness" (vol. 1, p. 1851 "It is lovi
n God with all our heart, mind, soul a
= strength" This implies that no wro
Ia temper, none contrary to love, renal
D. in the soul, and that all the though
words and actions are governed by IL
(vol. 6, p. 500.) "It is nothing higl
and nothing lower than the pure Il
of God and man. 1t is love governi
the heart and life, running through
u. our tempers, words and actions" (v
n. 6, p. 502.) "The essence of christ
holiness is simplicity and purity, {
- design, one desire, entire devotion
1N God. "(vol. 6, p. 774.) Mr.. Wesley 81
. that regeneration is not entire sanct
cation. He says: "Sanctification
TO gins the moment a man is iustifi
Yet sin remains in him; yea, the s,
IN of all sin, till he is sanctifed throu
out" (yol. G, p. 496