1.A 00. Preface
PREFACE. THE reasons which induce me to publish the following letters in this form are
1. That I wrote them under a deep sense of duty, being led on, as I then thought, and still think, by the spirit of truth and love; so much so, that my heart was continually warmed with the fire of Divine love, and expanded with an enlarged desire that others might participate with me in the same inestimable blessing. Under the same impression I have revised them, and now send them forth in this more permanent form.
2. The friend to whom they were addressed had, as is expressed in one of the following letters, frequently requested my views on the subject; and thinking that I might address her in such a manner as, at the same time, to edify others who were similarly situated, or who might be seeking after the blessing of entire sanctification, I concluded to address her thus publicly, for I had no secret understanding with her but what I was perfectly willing should be known and read of all men; nor had she seen a word of what I had written until it appeared in print. Neither am I conscious of having given utterance to a thought which is incompatible with the dictates of the purest Christian affection, and that holy fellowship which subsists among all the devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed that his disciples might all be one, even as he was one with the Father. I have, indeed, no sympathy with those whose religion is of that cold, speculative character, that does not enter into the heart and move the affections, and who cannot therefore appreciate that intercommunion of spirits which is realized by those hearts that are linked together in the chain of friendship, forged in heaven and polished by the Holy Spirit. I thank God that I have many such, both male and female, with whom, as the Psalmist says, " is all my delight," and with whom, therefore, I may hold fellowship; and I joyfully anticipate the bright era, when I may spend an eternity with them around the holy throne in praising God and the Lamb forever; and among those, I frankly confess, is the one to whom the following letters are addressed.
Many have asked for whom M. stands. My uniform answer has been, that is a secret which I shall reveal to no one; nor has any a right to apply it to one person more than another without any authority from me, or any one else that I know of; and therefore all such applications are wholly gratuitous, and may pass for what they are worth. If any persons, however, think that they can,, from what is said in the letters, select the individual, I have only to say that that is a mark greatly in her favour; and permit me to add, that it fully justifies me in selecting one so worthy of my confidence, that those who know her fully recognize the traits of her character, from the identity of the living person with the hints given in the letters. The fact is, the letters were written for all whom they suit; for they were designed not merely for the benefit of an individual, but for all whom the Lord our God shall call to a holy life and conversation, being composed under a deep sense of high responsibility to Him, and with a view to assist all those who may be seeking an entire sanctification of soul and body to Him, or to confirm and strengthen those who have already attained that blessing.
Moreover, I had other reasons for adopting this method of writing. By adopting the epistolary style, I could the more easily familiarize myself with the heart, adapt myself to the views and feelings of each individual, and thus make every attentive reader feel as if he or she were himself or herself addressed. On this account I adopted, of set purpose, this more familial style of writing, hoping it might catch the attention of those who would turn away from a more formal, didactic mode of conveying instruction to the understanding; and I have reason to believe that this end has, in some measure at least, been accomplished.
3. My object in quoting so many verses of our most excellent Hymns, was, that I might bring those deeply spiritual compositions as impressively as possible to the reader’s heart. For though the Hymn-book is used in all our worshipping assemblies, and it is to be hoped is found in all our families, it is feared, nevertheless, that many of the hymns are seldom, if ever, studied or sung, more especially those of particular metres; and these are the most poetical, deeply experimental, and spiritual, and speak most emphatically on the theme of perfect love, of any in the collection. And how any experimental Christian, who has a correct poetical taste, and at the same time relishes the doctrine contended for in these letters, can prefer Watts, Toplady, Montgomery, or any other Christian poet, to Charles Wesley, I am at a loss to conceive. I do not wish to undervalue, much less to speak slightingly of these poets, nor of any others of equal merit. To most of their hymns we may ascribe a high degree of excellence, and Watts, especially, is a smooth versifier, and a poet of more than common power and beauty, to whom the Christian Church is under a lasting debt of gratitude for furnishing her with so many excellent spiritual songs; but when compared to Charles Wesley, ho falls many degrees below him, and his light disappears like the stars before the mid -day sun, particularly when the latter dips his pen in the flowing fountain of perfect love, the refreshing streams of which so profusely water the garden of the Lord. On this subject Charles Wesley has no equal. Here he stands alone, unrivalled in the fertile field of sanctifying grace; and as he walks through it, he plucks the beautiful flowers of heavenly poesy, and scatters them, fresh and fair, profusely all around him, per fuming the air with their sweet odour, while the heart is filled with the most delightful melody when the tongue sings the praise of Immanuel in the poetical strains furnished by this bard of Methodism. The Methodist Church ought to praise God most heartily for raising up a poet who has furnished her with a set of psalmody so admirably adapted to every state and condition of the human heart. As to the contemptible ditties found in Camp- meeting Hymn-books, Zion’s Songsters, and other kindred publications, though there may be now and then a hymn of decent character, I pity the man or woman that can prefer and use these compositions, most of which possess neither poetry, sense, nor piety, to those highly poetical, deeply experimental, and spiritual hymns, of Charles Wesley that can substitute the non sensical rhymings, with their almost endless repetition of the same words, for those characterized by chastened language and Scriptural sentiments found in the hymns of Charles Wesley, and especially which speak of those heights and depths of sanctifying love.
I said that I feared that these Divine Hymns are seldom studied or sung. Indeed, I scarcely ever hear any of them given out in the congregation, but only either a long, common, or short metre, which, though good enough in their place, have been repeated over and over again, until they have become almost stale like the dull prayer of the formalist, which dwells on the tongue without springing from the heart, and has been so often repeated, that the hearer knows beforehand what is to come next while such hymns as the following are entirely neglected :
O God of our forefathers, hear, And make thy faithful mercies known; To Thee, through Jesus, we draw near, Thy suffering, well-beloved Son, In whom thy smiling face we see, In whom thou art well pleased with me. With solemn faith we offer up, And spread before thy glorious eyes, That only ground of all our hope, That precious, bleeding sacrifice, Which brings thy grace on sinners down, And perfects all our souls in one.
Acceptance through his only name, Forgiveness in his blood we have; But more abundant life we claim, Through Him who died our souls to save; To sanctify us by thy blood, And fill with all the life of God.
Father, behold thy dying Son, And hear the blood that speaks above! On us let all thy grace be shown;
Peace, righteousness, and joy, and love! Thy kingdom come to every heart, And all thou hast, and all thou art.
I wished, therefore, and still most devoutly wish, to bring those hymns vividly before the reader’s mind; to press their high importance and deep meaning upon his inmost soul, that he may appreciate their great excellence, taste their unrivalled beauty, and feel, in the depths of his heart, their holy influence. By familiarizing himself with their sound theological sentiments, and thus treasuring in his memory and heart these rich truths of Divine revelation, he will become thoroughly imbued with their spirit, and will be influenced by their holy teaching, provided only that he drink from the same fountain of redeeming and sanctifying love from which the poet drank. So long as these hymns are patronized by the Church, sung in the congregations, and rehearsed in the families, and the truths they teach are made subjects of experimental verity, so long will orthodox doctrine, a true poetical taste, a sound Christian experience, and a regular practice of piety, be preserved among us; while the hymns will continue to adorn, enrich, and bless both ministers and people.
4. I was well aware that many of our preachers and people had become lukewarm, to say no more of it, upon the subject of entire sanctification. For though it is a prominent doctrine of our Church, taught by all our standard writers, Wesley, Fletcher, Clarke, and others, yet, from my intercourse with them, I found many that appeared quite indifferent respecting it, while a few manifested a decided hostility to the doctrine of entire sanctification; and although I could not hope to add much new light to what had been shed upon it by those able divines, yet 1 thought I could revive the doctrine in their recollection, by first giving a synopsis of what Wesley had written; and then, secondly, I might stir up their minds, by way of remembrance, by the use of some arguments which had not been employed by others, obviate some new objections; and thus contribute my mite towards advancing the cause of Christian holiness, or bring one additional stone with which to complete the edifice, or at least to drive one more nail in a sure place. How far I succeeded, the reader must judge, but I must beg him to judge impartially as well as charitably; and, in the mean time, to pray earnestly for the writer, that he may experience largely of that sanctifying grace which he recommends to others.
5. I wish to leave behind me a faithful and decided testimony in favour of this grand doc trine of the gospel this provision of the Christian system, that it may speak for me when I am dead and gone. And as I cannot hope to continue much longer in this world, whatever I may say, or do, or write, must be said, or done, or written soon, or not at all; and therefore I feel it an imperative duty to commit this work to the press with all practical speed, that this written testimony may be left behind me for the benefit of my children, and all others who may condescend to read what I have written. They will here find my most matured thoughts upon one of the most vital truths of Divine revelation. For upon a review and revision of these letters, I have left neither a sentence nor a word that I would wish either altered or erased. They all, indeed, express the thoughts of my heart, resulting from my most deliberate judgment, made up in the fear of God, from a calm consideration of the Holy Scriptures, the experience and testimonies of God’s children, and in view of the judgment day! If I do not misinterpret the promptings of my own heart, I think I can say that in these letters I have expressed its genuine sentiments of affectionate attachment to all those who * love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and also love one another with a pure heart fervently" the whole springing from the " love of God spread abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost."
I know, indeed, that this profession will subject me to the severity of criticism; but I cannot well avoid it; for if I were to withhold this testimony in favour of the abundant grace of God in Christ, vouchsafed to a sinner like my self, " the stones," the stony hearts of sinners, " would cry out against me." I am, moreover, justified in thus proclaiming the goodness of God by most of the inspired writers, both under the Old and New dispensations, and by all the holy men of God in every age of the Church, who have all said in substance, " Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and we will declare what he hath done for our souls." I wish therefore to say, to the honour of God’s grace in Christ Jesus, that I feel under an infinite debt of gratitude to him for what he has done, and still does for me, the chief of sinners, that thus I may contribute my mite towards erecting a monument to the glory of that God who has so " loved the world, as to give his only begotten Bon," that " all men, through him, might be saved " " with an endless life;" and that on this monument may be inscribed, inlegible characters, as the sincere breathings of my soul to God, the following words :
" Thy witness with my spirit bear, That God, my God, inhabits there; Thou, with the Father and the Soul, Eternal life’s co-eval beam, De Christ in me, and I in him, Till perfect we are made in one."
6. Many who have read those of the letters published in the Christian Advocate and Journal, have expressed a wish to see them embodied in a book. While I do this, therefore, I both gratify the desires of all such, and satisfy the dictates of my own conscience. To the letters which have already appeared in the Advocate, I have added five others; the first, on the superior qualifications of the sanctified to get and to do good; the second, on their death; the third, on their resurrection; the fourth, on their different degrees of glory; the fifth, on their happiness in heaven pursuing the same plan and style of writing as in the previous letters.
I have nothing more to add, except my most fervent prayer to God, that He, in his infinite love, may send his choicest blessings upon this sincere effort to promote his glory in the complete salvation of immortal souls.
LETTER I. The object proposed in quoting from Wesley Time too precious to dispute about words What Mr. Wesley proposes Historical account of his experience Reads Bishop Taylor Kempis Law Studies the Bible His first sermon Quotations from his poetry From a German divine Further quotations from his Hymns Page 23
LETTER II.
Method* of promoting the work Many made partakers of the blessing of sanctification Reproach followed. The work goes on Judicious counsel Enthusiasts withstood Queries humbly proposed His success Object not controversy, but to promote the work of holiness 32
LETTER III.
Both gradual and instantaneous When may a person conclude himself sanctified? Gradually dying, yet dies in an instant- How to wait for it-May enjoy peace until we find it-Justification and sanctification two separate blessings Proved from Scripture The justified soul set apart for God’s service Exhortation to search urgently 38
LETTER IV.
Mr. Wesley’s caution-Conversed with those who profound the blessing of sanctification-Met the classes-We should follow his example His opinion respecting those who professed the blessing Some are deficient in the graces of the Spirit Admonishes such Danger of apostasy Great work of God Page 44
LETTER V.
Definition of the word perfection Anything is perfect which answers its end The sanctified Christian answers the end for which he was made and redeemed In what sense he is not perfect In what sense he is perfect In love Does not commit sin Thus Christ saves his people Proved from Scripture 51
LETTER VI. The advice of Mr. Wesley Highly valuable Plain and home to the point He advises them, 1. To watch and pray; 2. To beware of enthusiasm; 3. Of Antinomianism 57
LETTER VII.
Deep interest in the subject Union of those who enjoy perfect I’ve Their holy fellowship Prayer for steadfastness Convinced of its necessity Piercing sense of inbred sin How produced This an evidence of the necessity of sanctification Not a mere opinion, but a heart-felt sense of us necessity Produces self-abhorrence The object of writing 67
LETTER VIII. The views expressed in the former letter sustained by an appeal to Job His great afflictions Justified in the midst of them all Yet not sanctified His confession This the language of every believing heart A more notable confession of Job His deliverance and full sanctification All inconformity to Wesley’s poetry Proved by quotations from his hymns 75
LETTER IX. The subject continued-Sustained by the experience of Isaiah- Other texts imply the same truth. Psalms 51:10; 2 Cor. VH, 1; Ezekiel 36:25 The views confirmed by extracts from Wesley, from Fletcher, from Mrs. Rogers These all sustain the doctrine of native impurity Poetry quoted to prove the same How delivered Poetry quoted for encouragement Page M
LETTER X. The possibility of attaining this blessing Proved from the design of Christ’s coming From the nature of pure religion This incompatible with sin Its possibility appears from the premise* From the language of our poet Several verses quoted 94
LETTER XI.
Another ground of possibility The promise of the Holy Spirit This always necessary, as well under the old as the new dispensation. Proved from sundry examples The common privilege of all believers The Scriptures our guide But these insist on the necessity of the Spirit This the most vital principle of Christianity As without the Spirit there is no life- Sustained by quotations of poetry 103
LETTER XII. Its possibility proved from the intercession of Christ This truth not insisted upon as much as its importance demands Essential to the Christian system Contrasted with heathenism- Christ liveth in Godlike power-Intercedes for his people- Sympathizes with them On this truth Paul founds his argument in favour of complete sanctification He is an almighty and living Saviour He sends the Spirit to cement the hearts of God’s people in love For this he prayed All proved from Charles Wesley’s Hymns 112
LETTER XIII. The nature of sanctification The word means to set apart from a common to a special purpose Proved from Scripture Hence it requires the death of a separation from sin Differs from justification To retain this, we must seek sanctification This is God’s will He can require nothing less For not seeking this, many backslide An appeal to M.’s experience Anticipation of future bliss All confirmed by our Hymns Page 122
LETTER XIV. A further explanation of sanctification Paul’s doctrine A death of sin and a life of holiness Explanation of the terms death and life The two states incompatible with each other John supports the same doctrine It is God’s work to sanctify And therefore it can be done The same truth proved from poetry 132
LETTER XV. The evidence of sanctification Direct, indirect, and external The direct witness This the doctrine of all evangelical Christians The way so plain, that no one need err Contrary opinion absurd The witness is God’s Spirit This bears witness to His own work Shines by His own light Proved by sundry arguments By our poetry 142
LETTER XVI. Its indirect evidence The fruits of the Spirit Love to God and man Poetry Joy The nature of holy joy Not always rapturous But submits to God’s will Rejoices in tribulation Sentiment sustained by poetry All things work for good Nothing will separate such a soul from God Poetry quoted... 152
LETTER XVII.
Meekness another fruit of the Spirit Meekness and gentleness explained Opposed to hardness Meekness makes a person gentle and docile Poetry Temperance explained Includes a proper government of all our appetites and passions Such a person participates of all the good things of life with thankfulness The Great God stoops to man Poetry quoted.. 161
LETTER XVIII.
These graces viewed in a cluster From perfect love issue joy, peace, long-suffering Gentleness and meekness Temperance and fidelity Heart emptied of anger and every evil temper If those who indulge in impatience profess this blessing they are deceived How to deal with such persons But all are not deceived Humility the characteristic of the sanctified soul An appeal to M. for the truth advanced Il lustrated from Charles Wesley’s poetry Page 171
LETTER XIX.
External evidence-Keeping the commandments-The sanctified soul must do more than the letter of the law demands- He must feed the poor, <fcc. The spirit of the law may require this, but the letter does not The sacred Scriptures explicit on this subject -Many ignorantly transgress This shows the necessity of the atonement Salvation, from first to last, of grace -Proved from Scripture and our hymns 179
LETTER XX.
God’s laws practicable-Angelic and Adamic laws-Not binding on us-Moral law binding Perpetual Yet no unconverted sinner keeps it-Wesley’s views of the law-Fletcher’s- Clarke’s-Watson’s-Peek’s-To these the author agrees- The Scripture testimony Illustrated by poetry 188
LETTER XXI.
How to attain sanctification-1. To feel its necessity 2 To believe in its attainableness: 3. To apprehend its nature- . To understand its evidence : 5. To be determined to MA w all of grace-Must be received by faith alone-An error stated Why RO much importance attached to faith The Spirit of God goes before, and prepares the way-Charles Wesley’s poetry 198
LETTER XXII.
Mr. Fletcher and Hester Ann Rogers -Their interview related- Mr. Fletcher relates his experience Loses the blessing four times by not confessing it Confesses his folly He now pro fesses to be " dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God" Through Jesus Christ He then called on all to confess Christ Exhorted them to come to Him Many professed the blessing The blessed effect upon Mrs. Rogers The whole commended to the reader Page 208
LETTER XXIII.
It must be looked for now Without a moment’s delay It is the gift of God All of grace The way to attain it now illustrated This doctrine from Wesley From Fletcher Mrs. Palmer Dr. Peck From Charles Wesley’s poetry 217
LETTER XXIV. An objection stated Answered He grows faster, in consequence of being sanctified Illustrated No other way to avoid apostasy than to press forward No standing still No foun dation for the objection The sanctified soul will grow to all eternity Confirmed by our Hymns 225
LETTER XXV.
How the blessing is kept Walk in Christ Live in Him by faith God’s work to sanctify and keep us Poetry and Scripture quoted in proof None can withstand God Proved from Scripture and our Hymns St. Paul’s triumphant declaration It is enough The security of the sanctified asserted 233
LETTER XXVI.
Duty of the sanctified To confess it Proved from the Psalmist From St. Paul When a man speaks of what he knows, his words carry conviction An appeal to M. Example of the leper This confession commits us Mr. Wesley’s practice quoted Concluding remarks Poetry quoted in favour of the doctrine ^
LETTER XXVII.
Superior advantages of sanctification Creates a keener relish for spiritual things The judgment is enlightened Can more heartily enter upon God’s work His faith is stronger Speaks with more effect If a minister, he preaches with more power- He shines the brighter His example more hallowed All these things present strong motives to seek for sanctification Confirmed by poetry Page 250
LETTER XXVIII
Must be fitted for death here A definition of death The effect of separation Distinction between death and annihilation- Matter itself indestructible Love of life natural to all Its use The more holy, the more we desire to live Anecdote of a preacher Of Whitefield and Tennent Nevertheless we must all die Death a curse It shall be destroyed Love of life buoys up the believer Cure of melancholy 261
LETTER XXIX.
Resurrection of the body an article of belief peculiar to Christianity Obscurely revealed to the Jews A wonderful truth The germ preserved Fully set forth in the Sacred Scriptures Incorporated in the Christian system What sort of body shall be raised Not the same that was deposited in the earth A spiritual body This the triumph of Christianity Quotation from Charles Wesley’s poetry From Tupper A thrilling truth Reason why the body must be sanctified Hence pre pared to participate with the soul in the joys of heaven We should therefore keep our bodies pure Soul and body act con jointly, and therefore share in the reward Quotation from Young’s Night Thoughts .. 373
LETTER XXX.
We are saved by grace Rewarded according to our works These two truths reconciled Salvation one thing, reward an other All saved by grace, the best not excepted Yet rewarded according to our works- Hence the different degrees of glory will be in proportion to our works Harmony of these two truths, salvation by grace, and reward of works Every pious work will be rewarded What a motive this to diligence For every act of obedience shall be rewarded Page 287
LETTER XXXI.
Beholding the glory of God a principal source of happiness Negative character of enjoyment No pain, <fec. Wicked cease from troubling Positive character of it Fulness of joy Recognise each other Proved from Tupper The author anticipates the pleasure of recognising his friends Poetry This pleasure shall never end Increase of knowledge another source of enjoyment This evident to those who taste the pleasure of knowledge Saints shall raise the highest notes of praise Angels unite with them in songs of praise Concludes with poetry by Charles Wesley 298