Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul

Many who are conscious that their spiritual experience and vitality have sadly declined have only a hazy notion of the nature and causes of their condition. The kind of searching analysis which would help to clarify their thoughts and concentrate their sense of conviction is largely absent from the contemporary pulpit and from the Christian literature of the day.

But such help is available, and can be found in works like Octavius Winslow’s Personal Declension and Revival. It discusses the areas of life in which backsliding takes place, examines the consequences, and in the concluding chapters points to the Lord who is the restorer and keeper of his people.

The passage of time since this book was first published in 1841 has not diminished its value, and the fact that it has been frequently reprinted eloquently testifies to its continuing spiritual usefulness.

Publisher: Banner of Truth
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781848719378

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Octavius Winslow (1808-78) was born in Pentonville, a village near London. He was one of the preachers at the opening of Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle.Winslow pastored a Baptist church on Warwick Road in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire (1839-1858) and in 1858, become the founder and first minister of Kensington Chapel, Bath. In 1865, the church became a Union Church (a mixture of credobaptist and paedobaptist). This may mark a change in attitude in Winslow who in 1867 left the Baptist Pastorate and was ordained an Anglican deacon and priest in 1870. For his remaining years, he served as a minister of Emmanuel Church, Brighton. In 1868 he had produced hymn book for this very congregation. He died in 1878 after a short illness.

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This is a precious precious book. He has such a grasp of the workings of our relationship with God in Christ, the work of grace in the heart, and an amazing way of talking about it all. He talks about how the "divine graces" in the heart and life droop and decay, symptoms, marks, reasons and ways of recovery, all biblical, gospel centered, Christ exalting. Topics include; Declension in Prayer, Declension in Love, Declension in connection with Doctrinal error, On Grieving the Holy Spirit and finally, "The Lord the restorer of his people", and "The Lord the keeper of his people." It was written after his book, "On the Holy Spirit" another gem. With such a pastoral heart. I will be returning to this book over the years. God bless you in the reading of it.Kenkoome