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

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy (see I Timothy 1:13) Literally, "I was bemercied ." Christians, why might not you have been in the number of those who persist in sinning? Because God has bemiracled you with mercy! See what cause you have to admire the stupendous goodness of God, who has wrought a change in you--and checked you in your full career of sin! Christians, you who are vessels of election, were by nature as wicked as others; but God had compassion on you and plucked you as brands out of the fire! He stopped you in your course of sinning-- when you were marching to Hell! He turned you back to Him by sincere repentance. Oh, here is the banner of love displayed over you! Behold sovereign grace! Let your hearts melt in love to God. Admire His royal bounty. Set the crown of all your praises, upon the head of free grace! "By the grace of God I am what I am!" (I Corinthians 15:10)   -preacher T...

"Stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."   -Galatians 5:1 [KJV] Here is somewhat enjoyed, danger of being deprived of it, and the necessity of standing fast in it. Let us consider these three points, looking unto Jesus.  (1st.) What is enjoyed? Liberty. One of the most precious blessings in life. But this of all liberties, is the most precious. For, Christ hath made us free in our consciences and from the guilt and power of sin.  (2d.) From all condemnation of the law.  And (3d.) To have access to God as righteous persons. He hath washed away the guilt of our sins by His blood: and subdued the power of them by His Spirit. “He hath delivered us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13.) So that “there is therefore no condemnation to us, being in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1.) He presents us before His Father in His perfect righteousness...

"And in the cities of Judah shall the flocks pass again under the hands of Him that telleth them, saith the LORD."   -Jeremiah 33:13 [KJV] See, my soul, what a blessed scripture is here. Meditate upon it, this morning. Whose hands can these be but Jesus'? For whose are the flocks but His? Is He not in all the scripture said to be a Shepherd, and the good Shepherd that giveth His life for the sheep? And would He give His life for sheep He knew not? Surely that is impossible. Moreover, did not the Father give them to Him? Did He not receive them from the Father?  And did He not know them and count them over, when He received them? "I know My sheep , " saith Jesus, "and am known of Mine." And observe, the flocks are said to pass again under His hands. A plain proof that they have all passed before. Nay, is it not said, that He telleth them? Yes, "He calleth them all by name, and, leadeth them forth, and goeth before them . " And He ...

"Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."   -I Peter 1:2 [KJV] When we see and feel how we need grace every moment of our lives, we at once perceive a beauty in the blessing thus asked for in an abundant, overflowing measure. We cannot walk the length of the street without sin. Our carnal minds, our vain imaginations, are all on the look out for evil. Sin presents itself at every avenue, and lurks like the Arab in the wilderness, or the prowling night thief for every opportunity of open or secret plunder. In fact, in ourselves, in our fallen nature, except as restrained and influenced by grace, we sin with well-nigh every breath that we draw. We need, therefore, grace upon grace, or, in the words of the text, grace to be "multiplied"  in proportion to our sins. Shall I say in proportion? Nay, if sin abounds, as to our shame and sorrow we know it does, we want grace to much more abound. When the neep tide of sin flows in with the mud and mire, we want ...