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

" If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." —John 8:36 [KJV] Our most glorious sovereign Lord and King, Jesus , like some mighty conqueror whose subjects have been taken captive by an enemy, delivers them from their captivity, sets them at liberty from the dominion and tyranny of their enemies, and restores them to all the rights and privileges of His kingdom and government. Alas! in what a deplorable state doth our great Deliverer find our souls! taken captive by the devil at his pleasure, slaves and vassals to his will and power, under worse than Egyptian bondage, "tied and bound with the chains of our sins," bond-slaves to our corrupt lusts and carnal passions.  In this hopeless, helpless, deplorable state, we all continue without power, yea, without will or desire to be set at liberty. Nay, we are naturally pleased with the drudgery of sin and Satan, in love with our bondage, fancying ourselves at liberty, and enjoying the

" Go, tell His disciples and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him." —Mark 16:7 [KJV] How different is the Gospel from the law; one is the voice of condemnation, terror, and wrath; the other speaks nothing but grace, peace, and love. God's children only murmured for water in the wilderness, and even the meek Moses is in wrath with them, and calls them REBELS. Here, though the poor disciples had acted most base and ungrateful to their loving Saviour; for they added sorrow to His distress, when they all forsook Him and fled, and Peter above all the rest; for as though Jesus was the most abandoned wretch, Peter with oaths and curses denied that he even knew Him.  What could they expect, but that the first message from their Lord should be full of upbraiding? Was it, Go tell those apostate REBELS I am risen from the dead, they shall receive their just deserts; vengeance is Mine, I will repay them? No: be astonished, O heavens! Hear,

" Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" —Mark 4:38 [KJV] Saints in all ages have experienced, that their extremity of distress has been God's opportunity to deliver; so these disciples found it; they were in the most imminent danger and in the greatest fears and distresses. Their vehement address to Jesus bespeaks it. "Jesus was asleep." We believe in our Saviour, as a MAN like unto ourselves: we adore Him as the sovereign Lord Whose "eyes are over the righteous, and His ears are ever open to their prayers." —1 Peter 3:12 .  Of this we have the clearest evidence, the fullest proof. Jesus awakes as a man, and with the power and sovereignty of Jehovah He rebukes the boisterous wind, and says to the raging waves, "Peace, be still ; " and instantly all nature obeys its Creator; all is hushed into a profound calm. While others are pleased with the feats of a Caesar, or the conquests of an Alexander, it is our delight to meditate

" How can ye believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" —John 5:44 [KJV] "The fear of man bringeth a snare." —Proverbs 29:25 . It is a great enemy to the power of faith in the heart. The esteem of men, to be well spoken of, to have honor and applause from them, are pleasing to the flesh, but hurtful to the Spirit. The wisdom and learning of natural men, are contrary to the simplicity that is in Christ, incompatible with the cross of Christ, and withstands an open confession of Him Who is an honor to us; for by the faith of Jesus we are honored of the Father to be His children, and to enjoy sweet fellowship and communion with Him in our spirits.  Here is the blessedness of the faith of disciples; "It standeth not in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God." —1 Corinthians 2:5 . Hence we are to "call no man Rabbi, for One is our Master, even Jesus." We are to suffer no man to lord

" If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." —Romans 8:17 [KJV] If a child, from a spirit of untowardness, runs into and rolls itself in the dirt, would not that parent be a monster of barbarity who, instead of cleansing it from its filth, should dash out its brains? Yet there are those who dare assert such to be the conduct of God towards His children in Christ. For they say, though a man be a child of God, by faith in Christ Jesus, yet he may so fall into sin, that God may consign him eternally to hell for it; but, like Paul, such speak "ignorantly, and in unbelief."   While we wish them to be taught better; from such miserable teachers, and such false doctrine, we pray "Good Lord deliver us." What! Can any of God's children be in such a filthy, polluted condition, that He has not wisdom enough to know them? Is there not love and power enough in His Spirit to lead them to the fountain of Christ's blood, th

" The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." —John 1:17 [KJV] It is natural to us all to say of the moral law, as the king of Israel said of that faithful prophet of the Lord, Micah, "I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." —1 Kings 22:8 . It is true, that the holy, spiritual law of God can yield no comfort, hope, or peace to any poor sinner of mankind. Yet the believer in Jesus cannot hate the moral law; it is a transcript of his Father's mind and will; it is God's good gift; it answers very valuable ends and purposes to the souls of His children. We know sin by the law, as we know Christ by the gospel: though the law was given by Moses, a meek prophet, yet it is full of fiery wrath, ministers' condemnation, and denounces curses, yea eternal death and damnation to every transgressor.  Yet why, O soul, shouldst thou hate the law? That is not the cause of all these evils; but thy sins,

" Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." —Colossians 3:24 [KJV] Saving knowledge is accompanied with humility, productive of love to Jesus, and delight in His service. To desire to know more of the truth, in order to gain greater measures of love, and more cheerful conformity to Him, this is praiseworthy. "For whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed." —James 1:25 .  Christian, thou art not called to dream over dry disquisitions and subtle refinements, merely to fill thy brain with nice speculations; but to have thy heart warmed with love, thy practice influenced to obedience, as well as thy judgment established in truth. Remember thy calling, study thy reward, glory in being a servant of Jesus; His work is pleasant, His service perfect freedom, His wages infinitely gr

  “US” by D. G. Miles McKee   “If God be for us who can be against us ?" -Romans 8:31 [KJV] What a wonderful statement! But the question arises, who are those favoured people mentioned in our verse? Who exactly are the “US”?  The Epistle to the Romans shows that the “US” are people who, 'having been justified by faith have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Romans 8:1). Are you one of the “US”? Furthermore, the “US” are those who were once God’s enemies but now are reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Romans 5:10). Also, the “US” are the ones to whom the Spirit bears witness that they are the children of God (Romans 8:16). Then again, the “US” are those who rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). They can and do look forward to heavenly glory saying, "If God be for us, who can be against us?” There can be no doubt that God is on the side of His redeemed, reconciled, and regenerated people. He is for us.  Painfully difficult

" Remember Lot's wife." —Luke 17:32 [KJV] It may do a disciple much good, it can do him no harm, to call to mind the judgments of his God. Hence he may learn from others' harm to be more wise and wary. If he sees professors fall away, it teaches him to take heed; it tends to lay him low in humility at the feet of Jesus, and excites gratitude and love in his heart, and makes him cry out in astonishment, Why am I not fallen! How am I kept! "Glory to grace!"   It is well, O believer, ever to remember thou standest by faith; "Be not high minded, but fear." O, fear to look back with a wishful eye, or a lusting heart, to the sinful vanities of a carnal world. Remember Lot's wife. What of her? She loitered; she did not keep up with her husband; she was behind him. So, soul; if thou dost loiter, and not keep close with Jesus thy Husband, thou wilt be in danger. "She looked back from behind him." Here was an act of folly, unb

" Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man." —Matthew 26:74 [KJV] Self-righteous hearts are ready to think, better to have concealed Peter's abominable wicked conduct. No; the Spirit of wisdom hereby stains the glory of all flesh, and exalts the super-abounding riches of Jesus' grace over the aboundings of sin. He shews, in Peter's denying his loving Saviour, what human nature is, and what shocking depths of sin a believer may fall into when left to the workings of carnal nature and the buffetings of Satan. Dreadful to think of! Most earnestly to be prayed against!  Yet we see the affectionate heart of Jesus is ever towards His wounded, fallen members. Love is within, and by a look of love, how suddenly, how effectually did Jesus raise and restore Peter! Three denials of Jesus, each attended with higher aggravations, though deserving only a look of wrath, and a frown into hell; yet were followed with a look from Jesus which bro

" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which now I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." —Galatians 2:20 [KJV] The state of a Christian is a seeming paradox. No marvel the things of God are foolishness to natural men, and that we are accounted fools for Christ by them; for the truths of God, as well as the life of His children, appear to be absurd to them. But "the life of Jesus is made manifest in our flesh." —II Corinthians 4:11 . Hence He saith, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." —Matthew. 16:24 . Deny the PRIDE of his own righteousness, the corrupt LUSTS of his sinful flesh, and own Me as his life, and follow Me as his Lord in the regeneration; in this crucifixion of nature, this death to every hope but Jesus, this life of faith on Him, consists the peace, love, holiness, and joy of our souls; this

" Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." —James 4:8 [KJV] How sweetly is the children's duty and the Father's promise joined together! The latter is a most powerful encouragement to the former; though we were "sometimes afar off, yet being made nigh by the blood of Jesus , " we are exhorted to DRAW nigh to God in prayer, in full assurance of faith, firmly believing that "faithful is He who hath promised , " He will draw nigh to us to bless us. To live near God is our heaven below; to experience a distance from Him is our misery; we cannot draw nigh to God but in the way He has drawn nigh to us, that is in Christ, in the humanity of Jesus His Son; in all our approaches to God, consider this, Jesus is the object of our faith, and GOD IN HIM; all other objects drawn nigh to, will leave the soul in a painful sense of distance from the true God and real comfort.  Happy, only happy canst thou be, while thou art daily living in c

" This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." —Acts 1:11 [KJV] The parting of dear friends is very grievous and affecting; but sorrow is alleviated from expectation of meeting again. O the joy of meeting our dear friends in glory, who are gone before! but what will heighten all, will be sight and enjoyment of our best Friend and dearest Saviour. The disciples were looking stedfastly to heaven, after their dear Master ascended to glory, when they received this assurance: they saw His human form, the same dear man, their beloved companion with whom they had so often eat and drank and taken sweet counsel, and who was lately crucified, dead, and buried; this very man Jesus they saw ascend; the Son of God came from heaven in Spirit; He assumed a body of flesh and blood; He lived in it on earth; and having "finished the work His Father gave Him to do, He took the same body with Him to

" And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the L ORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy ." —Exodus 33:19 [KJV] Carnal reason, pride, and unbelief, like a threefold cord, binds the soul under legal bondage; each of these mutually strengthens the other, and all combine to oppose the sovereign goodness and grace of our Lord. Instead of believing in, so as to be comforted by free-grace declarations from our God, how apt are we to consult flesh and blood! How prone to reject them, because we cannot reconcile them to our carnal reason! here is the grand source of that damning sin, unbelief .  Marvel not, believer, though the pride of thy flesh rises and rebels against distinguishing grace and discriminating love. This, though sweet to the experience of faith, is bitter to the stomach of rebellious nature: but here is thy mercy; grace, which is s

" Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of Him." —II Corinthians 5:9 [KJV] "In all labour there is profit." —Proverbs 14:23 . The belief of this maketh the heart diligent, lively, and active. When Nehemiah was stirred up to build the wall of Jerusalem amidst the scoffs and opposition of enemies on every side, yet, in prayer, watching, and working, he and his brethren wrought with one hand, a guard in the other, and this confidence of faith in their hearts, "Our God shall fight for us." —Nehemiah 4:20 . Thus animated they laboured till the work was finished. Thus the beloved brethren of Jesus are called to be "stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;" being confident that the Lord fights for them, and "knowing assuredly that their labour is not in vain in the Lord."   The labour of love is pleasant, it is profitable to the believing heart; the work of faith is delightfu

7 Gospel Mercies. Part 5 by D.G  Miles McKee     Today we conclude teaching on the Seven Gospel Mercies.   7) Everlasting Life . Because of the gospel, we are given life, not for a day or a month or a year but given eternal life!  Jesus said, “Verily, verily I say unto you he that believes on Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47). We also read that Jesus taught, “He that believes on Him that sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24).   It has been argued that the term everlasting life also includes the idea of, not only an eternal duration of life but also a certain quality of life. Part of this quality is the absence of condemnation. If you are in Christ, there is no condemnation for you (see Romans 8:1) both now and in the future. If, by faith, you are in Christ, there is no reason for you to be plagued by guilt or fear that you will not be saved.  Remember that salvation is not dependent on yo

" I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil." —Psalm 119:162 [KJV] The saints of God in all ages were taught by the same Spirit, looked for the same salvation, and were comforted by the same truths found in the word of the Lord; hence the WORD is so precious to them; it causes rejoicing of soul within them; thus it is of the written word of the Lord which makes known his everlasting, loving designs to sinners of mankind: this also is true of the essential, divine, and uncreated WORD, the Lord Jesus: He in person manifested God's thoughts of love, as words declare what is in the mind: Jesus lay in the bosom of the Father from eternity; He has revealed the Father's eternal love to us!  O, he who findeth Jesus will rejoice indeed. With joy, says Philip, "we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write." —John 1:45 . Hath a conqueror, who hath obtained a complete victory over, and is enriching himself with the sp

" Jesus said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation ." —Luke 22:46 [KJV] The dull, sleepy frames of disciples, though natural to them, are by no means commendable in them, nor are they to find excuses for them, as though this was a sleepy state of the churches, and so we were to lie down and take our rest. This is injurious to the honor of our dear Master, brings discredit upon His cause and interest, is very uncomfortable, and exposes sleeping souls to many and great dangers: though love may excuse it, yet will Jesus sharply reprove for it.  Why sleep ye? wherefore do you indulge yourselves with sloth when you are called to activity? sleep is unreasonable when danger is near. Ye know, my beloved disciples, your adversary Satan is ever wakeful, watchful, busy in plotting and seeking to rob you of your shield of faith. Is this a time to be sluggish? to fold your hands and cry, a little more carnal ease and worldly pleasures, a little

"I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword." —Matthew 10:34 [KJV] Is not our Saviour the Prince of peace? Hath He not made peace between God and man, by the blood of His cross? Doth He not give peace in the conscience, and establish peace among His people? Is it not the essence of the gospel to preach peace by Christ? All this is true. Why then doth my Lord say, "I came not to send peace, but a sword?" Conceive not of the meek Lamb as though His soul delighted in war, and that the sword of slaughter should be drunk with human blood. No: He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Therefore this sword is no other than the "sword of the Spirit, the word of God."   It is rendered in St. Luke, DIVISION. This sword divides and separates a Christian from his carnal friends and relations; yea, divides asunder flesh and Spirit. Hence open war commences, and hostilities begin; for there never, never can be any peace, harmony, and a