(6) Should Entire Sanctification Be Pro fessed? Methodism says yes, but in great mod esty, "with meekness and fear," lest others should interpret the act as indicative of spiritual pride. It should always impress the hearer that this high profession is made for the glory of God, who has provided this uttermost salvation, and for the benefit of believers hungering and thirsting after righteousness. The name of the Great Physician should be known. The healed should proclaim Him to the sick.
(7) A Distinctive Wesleyan Doctrine. Wes ley styled entire sanctification "the grand deposi tion which God has lodged with the people called Methodists; and, for the sake of propagating this chiefly, he appeared to have raised us up." it is firmly established in their standard theology and hymnology, and in the hearts of a minority of tlieir members. All their ministers are re quired to be examined in a booklet entitled "Wes ley's Plain Account of Christian Perfection," and to answer at the door of the conference this question, "Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?" (Rev. Daniel Steele, D. D.) 2. General Protestant View of Sanctifi cation.
Sanctification is the Christianizing of the heing and life of the believer. It is the carrying on of the work begun in regeneration until the entire nature is permeated with the spirit of Christ and lives under the rule of the risen and reigning Lord. Regeneration begins the enlargement of the divine life in man; sanctification takes it for ward through Christian growth towards the full grown man, unto the stature of Christ (Eph. iv : 13). The first is the planting of the seed, the sec ond the development into the noble plant, with waving leaves and ripened fruits. The first is a new life, the second is that life in action.
(1) Biblical Meanings. There are in the Bible two great meanings of this word. The first may be called the Old Testament idea. The second belongs more, though not exclusjvely, with the New. In the Old Testament the refer ence was to things, not implying the inward change of the heart. A field was sanctified, so was a golden vessel or the garment of a priest. It was the setting apart for sacred use. But the New Testament took this meaning and gave a greater depth to it. The meaning was enlarged and lifted into a nobler place. It meant not only dedication to divine use, but also inward holiness.
It had to do with its nature as well as its service. It meant a purification of the heart of man from all uncleanliness and an enduing it with the holy mind of Christ.
(2) Sanctification a Growth. Sanctification is the progress of the divine life in man. It is thus a growth, and no one is perfectly holy by a mir acle of grace. The Christian, when he enters the kingdom of God, has his sinful nature. The guilt of sin is removed, but the results of sin are yet with him, and he must overcome its love and power. He has a new attitude toward God, the mouth of his soul is open, and there is passing into him the divine strength, and aided by it he must take all the land of his nature which lies under the dominion of Evil. When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan they were in the Promised Land, but did not possess it. The enemy must be driven out, their chariots broken and fenced cities pulled to the ground.
(3) A Mistake to be Avoided. There is no greater mistake than to confuse conversion with sanctification, and to fail to note that the begin ning of a Christian life is the bestowal of power to conquer, not the entering into a sunlit and vine-covered land with all the enemies slain. The agony of a Christian experience is the taking of one's possessions. This work is gradual. The power comes from God, but the work is done by man. God works in us co will and to do of His good pleasure, and we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. ita2, 13).
(4) Its Purpose. The purpose of sanctifica tion is to bring the entire nature into harmony with the will of God. This is God's desire for us, and this should ever be the radiant purpose of a Christian life. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification" (I Thess. iv:3). "Lo, I come to do Thy will, 0 God. . .. By the which will we are sanctified" (Heb. x:9, to).
This new divine life begins in man's inner na ture, deep in the soul. It touches his mental and physical nature. Spreading through his being, it is to bring him in thought and purpose, act and feeling into a loving and living harmony with God. Starting in his spiritual nature, it is to permeate his physical nature until the body shall be the fit temple for the indwelling spirit and there shall he in love and thought, in eating. drinking and going forth the doing to the glory of God (i Cor. x:31).