Holiness Must Be Preached Part 6

155. Did Mr. Wesley organize special societies and meetings for the promotion of holiness, and attend them himself?

He did. This is stated distinctly and repeatedly in his journals. He alludes to their organization, to his attendance, and to their results in scores of instances. In many places he organized these societies himself; he called them the "Select Society," or "Select Band." He attended them in numerous places, and gives items concerning them in a multitude of cases. Declarations like the following are common in his journal "I met the Select Band." "Afterward I met the Select Society." " I joined again the Select Society." "I met at noon, as usual, those who believe they are saved from all sin." "Met Select Society and talked with twelve of them."

As to the origin of these Select Societies, see Works, vol. v. pp. 184, 185.

Dr. Stevens, in his Church History, vol. ii. p. 458, says: "Mr. Wesley established meetings for penitents and backsliders, and select societies for persons who were especially interested in the subject of Christian perfection." Mr. Tyreman says: "The select societies were taken from the bands, and were composed of those who seemed to walk in the light of God's countenance. Tyreman. vol. i. p. 444.

156. Is there to some extent a spirit of opposition in the Methodist Church to the doctrine, experience, and profession of sanctification?

The doctrine, as an item of Methodist theology, is generally received. But it is quite generally believed by those who have obtained the grace, and who confess it, and endeavor to advocate and vindicate it, that there is more opposition in the church to it than many are willing to allow. In so far as any man has the remains of indwelling sin in him, he has opposition to holiness within him. We heard a minister say not long since that "he found something in himself that kicks against holiness." We did not doubt it, carnal nature always "kicks against holiness." When men are opposed to holiness it is because holiness is opposed to them. This is the philosophy of the fact that the presentation of holiness provokes latent repugnance to the subject in the regenerate.

The same was true in Mr. Wesley's day; some of his preachers and members would not receive the doctrine, and he was often at his wit's end in keeping them from dropping it altogether.

We can not avoid the conviction that in our own loved communion there are some, in both the ministry and laity, who discard Mr. Wesley's views altogether. Many who profess to believe the doctrine, and who neglect to seek it, will oppose and reject it when its claims are urged and pressed home upon them. As long as it is left in the standards, in our book-cases, or as long as it is only preached as an item of the Methodist creed, in an indefinite and general aspect, it meets with but little opposition. But when it is urged home upon believers as a present duty and privilege to be sought now and not to be neglected, -- in many of our churches it is met with stern opposition in both the ministry and membership.

Dr. H. Bannister says: "Christian holiness, though required of all, is the most opposed of all things. Sad to say, it is opposed by good men. It always was so." --Advocate of Holiness, 1875.

The doctrine of regeneration may be so presented as not to lead one sinner a year to seek it, and so as never to trouble sinners concerning it. The doctrine of holiness may be so presented as to stir up no opposition against it on the one hand, nor lead any believers to seek it on the other.

There is too much foundation even in our day for the following from Dr. A. Clarke: "But most who call themselves Christians hate the doctrine of holiness never hear it inculcated without pain; and the principal part of their studies, and those of their pastors, is to find out with how little holiness they can rationally expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven." -- Theology, p. 203.