Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

SCRIPTURAL SANCTIFICATION:
An
Attempted Solution of the Holiness Problem
By The
Rev. John R. Brooks, D.D.
Chapter 11
TESTIMONY OF METHODIST INTERPRETERS OF SCRIPTURE
As Dr. Tillett concedes that "Wesley, Fletcher, Watson, and others" of the earlier Methodists,
believed and taught that sanctification is subsequent to regeneration, and is a different and "an
instantaneous work," we need not quote from their teaching on this subject. In order to give more
modern Methodistic interpretation of the Scriptures, we will first quote from the best known, ablest,
and most generally accepted standard authors of the three leading branches of Methodism, giving
the statement of only one of those named by Dr. Tillett -- Richard Watson.
Referring to the things promised us in the Bible, Mr. Watson says:
"If the entire renewal of our nature be included in this number, without limitation of time, except
that in which we ask it, in faith, then to this faith shall the promise of entire sanctification be given,
which, in the nature of the case, supposes an instantaneous work immediately following upon our
entire and unwavering faith."
Dr. W. B. Pope, of the British Wesleyan Church, says:
"There is no restraint of time with the Holy Ghost. The preparations for an entire consecration to
God may be long continued or they may be hastened. Whenever the seal of perfection is set on the
work, whether in death or in life, it must be a critical and instantaneous work."
Dr. Minor Raymond, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, says:
"It is obvious that the work of complete sanctification is both progressive and instantaneous. The
Spirit may take time in preparing a holy temple for a habitation of God, but he enters and takes full
possession -- fills the temple with his presence -- in a single instant of time. The work may be long
in doing, but there is an instant when it is done, completed, and finished."
Dr. John Miley, of the same Church, says:
"We admit an instant partial sanctification in regeneration, and therefore may admit the possibility
of an instant entire sanctification. Such a view of sanctification does not mean that there need be no
preparation for its attainment. The necessity for such a preparation is uniformly held, even by such
as hold strongly the second-blessing view ... Let it be recalled that the question here is not the
maturity of the Christian life, but the purification of the nature. For the attainment of the former there
must be growth, and growth requires time. But while the subjective purification may be progressively