Octavius Winslow

O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24).

Be thou not cast down, my dear reader, if the Lord, the Spirit is teaching you the same lesson as He taught the Apostle Paul, in the same way that he taught the Apostle Paul. If he is now
ploughing up the hidden evil, breaking up the fallow ground, discovering to you more of the evil principal of your heart, the iniquity of your fallen nature, and that, too, it may be a time of deep trial, of heavy heartbreaking affliction. Ah! thou art ready to exclaim: “All these things are against me; I was at ease, but He hath broken me asunder; He hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for His mark. His archers compass me about; He cleaveth my reigns asunder and doth not spare. He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant!” AM I A CHILD OF GOD? Can I be the subject of so much hidden evil, and of such deep overwhelming trial? Is this the way He dealeth with His people?

Yes, dear believer, thou art not solitary or alone, for along this path all the covenant people of God are travelling to their brighter and better home. Here they become acquainted with their own weaknesses, their perpetual liability to fall; here they renounce their former thoughts of self-power, and of self-keeping; and here, too, they learn more of Jesus as their strength, their all-sufficient keeper. More of Him as their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Cheer up, then, for the Lord thy God is leading thee on by a safe and a right way to bring thee to a city of rest.

Extract from The Wicket Gate Magazine, published in the UK, used with permission.