Wesley Corpus

Last updated: Sept. 3, 2007. "Promise of Sanctification" (1741)1 cf. Baker list, 53 Editorial Introduction: One of the characteristic emphases of both John and Charles Wesley was that God offers all who seek it not only assurance of the forgiveness of their sins but also transformation of their dispositions and desires, enabling them to take on the "mind of Christ" and the "fruit of the Spirit." In technical terms, the gift of salvation includes not only justification, or imputed holiness, but also sanctification, or imparted holiness. While this general affirmation stands in the mainstream of Christian tradition, in the early years of the revival the brothers affirmed it in such absolute terms that it became a point of much controversy, both within the movement and beyond. In 1741 John Wesley preached a sermon titled "Christian Perfection" at Oxford University to explain and defend his emphasis on entire sanctification. When the sermon was published shortly after, Charles appended a poem on "The Promise of Sanctification" in support of his brother. After appearing in the first edition of his brother's sermon, this poem was placed in HSP (1742), 261-64. It did not appear in a 1743 reprint of the sermon pamphlet. However, it reappeared in the various editions of John's collected sermons. Editions: Charles Wesley. "The Promise of Sanctification." In John Wesley's Christian Perfection, a Sermon, 44-48. London: Strahan, 1741. printed with sermon in JW's Sermons (London: Strahan, 1750), 3:233-39. printed with sermon in JW's Sermons (2nd edn. Bristol: Pine, 1762), 3:233-39. printed with sermon in JW's Works (Bristol: Pine, 1771), 3:210-14. printed with sermon in JW's Sermons (4th edn., London: Paramore, 1787), 3:235-41.