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The Inward Man of Simpson
Underneath Simpson's mild exterior there lay a will like an iron beam. He had a purpose in his heart that completely controlled him. Once he had settle his call to the ministry this mighty purpose took over and drove him like a benignant master for the rest of his days. If ever there was a man who knew why he was alive that man was A. B. Simpson. (p. 29)
Simpson needed a special revelation to make him see that people were dearer to God than forms, that the "lesser breeds without the law" were the objects of God's present love and anxious care more than all the rules and regulations of the Presbytery. ... He had become an evangelist to the masses. The cry of the millions was coming to him, the bleat of the other lost sheep. From here on he belongs no more to one church, but to all who need him, not to his parish only, but to all the lost world. (p. 48)
A spiritual preparation was necessary in the life of A. B. Simpson before his dream of world evangelism could be realized. It is remarkable how great a man can be, how faithfully he can labor in the gospel ministry, how much, indeed, he can appear to accomplish in the work of the church, and still be far short of the rich, power-driven service possible to the Spirit-filled servants of God. He came into contact with Major Whittle and realized how much pride and self there was within him, and how little of the power of Christ.
It was characteristic of the man that he must settle everything with God alone. From the first he had been a lone eagle. Others could inspire him, could help to create spiritual desire within him, but when the crisis came it would be - indeed, for him, it must be - when he was shut in with God in lonely wrestling like Jacob by the side of Jabbok. His struggle was wholly internal. Outwardly he was the same poised, gifted and highly respected minister of the church, but inwardly he felt himself a dying man, forsaken and alone. (p. 49)
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