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

"And He spake this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous." -Luke 18:9 [KJV] Christ came into the world to save sinners from their sins into all holiness of heart and life. His gospel requires the strictest purity in walk and conversation. Those who have experienced its power, find their souls formed for this. But a self-righteous spirit is as odious to Christ, and as contrary to the genius of His gospel, as a profane swearer. Hence He spake this parable against such.  See (1st.) who are here reproved. Every one who places his trust or confidence in any works of righteousness which he has done, or can do, to make himself righteous before God, or to justify himself, first or last, in whole or in part in God’s sight. Such are properly Pharisees, or self-righteous persons. Lord, keep our souls humble before Thee, that we fall not into this cursed pride and dangerous delusion.  But such say, We do not trust in what we can do of ourse...

"In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve."   -Jeremiah 50:20 [KJV] What those days and that time refer to is very plain; namely, the day when the great trumpet shall be blown, and when they shall come which were ready to perish; the glorious day of gospel grace by Jesus . For God the Father, having appointed and accepted a Surety for poor sinners, in the blood and righteousness of His dear Son, beholds no iniquity in Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel. Blessed thought to comfort a poor soul—that, seen in Christ, and accepted in the Beloved, "there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit!" Pause, my soul, over this precious scripture, and take to thyself the comfort of it. If thou art in Christ, thou art beheld righteous in H...

"But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." -Hebrews 10:12 [KJV] It is a fundamental article of our most holy faith, that the man Christ Jesus is now at God's right hand, a very man, not a shadowy, aerial substance. "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."   God looks at Him as such with eyes of intense delight, with ever new approbation and love; and views Him as the Representative of all that are interested in Him; He being the Head, the Church the members; He the Bridegroom, the Church the bride; He the great High Priest, and the Church the house of God.  As living for her at the right hand of the Father, He is ever presenting on her behalf the validity of His intercession. The fact, the reality that He is there, is the Church's joy, as it is all her hope and all her boast. "Because I live, ye shall live also" states our LORD JESUS (Jo...