Methodist standard holiness gems...

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METHODIST

STANDARD HOLINESS GEMS

Prefatory Note

ALL will freely admit that Solomon spake truly - when he said : "Of making many books there is no end." A book with no laudable or commendable reason for existence, or mission to perform, is simply imposed on the reading public. And as "much study is a weariness of the flesh," and as there is already a superabundance of poisonous and trashy, injurious and profitless reading matter, no person has, or ever will have, a moral right to spread oyer these lands aught that is not purifying and elevating in its character, nature, and design. The purpose of this book of Gems is to do good, by embodying in a small compass, proofs abundant and strong to the Christian world generally, that holiness, entire and complete deliverance from all sin, comes to all of God's children, both as an immediate duty and as a present and glorious privilege ; and to the Methodist people specifically as individuals and as a Church, that this is their own peculiarly chosen and cherished doctrine. It has been well said, by one who could say it well, that : " If Methodists give up this doctrine and experience, or suffer such to become a dead letter, they are a fallen people. It is this that inflames zeal, diffuses life, rouses to action,

IV PREFATORY KOTE.

prompts to perseverance, and urges the soul forward to every holy exercise and every useful work. Holiness is the main cord that binds us

TOGETHER."

True Holiness affords the best possible vantageground for the soul and a position of the greatest security this side of the glory world. True Holiness begins in the soul the moment of conversion ; and the reason so few in the professed Christian life are caring and looking after and obtaining this precious boon from God, is that they have become dull of hearing, satisfied with their worldly conformity, and notwithstanding they are still holding on to their profession and church membership, they are living, contentedly living, and blindly, too, below the standard where sanctification or true holiness begins, i. e. 9 below true conversion. let us diligently look into God's word and our standards, and amend from this very hour. God bless the reader ! Amen. Farewell.

James Hobbs.

METHODIST STANDARD HOLINESS GEMS.

Part I

Our first class of Gems is selected from our Book of Discipline, and are as follows :

{From the Episcopal Address, page 3.)

Dearly Beloved Brethren : We think it expedient to give you a brief account of the rise of Methodism, both in Europe and America. " In 1729 two young men in England, reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness ; followed after it ; and incited others so to do. In 1737 they saw, likewise, that men are justified before they are sanctified : but still holiness was their object. God then thrust them out to raise a holy people." These are the words of John and Charles Wesley.

{From same Address, page 4.)

We believe that God's design in raising up the Methodist Episcopal Church in

America, was to reform the continent and spread Scriptural Holiness over these lands.

Be serious. Let your motto be, " Holiness to the Lord." Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking. — Rules for Preachers. Paragraph 110.

Observe, it is not your business only to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that Society, but to save as many as you can ; to bring as many sinners as you can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember ! a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist Discipline ! Therefore you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have. — Pities for Preachers. Paragraph 119.

The most effectual way of preaching Christ is to preach Him in all His offices ; and to declare His law, as well as His Gospel, both to believers and unbelievers. Let us strongly and closely insist upon inward

HOLINESS GEMS.

and outward holiness in all its branches.- Manner of Preaching. Paragraph 138.

Other reasons may concur, but the chief reason that the people under our care are not better, is, because we are not more knowing and more holy. Why are we not more holy ? why do we not live in eternity ? walk with God all the day long ? why are we not all devoted to God, breathing the whole spirit of missionaries ? Chiefly because we are enthusiasts ; looking for the end without using the means. To touch only upon two or three instances : Who of us rise at four, or even at five, when we do not preach ? Do we know the obligation and benefit of fasting or abstinence ? How often do we practice it ? The neglect of this alone is sufficient to account for our feebleness and faintness of spirit. We are continually grieving the Holy Spirit of God by the habitual neglect of a plain duty. Let us amend from this hour. — Manner of Preachers' Lives. Paragraph ISO.

In receiving a Preacher at the Conference into Full Connection, after solemn fasting and prayer, every person proposed shall be asked, before the Conference, the following questions, with any others which may be thought necessary, namely :

1. Have you faith in Christ ?

2. Are you going on to perfection ?

3. Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life ?

4. Are you earnestly striving after it ? — Receiving Preachers into Conference. Paragraph 157.

Almighty, Everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of His most precious side both water and blood ; and gave commandment to His disciples that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; regard, we beseech Thee, our supplications ; and grant that the persons now to be baptized may receive the fullness of Thy grace, and ever remain in the number of Thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — Baptism. Paragraph Jfi2.

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The ends of this fellowship are, the maintenan onnd doctrine and of the

ordinan Christian worship, and the

of that power of godly admonition and discipline which C >mmitted

to II.- C hurch for th .

— Reception of Members into the vreh. Paragraph 408.

Among itfl P. - ... . : v.liar inc

ments to holiness from the hearing of Gk word and sharing in Ohri iinanc-;: :

the being placed under the watchful es

Pastors : and the enjoyment of the blessings which are promised only to those who

,- of the Household of Faith. — Reception of Members into the Church. Paragraph V>S.

Collect. — Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid ; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration

Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — Used in administration of Thee Lord's Supper. Paragraph #04.

Our Church ardently prays for Christian Perfection or perfect love in this life, in the well-known Collect in the Communion service : " Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily magnify Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here we see: (1) The nature of Christian perfection : it is perfect love. (2) The seat of this perfect love : a heart cleansed in its own thoughts. (3) The blessed effect of it : a worthy magnifying of God's holy name. (4) Its author, God, of whom the blessing is asked. (5) The immediate agent of it : His holy spirit. And (6) and lastly, the gracious procurer of it : our Lord Jesus Christ. — John Fletcher.

Part II

Our second class of Gems is from the authorized Catechism of our Church, Number One. From Question 57 to 61.

57. What is sanctification ?

Sanctification is that act of Divine grace whereby we are made holy. — 1 Thess. v : 23; Eph. i : 4 ; Col. i : 22 ; Heb. xiii : 12.

58. May every believer be wholly sanctified in this life ?

Yes ; God's command is, " Be ye holy, for I am holy ; " and His promise is, that " if we confess our sins/' He will " cleanse 11s from all unrighteousness." — 1 Peter i: 16 ; 1 Thess. iv : 3 ; 1 John i : 9.

59. What is implied in being a perfect Chris- Hem, or in being wholly sanctified ?

Loving God with all our heart and soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.

60. Is it possible for a justified or a sanctified Christian to fall from grace and perish ?

It is ; for even the Apostle Paul feared lest, after having preached to others, he himself should be a castaway. — 1 Cor. ix: 27.

61. How shall we guard against the danger of falling from grace ?

By watchfulness, prayer, and a life of faith in the Son of God.

Part III

Our third class of material comes from our latest Regular Standard Church Hymnal.

Thirsting for perfect love.

1 I thirst, thou wounded Lamb of God, To wash me in thy cleansing blood ;

To dwell within thy wounds ; then pain Is sweet, and life or death is gain.

2 Take my poor heart, and let it be Forever closed to all but thee :

Seal thou my breast, and let me wear That pledge of love forever there.

5 How can it be, thou heavenly King, That thou shouldst us to glory bring? Make slaves the partners of thy throne, Decked with a never-fading crown ?

6 Hence our hearts melt, our eyes o'erflow, Our words are lost, nor will we know, Nor will we think of aught beside,

" My Lord, my Love is crucified."

Te. by J. Wesley. Hymn U61—1, 0, 5 and 6 v.

Dedication to God

My soul and all its powers

Thine, wholly thine, shall be All, all my happy hours

I consecrate to thee: