Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

The following from his biographer gives us further insight into Dr. Fisk's pre-Pentecostal
experience, as well as some of the results of this baptism:
"From this period Dr. Fisk dated his experience of perfect love. Before that he had passed through
seasons when he doubted the fact of his acceptance with God, his personal interest in Christ, and
even the truth of Christianity itself. When in later years a young minister consulted him concerning
just such doubts, Dr. Fisk told him that he had been delivered from such things forever at the
Wellfleet meeting. They could no more dwell in the presence of the full development of the life of
perfect purity, perfect humility, and perfect assurance than darkness can dwell in the presence of
noonday."
In a letter to his sister, while describing his experience, Dr. Fisk says:
"In the work of sanctification upon the heart there appear to be two distinct stages: one is to empty
the soul of sin and everything offensive; and the other is to fill it with love. 1. The strong man armed
is bound and cast out. 2. The stronger takes possession. God was pleased, however, in my case, to
empty and fill in the same moment."
The recorded experience of this eminent scholar and divine fully harmonizes with the Wesleyan
theory and teaching. It was subsequent to regeneration, was instantaneous in its development -marking
a distinct crisis in his life, was certified to and through consciousness, and was abiding in
its results -- was enjoyed for more than twenty years.
We next give the testimony of the Rev. Dr. Olin, of both Northern and Southern Methodism. Dr.
Daniel Steele, who knew Dr. Olin well, very truly says:
"Stephen Olin stands forth with commanding prominence in the history of the American pulpit.
It is thought by many that he was intrinsically the greatest man, taken all in all, that American
Methodism has produced. It could be said of him as Rowland Hill said of Chalmers, 'The most
astonishing thing about him was his humility.' He was the best example we have personally known
-- the writer was with him for six years -- of that childlike simplicity which Christ taught as the
essential condition for entering the kingdom of heaven, and which Bacon declared to be equally
necessary to those who would enter the kingdom of knowledge. Like Dr. Wilbur Fisk, he was a
personal example of St. Paul's doctrine of Christian perfection as expounded by Wesley. At first he
entertained doubts respecting it; but as he advanced in life, and especially under the chastening
influence of affliction, it became developed in his own experience.
In giving his experience, Dr. Steele says:
"To the writer he said: 'My wife I had recently buried in Italy; my children were dead, my health
undermined. My entire earthly prospect was gloomy indeed. God only remained. I lost myself, as it
were, in him; I was hid in him with Christ. Then I found, when wandering on the banks of the Nile
in quest of health, without any process of logic, but by an experimental demonstration, "the perfect
love that casteth out fear.'"