Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

"Such a soul I never knew; such a great man in every sense of the word. He was too great to bear
the name of any sect ... I never saw Mr. Fletcher's equal. On him great grace was bestowed. What
deadness to the world! What spiritual-mindedness! What zeal for souls! What communion with God!
What intercourse with heaven! What humility at the feet of Jesus! What moderation toward all men!
What love for the poor! In short, he possessed the mind which was in Christ Jesus."
The following high encomium is from the pen of Richard Watson, probably the profoundest
theologian of Wesleyan Methodism. He calls Fletcher
"a man eminent for genius, eloquence, and theological learning; still more distinguished for sanctity
of manners and the virtues of primitive Christianity ... The measure of every other grace in him was
exceeded by his deep and unaffected humility ... Teaching by his own attainments, more than even
by his writings, the fullness of evangelical promises and with what intimacy of communion man may
walk with God."
We close these testimonies to this great and good man with the following from his latest
biographer, the Rev. Luke Tyerman, A.M.:
"Fletcher was distinguished for his genius, his learning, and his Biblical and theological
knowledge, but let all Methodists throughout the world, and as long as Methodism lasts, remember
in all their Church meetings and Church appointments, that Wesley's "designated successor" was
preeminently "A GOOD MAN, AND FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND OF FAITH."
We feel that the interpretation and experience of this almost inspired man, this ablest exponent
and defender of the doctrine of entire sanctification, this most illustrious and saintly exemplar of its
truth, is of itself enough to satisfy unprejudiced minds of the scripturalness of this doctrine.
We will next give the testimony of one of Fletcher's contemporaries, of whom Bishop Simpson
once said, "Holy hands were never laid on a holier head" -- that of Richard Whatcoat. After giving
an account of his clear and happy conversion, Bishop Whatcoat says:
"My faith and love grew stronger and stronger, but I soon found that, though I was justified freely,
yet I was not wholly sanctified. This brought me into a deep concern, and confirmed my resolution
to admit of no peace or truce with the evils which I still found in my heart. I was sensible that they
both hindered me at present in my holy exercises, and that I could not enter into the joy of my Lord
unless they were all rooted out. After many sharp and painful conflicts, and many gracious visitations
also, on the 28th of March, 1761, my soul was drawn out and engaged in a manner it never was
before. Suddenly I was stripped of all but love. And in this happy state, rejoicing evermore and in
everything giving thanks, I continued for some years with little intermission or abatement, wanting
nothing for soul or body more than I received from day to day."
It is possible, if not probable, that Bishop Whatcoat was one of the witnesses whom Mr. Wesley
examined, for it was during the revival of 1759-62 that he professed sanctification, and he was an
Englishman, at that time living in his native land.