Description
This book grew out of a burning desire in the author's soul to tell to others what he himself so longed to know a quarter of a century ago. When the truth dawned upon him in all its preciousness, it seemed to him that he could point out the way to receive the desired blessing of the Holy Spirit more fully and plainly than other authors had done. The result of his effort to do so is found in Part 3 of this volume. Those who are convinced that there is such a blessing for them, and are in haste to receive it, may begin to read at Part 3, omitting for the time the first half of the book.
There are others who are in doubt about the theological and Scriptural standing of the doctrine of the instantaneous "baptism with the Holy Ghost," with its consequent "holiness and power." To them Part 1 and Part 2 are earnestly commended. We believe that the arguments there advanced are built on, and formed out of, the impregnable Rock of God's Word. We have avoided all fanciful and doubtful and forced interpretations of Scripture. Passing by all texts of questionable bearing, there are enough left and in such profusion and variety of form and expression as to make the argument, to our mind, simply unanswerable.
The author has cited the testimonies of a hundred souls, who have been "filled" with the sanctifying Spirit. The combined verdict of these "living epistles" of God, written in human hearts, makes this volume, like the "Acts of the Apostles," a record of the work of the Holy Ghost in human hearts. Whoever argues against this book as a whole, is arguing not against a theory of the author, but against the facts of human experience created by the Holy Ghost himself in the souls of men. If human testimony, in perfect harmony with Scripture, can prove anything with regard to the work of the Spirit in human lives, then the author's position is impregnable, and the book unanswerable. --From the Author's Preface