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CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
AS TAUGHT BY
JOHN WESLEY
COMPILED BY
REV. J. A. WOOD
Author of “Perfect Love” and “Purity and Maturity.”
INTRODUCTION
BY
BISHOP W. F. MALLALIEU.
"PURE LOVE, REIGNING ALONE IN THE HEART AND LIFE, THIS IS THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURAL PERFECTION." — Wesley.
TO THE
MINISTRY AND MEMBERSHIP
OF THE
VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE METHODIST CHURCH
THIS VOLUME
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
Copyright 1921
Christian Witness Co.
[This text is in the public domain. Text scanning and formatting by Craig L. Adams.]
EDITOR’S NOTES: The chapters of this book may be viewed online, either by using the hyperlink Table of Contents below or by using the navigation bar on the left.
This book is primary quotations from Wesley. I have checked many the quotes — but not all! — against Jackson's edition of Wesley's Works and corrected them as necessary. Wood loved to use italics. He often put italics into the quotes to stress his own point. Bear in mind, that this is Wood’s emphasis and may or may not be Wesley’s. Also: while this book is helpful in understanding Wesley’s teachings on this subject, it should certainly not be taken as the final word. The editor, J. A. Wood, had very definite views, and was a major figure in the formation and rise of the 19th Century holiness movement. Statements in Wesley’s writings with which Wood did not agree simply didn’t make it not the book! Nevertheless, this is a helpful resource.
Section 30 of this book is the complete text of A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. I know this text is available elsewhere on the Internet, but decided to include it anyway, because Wood's subheadings may make it easier to read and understand. It is presented in several separate parts. I have also included Wesley's "Brief Thoughts on Christian Perfection" which was written in 1767. While this was not included in Wesley's Plain Account or in Wood's book, it seemed to me to round things out.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE & INTRODUCTION.
1. HOW MR. WESLEY WAS LED INTO THE LIGHT OF FULL SALVATION.
2. THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
3. REGENERATION AND ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION NOT IDENTICAL
4. THE JUSTIFIED AND REGENERATE STATE DOES NOT ADMIT OF COMMITTING SIN
5. NO CONDEMNATION TO JUSTIFIED BELIEVERS.
6. JUSTIFIED BELIEVERS CONVICTED OF INDWELLING SIN.
7. THE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN REGENERATION AND ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION.
8. SANCTIFICATION INSTANTANEOUS, BY FAITH, AND NOT BY GROWTH IN GRACE.
9. HOW CHRISTIAN PERFECTION IS TO BE OBTAINED.
10. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT TO ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION.
11. MR. WESLEY ENCOURAGED THE PROFESSION OF CHRISTIAN HOLINESS.
12. WITNESSES OF ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION.
13. THE NECESSITY OF PREACHING HOLINESS.
14. MR. WESLEY FREQUENTLY PREACHED ON CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.
15. MR. WESLEY NOT CONFINED TO ANY ONE MODE OF EXPRESSION.
16. MR. WESLEY APPROVED AND USED THE PHRASE "SECOND BLESSING."
17. HOLINESS IDENTIFIED WITH THE PROMOTION OF THE GENERAL WORK OF GOD.
18. THE SELECT SOCIETIES WERE FOR THOSE ENTIRELY SANCTIFIED.
19. FULL SALVATION MAY BE LOST.
20. ADVICE TO THOSE POSSESSING PERFECT LOVE.
21. MR. WESLEY'S VIEWS OF MORAVIANISM.
22. THE EXTENT OF THE WORK IN MR. WESLEY'S DAY.
23. THE OPPOSITION MR. WESLEY ENCOUNTERED ON THE SUBJECT OF HOLINESS.
24. ON HEARING MINISTERS WHO OPPOSE THE TRUTH.
25. MR. WESLEY'S OBJECTION TO AND TREATMENT OF FANATICISM.
26. MINUTES OF CONFERENCE CONVERSATIONS.
27. MISCELLANEOUS.
28. HOW FAR DID MR. WESLEY CHANGE HIS VIEWS ON CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.
29. A CHRONOLOGICAL EPITOME.
30. A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION. (This has its own Table of Contents.)