God's Chastening

It is not always, nor in every circumstance of trial, that the children of adoption can receive this truth. While passing under His hand, while yet smarting from the rod, while the bitter cup still presses the lip, it is most difficult for the believer to comprehend and discern the Lord’s love to him- yes, what seems to be still more hard to believe, that Jesus chastens him because He loves him. And yet, “those whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” The spring-head of all Divine chastisement is Divine love. There is not, there cannot be, one drop of wrath in the heart of God towards His people. Their Divine Surety bore it all- suffered it all- took it all away. ~Octavius Winslow, Grace and Truth

Christ's Work on Our Behalf

Christ is a protecting shadow. He stands between the believing soul and divine justice, between the saint of God and the fiery darts of Satan, between the tempter and the tempted, between the tried saint and the fiery trial. Thus in Christ is fulfilled, as in Him alone it could be, the precious promise, “There shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.” In this point of light how suitable and precious does Christ appear. We needed a shadow that could effectually interpose itself between us and the law’s loud thunder and the flaming sword of justice- that shadow is Christ. “He was made a curse for us.” He “who knew no sin was made sin (or a sin-offering) for us.” Christ threw Himself between His Church and the righteous administration of God’s moral government. Upon Him, as their Surety, fell the crushing vengeance, the consuming fire, the bitterness of death. All this He bore for us!

Come and sit down beneath His shadow, and you are safe. Not a flash can scathe you, not a spark can kindle upon you, not a dart can wound you. Christ is your “shadow from the heat,” and in simple faith and assured peace you may repose with great delight and perfect security beneath this divine-human canopy, and gaze without fear upon the lurid lightning, and listen without dread to the peeling thunder. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” ~Octavius Winslow, The Tree of Life

Come, then, sin-distressed, self-weary, world-wounded, sorrow-smitten soul, and lay down your weary spirit upon the bosom of the Savior. There is room enough and love enough and sympathy enough for you. The heart of Jesus is as capacious as the infinitude of His being. There can be nothing in your case- take the most gloomy, despairing view of it you may- which interposes a real objection to your rest in Christ. The cross, while it unveils the soul’s repose, supplies both its merit and its plea. Jesus provides all, is all, and is in all. We have nothing to do but to receive out of His fullness grace upon grace- grace to answer all the present demands of grace- grace commensurate with all the past communications of grace- and grace to meet all the future requirements of grace. Yet again and again we repeat the Savior’s gracious invitation- unconditional and unlimited-  and, oh! heaven’s belfry breathes not a sweeter chime-  “Come unto Me, All You That Labor and Are Heavy Laden, and I Will Give You Rest.” Accept the invitation- it is for you. “In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” ~Octavius Winslow

Christ is a protecting shadow

Christ is a protecting shadow. He stands between the believing soul and divine justice, between the saint of God and the fiery darts of Satan, between the tempter and the tempted, between the tried saint and the fiery trial. Thus in Christ is fulfilled, as in Him alone it could be, the precious promise, “There shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.” In this point of light how suitable and precious does Christ appear. We needed a shadow that could effectually interpose itself between us and the law’s loud thunder and the flaming sword of justice- that shadow is Christ. “He was made a curse for us.” He “who knew no sin was made sin (or a sin-offering) for us.” Christ threw Himself between His Church and the righteous administration of God’s moral government. Upon Him, as their Surety, fell the crushing vengeance, the consuming fire, the bitterness of death. All this He bore for us!

Come and sit down beneath His shadow, and you are safe. Not a flash can scathe you, not a spark can kindle upon you, not a dart can wound you. Christ is your “shadow from the heat,” and in simple faith and assured peace you may repose with great delight and perfect security beneath this divine-human canopy, and gaze without fear upon the lurid lightning, and listen without dread to the peeling thunder. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” ~Octavius Winslow, The Tree of Life

Come sin-distressed, weary soul

Come, then, sin-distressed, self-weary, world-wounded, sorrow-smitten soul, and lay down your weary spirit upon the bosom of the Savior. There is room enough and love enough and sympathy enough for you. The heart of Jesus is as capacious as the infinitude of His being. There can be nothing in your case- take the most gloomy, despairing view of it you may- which interposes a real objection to your rest in Christ. The cross, while it unveils the soul’s repose, supplies both its merit and its plea. Jesus provides all, is all, and is in all. We have nothing to do but to receive out of His fullness grace upon grace- grace to answer all the present demands of grace- grace commensurate with all the past communications of grace- and grace to meet all the future requirements of grace. Yet again and again we repeat the Savior’s gracious invitation- unconditional and unlimited-  and, oh! heaven’s belfry breathes not a sweeter chime-  “Come unto Me, All You That Labor and Are Heavy Laden, and I Will Give You Rest.” Accept the invitation- it is for you. “In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” ~Octavius Winslow