To ——
Memoir of Mrs. The common people — Good news — A commanding post — Ability equal to duty — Our calling as a church — “The high doctrines of our creed” — Mysteries — A popular young minister — Mr. Wesley’s last advice — How others regard us — A dilemma — Professor Disappointment — A Presbyterian’s opinion of a Methodist congregation — “What do ye more than others.”
Dear Brother, — We thank you for your early attention to our communication of July 4th. ‘* publication in question I trust the only desire of her friends in regard to it, is to furnish yet another example of the power of grace to transform in heart and in life. If yet another may be taken from the walks of ordinary Christian life, and added to the list of Jesus’s witnesses of full salvation, I stand ready to do all in my power to serve the religious community.
Closer observations may perhaps convince me of a mistake, but at present I see not why a Memoir of Mrs. may not company with a Carvosso or a Rogers, though possibly of inferior intrinsic interest to those very special examples of the power of grace. Should it not be an object of ambition with us to furnish example and admonition for the common jpeoiole? We may be instructed on this point by an observation of St. Mark touching the Saviour’s ministrations: “The common people heard him gladly.”
Holiness in High Places, Ability equal to Duty.
We frequently receive communications from our
mutual friends, Bishop and Mrs,. In one of
her late communications, Mrs. says,” Dr.
is now in the enjoyment of the witness of holiness.” This has been a subject of continuous thanksgivings to God in your behalf. We rejoice in view of the bliss upon which you have entered: “For we who believe do enter into rest.” We know that your heart has so lonr, been desiring the rest of perfect faith, and we have been so long in prayerful solicitude for this object, that our hearts are indeed rejoiced. But though we greatly desired this because of our love to you, and our earnest wish for your personal happiness and safety, yet we may say that our desires were much more enlarged in view of your position in the church, and the responsibility, which, by virtue of this position, is laid upon you. We are prone to feel that this commanding post has not been assigned you by the mere will of man, but by the will of God; and though our solicitude might move us to tremble for you while Ave hear you say, “Who is sufficient for these things?” yet we well know that the Head of the church has not called you to a position which he will not empoAver you to sustain in all its various demands. To say otherwise would imply a belief that his ways are not irfect. Such an expression or thought were indeed impious.
That the church may be presented to Christ
Our Banner. “Iligh Doctrine.” “Mysteries.”
“without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,” should surely be an object of primary interest with us as a people. Our responsibilities before God relative to the doctrine of Christian holiness are tremendous. The specific object for which the Wesleys were thrust out was “to raise a holy peopled A dispensation of the gospel has been committed to us, and we stand forth marshaled before the world, under the banner, “Holiness to the Lord.”
I would not be captious, but will you excuse me while I venture a few thoughts which were suggested by your last very interesting letter? Speaking of two very distinguished ministers, you say, “I could wish that such would preach the high doctrines of our creed: I sometimes regret the efforts made by inferior skill and low experience to proclaim these holy mysteries.” I confess, dear doctor, the expression, “high doctrines of cur creed,” and “mysteries’’ elicited my jealousy. Does not the expression, “high doctrine,” intimate something above ordinary attainment, as though the doctrine of holiness were something beyond the reach of the mass of professors? Your words, I fear, give but about a truthful exposition of the views generally entertained on this subject. But in view of the position in which we stand to this doctrine, is it well that we should look upon it as among the “mysteries” of our holy religion? Is it not because it is regarded in this light by very
The Ministry and the Laity.” How did you like the Discourse V
many of our ministers, that it is not a matter of more general experience among the laity? Yet though your position may be truthful in the estimation of the church at large, and especially with the majority of the ministry, I am obliged to question its utility. This may look like temerity, but the harmful tendencies of the course are so apparent to my own mind, that I dare not be silent.
And yet I do not wonder that you should shrink from the ministrations of men of low experience and inferior skill. I have myself been placed in circumstances to sympathize with you herein. Some time since I heard a very popular young minister, who to my surprise took this as the theme of his discourse. But it was very evident that he could not say with Wesley, Fletcher, or Fisk, “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen.” He afterward questioned me as to my dews of the discourse. I dared not do otherwise than point at deficiencies. He pleaded, by way of apology, that he had so many engagements, that he really had not time to look into these deeper things of God — these high and holy “mysteries.” Does this comport well with Mr. Wesley’s last advice in relation to this our distinguishing doctrine? It reads thus:” Therefore, all our preachers should make a point of preaching perfection to believers consta7itly, strmigly, and explicitly; and all om* preachers should mind this U
Our Doctrine. How others regard us. Dilemma.
(me thing, and continually agonize for it.” If this sacred charge had been kept, we had doubtless had scores of witnesses where we now have one. Then had we better fulfilled the designs of God in raising us up as a people. Indeed, it is by this doctrine of holiness that we have been mainly distinguished from other denominations. Besides, our close identification with this doctrine is the aspect in which, as I have often had occasion to observe, other denominations mainly regard us. I have known numbers of those who had been sincerely opposed to the doctrine of Christian perfection, who, on resolving to become Bible Christians, have found that holiness is a Bible doctrine. On perceiving this, their minds have at once been turned to us. Noav, dear brother, what shall we do? If this grace be held up as an attainment, so high that but few even among the ministry enjoy it, where shall we direct these inquirers? I do not ask this question as though it were a merely supposable dilemma.
Such cases are more frequent than those who stand high in our church councils imagine. Would that it were not so: for were our responsibility in regard to this doctrine fully perceived by those in authority, then the note of alarm might be heard throughout our borders. To assure you that my solicitude is not needless, let me instance two or three cases in point.
Prof.. Om- Creed and our Hearts. What would you have said t
Professor, of whose deep interest in the
doctrine of Christian holiness you are fully aware, came to this city earnestly desiring to know the way of the Lord more perfectly. The first point
of attraction was the M. E.; imagining that
the enjoyment of the witness of holiness was the general experience of our ministers, he expected here to elicit much light and a ready response to his feelings. But he soon found, that though holiness was our distinguishing doctrine as a people, neither our ministry nor membership were generally distinguished by living in the enjoyment of it, as he had fondly anticipated, and with deep regret he mentioned his disappointment to us. What could we say? — for surely this was calculated to paralyze his own efforts in the pursuit of it.
At another time, a gentleman belonging to the Presbyterian Church had become so desirous of the blessing of full salvation, that the members of his own denomination had already begun to look at him as somewhat Methodistical. One evening he stepped into the church where I was worshiping. It was during a season of revival, and much ardor was manifested. As he stood overlooking the large congregation, he said earnestly, “I suppose all here enjoy the blessing of holiness.” I cannot tell you how my heart was pained. And think how formidable the attempt at a reply. What would you have said, dear Dr. - —? Running my
1 in 50. Standard of Obligation. Raised for a Special Purpose
eye over the assembled multitude, I could not see one in fifty who professed to be living in the enjoyment of that state. But is the state of our congregations, generally, more encouraging even than this?
What does it avail that we hold this as a high doctrine of our creed? The fact of doing so but increases our obligations an hundred fold. It is the servant who knows his Lord’s will, and does it not, that is to be beaten with many stripes. Unless we have witnesses to substantiate our theory, what do we more than others?
“Ah, what avails superior light I”
That there are so few comparatively among the membership who profess to enjoy the blessing may be attributed to the fact, that there is so little exphcit and experimental testimony among the ministry on this point. Our dear brother is placed in a position to “begin at the sanctuary.” You may remember that when you were so ill, that you entertained but little hope of ever again engaging in active service, we even then indulged the expectation that God might raise you up for the special pinyose of arousing the ministry on this all-important topic. But where shall I stop? I fear I may weary you, and hasten to an item of business upon which we have been desired to address you.
Adieu, dear brother; pray for us that” God may
Property. Given by God. “Unequally bestowed.
fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness in us, and the work of faith with power.”
Yours, &c.