And it was so under
the preaching of Philip in Samaria, of Peter in Lydda and Saron
and in Caesarea, and of Paul in Ephesus and other cities.
To be sure, the preaching of Stephen in its immediate effect only
resulted in enraging his hearers until they stoned him to death;
but it is highly probable that the ultimate result was the
conversion of Paul, who kept the clothes of those who stoned him,
and through Paul the evangelisation of the Gentiles.
One of the greatest of American evangelists sought with agonising
prayers and tears the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and received
it; and then he said he preached the same sermons; but where
before it had been as one beating the air, now hundreds were
saved.
It is this that has made Salvation Army Officers successful.
Young, inexperienced, without special gifts, and without
learning, but with the baptism, they have been mighty to win
souls. The hardest hearts have been broken, the darkest minds
illuminated, the most stubborn wills subdued, and the wildest
natures tamed by them. Their words have been with power, and have
convicted and converted and sanctified men, and whole communities
have been transformed by their labours.
But without this Presence great gifts and profound and accurate
learning are without avail in the salvation of men. We often see
men with great natural powers, splendidly trained, and equipped
with everything save this fiery baptism, and they labour and
preach year after year without seeing a soul saved.
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