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Holiness Hymns
by
Major Melvyn Jones
Major Mel Jones
is a Divisional Commander in the
United Kingdom
Territory
and a former Principal of the
William
Booth
College.
The Major is writing a book in which he explores the prominent
place given to holiness within the early Salvation Army.
Speak to one
another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make
music in your heart to the Lord.
(Eph.5:19)
The importance of
this scriptural verse was fully appreciated by John and
Charles Wesley. These two key figures in Methodism also
understood the effectiveness of using songs to teach
scriptural truth. The majority if not all of the readers of
this article will have imbibed some of the great truths of
scripture by means of singing the biblically rich songs of
Charles Wesley.
Amongst the countless admirers and spiritual descendants of
John and Charles, William Booth stands out as a great
Christian leader in his own right. Many of the things that
Salvationists would claim are “Army” can actually be traced
back to Methodism: not least our doctrines in general and our
doctrine of holiness in particular. Booth was not a prolific
songwriter like Charles but he was a prolific song publisher;
he understood the importance of songs. One of his many
publications was significantly entitled “Holiness Hymns”. The
title is evidence of the priority given to the doctrine of
holiness right from the early days of The Salvation Army. In
this series of five articles I am going to briefly explore
this theme of Holiness Hymns.
I begin with a holiness hymn written by a woman: Mary
James. It is fitting that I begin in this way. The door of
ministry opportunity for women was opened in the early years
of Methodism but then began to close again. The Salvation Army
took over where early Methodism had led the way and flung open
this door. Two of the main reasons for this emancipation were
revival and holiness. The urgent need for revival meant that
no one – not even a woman! – should be barred from ministry.
Holiness, the second reason, was seen as the one essential
qualification for ministry. Whoever had received ‘the
blessing’ – male or female – was qualified of God for
ministry. The early Salvation Army – The Christian Mission –
was all out for revival and for holiness: thus women found
ample opportunity for ministry within its ranks. But let us
return to the words of the holiness hymn I mentioned earlier:
My body, soul and
spirit,
Jesus, I give to
thee,
A consecrated
offering,
Thine evermore to
be
My all is on the
altar,
I'm waiting for
the fire;
Waiting, waiting,
waiting,
I'm waiting for
the fire.
O Jesus, mighty
Saviour,
I trust in thy
great name;
I look for thy
salvation,
Thy promise now I
claim.
O let the fire,
descending
Just now upon my
soul,
Consume my humble
offering,
And cleanse and
make me whole!
I'm thine, O
blessèd Jesus,
Washed by thy
precious blood;
Now seal me by
thy Spirit
A sacrifice to
God
The American
author Mary James was involved in the vibrant holiness-revival
scene of the
USA
that strongly influenced British Evangelical Christianity
during the 19th century. She was a friend of the now forgotten
– but in her day Methodist superstar – Phoebe Palmer:
Catherine Booth was on friendly terms with Phoebe Palmer.
Palmer both impressed and influenced Catherine, not least by
her particular understanding and promotion of holiness. Her
altar theology had three parts. First the believer must bring
everything, absolutely everything to the altar. Secondly the
altar makes the gift – the believer – holy. Finally the altar
is Jesus. This three-step understanding of holiness has been
preached from Salvation Army platforms in various forms over
the years. Catherine Booth describes her own ‘crisis of
sanctification’ in these very words. Look again at the words
of this holiness hymn by Mary James and see how she uses this
song to teach the three-step altar theology of Phoebe Palmer.
Now seal me by
thy Spirit
A sacrifice to
God
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