JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE
A LIFE STORY OF TRIALS, TRAGEDIES AND TRIUMPHS.
The story of John Alexander Dowie is a fascinating one, and suspense and interest builds up as one proceeds with the narrative. However the purpose for which this book was written was of far more importance than merely to entertain. The life of Dr. Dowie is, in the writer’s opinion, as well as that of many others, the greatest object lesson in the history of the church. First, it shows that when any man is chosen of God to be used in an unusual manner, God permits him to go through a training period, which sometimes includes trials and tribulations of the most severe nature. Second, it will be seen that the great successes of Dr. Dowie began only after he fully embraced the message of Divine healing. It was the great miracles of healing that were responsible for giving his ministry its power and authority. Third, it was at that moment when he began to engage in secular activities, and departed from the simplicity of his earlier days, that his decline began. All these things are lessons of solemn interest to us today.
We are under no illusion that some will not be disappointed with certain things which we have included in this biography. While our dealing with the subject has been highly sympathetic, we have felt that we would not be fair to our objective, if we did not tell the whole story as it happened. Some believe that Dr. Dowie could have done no wrong, others believe that he was a mountebank and a deceiver. Neither view is correct. God raised up John Alexander Dowie, for a specific work, which was to reintroduce Divine healing to the Church. In a considerable measure this purpose was fulfilled, although his errors of judgment at the closing period of his life are to be regretted. We believe that the church has received an enormous impetus of faith because this man has lived.
GORDON LINDSAY
JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE
Chapter 3, YOUNG DOWIE BEGINS HIS LABORS AS A PASTOR
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