The Scripture Doctrine of Sanctification Stated and Defended Against the Error of Perfectionism (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846. Excerpt: ... PART II. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION. 1 Thess. v. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. That full provision is made for consummating the work of sanctification, as well as for its commencement and progress, is not doubted by any. All evangelical christians agree that when the Apostle says, " This is the will of God even your sanctification," he has in view the entire deliverance of those who embrace the Gospel from the power and pollution of sin. Christ" gave himself" for the Church, "that he might sanctify and cleanse it"--" that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing"--"that it should be holy and without blemish." This is the grand result which all the institutions 18 and influences of the Gospel have in view; and, to entertain the apprehension of a failure here, would be to call in question the wisdom, the foresight, the veracity, and the faithfulness of God. But the certainty of an event, and the time at which we are authorized to expect it, are two different things. And the question now arises, Are we authorized to believe that God will ever consummate the sanctification of his people within the limits of the present life? Or, as the advocates of the doctrine of Perfection would prefer to have it stated, Is entire sanctification in this life to be regarded as an attainable state? In entering upon the discussion of this question, it is all-important that the terms employed should be so defined that no confusion of ideas may exist as to their meaning. This is especially the case in reference to the word entire: --For, while the phrase 'entire sanctification' is one of frequent occurrence in the writings of those who defend.the doctrine which is now current under this name, it is not so cle...