Mis-interpreted Scriptures
There is a method of opposing the doctrine of holiness by quoting a few lonely passages of scripture that seem to warrant the assertion that no man can live without sin.
With scarcely an exception the force of the interpretation depends upon the isol ... read more
Abandonment or Consecration
In order to understand properly the requirements of God at this juncture it will be well to find out three things: (1) The condition of the seeking soul, (2) the nature of the experience he is seeking, and (3) the relation to God he now sustains and will ... read more
As Good As God
It is objected that those who profess holiness claim to be as good as God.
This statement is as false as it could possibly be. Professors of holiness never make such a claim; on the contrary they constantly assert that they are not and never will be ... read more
Causes of Confusion
We are in the habit of saying that the present world is a place of trial. If this is true, and there is no doubt that it is, then there must be enough lack of comprehension to cause at least some degree of uncertainty or there would be no need of faith, o ... read more
Causes of Vacillation
The question is often asked, "Why is it that people fail to keep a steady experience in holiness?" In answering in a general way we remark that in the things of grace people get all they live for. Holiness resides in the heart, and, as a consequence, th ... read more
Confession
When to one is given this deep view of the inward workings of carnality, he will just as naturally confess it as he will confess his actual sins when seeking pardon. The fact is that such a view of self will be accompanied by confession almost as inevitab ... read more
Confession - Concluded
4. This line of confession, wherever practicable, will greatly help; but where it is not practicable, still there is a way through. We have spent much time on public and private confession in order to make the subject clear. So many errors have been taugh ... read more
CONFLICTS OF THE ENTIRELY SANCTIFIED
"To retain perfect purity," says James Caughey, "requires a continual acting of faith upon the leading promises of the gospel."
Jesus said, "Have faith in God." Isaiah says, "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established (Isa. 7:9 ... read more
Continued
But the doctrines of Zinzendorf will not stand the test of Scripture. For proof that carnality remains in the justified soul in the dispensation under which we now live we must turn to the New Testament. In the very beginning we find an interesting inquir ... read more
Conviction
God Is not a thief, and so he will never take away the carnality of our hearts without our knowledge and consent; nor is he a robber, and hence he will not force us to give it up; neither is he a deceitful Being, therefore he will not cleanse us from it u ... read more
Conviction -- Concluded
Reader, if clear light has not shone on your heart and revealed the depths of depravity still lurking there, you can undoubtedly obtain such light by following carefully these rules:
1. Pray that God may reveal to you your own heart. He has told us t ... read more
Definition.
Wesley defines Christian Perfection as The loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This implies that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and that all the thoughts, words, and actions, are governed by pure love.
... read more
Discouragement
Another favorite saying is that discouragement is inconsistent with holiness, and that if such a spirit overtakes you you do not have the experience; and this is said without the least qualification or explanation. Before we could concede such a claim we ... read more
Discouragement, Continued
3. Causes of discouragement within ourselves. No person has such a full view of his own astonishing weakness as does the holy man. "Oh," says some one, "a holy man is not weak." Indeed, and who is this that is wiser than what is written? Paul says, " ... read more
Do Not Bear Proper Fruits
It is objected that many or all of the professors of holiness do not bear the fruits of holiness. This objection is much like the preceding one.
As to whether all holiness professors fail to bring forth proper fruit, no matter how competent the judge ... read more
Ecstatic Feelings
Another ambiguous statement is that the sun is always shining (meaning ecstatic blessings) in the holy man's sky. We sing,
"Here the sun is always shining
Here the sun is always bright;
'Tis no place for gloomy Christians to abide
For my so ... read more
Empowering
There are persons who realize that their Zinzendorfian ideas are not satisfactory and to supply the deficiency they must add some further experience. They claim that the soul is wholly cleansed when it is justified and that after this there is no further ... read more
Failure to Obtain the Experience
Another objection which is sometimes urged, may be stated thus, "I sought the experience of holiness carefully and honestly and did not obtain it, hence there is no such a thing." This reminds one of the man who went out and knelt under a certain tree a ... read more
Faith
"Deep repentance is good," says Fletcher; "gospel self denial is excellent; and a degree of patient resignation in trials is of unspeakable use to attain the perfection of love; but as faith immediately works by love, it is of far more immediate use to ... read more
Faith - Concluded
We proceed to note, --
II. What saving or sanctifying faith is.
There are always three aspects to the faith that saves, the historical, the expectant, and the appropriating features.
1. Historical faith is that act of the intellect by which ... read more
Fear
We were at one time approached by a young lady who said, "Between my home and the place of meeting there is an old, deserted factory on a dark and lonesome street. Some terrible things have occurred there. Am I wrong because I am afraid to pass that way ... read more
Feelings
Again, we are informed that when a holy man is insulted his feelings are not stirred, and, the inference is, that holiness will leave the soul in a condition of almost stoical insensibility. On the contrary, we claim that the more holy the soul the more k ... read more
Hindrances
When clear light begins to shine on the heart of the candidate for holiness, a great struggle is often experienced in getting definitely at the work. Sloth and indifference bind the soul as with fetters of brass. Persons who in other matters could rightfu ... read more
Inconsistencies in Professors
Some base their objections to holiness on the inconsistencies they see in the lives of professors.
This method of argument is as reasonable as to take the stand that there is no genuine money because there is a counterfeit. The fact is there can be n ... read more
Infirmities
We will quote one of Fletcher's definitions of infirmities which was given for the purpose of reconciling the doctrine of Christian perfection with human weakness:
An infirmity is a breach of Adam's paradisiacal perfection, which our covenant God doe ... read more
Infirmities of the Spirit
III. Infirmities of the spirit. Concerning infirmities of the spirit, Wesley says:
From wrong judgments, wrong words and actions will necessarily flow; and, in some cases, wrong affections may also spring from the same source. I may judge wrong of you; I ... read more
Keswickism
One of the most dangerous enemies of the experience of holiness which has re-arisen in the last few years clothed in modern apparel is what is commonly called "suppression." Its advocates teach that the heart of man is such an unfathomable depth that wh ... read more
Lack of Spiritual Vision
Again, we would state that with the most keen-sighted saints there still lingers such a measure of inability to see that at times it becomes very noticeable. That is, while they see some things clearly, other things they fail to see.
There is a dimne ... read more
Leads to Fanaticism
It is objected by some that the profession of entire sanctification leads to fanaticism and makes its professors impracticable. They assert that holiness people are filled with wild and uncanny notions, that they are ignorant, superstitious and hopelessly ... read more
Mental Infirmities
II. Mental Infirmities and Varying Dispositions of Holiness Professors. It is to be doubted if God ever made two persons exactly alike, either in appearance or mental characteristics. These differences often lie in the varying strength of our good points ... read more
Mis-interpreted Scriptures - Continued
II. We come now to consider some Old Testament passages which are perverted in such a manner as to prove that no man can be delivered from sin.
1. "If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not)." I Kings 8:46; II Chron. 6:36. "Fo ... read more
Miscellaneous
This chapter will be devoted to a few miscellaneous thoughts that may be of service to you in your quest after God.
1. Let us emphasize the fact that you must be led of the Spirit. This is all-important. All the help of your friends and teachers will ... read more
Motives
The motive that prompts to any action must be right in order that the action be acceptable in the sight of God. Also the motive for asking favors of the Lord must be right before the favor can be granted. It is the motive then that either gains or forfeit ... read more
Nerves
This brings us to the question of nerves. But, some one says, "If you have holiness you will not know you have any nerves." If I were Job I would say, "who knoweth not such things as these?" Such theories have been spun up and down, warped and woven, ... read more
Nerves, Continued
Just a few words on how "nerves" will manifest themselves in the outward deportment. The answers to this question would be as numerous as the numberless individuals concerned and the infinite variety of circumstances with which they might come in contac ... read more
New Doctrine
An objection is urged that holiness as a possible attainment and as a second work of grace is of modern origin and can scarcely be found before Wesley.
To establish the fact of the antiquity of the doctrine of holiness even as a second work of grace, ... read more
Not a Scriptural Doctrine
It is objected by some that entire sanctification as a possible experience is not taught in the Bible.
In reply to this objection allow us to present the following from Bishop Foster's book, "Christian Purity, or the Heritage of Faith."
In ... read more
Only a Methodist Doctrine
Again it is stated that entire sanctification is a Methodist doctrine and that it is not held by other churches.
We will first give a few quotations from church creeds. Such statements from creeds and admitted authorities could he multiplied indefini ... read more
Our Position
Volume after volume has been written on the subject of holiness, until the ground has been pretty thoroughly canvassed. There is scarcely a phase of the subject that has not been criticized by its enemies and defended by its friends. It has been set befor ... read more
Physical Infirmities
Both Wesley and Fletcher class infirmities under three heads: those of the body, of the mind, and of the spirit. Owing to the complexity in the composition of body, mind and spirit, and the ever interlacing of the manifestations of their various movements ... read more
Profession of Holiness Tends to Pride
Some object that the profession of holiness makes its professor proud and self-righteous. How strange! to be free from sin and to profess to be free causing the most heinous sins of all, pride and self-righteousness! Some say we must sin to keep humble. I ... read more
Proper and Improper Candidates.
The first question to be settled by seekers of holiness, or entire sanctification, is whether or not they are proper candidates to receive this inestimable grace. One thing is true, much of what is called holiness teaching these days Is not properly such, ... read more
Righteous Indignation
We are often asked to explain righteous indignation, and to show the difference between this and what is commonly called anger or impatience. This is a difficult question, and we have looked in vain for some person who has drawn a satisfactory distinction ... read more
Sin in the Flesh
Sin is in the flesh and as long as we are in the flesh we cannot please God. This is a re-statement in modern form of the old Manichaean heresy, which flourished in the second half of the Third century. The morality of Manichaeism, according to Dr, Schaff ... read more
Small Results
Some object that such small results attend the efforts of holiness professors that there must be a mistake in its profession.
Some will not hear the truth. Jesus was not uniformly successful in every place.
These are days when the two damning si ... read more
Statement and Definitions
The saintly Fletcher says:
It is excessively wrong to conclude that all these burdens, infirmities, appetites, passions, and aversions are those sinful workings of our corrupt nature, which are sometimes called the 'flesh.' You cannot continue a whole ... read more
Strivings Within.
Usually when persons are first converted they have such remarkable victory that they are unconscious of the fact that there is anything in their hearts contrary to the love of God. Joys flow like a river, or, at least, like gurgling streamlets, almost con ... read more
The Call to Holiness.
"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness" -- 1 Thess. 4: 7.
"The human heart asks love; but now I know
That my heart hath from thee
All real, and full, and marvelous affection,
So near, so human! Yet divine perfecti ... read more
The Witness of Our Own Spirits
In his sermon on the "Witness of the Spirit," Wesley says,
That this testimony of the Spirit of God must needs, in the very nature of things, be antecedent to the testimony of our own spirits, may appear from this single consideration: We must be hol ... read more
The Witness of the Spirit
Upon the reception of the Spirit's witness to the cleansing of the heart depends all certainty regarding the experience of holiness. Its reception marks an epoch in our lives, and can always be pointed to as the time when the work was done. A failure to ... read more
|