"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"The golden censer." -Hebrews 9:4 [KJV] It is blessed, my soul! to behold the numberless types and shadows of "good things to come," which the church of old contained; and it is blessed to see them all fulfilled in Christ, the substance. Jesus, thy Jesus, in His glorious high priestly office, is at once the censer, the incense, the high priest, and offering, and is now unceasingly engaged in carrying on the glorious purposes of His redemption "by appearing in the presence of God for us."   He is the "mighty angel" spoken of, Revelation 8:3. For upon the "golden censer" of His own merit and righteousness, and by the efficacy of His own glorious person, are all presentations made. "No man cometh to the Father but by Him." coming by Him, and in Him, and through Him, all thy poor offerings come up "for a memorial before God." And what is the much incense here spoken of, but the merits of that finished salvation of

"O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." - Psalm 90:14 [KJV] Many of the dear children of God are tossed up and down on a sea of great uncertainty, doubt and fear, because they have not had sensible manifestations of Christ to their soul. He has not come into them in the power of His love; still they often say, "When wilt Thou come unto me? O visit me with Thy salvation; speak a word to my soul; it is Thyself, and Thyself alone, I want to hear, to see, and to know!"   Now these are drawings of the gracious Lord, the secret beginnings of His coming, the heralds of His approach, the dawning of the day before the morning star arises and the sun follows upon his track. But when the Lord does come in any sweet manifestation of His presence or of His power, then He will abide where He has come, for He never leaves or forsakes a soul which He has once visited. He may seem to do so; He may withdraw Himself; and then who can behold