Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

the most important teachings of God's word and the crowning doctrine of Methodism a very strong
presumptive proof of its truth? And the same may be said of the interpretation of many others of the
great and good men to whom we have referred, and whose traditional creed did not embody this
important doctrine.
(2) But the case becomes much stronger when these profound and spiritual men add to their
hermeneutical test and testimony the test of experiment and the testimony of experience. Before the
addition of the latter the scales holding their opinions and those on the opposite side may have been
in equipoise, but such addition from experience gives great preponderance to the side of this
doctrine. On the one side we have, as Methodist writers, such men as Crane, Boland, Miller,
McAnally, Whitehead, Tillett, Barbee, Baxter, Nichols, Price, and a few others. They do not claim
to have had any experience that can reasonably be put in the balance against this doctrine. It is simply
claimed that their experience does not support this theory. Dr. Mudge's case may be regarded as an
exception to this statement, but we submit that, when his experience is properly interpreted, it does
not weigh against, but rather supports, this theory. See Chapter 23. And it is claimed by the other
side that these writers have not made a scriptural and thorough test of the matter by experiment. In
other words, that their testimony from experience is only negative, and therefore worthless. They
have, hence, to rely solely on their interpretation of the Bible in the light of reason and argument,
without the additional light coming from experience. And in their speculations and theory they differ
widely as to the nature of this blessing, as well as to the time, conditions, and results of its
bestowment or development.
On the other hand, we have such men as Wesley, Fletcher, Watson, Clarke, Asbury, Coke,
Whatcoat, Fisk, Olin, McKendree, Lovick Pierce, the Pecks, Foster, Steele, Key, Carradine, and a
host of others, who came from their study of the Bible more or less fully convinced of the truth of
this doctrine, and substantially agreed as to the nature of this baptism, and the time and conditions
of its reception, as well as to its effects on the hearts and lives of those receiving it. But, not stopping
there, these go farther than those on the other side. They resort to intelligent and patient experimental
tests of the truth of this theory. After making this experiment, they testify most positively from their
resulting experience that they have become beyond the shadow of a doubt convinced that their
interpretation of the Bible is correct. They assert most positively that its truth has been revealed to
their consciousness, and has, hence, become a subject of knowledge as well as of faith or opinion.
That whereas, when they rose from the study of God's word they believed this to be its teaching, now
they know it to be so -- that faith has merged into full and certain knowledge.
Here is a remedy which, it is claimed, is an infallible cure for a certain disease. Learned and
experienced physicians subject it to a most searching analysis. Half of them give it as their opinion
that it will not effect the cure for which it is recommended. The other half are convinced that it will.
In order to test the matter more fully and satisfactorily, the latter half try it on themselves and on all
their patients who are troubled with that disease, and who will take it. The result is that they and all
who follow their directions realize a perfect cure. The other physicians persistently refuse to try it
on themselves or their patients, but continue to argue or theorize from the analysis that they are right,
and that the other doctors and their patients are wholly mistaken. Now, whose opinion and testimony
would have more weight with the average sick man? To ask the question is to answer it.