(Octavius Winslow) LISTEN to audio! Download Audio
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort–but on God, who has mercy!” Romans 9:15-16
Here is the Sovereign! How like Himself He speaks! He carries forward His gracious purposes of infinite wisdom and love. Because He chooses, or rejects. He reveals, or withholds–“working all things after the counsel of His own will;” and “giving no account of any of His matters,” either to angels or to men.
Is the reader a child of God? Who and what made you to differ? You have been taken out of your family, your friends, your companions. From this circle, you alone have been chosen, redeemed, effectually called, made a child of grace and an heir of glory!
The others, where are they?
Living for this wicked world,
lovers of pleasure,
of self,
lovers of sin,
hating God,
rejecting Christ.
Still dead in trespasses and sin!
Hastening their footsteps down to the doom of the damned!
Gone, many of them, into eternity–past the confines of mercy!
In Hell, lifting up their eyes in torment!
And what are you?
A sinner,
chosen by the Father,
redeemed by the Son,
and regenerated by the Spirit.
A sinner, pardoned and justified,
washed and clothed in Christ’s righteousness,
adopted into the family of God,
brought to the foot of the cross.
A sinner, saved by the sovereign grace of God!
Oh the electing love of God!
The redeeming grace of Jesus!
Oh the sovereign operation of the Holy Spirit!
Silently wonder, and adore Him who says:
“I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love!
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself!” Jeremiah 31:3
Oh precious truth!
It stains the pride of human merit!
Because it lays the ax at the root of self!
It empties and humbles and abases!
Therefore It ascribes all the praise, honor, and glory of salvation–to the Triune God!
“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father; to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6