Hannah Whitall Smith was the author of the famed A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life (1875). She was an influential author of “higher life” and “holiness” movements. Her books have been published by dozens of publishers over the years, most notable among them are: Moody, Revell, Zondervan, Word, Spire, Broadman & Holman, Barbour, Whitaker, Guideposts, Asbury, Ballantine, Grosset & Dunlap.
Remarkably, Smith would come to see and embrace the salvation of all. She included a description of this journey and understanding in her autobiography published in 1903 by Fleming H. Revell, The Unselfishness of God and How I Discovered It.[1]
Not surprisingly, her autobiography would subsequently be republished, but with her accounts of coming to the conviction of the salvation of all having been removed. In 2009 we ran the missing chapters from her book in the Bible Student’s Notebook.[2] Then in 2014 we published these absent chapters in a book, along with the missing chapters from Hannah Hurnard’s (1905-1990) The Unveiled Glory.[3] The book The Unveiled Glory & My Unexpected Discovery has been widely distributed.[4]
Smith’s works written prior to 1903 were presentations of the classic “holiness” doctrine, and are overall harmful to believers’ understanding and walk. However, while still somewhat under the influence of a doctrinal system that had gripped her life since childhood, a remarkable clarity came with her awareness of the salvation of all that made her ensuing work, The God of All Comfort, most noteworthy.
While on occasion drifting back into her “holiness” past, The God of All Comfort offers beautiful insights concerning God. We are in the process of carefully producing an abridged edition that should bring joy to the heart of those rejoicing in
The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:3).
At the conclusion of these installments, they will be made available in book form.
[1] Available from Study Shelf, as an unabridged facsimile of the 1903 edition. See order form under “Biographies.”
[2] “My Unexpected Discovery,” My Story #5, Bible Student’s Notebook #199.
[3] “The Unveiled Glory,” My Story #6, Bible Student’s Notebook #225.
[4] Available at Study Shelf, and on the order form under “Other Authors.”
The Great Adventure of Faith 