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Phoebe Palmer
Phoebe Palmer (1807–1874) was an American preacher, evangelist, and writer whose dynamic ministry was instrumental in shaping the 19th-century Holiness movement within Methodism. Born Phoebe Worrall on December 18, 1807, in New York City, she was the fourth of sixteen children of Henry Worrall, a Methodist convert from England’s Wesleyan Revival, and Dorothea Wade Worrall. Raised in a devout household with twice-daily family worship, she married Walter Clarke Palmer, a homeopathic physician and fellow Methodist, in 1827. The couple endured profound personal tragedy, losing three of their four children in infancy—Alexander at nine months, Samuel at seven weeks, and Eliza in a crib fire at eleven months—events that deepened Phoebe’s spiritual quest. On July 26, 1837, she experienced what she called “entire sanctification,” a pivotal moment that fueled her ministry. Palmer’s preaching career took off as she became a leading voice in the Holiness movement, promoting a simplified path to Christian perfection based on John Wesley’s teachings. In 1837, she assumed leadership of the Tuesday Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness, a women’s prayer group started by her sister Sarah Lankford in 1835, which she later opened to men, including Methodist bishops and theologians, growing it into a significant revivalist platform. Alongside Walter, she preached at over 300 camp meetings, churches, and conferences across the United States, Canada (1857), and the United Kingdom (1859–1863), converting an estimated 25,000 people. She authored influential works like The Way of Holiness (1843) and The Promise of the Father (1859), the latter defending women’s right to preach, and edited The Guide to Holiness magazine from 1864 until her death. Palmer died on November 2, 1874, in New York City, leaving a legacy as a trailblazing female evangelist whose altar theology and social activism—including founding the Five Points Mission in 1850—reshaped evangelical faith and women’s roles in ministry. She was survived by her husband and daughter Phoebe Knapp, a hymn composer.
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Phoebe Palmer preaches about the importance of consecrating all to God and seeking assurance of His acceptance. Through the guidance of the Bible, she learns that by the Spirit of God, we can know the things freely given to us by God. She realizes the sacred responsibilities that come with dedicating her entire being to God and commits to being steadfast and unmovable in serving the Lord. Despite facing doubts about the purity of her intentions, she seeks the witness of a pure heart and is encouraged to stand still and witness the salvation of God.
We by His Spirit Prove, and Know the Things of God
"We by his Spirit prove, And know the things of God, The things which freely of his love He hath on us bestow'd." After having thus resolved on devoting the entire service of her heart and life to God, the following questions occasioned much serious solicitude:-- How shall I know when I have consecrated all to God? And whether God accepts the sacrifice -- and how know the manner of its acceptance? Here again the blessed Bible, which she had now taken as her counselor, said to her heart, "We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things freely given to us of God." It was thus she became assured that it was her privilege to know when she had consecrated all to God, and also to know that the sacrifice was accepted, and the resolve was solemnly made that the subject should not cease to be absorbing, until this knowledge was obtained. Feeling it a matter of no small importance to stand thus solemnly pledged to God, conscious that sacred responsibilities were included in these engagements, a realization of the fact, that neither body, soul, nor spirit, time, talent, nor influence, were, even for one moment, at her own disposal, began to assume the tangibility of living truth to her mind, in a manner not before apprehended. From a sense of responsibility thus imposed, she began to be more abundant in labors, "instant in season and out of season." While thus engaged in active service, another difficulty presented itself. How much of self in these performances? said the accuser. For a moment, almost bewildered at being thus withstood, her heart began to sink. She felt most keenly that she had no certain standard to raise up against this accusation? It was here again that the blessed word sweetly communed with her heart, presenting the marks of the way, by a reference to the admonition of Paul: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." These blessed communings continued thus: If the primitive Christians had the assurance that their labors were in the Lord; and then enjoyed the heart-inspiring confidence that their labors were not in vain because performed in the might of the Spirit, then it is also your privilege to know that your labor is in the Lord. It was at this point in her experience that she first perceived the necessity and also the attainableness of the witness of purity of intention which, in her petition to God, as most expressive of her peculiar need, she denominated, "The witness that the spring of every motive is pure It was by the Word of the Lord she became fully convinced that she needed this heart encouraging confidence in order to insure success in her labors of love. The next step taken was to resolve, as in the presence of the Lord, not to cease importuning the throne of grace until the witness was given " that the spring of every motive was pure." On coming to this decision the blessed Word most encouragingly, yes, and also assuringly said to her heart "Stand Still, and see the salvation of God!"
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Phoebe Palmer (1807–1874) was an American preacher, evangelist, and writer whose dynamic ministry was instrumental in shaping the 19th-century Holiness movement within Methodism. Born Phoebe Worrall on December 18, 1807, in New York City, she was the fourth of sixteen children of Henry Worrall, a Methodist convert from England’s Wesleyan Revival, and Dorothea Wade Worrall. Raised in a devout household with twice-daily family worship, she married Walter Clarke Palmer, a homeopathic physician and fellow Methodist, in 1827. The couple endured profound personal tragedy, losing three of their four children in infancy—Alexander at nine months, Samuel at seven weeks, and Eliza in a crib fire at eleven months—events that deepened Phoebe’s spiritual quest. On July 26, 1837, she experienced what she called “entire sanctification,” a pivotal moment that fueled her ministry. Palmer’s preaching career took off as she became a leading voice in the Holiness movement, promoting a simplified path to Christian perfection based on John Wesley’s teachings. In 1837, she assumed leadership of the Tuesday Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness, a women’s prayer group started by her sister Sarah Lankford in 1835, which she later opened to men, including Methodist bishops and theologians, growing it into a significant revivalist platform. Alongside Walter, she preached at over 300 camp meetings, churches, and conferences across the United States, Canada (1857), and the United Kingdom (1859–1863), converting an estimated 25,000 people. She authored influential works like The Way of Holiness (1843) and The Promise of the Father (1859), the latter defending women’s right to preach, and edited The Guide to Holiness magazine from 1864 until her death. Palmer died on November 2, 1874, in New York City, leaving a legacy as a trailblazing female evangelist whose altar theology and social activism—including founding the Five Points Mission in 1850—reshaped evangelical faith and women’s roles in ministry. She was survived by her husband and daughter Phoebe Knapp, a hymn composer.