By Roscoe Barnes III
Copyright © 2018
#FFBosworth
#BosworthMatters
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| Healing the Sick and Casting Out Devils (The Voice of Faith Ministry, 1955) |
The 1955 edition of T.L. Osborn's Healing the Sick and Casting Out Devils included a strong endorsement by F.F. Bosworth and an Introductory Note that was strangely similar to the Preface in Bosworth’s Christ the Healer (1924). The endorsement, combined with the citations, acknowledgments, and paraphrases of Bosworth's writings, suggest a mutual respect between the two authors and a clear indication and example of Bosworth's influence.
First published in 1950, Osborn’s book on healing is considered a classic. Today it’s called, Healing the Sick. And so far, it has reportedly sold more than 1,000,000 copies. The book has become so popular that it’s hard to talk about Osborn without also mentioning his book.
When the 1955 edition of Healing the Sick was published, Bosworth was 78 and Osborn was only 32. Bosworth had known the young preacher since the 1940s, having served as a mentor to Osborn and other healing evangelists associated with The Voice of Healing organization.
In some ways, Osborn’s book seems to be modeled after Bosworth’s Christ the Healer (1924). Both books feature sermons, testimonies, and the teachings of other leaders who wrote about divine healing. Unlike Bosworth, however, Osborn’s book presents more of his personal testimony, which includes his ministry as a missionary and pastor, as well as his documented cases of healings in mass evangelistic meetings in the United States and other nations.
'Continuation of The book of Acts'
Bosworth's endorsement appeared on the inside section of the front cover of the colorful paper-bound book. He began by describing the book as a “book of record of messages and ministry” of Osborn. He suggested Osborn’s global ministry provided “some of the greatest Evangelistic and Divine Healing Campaigns in history.”
As a noted healing evangelist himself, Bosworth helped to validate Osborn’s writings by noting the content of the book – primarily a collection of sermons -- had “inspired thousands, all over the world” to believe God for healing. Osborn’s ministry, he wrote, had been effective in bringing salvation and healing to “literally hundreds of thousands of sufferers.”
Osborn was known for documenting thousands of cases of divine healing and he recorded them in the form of a diary. Bosworth mentioned some of the cases. He wrote: “In a single campaign which the Evangelist and his wife has conducted, as many as 125 deaf-mutes, 90 totally blind, and hundreds of other equally miraculous deliverances have resulted.”
Bosworth highlighted the importance of Osborn’s ministry by linking it to the Book of Acts: “The chapter of Notes from His Diary is no less than a twentieth century continuation of 'The book of Acts.'” Interestingly enough, he once made similar remarks about other leaders, such as Maria Woodworth-Etter.
Five
volumes have been written of Mrs. Etter’s work as an evangelist, and it is
doubtful if there is any record written since the “Acts of the Apostles” that
is so wonderful. (From The Latter Rain
Evangel of Chicago, Ill., reprinted in A
Diary of Signs and Wonder, 1916).
Bosworth’s endorsement placed Osborn on a level with other Pentecostal
giants, and his ministry, with help from his wife, Daisy, continued to grow in
countries throughout the world. The full content of Bosworth’s endorsement is
below.
Letter of endorsement by F.F. Bosworth
This
book is a record of the messages and ministry of Evangelist and Mrs. T.L.
Osborn, who have traveled extensively, around the world, conducting some of the
greatest Evangelistic and Divine Healing Campaigns in history.
The
sermons contained in this book have inspired thousands, all over the world,
with faith to be healed by God’s power.
Through
their simple, but sound presentation of the Gospel, the Osborns have been
instrumental in the deliverance of literally hundreds of thousands of
sufferers.
In
a single campaign which the Evangelist and his wife has conducted, as many as
125 deaf-mutes, 90 totally blind, and hundreds of other equally miraculous
deliverances have resulted. Happy and joyful conversions have numbered as many
as 50,000 in one revival.
This
book is presented to you direct from the great battlefield of faith.
The
chapter of Notes from His Diary is no less than a twentieth century
continuation of “The book of Acts.”
This
book is designed to bring immediate deliverance to you, for soul and body,
while reading it, therefore open your heart and read with reverence; believe
God’s promises and you too will be healed.
I
deem it a privilege to recommend such an unusually inspiring volume of sound
Gospel truth to the world today.
Signed:
F.F. Bosworth
F.F.
Bosworth is the author of the 250-page new and enlarged seventh edition of
“Christ the Healer,” priced at $2.50. His address is P.O. Box 678, Miami Beach
39, Florida, U.S.A.
A second endorsement by Bosworth appeared on the last page of Chapter 25 under the heading, "A note by F.F. Bosworth":
THE CONTINUAL RE-READING OF AND RE-MEDITATING ON THE TRUTHS set forth in this volume will prove a lifelong blessing to every Christian. Get thoroughly acquainted with each truth in this message by reading it and MEDITATING on it over and over again. Practice this message every day of your life and you will be able to keep God both busy and happy fulfilling His good pleasure in making all of His divine promises good on your behalf and on the behalf of others for whom you pray and to whom you teach the truths.
Signed: F.F. Bosworth
In addition to featuring Bosworth's endorsements, Osborn paraphrased some of his teachings. He also quoted Bosworth in several places, beginning with Chapter 1, "How Many Will God Heal?" He wrote:
“We can find no ground for doubting God! Evangelist Bosworth says: ‘Don’t doubt God. If you must doubt something, DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS, because they are unreliable, but never doubt God, nor His Word.’”
Aside from the practical and faith-inspiring teachings on divine healing, Healing the Sick reveals, on some level, a possible bond between Bosworth and Osborn that was not seen in the writings of other evangelists of that era. It also displays a sense of gratitude and generosity between the two leaders. Whereas Bosworth was lavish in his praise of Osborn's book, Osborn, it could be said, was equally generous in his acknowledgments of Bosworth and in his respect for Bosworth's ministry as a famous healing evangelist. Simply put, Osborn gave credit to whom credit was due.
Similarities
in writing
While it is clear that Osborn used some of Bosworth’s
teaching material with permission, it is also clear that he borrowed from the
Author’s Preface in Bosworth’s Christ the Healer. Following is a number of excerpts from Bosworth’s book and
Osborn’s Introductory Note in Healing the Sick and Casting Out Devils. The
excerpts, which begin with the writings of Bosworth, are organized to show the
similarities between the two authors.
F.F. Bosworth:
When in the year 1924 we
wrote the messages for the first edition of this book, little did we dream that
the truths presented were to bless such vast numbers in so many parts of the
world.
T.L. Osborn:
When we published the
first edition of this book, we never dreamed that the truths presented would so
quickly bless such vast numbers in so many parts of the world.
Bosworth:
In this book we have tried
to use the vocabulary common people understand, and a continual stream of
testimonies comes to us from those soundly converted and miraculously healed
through their own faith which came to them while reading and meditating on the truths
of the Bible which we have tried to make plain.
Osborn:
No literary style is
pretended….
We receive a continual
stream of testimonies from all over the world written by those who have been
joyfully converted and miraculously healed while reading the sermons contained
in this book.
Amongst the thousands who
have been miraculously healed by our Lord under our won ministry, only a small
fraction of them have been individually prayed for. Most of them have been
healed through their own faith which came to them while meditating on the bible
truths we have presented from the platform of from the printed page.
Bosworth:
We have found that those
who have tuned in the broadcasts of the National Radio Revival, most of whom we
have never seen, by reading the healing and other literature we have published,
get a much broader understanding than those who hear only an occasional message
in our public meetings. Because they can be re-read and studied, we have the
proof that our messages in printed form produce better results in the souls and
bodies of those for whom we pray, than in some who attend our meetings and
desire to be prayed for before they hear enough of the Word of God to produce
faith.
Osborn:
We have found that those
who carefully read and act upon the messages herein presented obtain a much
broader understanding, and so a far more solid faith, than those who hear only
an occasional sermon in our campaigns. Very often, those who attend our meetings
and who fail to receive healing, are later miraculously healed while reading
and meditating on the same Bible truths set forth in this book. Because they
can be re-read and studied, it is proven repeatedly that many receive more
benefit from our messages in this printed form than others receive from
occasionally attending the campaigns.
Osborn’s acknowledgment
In the closing paragraphs of Osborn's Introductory Note, he fully acknowledged the people and written material he drew on for his
book. The first person mentioned in both paragraphs is Bosworth. He
wrote:
I
am especially indebted to the writings of F.F. Bosworth, E. W. Kenyon, E.H.
Ahrendth, S. Wigglesworth, C. Price, J. Scruby, and others; to the continuous
word of encouragement from my dear wife, and her untiring faithfulness; then,
most of all, to our dear Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the lives of
the apostles.
The
material abridged from the writings of F.F. Bosworth and E.W. Kenyon has been
used by special permission.
Conclusion
Bosworth's support of Osborn may serve as a reminder that success is often found on the shoulders of giants who paved the way. His endorsement of a young preacher illustrates how older ministers can have an impact on younger generations. The fruitful and respectful relationship that he and Osborn shared is also an example of how Christian leaders can help each other by generously passing along what they have learned. Perhaps John Donne was right when he wrote:
"No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main."
Bosworth's support of Osborn may serve as a reminder that success is often found on the shoulders of giants who paved the way. His endorsement of a young preacher illustrates how older ministers can have an impact on younger generations. The fruitful and respectful relationship that he and Osborn shared is also an example of how Christian leaders can help each other by generously passing along what they have learned. Perhaps John Donne was right when he wrote:
"No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main."
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| F.F. Bosworth's praise for Healing the Sick and Casting Out Devils |
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