WIGGLESWORTH BAPTISED
IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Originally produced in a tract in November 1907 then published
in 'Confidence' magazine, October 1908, p. 11, 15-16.
Later published in Redemption Tidings, February 14, 1947,
p. 4
DEAR MR. & MRS. BODDY,
After 7 full days of the Glorious Presence of the Glory of
God resting upon me, I send you this testimony for the Glory
of God. For 3 months I have been exercised about the full
Pentecost. I had the clear witness of the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit 14 years ago last July, [Ed. 1894] and this brought
a marvellous manifestation of God in special gifts to sick
ones, and a constant living and seeking to bring others to
Jesus. But from time to time when reading the Acts of the
Apostles I always saw that the signs were not following as
I am led to believe ought to be after a real Pentecost, according
to Mark xvi. The desire more and more increased in my very
inner soul, giving me a holy breathing cry after this clear
manifestation. I have visited meetings at London, and Sunderland,
and other places, but always knew they were not seeking Pentecosts.
There seemed a great deal of letter, but very little of the
spirit that would give the hungry and needy a Baptism of Fire
such as would burn up distinctions and officiousness and appearance
of Pride and evidences of social standing.

Bowland Street Mission
To-day I am actually living in the Acts of
the Apostles’ time. I am speaking with new tongues,
the Holy Fire of God’s Presence fills me till my pen
moves to the glory of God, and my whole being is filled with
the Presence of the Holy Ghost. Almost am I led to believe
that 20 years is not too long to wait for the Holy Anointing
of God the Holy Ghost.
On Friday, 25th [October 1907 Ed.] we had
a special meeting at the Mission Room, Bowland Street, Bradford,
and after waiting about 2 hours the Presence of God came in
a wonderful way and gave me a move as at the beginning. I
perfectly well understood the glow and Holy Presence. This
was felt by others, also. On Saturday, I and a friend went
on to Sunderland to wait for Pentecost at All Saints’,
at Mr. Boddy’s Church. We had heard much about this
blessed work and were encouraged, but after arriving at Sunderland
found the enemy very busy discouraging believers; this did
not disturb me, because I had gone with an open mind and prayed
much to be clearly convinced if there was anything there that
did not reveal the Glory of God that I would at once have
cleared out and protested against it, but God was with me
there. But I found the full Presence and Power to restore
believers and to heal the sick. My experience is that this
does not take place in some kinds of meetings, the reason
is that, to a great measure, they do not believe the full
Gospel, and it is nothing new to me to find great leaders
against the tongues, and I find that, even in these times,
“they cannot enter in because of their unbelief.”
I praise God for Pentecost.
On Sunday morning, Oct. 26th, [Wigglesworth
was mistaken – it was 27th Ed.] after waiting much on
God, I went to the Salvation Army Meeting, Roker Avenue. God
bless the Army. They at once gave me a welcome, and already
realising His Presence in my body I longed for communion,
and when after praying the Glory of God covered me. I was
conscious at the same time of much the experience I believe
Daniel had in his 10th chapter. After this I regained strength
to kneel, and continued in this Holy Glow of God all the day
still realising a mightier work to follow. I went to All Saints’,
to the Communion Service, and after this was led on to wait
in the Spirit, many things taking place in the waiting-meetings
that continued to bring me to a hungry feeling for Holy Righteousness.
At about 11 a.m., Tuesday morning, at All Saints’ Vicarage,
I asked a sister to help me to the witness of the Baptism
of the Holy Ghost. She laid hands on me in the presence of
a brother.

All Saints’ Parish Hall, Sunderland
The fire fell and burned in me till the Holy
Spirit clearly revealed absolute purity before God. At this
point she was called out of the room, and during her absence
a marvellous revelation took place, my body became fill1 of
light and Holy Presence, and in the revelation I saw an empty
Cross and at the same time the Jesus I loved and adored crowned
in the Glory in a Reigning Position. The glorious remembrance
of these moments is beyond my expression to give-when I could
not find words to express, then an irresistible Power filled
me and moved my being till I found to my glorious astonishment
I was speaking in other tongues clearly. After this a burning
love for everybody filled my soul. I am overjoyed in giving
my testimony, praying for those that fight this truth, but
I am clearly given to understand that I must come out of every
unbelieving element. I am already witness of signs following.
Praise Him.
SMITH WIGGLESWORTH
* * *
From Stanley Frodsham's 'Smith Wigglesworth
- Apostle of Faith,' chapter 5.
At the time I received the Baptism in the
Spirit, a meeting was going on in the large vestry of the
All Saints’ Church, and I went straight to it. The vicar
of the church, Pastor Boddy, had charge and he was speaking.
I knew that as yet he had not received the Baptism in the
Holy Spirit, and I interrupted him by saying, “Oh, please
let me speak, Mr. Boddy; I have just received the Baptism
in the Holy Ghost.”
The place was full of people. I can’t
remember what I said, but I know I made all those people extremely
dissatisfied and discontented with their position. They said,
“We have been rebuking this man because he was so intensely
hungry, but he has come in for a few days and has received
the Baptism and some of us have been waiting here for months
and have not yet received.” A great hunger came upon
them all. From that day God began to pour out His Spirit until
in a very short while fifty had received the Baptism.
The first thing I did was to telegraph to
my home saying “I have received the Baptism in the Holy
Ghost and have spoken in tongues.” On the train to my
home town, the Devil began questioning, “Are you going
to take this to Bradford?” As regards my feelings at
the moment, I had nothing to take, but the just do not live
by feelings but by faith. So I shouted out on the railroad
coach to everybody’s amazement, “Yes, I’m
taking it!” A great joy filled me as I made this declaration,
but somehow I knew that from that moment it would be a great
fight all the time.
When I arrived home one of my sons said to
me, “Father, have you been speaking in tongues?”
I replied, “Yes, George.” “Then let’s
hear you,” he said. But I could say nothing, for although
I had received the Baptism in the Holy Ghost, I had not received
the distinct gift of tongues. That did not come until nine
months later.
My son did not understand that the speaking
with tongues which accompanies the receiving of the Baptism
in the Spirit is not the “gift of tongues” spoken
of in I Corinthians 12. The former is given as evidence that
the Spirit has come in Pentecostal fullness; but there may
not be any further utterance in tongues unless there is a
special anointing of the Spirit. The “gift of tongues,”
however, is such that the receiver may use it for prayer or
praise at any time.
My wife said to me, “So you’ve
been speaking with tongues, have you?” I replied, “Yes.”
“Well,” she said, “It want you to understand
that I am as much baptised as you are and I don’t speak
in tongues.” I saw that the contest was beginning right
at home. “I have been preaching for twenty years,”
she continued, “and you have sat beside me on the platform,
but on Sunday you will preach yourself, and I’ll see
what there is in it.”
She kept her word. On Sunday she took a seat
at the back of the building. We had always sat together on
the platform until that day. So the contest had begun tight
in the church.
There were three steps up to the platform
and as I went up those three steps the Lord gave me the scripture
in Isaiah 61: 1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon
Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings
unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound.” I was no preacher, but
hearing the voice of my Lord speaking those words to me, I
began. I cannot now remember what I said but my wife was terribly
disturbed. The bench on which she sat would seat nine people
and she moved about on it until she had sat on every part
of it. Then she said in a voice that all around her could
hear, “That’s not my Smith, Lord, that’s
not my Smith!”
I was giving out the last hymn when the secretary
of the mission stood up and said, “I want what our leader
has received.” The strange thing was that when he was
about to sit down he missed his seat and went right down on
the floor. Then my eldest son arose and said he wanted what
his father had and he, too, took his seat right down on the
floor. In a short while there were eleven people tight on
the floor of that mission. The strangest thing was that they
were all laughing in the Spirit and laughing at one another.
The Lord had really turned again the captivity of Zion and
the mouth of His children was being filled with laughter according
to the word of the Lord in Psalm 126: I, 2.
That was the beginning of a great outpouring
of the Spirit where hundreds received the Baptism in the Holy
Ghost and everyone of them spoke in tongues as the Spirit
of God gave utterance.
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