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

To fulfill our mission, to be a witness to the truth, is to be a witness to Christ. How great, how
all-comprehensive this is! It is difficult as a theory to comprehend. It is only as an experience, that
we know how all-embracing it is, how it presses everything, from motive to destiny, into one
all-pervasive and controlling purpose.
It is here that Paul stood, when he said, "This one thing." It is all-embracing, all-comprehensive,
all-controlling. He looked out upon every opposing force, and in the greatness and intensity of his
purpose, cried out: "None of these things move me.... So that I might finish my course with joy, and
the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." To
testify, that is to be a witness to Jesus Christ.
The Great Motive
This one great motive filled the lives of patriarchs and prophets and of martyrs and heroes all
down the ages. Enoch purposed in his heart, etc. Abraham staggered not at the promises of God, but
purposed in his heart to stand as a witness and pillar for the ages. How clear and strong the purpose
of Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Polycarp, Savonarola, etc. These were all in heroic mold,
when the battle waged hard about them.
The battle was never heavier than it is today. The church today is smitten with weapons more
subtle and effective than the sword of Herod or the fires of Nero or Trajan. We are smitten with
mildew. We are paralyzed by worldliness. We are buried under forms and pretenses, until the vision
is lost, and the testimony in the power of God by manifestation is lost. Men will preach holiness, if
there is a place for them. Luther was asked, Will the princes defend you? He answered, No. "What
will you do," etc.
Our Aim
Piety that is intelligent, and intelligence that is pious. When I began to think specifically about
this matter, I was led to suppose that these two, piety and intelligence--at least when they were once
acquainted, and especially when betrothed--would ever almost increasingly, walk together. But we
find instead that there is a continued tendency to separation, with frequent divorce courts, with sad
results.
By piety we mean much more than religion. There are religions many. Different religions have
many devotees, and almost everybody has one. There are several different classes of religion, and
in them are many different kinds. When we speak of piety, we mean the Christian religion in its spirit
or mystical meaning, and in its activities incarnated in a human soul and life, controlling reverence
toward God and loving conformity to His will. We scarcely mean mysticism or pietism; and yet in
their best forms we might mean both. We are led almost to say that such piety must be intelligent.
It would seem so, and yet there is a constant tendency to draw apart--for piety to draw back and
undervalue various activities, as well as different branches of knowledge, to shun or draw away from
investigation, to become introspective, and find its standards in its meditations and experiences, and
its ends in the ecstasies of its own being. Thus, its tendency to quietism, or to extremes and
fanaticisms.