136. Were the experience and profession of holiness common in the early days of Methodism?
They were. We have records of professions of perfect love in all the journals of the old Methodists. They all speak of witnesses of regeneration, and also of sanctification. Indeed the golden pot of Methodist biography is brimful of the manna of sanctified experience.
The pastoral address of the General Conference in 1832 says "Among primitive Methodists the experience of this high attainment in religion may justly be said to have been COMMON now a PROFESSION of it is rarely to be met with among us."
I will give you a few brief extracts from the journals of several of the early preachers and members:--
1. Mr. Wesley: "In London alone I found six hundred and fifty-two members of our society who were exceedingly clear in their experience, and whose testimony I could see no reason to doubt." -- Sermons, vol. ii. p. 223.
Many quotations might be given from Mr. Wesley's journal, showing that a multitude of persons professed sanctification under his labors, in all parts of England and Ireland.
2. Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers "After Mr. Fletcher [the saintly John Fletcher] ceased to speak, about thirty WITNESSED for Jesus that they, through grace, were dead indeed unto sin." -- "In the band thirty witnessed that they were 'dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ.' " -- Journal, pp. 138, 148.
3. William Bramwell: "The work continued almost in every meeting, and sixty persons in and about Dewsberry received sanctification, and walked in that liberty."
4. William Carvosso: "The testimonies borne to the reality and blessedness of the doctrine and experience of purity of heart exceeded every thing of the kind I had before witnessed." --"In all my pilgrimage I have never known so many clear testimonies of the power of God to save from all sin, as I have of late." -- Memoir.
5. Bishop Asbury says: "I think we ought modestly to tell what we feel to the fullest. For two years past, amidst innumerable trials, I have enjoyed almost inexpressible sensations. Our Pentecost is come in some places for sanctification. I have good reason to believe that upon the eastern shore four thousand have been converted since the 1st of May last, and ONE THOUSAND SANCTIFIED." -- Journal.
6. Benjamin Abbott: "In the love feast the people spoke the clearest of justification and sanctification. in point of distinction between them, of any I have heard in these parts. About thirty had professed sanctification from the time I went on the circuit till then." -- Life of Abbott.
Rev. Henry Boehm gives an account of the work of God in the days of Asbury, -- in the following statements. taken from his diary: "There were one hundred and forty-six converted and seventy-six sanctified during the day." ... "During the meeting there were reported thirteen hundred and twenty-one conversions and nine hundred and sixteen sanctifications." ..."At sunset they reported three hundred and thirty-nine conversions and one hundred and twenty-two sanctifications. There were eleven hundred conversions and nine hundred and sixteen sanctifications."
Here we have the work of God plainly stated in the old Methodist way, by the venerable Father Boehm, the sainted centenarian of American Methodism, who was an eyewitness and participator in the meetings he reports. It is no wonder that Bishop Asbury wrote in his journal, "Our day of Pentecost has fully come."
From the diaries, journals, magazines, biographies, and histories of Methodism during a hundred years past, several thousand such quotations might be given.
137. Is there not danger of professing this blessing when it is not possessed?
There may be some danger of it, but not any more, if as much, as there is in regard to justification. We think there is more danger of not acknowledging all that God does for us, than of professing more than he has really wrought in us. While some may have professed this blessing when destitute of it, many have doubtless lost it through a neglect of its acknowledgment. Better a few mistakes than universal silence. Better that a few should sincerely profess what they are mistaken in believing that they enjoy, than that no one should profess it lest he should possibly be mistaken.
13. At what points is caution necessary in the profession perfect love?
1. It may be professed too soon, before it is really attained. In this case a profession is disastrous both to tho confessor and to the cause. But in avoiding this extreme, do not run to the other, as, in view of the opposition in the church to the profession of holiness, there is much more danger that you will not profess it soon enough, than that you will profess it too soon.
2. It may be confessed with too little humility of manner. All carelessness should be avoided in the profession of holiness. It is your duty, and for your spiritual interest, to acknowledge all the grace received; but it should be done with deep humility of mind. To do it otherwise is as intrinsically perilous as not to confess it at all. The profession should be in a humble, meek, loving, Christ-exalting, and self abasing spirit. Every thing that savors of self-congratulation, or of personal consequence, or of vainglorious boasting, is seriously objectionable. The spirit of perfect love is just the spirit that should characterize its profession.
3. It may be done with too much self-confidence, or with self-seeking. And self-seeking is one of the most subtle snares of the human soul. We need to guard this point with great care, and seek constant help from Christ against it. There is danger of self seeking even in professing sanctification. We are to seek Christ in all things.
4. It may be done with too much reliance upon the mere profession as a means of retaining holiness. While it is one of the means (and we think an indispensable one) for the retainment of entire sanctification, it should not be put in the place of Christ, who alone can keep the soul in the perfect love of God. We are to ABIDE IN CHRIST. Professing is beneficial to the sanctified soul only as it tends to obey and please Christ, and leads the soul to trust the more implicitly in him. The soul should never rest for salvation on any thing itself has done or may do, instead of resting on Christ.
Let your profession be seasonable, truthful, humble, and to the glory of God, and never rely upon it, and it will be pleasing to God, useful to the church, and a blessing to yourself.
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