1st. That although every believer as soon as he is justified is regenerated, and commences the incipient stages of sanctification, yet this does not exclude the remains of much inherent sin, nor the warfare of the flesh against the Spirit, which may continue for a long time, but which must cease at some time before the subject can be fit for heaven.
2d. This state of progressive sanctification is not itself per- fection, which is properly designated by the phrases " entire," or " perfect sanctification." This, sooner or later, every heir of glory must experience ; although the majority do not reach it long be- fore death, it is the attainment of some in the midst of life, and consequently it is the duty and privilege of all to desire, strive for and expect its attainment now.
3d. This state of evangelical perfection does not consist in an ability to fulfill perfectly the original and absolute law of holi- ness under which Adam was created, nor does it exclude all li- ability to mistake, or to the infirmities of the flesh, and of natural temperament, but it does exclude all inward disposition to sin as well as all outward commission of it, since it consists in a state in which perfect faith in Christ and perfect love for God fills the whole soul and governs the entire life, and thus fulfills all the re- quirements of the " law of Christ," under which alone the Chris- tian's probation is now held.
30. In what sense do they teach that men may live without sin ?
Mr. Wesley did not himself use, though he did not object to the phrase " sinless perfection." He distinguished between " sin, properly so called, i. e., a voluntary transgression of a known law, and sin, improperly so called, i. e., an involuntary transgression of a divine law, known or unknown," and declared " I believe there is no such perfection in this life as excludes these involun-
416 PERFECTIONISM.
tary transgressions, which I apprehend to be naturally consequent on the ignorance and mistakes inseparable from mortality." He also declares that the obedience of the perfect Christian " can not bear the rigor of God's justice, but needs atoning blood/' and consequently the most perfect " must continually say, ( forgive us our trespasses/ " and Dr. Peck says that the holier men are here " the more they loathe and abhor themselves." On the other hand they hold that a Christian may in this life attain to a state of perfect and constant love, which fulfills perfectly all the require- ments of the gospel covenant. Violations of the original and ab- solute law of God are not counted to the believer for sin, since for him Christ has been made the end of that law for righteous- ness, and for Christ's sake he has been delivered from that law and been made subject to the " law of Christ," and that only is sin to the Christian which is a violation of this law of love. See Mr. Wesley's " Tract on Christian Perfection" in the volume of " Methodist Doctrinal Tracts," pp. 294, 310, 312, and Dr. Peck's " Christian Doc. of Perfection," p. 204.
31. What law do they say the Christian can in this life per- fectly obey ?
Dr. Peck says, p. 244, " To fallen humanity, though renewed by grace, perfect obedience to the moral law is impracticable dur- ing the present probationary state. And consequently Christian perfection does not imply perfect obedience to the moral law." — Peck, p. 244.
This moral law they hold to be universal and unchangeable, all moral agents are under perpetual obligations to fulfill it, and they are in no degree released therefrom by their loss of ability through sin. — Peck, p. 271. This law sustains, however, a two- fold relation to the creature. 1st. It is a rule of being and act- ing. 2d. It is a condition of acceptance. In consequence of sin, it became impossible for men to obtain salvation by the law, and therefore Christ appeared and rendered to this law perfect satis- faction in our stead, and thus is for us the end of the law for righte- ousness. This law, therefore, remaining for ever as a rule of duty, is abrogated by Christ as a condition of our acceptance. " Nor is any man living bound to observe the Adamic more than the Mosaic law (I mean it is not the condition either of present or
APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 417
future salvation.)" — Doctrinal Tracts, p. 332. " The gospel, which is the law of love, the l law of liberty/ offers salvation upon other terms, and yet provides the vindication cf the broken law. The condition of justification at first is faith alone, and the con- dition of continued acceptance is faith working by love. There are degrees of faith, and degrees of love. . . . Perfect faith and perfect love is Christian perfection." " Christian character is estimated by the conditions of the gospel ; Christian perfection implies the perfect performance of these conditions and nothing more."
32. By ivhat means do they teach this perfection is to be at- tained ?