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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

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