War Cry - July, 2015 Page 27

The War Cry | JULY 2015

Holiness

(1902), The Soul Winner's Secret (1903),

When the Holy Ghost Is Come

(1909), Love Slaves

(1923), Resurrection Life and Power (1925), Ancient
Prophets: With a Series of Occasional Papers on Mod-
ern Problems

(1929) and The Guest of the Soul (1934)

had a far-reaching effect, as did his numerous articles
and addresses. Brengle's reasoned defense of holiness
thought (sanctified sanity) led him to become a leading
advocate of the experience of entire sanctification both
inside the Army and beyond.

Brengle's holiness theology must be understood in

light of his personal experience of sanctification. Through-
out his life, he referred to January 9, 1885, not only as
his "day of days" but also as his entry into a dynamic
life of spiritual blessing--characterized by purity,
power and, above all, love. Of this experience he wrote,

"One wondrous morning He sanctified my soul. He

purified my affections; He cleansed my heart; He bent
my will into loving harmony with His will. He captured
and held my whole being until I adored and wondered
and worshiped, and wept for love and joy. Glory to God!"

He maintained that holiness is an essential part of

Christ's saving work. The bridge that the Army throws

across the impassible gulf that separates the sinner
from the Savior rests on two abutments: the forgiveness

of sins through

simple, penitent,

obedient faith

in a crucified

Redeemer, and the

purifying of the heart
and empowering of

the soul

through the anointing of

the Holy Spirit,

given by the risen and ascended

Lord, and received by faith. Remove either and the
bridge falls.

The critical experience of holiness is made possible

solely through the work of Jesus Christ in His life, death
and Resurrection. Union with Christ is by the baptism
of the Holy Spirit, equipping the believer for effective
service. A clean heart is required for a zeal for souls and
perfected love for others. This emphasis on purity is
evident in Brengle's definition of holiness as "nothing
more nor less than perfect love, for God and man, in a
clean heart."

Heart purity is a result of Christ's divine nature

imparted to humanity. Brengle insists on the necessity
of intimate knowledge of and union with Jesus Christ
in sanctification. Holiness not only regards a person's
relationship with God, but also with other people. This is
especially true within the Body of Christ. As Brengle
said, "The religion of Jesus is social. It is inclusive, not
exclusive. We have the glory only as we are united."

R. David Rightmire, Professor of Bible and Theology at

Asbury University, is the author of Sanctified Sanity: The Life
and Teaching of Samuel Logan Brengle (Revised Edition,

Crest Books, 2014).

Commissioner

Brengle at a Corps

Cadet Camp in
Western Pennsylvania.

He traveled throughout
the country and around
the world as an apostle
of holiness.

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