Pentecostal Letters

From the preface:

"A flash of lightning from heaven makes the darkest night its own, and gilds with glory the uncouth shapes that grope and crawl beneath its cover." All who were acquainted with Brother Knapp or his writings know that his words, whether written or spoken, were lightning-like in brilliancy and power. By them many a dark cloud has been gilded with glory, many a sad face brightened, and many a dark heart lighted and warmed by their radiant glow. His correspondence has at times reached three hundred letters per day, hence replies were necessarily brief; but many were "weighty and powerful," and their recipients frequently wrote that each letter was freighted with blessings. God has saved, sanctified, and guided so many into deeper experiences through his letters, we feel He would be pleased to have some of them printed and sent out to bless other readers.


Mr. Knapp has gone away to be with God. He can not write to us, nor speak to us now, but we can read the books and letters he wrote before he went, and, best of all, we all may have unlimited use of God's Cable, about which God gave him a beautiful song  shortly before He took him home, and at any time of day or night telegraph messages to the Throne of the God whom he loved and served, and get answers right from the King of heaven, and ere long, if we keep in connection with the Power-house, we "shall spend eternity at the Central Office there."


Brother W. N. Hirst (now missionary to Africa), who was associated with Brother Knapp in the Revivalist office nearly five years, says: "Brother Knapp is an indefatigable holiness preacher. Every atom of time, strength, thought, possessions, and influence he seeks to enlist in the service of God for the salvation and sanctification of souls." All his co-workers would bear the same testimony. He never considered it a trouble, but a real pleasure, to answer questions personally or by letter, that would help souls into the light. To make room for so many letters, I have ventured to abridge nearly all, and clip extracts from others. May the One who gave this written ministry make it a great blessing, and, as the letters are again sent forth, may they become once more effective in the salvation, sanctification, and edification of the people, bringing all their readers nearer to the God whose we are, for whom we love to labor, and to whose service my husband and your friend gave his life!


Yours in Jesus,

Mrs. M. W. Knapp

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The Table of Contents follow:

Part 1: TO OLD FRIENDS

Part 2: SOULS IN DARKNESS

Part 3: SEEKING SANCTIFICATION

Part 4: COMFORT

Part 5: GIFTS OF GOD

Part 6: WARNINGS

Part 7: USE OF SWINE'S FLESH

Part 8: SOCIAL PURITY QUESTIONS

Part 9: FACING OPPOSITION [12]

Part 10: MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

Part 11: GOD'S SCHOOL

Part 12: CHURCH INTERESTS

Part 13: EXTRACTS FROM OTHER LETTERS

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About the author:

Martin W. Knapp was born in 1853 in a log cabin in southern Michigan. With $50 received from selling a calf, Martin enrolled at a Methodist college in Albion, Michigan at the age of 17. He continued his work on the family farm while balancing a rigorous schedule at school. Knapp’s first pastorate was a circuit assigned to him in 1877 by the Methodist Michigan Conference. Eleven years later, in 1888, he founded the magazine God’s Revivalist. In September 1897, the International Holiness Union and Prayer League was organized in Knapp’s home. He also started God’s Bible School (later renamed God’s Bible School and College) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1900. He lost his fight with typhoid fever and died December 7, 1901, at the age of 48, leaving behind him a legacy that would impact many for generations to come.