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

" To them who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of GOD, and our Saviour JESUS CHRIST." -II Peter 1:1 [KJV] There may be strong faith, where there is no true faith. Persons may pretend to have the assurance of faith—may believe that their sins are forgiven, without one grain of precious faith. Who believes more than a Deist does? He believes he has wisdom to guide, and power to save himself, without either the word, or the grace of God. Who has stronger faith than the self-righteous Pharisee had? He believed he had a right to go to God—to plead his Works before God—and to assure his heart that he was accepted of God. He wanted no righteousness from God. This is just such a faith, which all unregenerate men have.  It is not a precious faith—it is not obtained through the precious righteousness of Christ—it doth not make His glorious person, and everlasting righteousness precious to the heart—it does not cause such, to renounce th...

"...in His favour is life." -Psalm 30:5b [KJV] Oh for grace to keep this always in view, for then, Thou dear Lord, I should never consider my dead frames, or dead feelings, since I well-know that Thou ever bearest favour and good-will towards Thy people. For if Thy providences frown, or seem to frown, do I not know that behind that aspect Thy countenance is the same, always gracious, always favourable, and that Thou art invariably pursuing the everlasting happiness of Thy people? Let it please Thee, my Lord, to grant me this morning such views of Thy favour, that I may henceforth trace it in every thing. Was it not this favour that first opened a source of salvation? Was it not this favour that brought me into a participation of it? Was it not this favour that begat me to the knowledge of it—that quickened me to an enjoyment of it—that opened the communication of it, by which Thy grace became imparted to my soul?  And was it not the same favour that kept alive...

"In Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." -Ephesians 1:13 [KJV] Sealing is subsequent to believing: "In Whom after ye believed, ye were sealed." In legal documents the writing always precedes the sealing. That is the last act, and follows even the signing, putting an attesting stamp on the whole document, from the first word to the last signature. So in grace. The Spirit begins the work. He writes the first lines of divine truth on the soul; He makes the first impression on the heart of stone, which under His operation becomes a heart of flesh; He writes every truth that He thus makes known on the fleshy tables of the heart.  He thus gives faith and hope, and then He comes with His special inward witness, and seals the truth and reality of His own work, so as not only to make it plain and clear, but to ratify and confirm it beyond all doubt and fear, questioning or dispute, either by ourself or others. The ...