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

" Ye are called in one hope of your calling." - Ephesians 4:4 [KJV] What a glorious day was that to Saul, when the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, I am Jesus , your Saviour! Says one, “O that I were as sure that Christ hath called me, as He did St. Paul! Then, how happy should I be!” Verily, thou mayest be happy: thou mayest be as sure, thou art as effectually called as the apostle was. Thy concern of mind about it is a clear evidence, and full proof of it.  While in a state of natural ignorance and unbelief, had St. Paul a single wish, or desire, to be called by Christ? Nor wouldst thou, if He had not first called thee by the grace of His word, and the power of His Spirit.  Therefore, doubt not of, but rejoice in the hope of thy calling. Love Christ for calling thee. Give Him the glory of it . Ye are called. The effects prove it. Ye who were dead in sin, without hope in Christ, have ears to hear the word of Christ, eyes to see the glory of Christ, a ...

"Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing ." -John 20:27 [KJV] Was Jesus willing to have His wounds searched, than His unbelieving disciple should go unconvinced? Look, then, my soul, at Jesus, and He will grant thee a suitable testimony, to hush all thy remaining doubts, if so be after such manifestations of grace as He hath shewn thee, there be a single doubt left behind. Doth not Jesus, in effect, say, in every renewed ordinance, Reach hither thy finger, thrust in thine hand, and the precious blood thou needest shall flow; for the fountain for sin, for uncleanness, for unbelief, and, in short, for every necessity of My people, is still open. Is not this the language of all? Doth unbelief doubt the reality of the thing itself, like Thomas? Doth unbelief tempt the soul to doubt the particular efficacy of it to special cases, such as a man...

“Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.” -Luke 22:28 [KJV] Satan brought all his artillery to bear upon the Son of God. He was permitted to try Him to the utmost. It was the purpose of God that His well-beloved Son should be tempted like as we are; and if you are God’s, not a single temptation has beset you which did not beset the Lord of life and glory. Are we tempted sometimes to doubt a God of providence? The Lord Jesus was similarly tempted, when Satan said to Him, “Command these stones to be made bread.” Are we tempted to vain confidence and presumption? The Lord of life and glory was similarly tempted, when the prince of darkness said to Him, “If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence.” Are we often tempted to disbelieve that we are the children of God, and exercised at times with distressing suspicions and fears lest we have only a profession of religion without its experimental power in our hearts?  Satan brought the same ag...