SANCTIFICATION
and
SECOND BLESSING
Extract from Life of Hester Ann Rogers
Preaching of John Fletcher
Remarkable Experience
Leeds, August 24th, 1781.
That dear man of God, Mr. Fletcher, came with Miss Bosanquet, (now Mrs.
Fletcher,) to dine at Mr. Smith's, in Park-row, and also to meet the
select society. After dinner, I took an opportunity to beg he would
explain an expression he once used to Miss Loxdale, namely, "that on
all who are renewed in love, God bestows the gift of prophecy." He
called for the Bible; then read, and sweetly explained, the second chapter
of Acts; observing, to prophesy in the sense he meant, was, to magnify God
with the new heart of love, and the new tongue of praise, as they did who
on the day of Pentecost were filled with the Holy Ghost. And he insisted
that believers are now called to make the same confession; seeing we may
all prove the same baptismal fire: showing that the day of Pentecost was
only the opening of the dispensation of the Holy Ghost - the great promise
of the Father; and that the "latter-day glory," which he
believed was near at hand, should far exceed the first effusion of the
Spirit. And, therefore, seeing they then bore witness to the grace of our
Lord, so should we; and like them spread the flame of love.
Then, after singing a hymn, he cried, "0 to be filled with the Holy Ghost! I want to be filled! 0 my friends, let us wrestle for a more abundant out-pouring of the Spirit!" To me he said, "Come, my sister, will you covenant with me this day to pray for the fulness of the Spirit? Will you be a witness for Jesus?" I answered, with flowing tears, "In the strength of Jesus I will." He cried, "Glory, glory, glory be to God! Lord, strengthen Thine handmaid to keep this covenant even unto death."
He then said, "My dear brethren and sisters, God is here! I feel Him in this place! But I would hide my face in the dust, because I have been ashamed to declare what He hath done for me! For many years I have grieved His Spirit; but I am deeply humbled: and He has again restored my soul! Last Wednesday evening He spoke to me by these words, Reckon yourselves therefore to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. I obeyed the voice of God; I now obey it; and tell you all, to the praise of His love, I am freed from sin. Yes, I rejoice to declare it, and to bear witness to the glory of His grace, that I am dead unto sin, and alive unto God, through Jesus Christ, Who is my Lord and King!
"I received this blessing four or five times before; but I lost it by not observing the order of God, Who has told us, With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. But the enemy offered his bait under various colours, to keep me from public declaration of what my Lord had wrought.
"When I first received this grace, Satan bade me wait awhile, till I saw more of the fruits. I resolved to do so; but I soon began to doubt of the witness, which before I had felt in my heart; and was in a little time sensible I had lost both. A second time, after receiving this salvation, (with shame I confess it,) I was kept from being a witness for the Lord by the suggestion, Thou art a public character; the eyes of all are upon thee; and if, as before, by any means thou lose the blessing, it will be a dishonour to the doctrine of heart-holiness. etc. I held my peace, and again forfeited the gift of God.
"At another time, I was prevailed upon to hide it by reasoning, How few, even of the children of God, will receive this testimony! many of them supposing every transgression of the Adamic law is sin; and, therefore, if I profess myself to be free from sin, all these will give my profession the lie: because I am not free in their sense; I am not free from ignorance, mistakes, and various infirmities. I will therefore enjoy what God has wrought in me; but I will not say, I am perfect in love - Alas! I soon found again, He that hideth his Lord's talent, and improveth it not, from that unprofitable servant shall be taken away even that he hath.
"Now, my brethren, you see my folly! I have confessed it in your presence, and now I resolve, before you all, to Confess my Master! I will confess Him to all the world! And I declare unto you, in the presence of God, the Holy Trinity, I am now dead indeed unto sin. I do not say, I am crucified with Christ, because some of our well-meaning brethren say, By this can only be meant a gradual dying; but I profess unto you, I am dead unto sin, and alive unto God: and remember, all this is through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
"I wait for the fulfillment of that prayer, That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; and that they may be one, even as we are one. 0 for that pure, baptismal flame! 0 for the fulness of the dispensation of the Holy Ghost! Pray, pray, pray for this! This shall make us all of one heart and of one soul! Pray for gifts; for the gift of utterance; and confess your royal Master. A man without gifts is like the king in disguise: he appears as a subject only. You are kings and priests unto God. Put on, therefore, your robes, and wear on your garter, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."
A few days after this, I heard Mr. Fletcher preach from the same subject; which greatly encouraged and strengthened me. Inviting all who felt their need of full redemption, to believe now for this great salvation, he observed, "As when you reckon with your creditor, or with your host; and, as when you have paid all, you reckon yourselves free; so now reckon with God. Jesus hath paid all; and He hath paid for thee! hath purchased thy pardon and holiness.
"Therefore, it is now God's command, Reckon thyself dead indeed unto sin; and thou art alive unto God from this hour! 0 begin, begin to reckon now! Fear not! Believe, believe, believe! And continue to believe every moment; so shalt thou continue free; for it is retained, as it is received, by faith alone. And, whosoever thou art, that perseveringly behevest, it will be as a fire in thy bosom, and constrain thee to confess with thy mouth thy Lord and King, Jesus! And in spreading the sacred flame of love, thou shalt still be saved to the uttermost."
He also dwelt largely on those words, "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." He asked, "How did sin abound? Had it not overspread your whole soul? Were not all your passions, tempers, propensities, and affections, inordinate and evil? Did not pride, anger, self-will, and unbelief, all reign in you? And when the Spirit of God strove with you, did you not repel all His convictions, and put Him far from you?"
"Well, my brethren, ye were then the servants of sin, and were free from righteousness: but now, being made free from sin, ye are become servants of God; and holiness shall overspread your whole soul; so that all your tempers and passions shall be henceforth regulated and governed by Him, who now sitteth upon the throne of your heart, making all things new; they shall, therefore, be all holy. And as you once resisted the Holy Spirit, so now you shall have power as easily to resist all the subtle frauds or fierce attacks of Satan; yea, his suggestions to evil shall be like a ball thrown against a wall of brass; it shall rebound back again; and you shall know what that meaneth, The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
He then, with lifted hands, cried, "Who will thus be saved? Who will believe the report? You are only in an improper sense called believers who reject this. Who is a believer? - one that believes a few things which his God hath spoken? Nay, but one who believes all that ever proceeded out of His mouth! Here then is the word of the Lord: As sin abounded, grace shall much more abound! As no good thing was in you by nature, so now no evil thing shall remain. Do you believe this? or are you a half-believer only? Come, Jesus is offered to thee a perfect Saviour: take Him, and He will make thee a perfect saint. 0 ye half- believers, will you still plead for the murderers of your Lord? Which of these will you hide as a serpent in your bosom? Shall it be anger, pride, self-will, or accursed unbelief? - 0 be no longer be fooled! Bring these enemies of the Lord, and let Him slay them"
Some days after this, being in Mr. Fletcher's company, he took me by the hand, and said, "Glory be to God for you, my sister! - still bear a noble testimony for your Lord. Do you repent your confession of His salvation?" I answered, "Blessed be God, I do not." At going away, he again took me by the hand, saying, with eyes and heart lifted up, "Bless her, heavenly Power!" It seemed as if an instant answer was given, and a beam of glory let down! I was filled with deep humility and love; yea, my whole soul overflowed with the unutterable sweetness.
March 2002