COMMONPLACE HOLINESS
WELCOME
OR

A Criticism of Dr. James Mudge's
"Growth in Holiness Toward Perfection"

BY

DANIEL STEELE

EDITOR'S NOTES: I feel very fortunate to have acquired a copy of this book, though it is in terrible condition. It is quite yellowed, and looks as if something was spilled on it long, long ago! Steele wrote this book to refute Dr. James Mudge's book Growth in Holiness Toward Perfection. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of that book and can only gather the threads of Mudge's argument from Steele's refutation. Nevertheless, several interesting arguments are advanced about the disputed points. The book itself is rather brief and many of the chapters are quite brief. It is not hard to grasp the gist of the controversy. The only change I have made in this text is the occasional use of blockquotes for some of Steele's longer quotations.

Craig L. Adams

CONTENTS.


    1. The Title and the Contents
    2. A Fundamental of Methodism
    3. Definition Defined
    4. The Great Fallacy of the Book
    5. Definition of Holiness
    6. Depravity Defined
    7. Native Depravity and the Law
    8. Definition of Sin
    9. Cleansing Means Empowering
    10. Christian Perfection not in the Articles of Religion
    11. Christian Perfection not Ideal
    12. Sanctification up to Knowledge
    13. Evidence of Entire Sanctification
      1. Not Conscious of Quiescent States
      2. The Spirit Gives no Testimony to Perfected Holiness
    14. Experience Colored and Shaped by Theory
    15. Discrediting the Witnesses
    16. All the Saved are Sanctified
    17. Sanctified Parents of Depraved Children
    18. Exegesis
    19. Love and Perfect Love the Same
    20. No Distinct Classes in the New Testament
    21. A Kind of Second Blessing Needed by the Church
    22. Retrocession a Prerequisite of Sanctification
    23. Entire Sanctification a Limit to Growth
    24. Irrelevant Proof Texts
    25. No Sins of Ignorance
    26. The Absolute Right Unknown to the Masses
    27. Subjective Purification
    28. The Author's Experience
    29. Baptism With the Holy Ghost
    30. Sanctification Instantaneous and Entire
    31. Genesis of the Doctrine of Entire Sanctification
    32. A Cloudy Outlook
    33. A Sunny Outlook
      1. Faithful Preaching
      2. Saving Faith
      3. Direct Witness of the Spirit
      4. Reinstatement of Christian Perfection in the Pulpit
    34. A Hopeful Sign