The jewelry of the Bible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Octavius Winslow, “The Preciousness of the Divine\nPromises”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“God has given us His very great and precious\npromises!” 2 Peter 1:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises of God are the jewelry of the Bible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every page of the sacred volume is rich and sparkling\nwith these divine assurances of Jehovah’s love, faithfulness, and power towards\nHis people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon no spot in this wilderness world can the Christian\nplant his foot, strange and untrodden though that path may be \u2014 but a gem from\nthis casket meets his eye, the sight of which inspires his heart with\nconfidence, his spirit with comfort, his soul with hope!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine what would have been the condition of God’s\nchildren apart from the divine promises of which the blessed volume is so full.\nWhat must have been the desolateness, the sadness, and the sinking \u2014 did we not\nhave the divine assurances of God’s Word to rely on; by which we are . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
guided in our march heavenward,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
upheld in weakness,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cheered in depression, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
conducted step by step to final blessedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises are comprehensive in their character, and\nadapted to all the varied circumstances of our individual history. Child of\nGod, you cannot conceive of . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
any condition in which you may be placed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
any circumstance by which you may be surrounded,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
any sorrow by which you may be depressed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
any perils that may confront you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
any darkness that may overshadow you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
or any needs that you may have \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n
in which you may not find some precious promises of His\nblessed Word which meet your case!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises of Scripture are exceedingly precious,\nbecause they are all signed and sealed with the heart’s blood of Jesus! They\nare the throbbings of the infinite love of Jesus! The promises are but echoes\nof His heart sounding from each page of the sacred volume!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are sin-burdened or sorrow-stricken \u2014 just stretch\nforth your hand and receive these precious jewels as they flow out from the\nopen casket of God’s Word!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises have stanched many a bleeding wound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises have dried many a falling tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises have calmed many a disturbed mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises have guided feet through many a labyrinth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises have shed light on many a lonely path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The promises, like voices of music, have broken sweetly\non many a dreary night of weeping and woe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have these rich clusters of precious promises bending\ndown from the Tree of Life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may pluck them at all times, in all seasons, and under\nall circumstances!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A particular, personal, special love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(John MacDuff)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The sheep listen to His voice. He calls his own<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Good Shepherd knows all His sheep<\/p>\n\n\n\n
individually and personally. He knows . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
their names;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
their circumstances;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
their trials;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
their sorrows;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
their joys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He calls them . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His friends,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His brethren,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His peculiar treasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have called you by your name; you are mine!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes! let us not lose the unutterable comfort of this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God takes a special oversight and supervision<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of His creatures and their actions, of the minute<\/p>\n\n\n\n
circumstances and accidents of their daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His is a particular, personal, special love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The individual is not lost in the mass or the aggregate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Believer! He loves you as if you stood alone in<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His world, and as if He had none other but you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
on whom to lavish His solicitudes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most comforting and consoling truth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus, the Shepherd Savior, is ever preceding me;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
marking out all that befalls me; appointing and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
controlling the minutest events in my personal<\/p>\n\n\n\n
history, and loving me with an affection of which<\/p>\n\n\n\n
earth’s tenderest relationships afford the feeblest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See the mother seated by the couch of her suffering<\/p>\n\n\n\n
child! Watch her tender unremitting care; the hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and nights of sleepless vigilance she bends over the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cherub form; smoothing its pillow, and moistening<\/p>\n\n\n\n
its fevered lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What a picture! It is earth’s most touching symbol<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of love and sacred affection. God points to that<\/p>\n\n\n\n
watchful parent and says, “Though she may forget,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will not forget you!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
have no compassion on the child she has borne?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 49:15<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The personal attractions of Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Octavius Winslow)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved \u2014\nand this is my Friend!” Song of Songs 5:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The personal attractions of Jesus are all inviting and\nirresistible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His love wins us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His glory charms us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His beauty attracts us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His sympathy soothes us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His gentleness subdues us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His faithfulness inspires us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is the “altogether lovely One!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is all that is tender in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is all that is wise in counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is all that is patient and kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is all that is faithful in friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is all that is soothing and healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The heart of Jesus is ever loving towards His children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disposition of Jesus is ever kind towards His\nchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nature of Jesus is ever sympathizing towards His\nchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is your Brother, your Friend, your Redeemer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As your Brother \u2014 He knows the need of His brethren in\nadversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As your Friend \u2014 He shows Himself friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As your Redeemer \u2014 He has redeemed your soul from sin and\nHell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus has ascended up on high to take possession of\nHeaven on your behalf, and to prepare a place for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon His heart, He wears your name as a precious pearl in\nthe priestly breastplate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He is able to save completely those who come to God\nthrough Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” There is . .\n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
not a moment of your time,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
nor an event of your life,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
nor a circumstance of your daily history,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
nor a mental or spiritual emotion of yours \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n
in which you are not borne upon the love, and remembered\nin the ceaseless intercession of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved \u2014\nand this is my Friend!” Song of Songs 5:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pains, infirmities, loss of sleep, the failure of sight\nand hearing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Letters of John Newton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake\nme when my strength is gone.” Psalm 71:9<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am drawing nearer and nearer to the season which the\nPsalmist either expected or felt. Many reasons teach the aged believer the need\nof this prayer. As his graces are still imperfect \u2014 so his powers are feelingly\nupon the decline. It was but little he could do at his best \u2014 and now less and\nless!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He feels other props and comforts dropping off apace.\nWhen he was young, he had warm spirits and pleasing prospects; but now, what a\nchange of the friends in which he once delighted! In some he has found\ninconstancy \u2014 they have forsaken and forgotten him; and others have been successively\ntaken away by death. They have fallen like the leaves in autumn \u2014 and now he\nstands almost a naked trunk. If any yet remain, he is expecting to lose them\nlikewise \u2014 unless he is first taken from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Old age abates, and gradually destroys the relish of such\nearthly comforts as might be otherwise enjoyed. Pains, infirmities, loss of\nsleep, the failure of sight and hearing, and all the senses \u2014 are harbingers,\nlike Job’s messengers arriving in close succession, to tell him that death is\nupon his progress, and is not far away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If youth has no security against death \u2014 then old age has\nno possibility of escaping the grim monster. But though friends fail, cisterns\nburst, gourds wither, strength declines, and death advances \u2014 if God does not\nforsake me \u2014 then all is well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Even to your old age and gray hairs \u2014 I am He who\nwill sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and\nI will rescue you!” Isaiah 46:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One wrong step \u2014 and down we go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Charles Spurgeon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that\nleads to life \u2014 and only a few find it!” Matthew 7:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In some sense, the path to Heaven is very safe \u2014 but in\nother respects, there is no road so dangerous! It is beset with difficulties.\nOne wrong step \u2014 and down we go! And how easy it is to take that treacherous\nstep \u2014 if grace is absent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What a slippery path is that \u2014 which some of us have to\ntread! How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, “But as for\nme, my feet were slipping \u2014 and I was almost gone!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would\nnot matter so much \u2014 but in ourselves, how weak we are!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even in the best roads \u2014 we soon falter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the smoothest paths \u2014 we quickly stumble!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These feeble knees of ours \u2014 can scarcely support our\ntottering weight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A straw may trip us up \u2014 and a pebble can wound us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are mere infants, tremblingly taking our first steps\nin the walk of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our heavenly Father holds us by the arms \u2014 or we would\nsoon tumble down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, if we are kept from falling, how must we thank the\npatience, power and wisdom of God \u2014 who watches over us moment by moment! Think\n. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
how prone we are to sin,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
how apt we are to choose dangerous paths,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
how strong is our tendency to cast ourselves down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we\nhave ever done, “Glory to Him, who is able to keep us from falling, and to\npresent us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy!”\nJude 24<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have many foes who try to push us down, and destroy\nus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The road is rough \u2014 and we are weak!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush\nout when we least expect them, and labor to trip us up, or hurl us down the\nnearest deadly precipice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen\nfoes, who are seeking to destroy us at every step! Such an arm is engaged for\nour defense. He is faithful, who has promised, and He is able to keep us from\nfalling, so that with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm\nbelief in our perfect safety!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I give them eternal life, and they will never\nperish \u2014 ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!” John 10:28<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When His beauty is seen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Octavius Winslow)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved,\nand this is my Friend!” Song of Songs 5:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O what a Savior is Jesus Christ! He is the chief among\nten thousand! Look at His sinless, yet real humanity \u2014 without a single taint,\nyet sympathizing with us in all our various conditions \u2014 our afflictions \u2014 our\ntemptations \u2014 our infirmities \u2014 our griefs. Now that He is in glory, He is\nstill cherishing a brother’s heart \u2014 bending down His ear to our petitions \u2014\never standing near . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to catch our sighs,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to dry our tears,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to provide for our needs,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to guide us by His counsel, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
afterwards to receive us to glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O what a Savior is Jesus Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When He is known \u2014 all other beings are eclipsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When His beauty is seen \u2014 all other beauty fades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When His love is felt \u2014 He becomes supremely enthroned in\nthe affections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To know Him more, becomes the one desire of the renewed\nmind; and to make Him more known, is the one aim of the Christian life. O what\na Savior is Jesus Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He found me in a waste howling wilderness indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(John Newton’s Letters)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Dear Friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My history is briefly expressed in the following verses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In a desert land He found him \u2014 in a waste howling\nwilderness. He shielded him and cared for him \u2014 He guarded him as the apple of\nhis eye.” Deuteronomy 32:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,\nalong unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light\nbefore them, and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do \u2014\nI will not forsake them!” Isaiah 42:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He found me in a waste howling wilderness indeed! He has\nled me about into a variety of situations, and in them all He watched over me,\nand kept me as the apple of His eye. When I was blind \u2014 He led me in ways which\nI knew not, and which no mortal could have supposed were likely to bring me\nwhere I now am. I was once an utter stranger to the paths of truth and\nrighteousness \u2014 but in a wonderful manner He drew and guided me into those holy\npaths which I had not known. And though my heart is prone to wander, He has\nkept me with a mighty hand, so that I have not wholly declined from them. How\noften has He made darkness light before me, and crooked things straight! These\nthings has He done for me, as I am encouraged to hope He will continue to do\nthem, for His promise is, “I will never forsake them!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Come magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His\nholy name together!” He has . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
guided us by His eye,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
guarded us along the way,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
restored us when wandering,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
revived us when fainting,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
healed us when wounded,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
upheld our souls in adversity,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
helped us in all our difficulties, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
comforted and supported us under all our sorrows!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The jewelry of the Bible! (Octavius Winslow, “The Preciousness of the Divine Promises”) “God has given us His very great and precious promises!” 2 Peter 1:4 The promises of God are the jewelry of the Bible! Every page of the sacred volume is rich and sparkling with these divine assurances of Jehovah’s love, faithfulness, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5697"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5698,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5697\/revisions\/5698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}