Phineas F. Bresee - A Prince In Israel - Media Sabda Org

eyes of his would seem to flash fire, and his stern denunciation of sin would remind one of the roar
of the lion.
He was hesitant about judging the motives of others. He knew the weaknesses and infirmities of
men, and expected less from them than he did in his younger manhood. He made full allowance for
human frailty. In this connection, I note that he marked with approval this statement by Gladstone:
"Nothing grows upon me so much with lengthening life as the sense of the difficulties, or rather
the impossibilities, with which we are beset whenever we attempt to take to ourselves the functions
of the Eternal Judge, (except in reference to ourselves where judgment is committed to us), and to
form any accurate idea of relative merit and demerit, good and evil, in actions. The shades of the
rainbow are not so nice, and the sands of the seashore are not such a multitude, as are all the subtle,
shifting, blending forms of thought and of circumstances that go to determine the character of us and
of our acts. But there is One that seeth plainly, and judgeth righteously."
Feeling this, Dr. Bresee was exceedingly slow to condemn one whom he regarded as a brother in
the Lord. While admitting that the word or action was ill-timed, in bad taste. or perhaps essentially
wrong, he would not readily conclude that the person at fault had committed an actual sin. He gave
full weight to ignorance, weakness, thoughtlessness, foolishness, unconscious prejudice, etc. When
a man had been fortunate enough to be admitted into his friendship and confidence, he would loyally
defend and support him until he was absolutely convinced that he had been deceived, and that the
person thus trusted was a willful offender.
Sympathy for Outcasts
His heart went out to those who were more or less outcasts, and who had lost the confidence of
Christian people generally. He still hoped for their spiritual recovery, and did his utmost to help them
back into the kingdom. For instance, if a preacher fell into open sin, such as drunkenness, or other
immorality, and afterward professed repentance, Dr. Bresee would, not only give him temporal help,
but would offer him an opportunity to preach. I will mention only one instance of this nature,
although I am cognizant of several.
Many years ago an extremely eloquent and brilliant minister came to Los Angeles. He had been
a drunkard, and for that reason was compelled to withdraw from the ministry. But he professed
repentance, and restoration to the favor of God. He gave some glowing testimonies of the work of
grace in his heart. That was enough for Dr. Bresee. He took the stranger to his home, gave him a
comfortable room in the upper story of the barn, and had him eat with the family. Without formally
employing him as assistant pastor, he gave him an opportunity to preach in the First Church, and for
some time the returned prodigal ran well. He was a genius in the pulpit, and the people were
delighted with his eloquent, able, and expository sermons. He presented the great truths of holiness
in a most spiritual and delightful manner. But after a few months, he fell from grace, and suddenly
disappeared from the community.
Because of this charitable attitude to professedly penitent sinners, and this earnest desire to assist
them into a useful position in the church and community, Dr. Bresee was often accused of covering