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

"He who lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."   -II Peter 1:9 [KJV] It is hard to say, whether St. Peter here draws the character of a mere formal professor; or of one who has really tasted that the Lord is gracious, and has awfully back-slidden. Be it which it may, it holds forth a solemn lesson of instruction to our souls. We may hence lay this down as a sacred truth, that whatever profession a man makes of faith in Christ— justification by Him, hope of salvation through Him; yet, if he is destitute of the graces of the Spirit, and the fruits of righteousness in his life, he is blind to the glorious end of the gospel of peace, and is a stranger to the purifying grace and pardoning love of Christ to his soul.  Think of this. Pardoning love, purifying grace, and sanctifying influences are inseparable. Where there is the root of grace, there will be the fruits of righteousness. This is as...

"There remaineth therefore A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD."   -Hebrews 4:9 [KJV]   Blessed motto for the close of the month, or the day, or year; after being fatigued with the thoughts, and cares, and anxieties of life. My soul, delight thyself in the thought of it, look forward to the speedy enjoyment of it. Like the prophet's vision, it will come; wait for it.    No sorrow you have gone through will ever come over again. No persecution already felt shall exactly be again practised. The same trial shall not be again known. Every day, every hour of the day, we are nearer home. Precious consideration. And Jesus is the rest of His people. Lord, in Thee alone I find rest; be Thou my hope, and be Thou my portion for ever. -preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)

"By grace ye are saved."   -Ephesians 2:5 [KJV] Oh! the volumes of blessed truth that are couched in these few words; thrown in out of the apostle's full heart as if to give a moment's vent to his love of salvation by grace! Mercy, love, and grace are all in the bosom of God toward His saints; and yet they differ from each other. But how? Mercy regards the criminal; love regards the object; grace, perhaps, is a blending of the two,—the union of mercy and love. God loves the holy unfallen angels; there is an object of sovereign, distinguishing, free, and super-abounding.  Every attribute of Jehovah is distinct, and yet so blended that the whole shine forth in one glorious effulgence. The rays of the sun united form one complete body of pure, bright light; but the prism or the rainbow separates these rays into distinct colours. So the attributes of God are not confused though blended, and all shine forth in one pure bright glory.  But this is the peculiar ...