Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

fraternal delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of 1892, and now
our Book Editor and Editor of The Methodist Review. He says:
"Methodism has a doctrine of perfect love or Christian perfection as clearly defined and as
continuously and consistently held as her doctrines of justification and regeneration. In our humble
judgment, the doctrine can be shown to be not only Methodistically, but scripturally, psychologically,
and experimentally sound. On the four pillars of Scripture, psychology, Methodism, and experience,
the doctrine has always reposed securely. The onslaught of those who claim that the whole work of
entire sanctification is accomplished in regeneration [Crane, Boland, and others], and of those who
claim the necessary ineradicability of our sinful natures, while we abide in the flesh [Mudge and
others] -- though each of these positions is the annihilation of the other -- have not yet overturned
the doctrines of Methodism. The opponents oscillate in polar vibrations from the extremes of perfect
love in regeneration to that of the indestructibility of fleshliness, or the carnal mind, but do not
disturb the serenity of those who abide under the equatorial sun whose tropical fervor melts all into
the harmonious truth and gentle tenderness of perfect love ... Almost every one of Paul's Epistles,
like all the early Methodist Disciplines, has imbedded somewhere in it a little tract on Christian
perfection. -- Methodist Review, November-December, 1894."
Dr. Tigert's hearty endorsement of the Wesleyan view of this subject in the same article shows
that he holds the theory of the instantaneousness of sanctification, as well as of its being subsequent
to regeneration.
In the following number of the Review the Rev. J. C. Morris, D.D., fraternal delegate to the
Methodist Episcopal General Conference of 1896, and now pastor of First Church, Memphis, gives
his view of perfect love. He says:
"The Scriptures and the experience of believers are coincident in this, that somewhat of depravity
remains in the regenerated man and wars against his spiritual life. So far as subjective holiness is
concerned, conversion is an incomplete work. But the Scriptures, while they recognize this as
sanctification, yet most distinctly and urgently exhort us to an experience wherein the work is to
become complete. 'The very God of peace sanctify you wholly,' is the apostle's prayer. Every sincere
believer, as he grows in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, comes at some time
to painful sense of the need of further work in his own heart.
"The only question that remains is this: How is this work of entire sanctification effected? Is it
by growth and development, or is it by a specific act of faith? The Scriptures everywhere teach that
salvation from sin in any form is the direct work of God upon the simple condition of faith. Getting
rid of sin is an experience wrought by the power of God for those who see and confess and cast
themselves in confidence upon the Saviour. When we were converted we were saved by faith; and
if we be entirely sanctified, it must be in the same way. Having begun by faith, the work cannot be
perfected in any other way."
The next year after the above was published, Dr. Morris, as the representative of Southern
Methodism, devoted the greater part of his Fraternal Address to Northern Methodism to the
elucidation and enforcement of the above Wesleyan and scriptural views of sanctification. This is