A Presentation of Perfection - Media Sabda Org

silent seal of the indwelling Spirit, is sometimes looked for without any express warrant of
[15]
Scripture," stated Peters. Pope believed you could know that you were sanctified by the witness
of the Spirit but that some people expected too much out of the doctrine of assurance. In other words,
Pope did not believe a person should necessarily display some kind of a physical demonstration (i.e.,
shouting) to validate receiving the work of entire sanctification.
Thomas Ralston
Thomas Ralston upheld a Wesleyan position of Christian Perfection. He was of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and was very influential both as a scholar and a preacher. His work
Elements of Divinity was a required textbook for many years for those wanting to be ordained in the
Methodist Church, South.
There were a couple of variations from Wesley's view in Ralston's presentation of entire
sanctification. Ralston believed that Christian Perfection was simply regeneration grown to maturity.
Writing of Ralston's views, Greathouse stated:
While insisting that regeneration and entire sanctification are the same in nature and
differ only in degree, Ralston emphasizes that Christian Perfection involves entire
consecration to God and a complete cleansing of the soul from all unrighteousness.
[16]
Also, Ralston did not hold entirely to the Wesleyan position of a person being able to know that
his soul was separated from sin, enabling him to live his life in perfect love. Ralston stated the
following:
It matters but little whether this eminent state of holiness is gained by a bold,
energetic, and determined exercise of faith and prayer, or by a more gradual process
whether it is instantaneous or gradual, or both the one and the other. The great matter
is, with each and all of us, that we lose no time, but arise at once, and "press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." [17]
Randolph Foster
By the middle of the nineteenth century many views were in circulation about the meaning of
Christian Perfection. Even in the Methodist Church some were beginning to question the correctness
of the Wesleyan position on holiness. One such doctrine circulating was that sanctification was
synonymous with regeneration.
Foster came on the religious scene as a staunch supporter of the Wesleyan view of Christian
Perfection. He was concerned about the deviation from the Wesleyan doctrine and wrote a book in
1851 to present his views about the matter. The book was called The Nature and Blessedness of
Christian Purity. It was received well and printed in a second edition a few years later.
In his book Foster pointed out that the Wesleyan view of Holiness does not support the idea that
being saved and entirely sanctified are the same experience. He made this clear when he said,