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

"The joy of the LORD is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:10 [KJV] This is a precious, evangelical chapter. Glorious gospel truths are here held forth to us. Lord, help us to see them, and feed upon them .  Here is, (1st.) a solemn observation of the feast of tabernacles. This was appointed by the wisdom of God the Father, (Leviticus 23:34.) Did God solemnly command the people to dwell in booths for eight days, but to some glorious end? Christ is the substance of the whole law: here is a shadow of Him. Here is typified, God’s beloved Son, who was to tabernacle in our flesh, and all the Father’s glory to dwell in Him.  (2d.) “The people gathered together as one man.” So, “Unto Shiloh, the Messiah, shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10.)   (3d.) Ezra the priest reads and expounds to them the law, in the open street: (much such another crime as field preaching) the people were convinced of sin, and wept. The law ministers death and condemnation to th...

"I am among you as He that serveth."   -Luke 22:27 [KJV] Surely there is a blessedness in these words that affords substance to feed upon. My soul, read them again and again; pause over them, pray over them, and look up to Him that thus so humbly, graciously, and lovingly, expressed Himself. Art thou, blessed Jesus, among Thy people as He that serveth? I know, Lord, that Thou didst condescend to become the servant of Jehovah, though Thou were Lord of all, when for the salvation of poor sinners Thou didst undertake to veil Thy Godhead, and in our nature to become our Surety.  And I know, Lord, also, that Thou didst, in a very memorable moment, and at a time when as the evangelist had it to relate to the church, thou knewest that the Father had given all things into Thine hands, Thou didst condescend to wash Thy disciples feet. But art Thou still among Thy people as one that serveth? Be astonished, O heavens, and wonder, O earth! All power is Thine in heaven and in e...

"For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed ." -Romans 10:11 [KJV] A child of God may be often deeply exercised whether he has any faith at all; for when he reads what faith has done and can do, and sees and feels how little it has done for him, he is seized with doubts and fears whether he has ever been blessed with the faith of God's elect. This makes him often say, "Oh, do I indeed possess one grain of saving faith?"   But he does possess it: nay, it is his very faith which makes him so anxiously ask himself the question, as well as see and feel the nature and amount of his unbelief. It is the very light of God shining into his soul that shews him his sins, their nature and number; convinces him of their guilt and enormity; lays the burden of them upon his conscience; and discovers to him the workings of an unbelieving heart.  But besides this, if he had no faith at all he could not hear the voice of God speaking i...