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Samuel Alexander Danford
Samuel Alexander Danford (January 22, 1850–N/A) was an American religious figure and author from Brunswick County, North Carolina, likely involved in preaching or teaching within a holiness or evangelical Christian context. Born to Abraham Danford and Mary Jane Cliff Danford, he lived in a region with strong Baptist and Methodist influences, though his specific denominational affiliation isn’t documented. His most notable contribution is Holiness Bible Readings, a concise book published posthumously in 1912 (available as a Kindle edition), which compiles scripture quotations on sanctification with minimal commentary, serving as a resource for Bible study on holiness. This work implies a deep engagement with Christian doctrine, suggesting he may have preached or taught these principles, possibly as a lay preacher or minister. Little is known about Danford’s personal life, education, or ministry career beyond his authorship. He died on October 15, 1911, in Brunswick County, and is buried there, with his legacy tied to his book rather than a documented preaching record. His work’s focus on sanctification aligns with the Holiness Movement, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hinting at a possible role in that tradition. Without further evidence, his status as a preacher remains inferred from his religious writing, marking him as a minor but earnest voice in American evangelicalism.
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Samuel Alexander Danford preaches about the possibility of living a life free from sin through the power of God, emphasizing that those born of God do not continue to sin as they are transformed by His grace. He teaches that Christians are called to love God perfectly with all their hearts, but this is hindered by the presence of sin such as pride, anger, and malice. However, God is willing and able to remove these sinful affections from our hearts, enabling us to love Him perfectly. The Holy Spirit fills the cleansed heart, leading to growth in spiritual graces as sin is eradicated, allowing for Christian perfection or perfect love.
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What We Do Teach
1. That every regenerate man does not commit sin. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." -- 1 John 3:9. "He that committeth sin is of the devil." -- 1 John 3:8. 2. We teach that every Christian may love God perfectly" and is commanded to do so, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." 3. We teach that we cannot love God with all the heart, while there is any pride, anger, malice or any other form of sin in the heart. All these are contrary to the nature of love, hence where these exist love to God cannot be perfect. 4. We teach that God has the power and willingness to take these evil affections out of the heart, so that our love may be perfect. "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." -- Deuteronomy 30:6. 5. We teach that the Holy Spirit comes into the heart thus cleansed and fills it with Himself, "Be filled with the Spirit." 6. We teach that the heart thus cleansed and filled, will grow in all the graces of the Spirit better than ever, because sin, the great hindrance to growth in grace, has been removed. All this remember is not absolute perfection but simply Christian perfection or perfect love. Paul says, "Now the end of the commandment is charity (love) out of a pure heart." As this is the end there can he nothing beyond the end. Who can make any objection to perfect love? People usually have to misrepresent our position before they attack.
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Samuel Alexander Danford (January 22, 1850–N/A) was an American religious figure and author from Brunswick County, North Carolina, likely involved in preaching or teaching within a holiness or evangelical Christian context. Born to Abraham Danford and Mary Jane Cliff Danford, he lived in a region with strong Baptist and Methodist influences, though his specific denominational affiliation isn’t documented. His most notable contribution is Holiness Bible Readings, a concise book published posthumously in 1912 (available as a Kindle edition), which compiles scripture quotations on sanctification with minimal commentary, serving as a resource for Bible study on holiness. This work implies a deep engagement with Christian doctrine, suggesting he may have preached or taught these principles, possibly as a lay preacher or minister. Little is known about Danford’s personal life, education, or ministry career beyond his authorship. He died on October 15, 1911, in Brunswick County, and is buried there, with his legacy tied to his book rather than a documented preaching record. His work’s focus on sanctification aligns with the Holiness Movement, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hinting at a possible role in that tradition. Without further evidence, his status as a preacher remains inferred from his religious writing, marking him as a minor but earnest voice in American evangelicalism.