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

letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." He declared that it was possible to proclaim the truth in such
a way that it would be entirely disassociated from the Holy Spirit, and utterly valueless as a means
of grace; but that, on the other hand, it was our privilege to preach it with such unction, inspiration,
and faith, that it would be "quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"; that it
would be overflowing with the divine nature and energy, "the power of God unto salvation."
Isaiah and Paul were the inspired writers whom he most admired. In his younger manhood and
ministry, the latter was his favorite, and he was glad to give the name Paul to one of his sons; but for
the last twenty years of his life, he came to regard Isaiah as the greatest prophet, poet, and saint that
God had ever raised up in Israel. He declared that all the glorious truths of the gospel were to be
found in the book of this wonderful Old Testament seer. He never tired of pondering over its sublime
teachings, of treating them in an expository manner, and of presenting them to the students of our
different educational institutions.
He was not led to give especial attention to the dispensational aspects of the Bible, or the almost
innumerable questions that are involved in the study of eschatology. He belonged to no particular
school of prophetic thought. He was neither a premillennialist, nor a postmillennialist and, while he
told me at different times that he was inclined to believe that premillennialists were right in their
general conclusions, he humbly admitted that he did not know enough about the subject to be
dogmatic regarding it. Feeling thus, however, he had no criticism for those of his brethren who made
special investigations in this department of scriptural truth.
All that he demanded was that the great fundamental doctrines which are essential to regeneration,
sanctification, growth in grace, usefulness in the kingdom of God, and a final and glorious triumph
over all the power of the enemy, be kept well to the front. He knew full well that his especial and
divine call was to experience, preach, and push holiness in life and doctrine. He found this subject
such a vast one that it afforded full scope for the constant and most strenuous exercise of all his
powers. His conception of holiness was not that of those who stop at its portals, and feel that they
have done their whole duty when they have led a soul into the experience, but he had a burning
desire to enter himself, and to lead others into all the vast ranges and limitless vistas of the fulness
of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. He was in favor of every belief that would melt into holiness,
as he put it, and opposed to every teaching which would not thus mingle and harmonize with it.
As A Leader
He had great executive ability. His was a consummate knowledge of human nature. He was a born
leader of men. In his various activities in the Church of Christ, he invariably bore in mind the
essentials, and bent all his energies to obtain them. He never ran the risk of losing these by too
strenuously insisting on the things which, though desirable, were nonessential. By freely giving to
others the nonessentials, he generally succeeded in securing that which was really indispensable.
Although possessing a genius for details, he was no stickler for petty things. His views were broad,
and his plans practical and sagacious.
I never knew a wiser counselor. His judgment was eminently sane, and his conclusions were
dispassionate and free from bias and prejudice. Though burdened with many and heavy