The Bible cannot quicken, nor sanctify, nor comfort! by Octavius Winslow (1808 – 1878)

“Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction!” 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Apart from the Spirit, the Bible cannot quicken, nor sanctify, nor comfort. It may be . . .

• read constantly,
• searched deeply,
• known accurately,
• understood partially, and
• quoted appropriately.

Yet, left to its own unassisted power, it comes but in word only, producing no hallowing, no abiding, no saving results.

Unaccompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is inactive and inoperative–a mere dead letter!

All that we spiritually know of ourselves, of God, of Jesus, of His Word– we owe to the supernatural teaching of the Holy Spirit. All the real light, sanctification, strength and comfort we possess on our way to glory–we must ascribe to Him.

Charles Spurgeon Said

“We might preach until our tongues rotted, until we should exhaust our lungs and die–but never a soul would be converted without the Holy Spirit’s power attending the Word. If the Holy Spirit does not renew the hearts of our hearers, we cannot do it. If the Holy Spirit does not regenerate them, we cannot. And if He does not send the truth home into their souls, we might as well speak into the ear of a corpse!”

“Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things in Your law!” Psalm 119:18

Octavius Winslow (1808 – 1878) was a prominent 19th-century evangelical preacher in England and America. Known as “The Pilgrim’s Companion,” he was Baptist minister until 1870 when he was ordained an Anglican deacon and priest.  He was a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon and J. C. Ryle and a prolific writer. His Christ-centered, richly devotional writings offer inspiration and encouragement.