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AUTHOR

John Wesley, the chosen leader of the Great Revival Awakening, voluminous writer have written or abridged about four hundred volumes), was a polished scholar whose literary productions are of enduring merit, his Journal being ranked with Horace Walter's Letters and Boswell's Johnson. We are indebted to him for combining the Catholic ethic of holiness and the protestant ethic of grace to produce a restoration of New Testament theology.

TYPE

Holiness

SUMMARY

This book is generally regarded as one of the most comprehensive of Wesley's position or teaching on holiness. It is a reflection of his deepening insights into the doctrine of holiness over fifty years. Excerpts from major sermons, quotations and hymns are incorporated. Wesley asserts that Christian perfection (neither early than justification nor late as death) is attainable in this life. This limited perfection may or may not be sinless (depending on one's definition). Since it is 'amissible', that is capable of being lost, it can be recovered. Furthermore, it is both instantaneous and gradual. It is also improvable. Growth in grace not only may but also must continue beyond entire sanctification. The essence of Christian perfection is love.

STRENGTHS

A critical analysis of the text reveals that it renewed Christian theology. Wesley understood sanctification which Luther fused and confused. His style of writing should be commended. The question and answer method to expound truth is very useful to the inquiring mind. The diary-like form enables one to deeply reflect on the insights on the doctrine of holiness. The length of the sections stimulates reading. The numerous appropriate quotations and hymns also add to the quality of the book.

WEAKNESS

Critically assessed, it would be a travesty of truth to refer to Wesley as homo unius libri (a man of one book). He was a man of one book (The Bible) and many books as a renowned scholar.

RECOMMENDATION

The above notwithstanding, this book must be read by all Christians since it not only shows the synthesis between instantaneous and gradual sanctification but combines the Catholic ethic of holiness and the Protestant ethic of grace to produce a renewed Christian theology.

AUTHOR SIGNATURE
Oliver L.T. Harding, who obtained his GCE O & A Levels from the Sierra Leone Grammar School and the Albert Academy respectively, is currently Senior & Acting Librarian of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is a part time lecturer at the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS), Fourah Bay College and the Extension Programme at the Evangelical College of Theology (T.E.C.T) at Hall Street, Brookfields; Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Archivists, Librarians & Information Scientists (SLAALIS); a member of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP). His certificates, secular and sacred, include: a certificate and diploma from the Freetown Bible Training Centre; an upper second class B.A. Hons. Degree in Modern History (F.B.C.); a post-graduate diploma from the Institute of Library Studies (INSLIBS, F.B.C) a masters degree from the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS, F.B.C.) and a masters degree in Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary, affiliate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he won the prize for academic excellence as the Best Graduating Student in 2005. Oliver, a writer, musician and theologian, is married (to Francess) with two children (Olivia & Francis).
Email: oltharding@yahoo.com
Mobile: 232-2233-460-330