THE
HOLINESS WRITINGS
OF
H. A. BALDWIN.
Free Methodist pastor, district superintendent, evangelist, and author Harmon Allen Baldwin (1869-1936) wrote several books explaining and defending the doctrine of entire sanctification. He had a very fine grasp of the teachings of John Wesley, John Fletcher, and the other holiness writers. In the Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement (edited by William Kostlevy) we read: "Deeply suspicious of the growing materialism of the early 20th Century Holiness movement, Baldwin emphasized an interior mystical piety that rejected fundamentalist biblical literalism and premillenial eschatology."
Among the books he wrote are:
- Lessons for Seekers of Holiness (c. 1907). Baldwin's intentions here are very practical. He aims to assist people in understanding of God's will — and to assist them in their spiritual growth.This book contains lots of quotations from Wesley, Fletcher, Clarke, Peck and Steele. This is a very good statement of the Wesleyan teaching on the spiritual life.
- Objections to Entire Sanctification Considered (c. 1911). This very brief volume replies to sixteen common objections to Holiness teachings. In replying to these, Baldwin also considers some alternative views of the Christian life. A very helpful and brief attempt to clarify what Holiness teachers do & do not teach.
- The Indwelling Christ (1912). Baldwin says: "In the following pages the writer desires to defend the old-fashioned doctrine of experimental religion, and teach the possibility of having Christ, the hope of glory, formed within. There is very little attempt to refute errors or meet objections; the matter, for the most part, has been viewed from the positive side."
- Holiness and the Human Element (c. 1919). Brief chapters on various aspects of human nature and their relation to life in sanctification. Baldwin writes: "In our association with the holiness movement we have encountered two extremes in statement: one so thoroughly negatives the human element as to intimate that the life of a holy man will be all but angelic, while the other allows so much for the human that, in some respects, there would be very little difference between the life of the sanctified and that of the sinner."
- The Fisherman of Galilee (c. 1923). (off-site link) A Devotional Study about the Apostle Peter. Baldwin writes: "The following pages have been inspired by an earnest desire to be helpful to the children of God in every place, by pointing out to them some of the gracious truths and surpassing beauties of the word of God; and with the hope that we may thus encourage men to drink more deeply and with true devotion of that living stream which shall eventually cover the earth as the waters cover the sea."
- The Carnal Mind (c. 1926) (off-site link). Baldwin writes: "Some are inclined to attribute every evil thought suggested to their minds to the movings of depravity, and thus eliminate the temptations of Satan from their reckonings; with some the stirrings of depravity are excused away, and practically every evil thought and inclination is laid to the suggestions of the enemy; while others seem to have no definite ideas as to what they must be delivered from in order that they may be made holy. In the following pages we have made an honest attempt to clear up these difficult points...."
