By Harry Edward Jessop

Chapter 21

WITNESSES

Personal Testimonies of Recognized Authority -- We have reserved this final chapter in which to give the testimonies of some of the leading exponents of this truth. In this field we find our wealth to be our embarrassment, and are reluctantly compelled to select only a mere handful out of the mass of material which offers itself. It would not be difficult to pack an entire volume with the direct and definite testimonies of men and women of repute who have enjoyed this experience and rejoiced to declare it. We select a few out of those best known.

1. John Wesley: Strange as it may seem, there has been much controversy concerning Wesley's own enjoyment of this experience. Some have gone so far as to declare that while Wesley preached this blessing he never actually gave testimony to the possession of it. We submit two quotations, which we think to be sufficient evidence. Further, we suggest that as an honest man Wesley could not have taught the experience for so many years without personal participation.

"I was unusually lifeless and heavy till the love feast in the evening; when, just as I was constraining myself to speak, I was stopped, whether I would or no; for the blood gushed out of both my nostrils, so that I could not add another word. But in a few minutes it stayed, and all our hearts and mouths were opened to praise God. Yet the next day I was again as a dead man; but in the evening, while I was reading prayers at Snowsfields, I found such light and strength as I never remember to have had before. I saw every thought, as well as every action or word, just as it was rising in my heart; and whether it was right before God, or tainted with pride or selfishness. I never knew before (I mean not as at that time) what it was to be still before God. Tuesday 25. I waked, by the grace of God, in the same spirit; and about eight, being with two or three that believed in Jesus, I felt such an awe and tender sense of the presence of God as greatly confirmed me therein: so that God was before me all the day long. I sought and found Him in every place; and could truly say, when I lay down at night, 'Now I have lived a day' (Wesley's Journal, Dec. 23-25, 1744).

"Many years since I saw that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. I began following after it and inciting all with whom I had any intercourse to do the same. Ten years after, God gave me a clearer view than I had before of the way to attain this; namely, by faith in the Son of God. And immediately I declared to all, 'We are saved from all sin, we are made holy by faith.' This I testified in private, in public, in print; and God confirmed it by a thousand witnesses. I have continued to declare this for about thirty years, and God has continued to confirm the word by His grace. "

2. John Fletcher: Rev. John Fletcher, a minister in the English Episcopal Church, was vicar of Madeley. His saintliness was outstanding. At his funeral John Wesley said:

"A man so inwardly and outwardly devoted to God, so unblamable in character in every respect, I have not found in Europe or America; nor do I expect to find another such on this side of eternity" (Letter, dated June 19, 1771).

"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 that I am dead unto sin, and alive unto God. He is my Prophet, Priest, and King, my indwelling Holiness; my all in all" (in Journal of Hester Ann Rogers, p. 136).

3. Adam Clarke: Dr. Adam Clarke was the great commentator of Methodism, and one of the most scholarly men of his day. "I regarded nothing, not even life itself, in comparison of having my heart cleansed from all sin; and began to seek it with full purpose of heart. Soon after this, while earnestly wrestling with the Lord in prayer ... I found a change wrought within my soul, which I endeavored through grace to maintain amid the grievous temptations and accusations of the subtle foe" (Quoted, Perfect Love, p. 160).

4. George Fox: "I knew Jesus, and He was very precious to my soul; but I found something in me that would not keep patient and kind. I did what I could to keep it down, but it was there. I besought Jesus to do something for me, and when I gave Him my will, He came into my heart, and cast out all that would not be sweet, all that would not be kind, all that would not be patient, and then He shut the door" (Quoted from Streams in the Desert, p. 360).

5. Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers: Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers was the wife of a Methodist preacher. Her name has come down to us as one of the most saintly women of her day. "On the morning of February 22 I awoke poorly in body, and felt a strange hardness in my heart, and a great backwardness to private prayer. Satan told me if I prayed it would be a solemn mockery. But I cried out, 'Lord, help me.' and fell instantly on my knees. My intercourse was now opened with my Beloved, and various promises presented to my believing view. Shall I ask now small blessings only of my God? Lord, make this the moment of my full salvation. Baptize me now with the Holy Ghost and fire of perfect love. Now enter Thy temple and cast out sin forever ... In Thee I behold and feel all the fullness of Godhead mine; I am now one with God. Sin . . . inbred sin, . . . no longer hinders the close communion, and God is all my own" (Men and Women of Deep Piety, p. 400).

6. Mrs. Phoebe Palmer: Mrs. Palmer has been called "The Hester Ann Rogers of America." She was a leading figure in the early days of the American holiness movement. "For a long time after her conversion Mrs. Palmer found her heart hungering for a deeper work of grace. Searching the Scriptures for light, she became convinced that 'This is the will of God, even your sanctification' (1 Thess. 4:3) , and that 'God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness' (1 Thess. 4:7). She began to seek earnestly for the experience. When she finally saw that it was obtainable not by struggling, but by simply putting herself into the hands of the Lord and believing His promises, she entered into that second rest which remains for the people of God" (Men and Women of Deep Piety, p. 371).

"It was at this point that the covenant was consummated between God and my soul that I would live a life of faith; that however diversified life's current might roll -- though I might be called to endure more complicated and long-continued trials of my faith than were ever before conceived of, or even brought to a climax, where, as with the father of the faithful, commands and promises might seem to conflict I would still believe, though I might die in the effort. I would hold on in the death struggle. In the strength of Omnipotence I laid hold on the Word, 'I will receive you!' Faith apprehended the written word, not as a dead letter but as the living voice of the living God. The Holy Scriptures were intensified in my mind as the living oracle -- the voice of God to me as truly as though I could every moment hear Him speaking in tones of thunder from Sinai. And now that, through the inworkings of the Holy Spirit, I had presented all my redeemed powers to God, through Christ, how could I doubt His immutable word, 'I will receive you'?

"O with what light, clearness and power were the words invested, 'sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.'" Yet, though I knew that it could not be otherwise than that God did receive me, my faith was at once put to the test. I had expected that some wonderful manifestation would at once follow as the reward of my faith, but I was shut up to faith-naked faith in a naked promise.

"The next step, faith, in regard to the divine acceptance of all, had also been distinctly taken. And now, as I plainly saw the third step, clearly defined in the Word, I took the advanced ground -- confession.

"Giving God the glory due to His name, I exclaimed, 'Through Thy grace alone I had been enabled to give myself wholly and forever to Thee. Thou hast given Thy word, assuring me that Thou dost receive. I believe that Word! Alleluia! The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth unrivaled in my heart. Glory be to the Father! Glory be to the Son! Glory be to the Holy Spirit forever!' O, into what a region of light, glory and purity was my soul at this moment ushered! I felt that I was but as a drop in the ocean of infinite love, and Christ was all in all" (Forty Witnesses, pp. 304-305).

7. Amanda Smith: Black of skin, but one of God's choicest saints. It was while listening to the preaching of John Inskip that the simplicity of faith dawned on her mind; and in a moment she had trusted God to do the work. "I seemed to go two ways at once-up and down. Such a wave came over me, and such a welling up in my heart. Oh. what glory filled my soul! The great vacuum in my soul began to fill up and I wanted to shout, 'Glory to Jesus!' (Men and Women of Deep Piety, p. 411).

8. Catherine Booth: Known to the world as "The Mother of the Salvation Army." Mrs. Booth's testimony is full of interest. It was some time after her marriage that she entered into this experience. Her chief failing had been irritability, and she longed for a constantly sweet disposition. She devoted all she could of two days to waiting before God. The word, "Now are ye clean through the word I have spoken unto you," was applied to her heart, and as her confidence waxed bold, she was enabled to reckon herself to be "dead indeed unto sin." "I did not feel much rapturous joy, but perfect peace -the sweet rest which Jesus had promised to the heavy laden. I have understood the apostle's meaning when he said, 'We who believe do enter into rest.' Two or three very trying things occurred on Saturday, which at another time would have excited impatience, but I was kept by the power of God through faith unto full salvation" (Men and Women of Deep Piety, p. 36-37).

9. George Muller: The name of George Muller is known throughout the world as the founder of those marvelous orphanages at Bristol, England, where, in response to a daring faith, God has sent an unceasing supply to meet the constantly recurring need. Read, if possible, the book A Million and a Half in Answer to Prayer. In an address given to ministers and workers, after his ninetieth birthday, Mr. Muller said: "I was converted in November, 1825, but I only came into the full surrender of heart four years later, in 1829. The love of money was gone, the love of place was gone, the love of position was gone, the love of worldly pleasures and engagements was gone. God, God, God alone became my portion. I found my all in Him. I wanted nothing else. "By the grace of God this has remained, and has made me a happy man, an exceedingly happy man, and it led me to care only about the things of God ... This change was so that it was like a second conversion."

10. Bishop Warne: This saintly Methodist bishop, so recently gone to his reward after faithful service in India, was known and loved by many Methodists in the United States. "Now after years of study and hearing the testimony of many, it is clear to me that during those years as a boy I had prayed myself through to the abiding life which I now believe to be the experience of Scriptural holiness, which, as I understand it, is such a freedom from sin, self-will, and selfishness, and such a passionate love for Jesus, that it makes the heart long, above all things, for His approval, companionship, guidance and blessing, and that gratefully and joyfully gives Jesus in all things the pre-eminence" (Warne of India, Bishop Badley).

11. Joseph H. Smith: Rev. Joseph H. Smith is one of the best-known holiness evangelists of his day. To his helpful expositions he adds his testimony: "My early apprehension and appropriation of this second crisis in Christian experience was largely due to the very favorable condition amidst which I was converted. In a church that was always in revival atmosphere and activities, its pastors for many years had rung clear and strong in preaching and testimony of entire sanctification. More than a dozen weekly class meetings were held by leaders who witnessed to this experience. Every Sabbath afternoon a general holiness meeting was conducted by the pastor, and was attended by many from other churches, as well as this. In fact, this centrally located Methodist church in Philadelphia was known as a 'hotbed of holiness.'

"The very night of my conversion there was placed in my hand a copy of J. A. Wood's book on Perfect Love. The eager appetite of my new life set me devouring its contents, and I read until long after midnight; and at 1:27 o'clock on the morning of January 30, 1874, I made this record in my diary, 'I am converted. My sins are forgiven. I am justified. I am now after something else: I guess that is what they call being sanctified.'

"Then all the ardor of my first love was spent in pursuit of holiness. The first day I made four distinct strides in advance thereunto. And each day some, till nearly five weeks had passed; when I told the Lord that I did not know how to get it, and asked Him these four questions: Will I pray more? Will I study more? Will I fast more? Will I pay more?

"Just then the Spirit used a little home incident to cross out for me all those big 'I's' and showed me it was nothing that I could do but that He who had let me in out of the dark and cold would Himself lift me up to the rest that remains to the people of God. That was a Friday night. All day Saturday over a busy desk I was looking up -- Sabbath in six usual services, I was still looking up Monday morning, early at the office, I supplied what had been missing from my prayer hitherto and said, 'Lord, wilt Thou lift me up now?' And He sweetly answered, 'I will, my child.' Faith at once embraced my cleansing through the Blood. The Holy Spirit came closer and entered more deeply than before, and gently announced, 'I am come to abide.' That Monday night, in a general testimony meeting at the church, I witnessed to the occurrence and stated that my joys today have been as much beyond those of the last five weeks as those were greater than all the pleasures I had in the world before. This was sixty-three years ago -- I am still on the witness stand" (written especially for this handbook by Brother Smith).

12. Bishop W. P. Oldham: "I was hungry for salvation. A brother came to me after the meeting and said, 'Will you not come to our class meeting tomorrow evening at a brother's home?' I promptly said that I would, although I had not the faintest idea what a class meeting was. But I was in that state that if he had said, 'Come to the Timbuktu,' I would have agreed. "I was at the class meeting the next night, and had a chair at the end of the room. I saw that the leader of the class meeting was saying to each one, 'Now, brother, tell us how it is with you,' and then the brother would rise and give his experience. I saw that the leader was getting nearer and nearer to me, and I was greatly disturbed. When he stood in front of me and asked that question, I said, 'I know nothing about this matter, but I am here to learn.' So the leader appealed to all the people there to 'pray for this young brother.' They all knelt and prayed for me, and then and there I was converted to God, and His peace came into my soul.

"I lived in that state for many years and was a fairly fruitful Christian. I wanted to work for God, and one moonlit night, sitting on a rock, God spoke to me and said, 'I want you for my service.' I then began to prepare. Dr. James M. Thoburn said, 'I want just such a man as you are in Calcutta. Come and attend the university and also teach in our boys school.' But I felt that there was something in the American type of education which I needed. So the way opened up, and I came to America for my training.

"As I was sailing to America I was a sick man, and was the only passenger on a slow-going vessel. The captain regaled me with many stories of the storms that he had passed through. He told of one terrific storm that swept in great distant circles about his ship, and in the morning he awoke to find the deck of his ship covered with birds. They had flown away from the terrific perimeter of the storm and taken shelter on the ship which was in comparative quietness. I thought this was a good illustration of the Christian life that is kept in perfect peace while the storms of life are surrounding and threatening a place of perfect calm. I had always felt that there was such a state of experience for the Christian.

"I was fairly successful in the work of the Lord, as a pastorate in Pittsburgh where I took in six hundred members, will testify; yet all this time I was prejudiced against the experience of holiness. I had heard some teachers of the doctrine who seemed to me to be too critical. I was then a somewhat arrogant young man. I found out afterwards that these people were better than I thought they were, but this prejudice remained. Yet all the time I was hungry for something which I did not possess.

"In the years that followed, the church made me this and that, and then made me a bishop, and I was sent to my old field in Malaysia. At Singapore an adjustment of work made it necessary for the pastor of the English church to go to another place, and I arranged to take the English services.

"One day I announced that at the week-night service I would talk on 'The Higher Christian Life.' I do not know why I used this phrase, for I had always resented the idea of any Christian life being higher or lower. My wife said to me, 'William, what do you know about the higher life?' I replied, 'I do not know anything, but I am going to find out.' The first night there were forty present, the second night, eighty, the third night, one hundred and over, showing that many other hearts beside my own were hungry for this full salvation. After I had spoken several times on the subject of holiness, one night I said to my audience, 'The things that I have been teaching on this subject I know nothing at all about by experience, but I am determined to know.' So I walked down to the altar as a seeker of full salvation.

"The whole audience seemed to follow me to the altar. Ministers and workers of all denominations were present kneeling beside me, Baptists, Presbyterians, and others, as well as my own church. And there I consecrated my all to God, and He sanctified my soul. I lost consciousness for ten or fifteen minutes, and I awoke to find my soul filled with His peace and glory. That experience has been with me all these years in various kinds of service and under varying circumstances, and it abides tonight. Glory to God! "You ask me what difference this full salvation has made. I reply:

"1. That there is a deeper sense of the immediate presence of God in my life.

"2. There is a deep quietness of soul -- a calmness of heart free from restlessness.

"3. There has come a great sympathy and love that reaches out to every human being. There is no one on earth that I am not willing to meet and help. I am willing that all the world shall know that there is one man who believes and knows that Jesus Christ can save from all sin" (Bishop Oldham's testimony).