Phineas F. Bresee A Prince In Israel

Rev. E.A. Girvin'S Biography Of Dr. Bresee Was A Monumental Undertaking And Is Outstanding Success. He Details The Historical And Theological Issues Facing Dr. Bresee And The Host Of Second Blessing Holiness Leaders In America As They Formed The Church Of The Nazarene.Here Is An Amazing Example Of Dr. Bresee'S 'Proof' Of Sanctification: About Half A Dozen Of The Leading Members Of The Church Arose One After Another And Slowly And Deliberately Testified To The Fact Of Their Conversion Their Clear Experience Of The Pardon Of Their Sins And Of The Manifest Grace Of God Unto Them; Of Their Subsequent Realization Of The Need Of A Further Work Of Grace In Their Hearts And How They Sought And Obtained The Cleansing Of Their Hearts From All Sin And The Fulness Of The Indwelling Spirit Of God. These Testimonies Were Not Only Very Clear And Definite But Were Given [94] Under Great Unction. After About Half An Hour Spent In This Way Dr Bresee Said: “I Have Proved By The Witnesses The Fact Of The Experience Of Entire Sanctification As A Second Work Of Grace. The Testimony Of These Witnesses Would Hang Any Man In Los Angeles And They Have Clearly Testified That They Know By This Best Method Of Knowledge Their Own Consciousness That This Is A Fact. If There Is Anybody Here Who Doubts Their Testimony Or Doubts The Fact That They Have Witnessed It I Want Him To Say So For I Will Prove It This Morning So That No One Present Can Ever Question It Again. Now If There Are Any Here Who Doubt In Reference To This Matter Of The Second Work Of Grace In Human Soul Let Them Stand Up And I Will Prove It This Morning So That They Will Never Doubt It Again. No One Arose And He Then Said: “You Accept It Then As A Truth. You Believe These Witnesses And You Believe That Men And Women Are Sanctified As A Second Definite Work Of Grace.” Then He Said: “You Had Better Seek It.” (P. 94)