Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

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A word of explanation as to the term "instantaneous." If Dr. Tillett simply means that entire sanctification is instantaneous in the same sense in which regeneration is, then we accept the term as expressing our view of the matter. But it should be remembered that the conditions out of which regenerating faith springs may be, and generally are, gradual in their development, running possibly through days, weeks, months, and even years. But the final act of faith and the work of God in regeneration are both instantaneous. So is it in sanctification. The believer may in a day, a year, or ten years after conversion be gradually brought to the point at which he more fully and intelligently consecrates himself, and, by a strong faith, appropriates the promise of the Spirit in the fullness of His cleansing and strengthening grace. But the act of faith and the coming into His heart of the Spirit, in His baptismal and sanctifying power, are both instantaneous. The revelation to consciousness of the fact that this work has been wrought in the soul may not, however, in either case, be marked or instantaneous. Indeed, the soul may never know the exact instant at which it was regenerated or fully sanctified. Some of the greatest and most saintly of men could never say definitely when they were born again; yet they, in due time, had meridian evidence of the fact that they had passed from death unto life. And so has it been with men who have come into the richer experience of "perfect love." They may not have been able to fix on the day or the hour of their entire sanctification, yet ere long they became as thoroughly convinced of it as they had previously been of their regeneration. In both these experiences there has been a gradual increase of light from dawn to sunrising, but there was a time in both cases when the sun rose and shed His full and assuring light. In the case of others there have been what may be called "sudden" conversions and sanctifications, and instantaneous revelations of these facts to consciousness, like that of Paul and the disciples at Pentecost. Like the sun bursting through the rifted cloud, or the opening of the door to a lighted hall, the light has come instantaneously, flooding the mind with assurance and peace. It is believed that this second work of the Spirit just as really marks an epoch or crisis in the believer's life as does His first work in regeneration -- that the soul's emerging out of the dispensation of the Son into that of the Spirit is just as marked and epochal as is its passage from the dispensation of the Father into that of the Son; and that both are as instantaneous as is a baptism. 4. We would substitute "before or at death" for Dr. Tillett's "before death." It is believed that men who have lived under inferior dispensations, and hence have not realized the necessary conditions for exercising a faith that brings full salvation, will be saved at death from all sinward depravity, just as we believe infants are. We may discuss this point more fully in another chapter, though we may never in this life perfectly understand the rationale of this change at death. 5. If by "all sin" Dr. Tillett means actual or volitional sin, We do not concur with him, for we believe one is saved from that in regeneration -- from its guilt and the necessity for its commission. But if by the term he means what is usually called "original" or "inbred" sin, "sin dwelling in us," "sinwardness, a "bias toward sin," or "sinful feelings," we accept that part of his hypothetical proposition. We do not believe that, as a rule, men are saved from this or these in regeneration.
Now, with these concessions and explanations, we are prepared to answer Dr. Tillett's carefully worded question in the affirmative. And we shall humbly try to establish this proposition by an appeal to both Scripture and experience. Before presenting this proof, however, it may be well to state more specifically what we hope to establish. We may be able to do this more satisfactorily by stating more clearly the opposing theories and the objections to our theory. It is held by the other side: 1. That we are thoroughly saved in regeneration. 2. That the almost universal testimony of experience which seems to contradict this theory, by declaring that certain evils remain in the heart after regeneration, may be accounted for in two ways: (1) That the supposed "remains of the carnal mind" in the heart after regeneration are only the evidences of a struggle between the rectified will and the innocent appetites and propensities pressing upon the will of our purified nature; that it is temptation coming from a thoroughly renewed nature rather than from an impure heart. (2) That if this evil does really exist in the heart after regeneration, it results from backsliding. 3. It is insisted by others that we are not, and cannot be, fully saved from selfishness or spiritual depravity in this life. 4. That if we are made perfect in love before death we reach such a state by a gradual growth in grace, and that we cannot know when we reach it; that neither the Holy Spirit nor consciousness gives clear and unmistakable testimony to the fact. 5. That men's testimony to this experience is "colored" by their theory, and is therefore not very reliable. 6. That this supposed instantaneous and profound second experience or work is only one of many gracious experiences that come to the faithful believer; that he receives many such baptisms of the Spirit without being entirely sanctified; indeed, that no baptism of the Spirit brings entire sanctification before death. Now we hope to show by proof from Scripture and experience that no one of these positions is tenable. We trust the reader will remember these positions as we proceed with the evidence and argument. *************************************
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WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library Holiness
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were hostile to the "second blessin
Page 5 and 6: SCRIPTURAL SANCTIFICATION: An Attem
Page 7 and 8: 9 Sanctification Subsequent to Rege
Page 11 and 12: the gospel was first preached. Rede
Page 15 and 16: with tongue and pen as if in the gr
Page 17 and 18: extravagances of some unbalanced mi
Page 21 and 22: all depravity in this life, and tha
Page 23 and 24: elief of the truth." Peter tells th
Page 25 and 26: "separate and consecrate," and to h
Page 29 and 30: "Strengthened with might by His Spi
Page 31 and 32: mind" -- are removed and nothing is
Page 33 and 34: Job was one of the finest character
Page 35 and 36: Peacemaker. Hence, probably, peace
Page 37 and 38: given before. And yet, as all admit
Page 39 and 40: (2) There seems to be today a large
Page 41 and 42: It is believed, however, that there
Page 45 and 46: The ignorant and captious part of t
Page 47 and 48: to what Joel prophesied about. The
Page 49 and 50: the Spirit that had been promised b
Page 53 and 54: "An influential and constantly incr
Page 55: pollution, and weakness, as well as
Page 59 and 60: a fuller measure of the Spirit when
Page 61 and 62: Dr. Mudge would explain the case of
Page 63 and 64: Truth and candor require admissions
Page 65 and 66: his theory and ours seems to be tha
Page 67 and 68: that time. In a letter to the write
Page 69 and 70: Dr. Steele continues: "That the Eng
Page 71 and 72: these Paul is believed to teach tha
Page 73 and 74: prayers; remembering without ceasin
Page 75 and 76: 3. The use of the aorist indicates
Page 77 and 78: in their history, indicated by the
Page 79 and 80: then adds, "that we might receive t
Page 81 and 82: We have purposely omitted many pass
Page 85 and 86: In controverting the above, Dr. Gor
Page 87 and 88: It would seem from the foregoing th
Page 89 and 90: this "renewal," "sanctification," o
Page 93 and 94: standards on this subject." And we
Page 95 and 96: Bishop Ninde comes the nearest to t
Page 97 and 98: the man whom the Rev. Dr. D. C. Kel
Page 101 and 102: Peter's case illustrates the meanin
Page 103 and 104: consciousness of repentance; (3) co
Page 105 and 106: Let the doubting reader weigh well
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We are profoundly convinced that th
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witnesses, to testify, not merely f
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divinely inspired, is but the Bible
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SCRIPTURAL SANCTIFICATION: An Attem
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give many passages of his writings
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The same test was applied to regene
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Again he says: "Not trusting to the
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As late as 1768 he writes a friend,
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I now obey it, and tell you all, to
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We, for a time, turn from Methodist
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"Since that resignation spoken of b
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ethren of the High Life -- all thes
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Kirk, in his lectures on Revivals,
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"It was on the 23d of April, 1822,
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to me to be the witness of the Holy
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day in the Congregational Church. T
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about the truth of the gospel, and
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the shadow of one of those doubts w
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purpose than I did ... For eighteen
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"How has it been with me since?" Th
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We note the usual expressions of th
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"Never shall I forget the astonishm
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"And now, if I am asked what is my
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7. That she was not backslidden whe
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We only stress certain points: 1. H
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unbroken communion with him that th
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"The weary burden grew heavier with
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doctrine of sanctification by faith
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"I do not find this life -- what in
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In commenting on the foregoing expe
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service, the whole membership were
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temperance and social purity than a
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After telling of his going to a cam
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lay my head upon my pillow until I
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"I have said enough; the half I hav
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"A meeting commenced in my church.
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itter opposition on the part of oth
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But other physicians and patients a
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God. Sons are born into his family
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"What is meant and what is true is
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I strong" in God, because "the powe
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that while a man's heart is right w
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Before leaving this point we would
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we need the work of regeneration at
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shrink from the awful mystery and t
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the truth of his teaching concernin
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supposed. I was conscious of feelin
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In speaking of the love which resul
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chapter, calls "carnal" and "babes
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dedication of the temple, and is, "
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2. Does sanctification eradicate or
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meaning here seems vague. However,
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(3) Another reason is the greater u
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"'Then kneel right down here and pr
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Presbyterian minister's wife, who h
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Pentecost came after our Lord's ful
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wondrous love, ought it not to make
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is, however, more or less of strife
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may see what Israel needs, and then
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President Finney made the same comp
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teacher with power to teach his or
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whole spirit, and soul, and body be
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filth" -- hence that it needs no fo
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