SANCTIFICATION
and
SECOND BLESSING
Extract from Methodism in the Leek Circuit by Dyson
This extract includes an account by Hester Ann Roe of the preaching of John Wesley at Leek, which has a clear account of Sanctification teaching as reflected in other writings.
This sermon was preached on the afternoon of Saturday, the 30th of March, 1782. "I went over, and preached about noon to a lovely congregation. God bore witness to his word in an uncommon manner, so that I did not think much of my labour." Journal vol. iii, p. 212.
Margaret his wife, was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Thomas Davenport, vicar of Radcliffe-upon-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Mr. Davenport was one of those enlightened clergymen, who, not only recognised in the spread of Methodism the work of God, but also gave it his countenance and support. During the time that he was Curate of Uttoxeter, his attachment to Methodism was manifested, by his hearty co-operation with the small and despised society ; and by opening his house for their public prayer-meetings. Nor was his love diminished by his promotion to the Vicarage of Radcliffe, which was open to the Preachers, who ever found a cordial welcome under his hospitable roof. He was a frequent correspondent of the venerated John Wesley, for whom he cherished a high esteem. Some of his letters to Mr. Wesley, may be found in the early volumes of the Arminian Magazine. Mrs. Swindalls and her daughters Harriet and Ellen, all lived in the fear of the Lord, and died in the full triumph of faith.
The first letter from Miss Roe to Mr. Swindalls, bearing the Macclesfield post-mark, is dated October 20th, 1780, and commences:
"Dear Francis,
I am glad to find your desires are still after God, and as your Aunt tells
me dear Mr. Wesley is in London, I have wrote to him as I promised, and
beg you will deliver the letter with your own hand. If you cannot see him
immediately, keep it until you do; May he be made a blessing to your soul.
I would advise you to pray earnestly that he may. You need not he afraid
of speaking whatever lies upon your mind, for I am sure he will hear you
and answer any question you ask, with pleasure. If you go to the New
Chapel, you will be most likely to find him, for he lives in the house
adjoining. Do not give the letter to any one else. And now let me again
beseech you. look unto Jesus, and he will freely save you, without money
and without price. Look through men and means to him. He only can save,
and he will. I hope I shall soon hear that you have faith in his blood -
`He that asketh soon receiveth,
He that seeks is sure to find,
Come, for whoso'er helieveth,
He will never cast behind.'
`O come just as you are, he will love you and freely forgive you all. I shall he glad to hear from you soon.
I am, dear Fellow Pilgrim,
Yours affectionately, for Christ sake,
HESTER ANN "
The second bears the same post-mark, and is dated, December 3rd, 1780. It begins:
"Dear Francis,
I received yours, and thank you for it. I am suprised you have not seen
dear Mr. Wesley, as he mentions you in his letter to me very
affectionately, and seems wishful to see you again. I would have you try
again to speak to him, and get him to fix a day and an hour when he can
conveniently talk with you; and may the Lord make it a blessing to your
soul.
I hope you are earnestly seeking the knowledge of his favour - for though to be convinced of your sinfulness is a great mercy; yet without you obtain a pardon, you must perish if you die in that state. But Christ is willing and ready to save you. If you are lost, it will not be his fault, for He died to Redeem your soul. His blood was shed for your sins, and you have nothing to do but to leave him to answer for them, and God wilt pardon them all for his sake: and though you do not deserve his love, he will love you for Christ sake. So do not stay to be made more worthy, far your worthiness will never recommend you to God. He will accept nothing in your behalf but the blood of Christ. 'He receiveth sinners.' 'He justifieth the ungodly.' `He came to seek and to save that which was lost.' Are your sins a burden? then you are just such a one as Jesus died to save. Why then do you delay? He is willing to forgive you this moment. Can't you believe it? Try. For `he that believeth shall be saved.' And again, `He that believeth shall not perish, but have everlasting life.' Endeavour now to cast all your sins upon Christ, and God will never lay them to your charge. Christ will answer for them, and you will be free. Oh ! venture now to believe. I shall be glad to hear from you soon, and write freely, as if you wrote to your mother; you need not fear my making ill-natured reflections.
I am, dear Pilgrim,
Yours affectionately, for Christ's sake,
HESTER ANN ROE."
After reading these letters, especially the latter, which is so full of pointed and scriptural remark, it will not be a matter of wonder that it should be said they were made "very serviceable" to Mr. Swindalls "when he was labouring under deep convictions." *
* Methodist Magazine 1837, p. 77.
On the afternoon of Saturday, the 30th of March, 1782, - in company with the writer of the preceding letters - Mr. Wesley, was again at Leek. "As our friends at Leek," he writes, "thirteen miles from Macclesfield, would take no denial, I went over, and preached about noon to a lovely congregation. God bore witness to his word in an uncommon manner, so that I did not think much of my labour." *
* Journal vol. iii, p. 212.
Turning to the Journal of Miss Roe, (better known as Hester Ann Rogers,) under this date we find the subjoined interesting account of their journey. She says, "I breakfasted with him [Mr. Wesley] at nine o'clock, and accompanied him in his chaise to Leek ; where, at one o'clock, he offered salvation to all, from, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' He showed, first, when the Gospel of Christ is preached and received in any nation, city, town, neighbourhood, or family, it may be said, the kingdom of God is set up there ; or if any individual embraces Christ, and the glad tidings of salvation by faith, the kingdom of God is set up in that heart; and completed, when his kingly power is manifested, and all his foes in that heart slain, so that he reigns alone. Then, secondly, what it consists in , - righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; all these begun in justification ; but when `Holiness to the Lord' is written upon the living tablet of the heart, then whatever would oppose itself to them is entirely rooted out. He then enforced the text: this `kingdom of heaven is at hand.' He addressed himself to people of all states and conditions, young and old, to drunkards, swearers, Sabbath-breakers, thieves, liars, and. lewd persons; and told them, `You may now be delivered from the power of your most besetting sins, even this day, this moment. 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Serve the devil no longer: He is a bad master. Yield now to Him who loveth you, who died for you; who will save you from all your sins here, and from hell bereafter. He loves you all, even thee, thou poor sinner; he bled for thee, and wilt thou resist him still? Dost thou feel that thou art a sinner, deserving nothing but hell ? Art thou willing to know Jesus as thy Saviour, and art thou afraid to come ? Fear not, look up; he is near thee. Dost thou want a pardon for all thy sins? Shall I tell thee thou mayest have it next year, next month, next week? Nay, I dare not; I am not sure thou canst. To-morrow is none of thine own: but thou mayest have it to-day; it is at hand. I am sent to offer it: look up now, even this moment. `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.'
`It is true, that in general, the work of repentance is carried on by very slow degrees; most people do not experience justification till a considerable time after they have been convinced of sin. But why is it? Even because of unbelief. The word of faith is nigh thee: fear not, only believe.
`Art thou a child of God, a believer, and feelest his kingdom, in a measure, set up in thy heart? Dost thou know,. `he hath loved me, and given himself for me?' and yet dost thou feel the remains of anger, pride, selfwill, inordinate desires and affections? Then thou knowest the meaning of those words, -
`Tis worse than death my God to love,
And not my God alone.'
Thou art assured, ` without holines no man shall see the Lord!' but thou art all unholy, all unclean ; thou art now convinced that none but God can bring a clean thing out of an unclean. Hear, then, his promise to thee: `I will sprinkle clean water upon thee, and thou shalt be clean. From all thy filthiness and from all thy idols will I cleanse thee. A. new heart also will I give thee, and a new spirit will I put within thee; and I will take away the stony heart out of thy flesh, and I will give thee an heart of flesh; and I will put my Spirit within thee, and cause thee to walk in my statutes; and thou shalt keep my judgments, and do them.' `I will circumcise thy heart, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.' `His will is thy santifhcation.' But art thou to wait a year, a month, a week? Art thou to stay till thou art more worthy? Not at all. Come just as thou art: come now, a helpless sinner to a mighty Saviour.
But some may say, `Is not santification a gradual as well as an instantaneous work?' Yes, it is both. You may obtain a growing victory over sin from the moment you are justified. But this is not enough: the body of sin, the carnal mind, must be destroyed ; the old man must be slain, or we cannot put on the new man, which is created after God, (or which is the image of God,) in righteousness and true holiness; and this is done in a moment. To talk of this work being gradual would be nonsense, as much as if we talked of gradual justification.
`However, most persons are a long time after they are justified before they are sanctified wholly. But need it be so? By no means. A thousand years are wiih the Lord as one day, and one day as a thousand years. `He that believeth shall be saved.'
'Where art thou, then, O believer, who art longing for all that righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, spoken of? This kingdom of heaven is at hand; it is nigh thee ; it is here: take it. Now believe; wait for nothing.
`Lord Jesus, speak to that heart! tell it, `I am God and not man.' Say unto it, `I will, be thou clean. I am here, mighty to save. Behold me; behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world!
He then prayed for penitents, for backsliders, for the un-awakened, and for children ; such as could, till now, break the Sabbath, tell lies, disobey parents, &c. I never before heard him so particular. He was full of life, and love, and power; and wept several times while he prayed. The congregation were deeply affected; and a young man who walked from Macclesfield, and came to the chapel * in great distress of soul, was set at liberty; and met us praising God, who he knew had forgiven all his sins.
* No doubt the club-room, which would bear some resemblance to a chapel.
As we returned, Mr. Wesley said, `I never saw a more lovely congregation: they were like melting wax, just fit for divine impressions. But God was with us: there's the secret!' tears filling his eyes."
March 2002