Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

gradually sanctified and some instantaneously. But, as I have not found, in so long a space of time
[forty-five years], a single person speaking thus; as all who believe they are sanctified declare with
one voice that the change was wrought in a moment, I cannot but believe that sanctification is
commonly, if not always, an instantaneous work."
This stream of testimony from experience flowed on down to the day of Mr. Wesley's death,
confirming him in the opinion that this doctrine of sanctification is the most important one held and
preached and experienced by Methodists, saying in his last days that "it is the grand depositum which
God has given to the people called Methodists, and chiefly to propagate this, it appears, God raised
them up." The following is Mr. Wesley's last recorded utterance on this subject, made during the year
of his death: "A man that is not a thorough friend to Christian perfection will easily puzzle others,
and thereby weaken, of not destroy, any select society." It seems, then, that neither his later
interpretation of Scripture nor the lack of experience on his part, or that of any others, changed in
the slightest degree his views and teaching touching this important doctrine. And that stream of
testimony has flowed on down the century since Mr. Wesley's death to the present. The Bishops of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in their Quadrennial Address of 1894, refer to it and say:
"Witnesses to this experience have never been wanting in our Church, though few in comparison
with the whole membership. Among them have been men and women of beautiful consistency and
seraphic ardor, jewels of the Church."
Before offering any other testimony, we would answer another objection to that last considered.
An attempt has been made to break the force of this testimony, and discount the doctrine and
experience testified to, by citing the fanaticism and defection of George Bell and Thomas Maxfield,
two of these witnesses. And we have no doubt some good men have honestly believed that the course
of these two fanatics does largely discount or nullify the sober testimony of their associates, and
bring discredit to the doctrine they professed to believe and the experience they testified to. We were
once inclined to think so ourself. But, fortunately for the cause of truth, Mr. Wesley and Dr. Abel
Stevens, one of his most illustrious followers, have cleared away the mists that obscured this subject.
The latter characterizes George Bell as "an honest madman," and suggests that Maxfield joined him
in his vagaries and schism because of his "discontent with Wesley's authority," and of his own
"subordinate position," together with "his wish for an independent one."
Dr. Stevens notes, too, that this fanaticism manifested itself "chiefly in London," and was
short-lived. The revival in which it broke out lasted some four years --1759-62. In 1763 Mr. Wesley
wrote that "very few compared to the whole number" had given way to fanaticism and "separated
from their brethren." He adds:
"Nor has the work ceased to this day in any of its branches. God still convinces, justifies,
sanctifies. We have lost only the dross, the enthusiasm [fanaticism], the offense. The pure gold
remains, faith working by love, and we have reason to believe increases daily."