October 6

Deliverance from self

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).
“For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7).

The ruin of human souls can never be achieved by enemies from without unless they be aided by traitors from within.

We need not wonder where the demons dwell
To find the foes of Christ; we need not seek
The shining haunts of sensual men to find
The foe of peace and purity. In self
Sin reigns, inciting man against Thy sway,
O Christ, Thou blessed King of kings! Sin reigns
With ruthless pow’r within the heart; sin blinds
The eyes to things of God, and turns the gaze
On self. Come, Spirit, come! Be Thou my guide
To Him Who, in the flames of love,
Surrendered self. O gentle Dove! be Thou
My guide to Calvary, and I may see
Where death to sin begins, where self will meet
With crucifixion, and where life is found.
—John Livingstone.


God, harden me against myself,
This coward with pathetic voice,
Who craves for ease, and rest, and joys.

My self, arch-traitor to myself;
My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe.
My clog whatever road I go.

Yet One there is can curb myself,
Can roll this strangling load from me,
Break off the yoke and set me free.
—Christina Rossetti.

The Spirit seemed to lead me into the inmost sanctuary of my soul—into those chambers where I had before discovered such defilement, and showed me that all was cleansed, that the corruptions which had given me such distress were dead, taken away, that not one of them remained. I felt the truth of the witness; it was so; I was conscious of it, as conscious as I ever had been of my conversion.
—Bishop Foster.

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