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

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy ." -Romans 9:16 [KJV] He that is not interested in the eternal election of God the Father, in the atoning blood and justifying righteousness of God the Son, in the work and witness of God the Holy Ghost, whatever be his name, sect, denomination or profession; whatever be his outward conduct, the doctrines he professes, or the creed to which he signs his name, he will die as Esau died, as Balaam died, as king Saul died, as Judas and Ahithophel died. He will never see the King in His beauty; never see the land afar off; never see the new Jerusalem, nor the blood of sprinkling, "that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel."   But every living soul that has been feelingly taught his lost condition, that has known something of a resting place in  Christ, that has turned his back upon the world and the professing church, and gone weeping Zion-ward, in whose h...

"Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom." -Proverbs of Solomon 4:7 [KJV] In Joseph’s visions, the sun, moon, and stars, made obeisance to him, and all the sheaves bowed to his sheaf (Genesis 37:7.) So wisdom is honoured and exalted above and beyond every thing beside. This wisdom is the Son of God, “to whom every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2:10.) Jesus under the character of wisdom, is said to cry—to utter His voice— Behold I will pour out My Spirit into you —and wisdom is said to enter into the heart  (Proverbs 1:20-23 & 2:10.)   All this can be applied to none other but Christ, who is of God “made unto us wisdom” (I Corinthians 1:30.) He cries after us miserable sinners— He utters His voice of love to us—He pours out His Spirit upon us—He enters into our hearts, and dwells there by faith. This truly is the principal thing. This, infinitely above all others, demands the whole of our attention, labour and diligence. Get what we may, yet wi...

"Arise, and go down to the potter's house; and there I will cause thee to hear My words."   -Jeremiah 18:2 [KJV] Yes, Lord, with the first of the morning will I arise, and go down at Thy command, where, by the secret and silent whispers of Thy divine teaching, I may gather suitable instructions for interpreting all Thy dispensations, both in providence and grace, towards me. Mark, my soul, the vessel marred in the hand of the potter. Alas, how hath our nature been marred since it came out of the hand of our Almighty Potter! Will the potter cast his vessel away? No, he will new make it. Oh Thou glorious Lord! Methinks I hear Thy words in this, for Thou hast not thrown us away, but hast new made us, and more blessedly made us in Christ Jesus. My soul, art thou indeed thus new made, a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's use? Attend then to thy proper character, and never lose sight of it.  Refer every act of mercy and favour in thy origin...

"Deal bountifully with Thy servant, that I may live, and keep Thy word." -Psalm 119:17   [KJV] Can the Lord deal any way but bountifully with His servants? Why has He made you His servants? Why did He strike the chains of former servitude off your hands? Why did He bring you out of the service of sin, the world, Satan, and self? Why did He ever make Himself precious to your heart, win your affections, and enable you to give yourselves wholly unto Him?  That He might cast you off? that He might mock your calamity? that He might trample you one day into hell? that He might leave you to yourself, that He might suffer Satan to overcome you, permit your lusts to destroy you; or allow your sins to be tied one day, like a mill-stone, round your neck to sink you into hell? Oh, can our heart ever indulge thoughts so derogatory to sovereign grace? Was it not because the Lord had bounty in His heart towards you, that He first turned your heart towards Himself? Was it not b...