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Simpson went away for a period of rest. While away, he visited an old-fashioned service where he listened to a simple Negro spiritual and his heart was "strangely lifted up." He felt some partial restoration, and therefore he returned to his duties in New York City. However, he was still not well and walked around as a tired old man, though he was only 37.
Many movements in North America were springing up at this time that undoubtedly influenced Simpson. There was a move in the gospel with evangelists like Finney and Moody. There was the holiness movement, the Pentecostal movement, and the modern missionary movement. Street meetings and rescue missions were springing up in several cities.
Another notable movement of the time was that of divine healing. A prominent figure in that movement was Dr. Charles Cullis, who sought to bring his patients back to health through the prayer of faith alone. Simpson visited one of his meetings and was impressed with the doctor and his teaching. After searching through the Bible, Simpson became convinced that healing was indeed a part of the accomplished work of Christ on the cross and that it should be a part of the gospel for a sinful and suffering world. Characteristic of Simpson, he was not satisfied with the doctrine alone; he wanted the experience. After some time of prayer, the Lord visited Simpson in his sick condition, healing his body and saving him from an early grave. He expressed his experience as follows:
There is a great Physician still
Whose hand
has all its ancient skill;
At His command our pains will flee -
"I am the Lord
that healeth thee."
Simpson's healing changed the direction of his ministry, and he became an influential proponent of divine healing. With revived health, he continued to serve with vigor for the next 35 years. For the rest of his life he preached divine healing, but always subordinated it to what he considered the greater truths of salvation and fullness of the Christian life.
 A scene from New York City |
Although Simpson was for the manifestation of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he did not agree with the Pentecostal teaching that tongue speaking is the unique proof of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Concerning the Pentecostal movement he said, "I am not able to approve the movement, though I am willing to concede that there is probably something of God in it somewhere."
A New Beginning
Simpson's experience with divine healing was greeted with skepticism and suspicion by many. Some flatly rejected his "questionable teaching." Simpson further ruffled religious feathers when he was baptized by immersion. In addition, Simpson was feeling increasingly frustrated by his inability to open the hearts of his congregation to the recent immigrants that were coming to salvation on the streets of New York City. Eventually Simpson was led to leave his pastoral position with its security and prestige.
Simpson launched out on his own to do the work of evangelizing the multitudes in New York City. Now he was trusting God not only for his health, but also for his daily bread. This was a perplexing trial for his wife, who already was having difficulty following her husband in all his "impractical" pursuits.
He and a small group of seven began to pray for the evangelizing of New York City. The group grew. He initiated midweek meetings at his home and eventually Sunday meetings at a rented hall. This band of brothers and sisters had one burden - to bring the lost to the Savior. They learned by trial and error, the Lord blessed their labor, and their number increased.
Continued
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