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

"Ye are dead, and your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD."   - Colossians 3:3 [KJV] We are apt to mistake the words, and pervert the meaning of scripture. This charge is brought against us by Jeremiah : “Ye have perverted the words of the living God , ”   (chapter 23:36.) This dejects our souls, robs Christ of the glory of our hearts, and prevents our holy and comfortable walk in Him. See if this be not the case with respect to this text. Ye believers in Christ, are dead ,  (1st.) “to the law by the body of Christ”   (Romans 7:4.) Being one with Christ by faith, you are dead to all legal hopes, from your own works.  (2d.) Dead to sin, being baptized into Christ by His Spirit (Romans 6:3.)  (3d.) Dead to the world, being crucified with Christ (Galatians 6:14.) O says one, and another sincere soul, I am not thus dead. I have no true faith. I find sin alive in me—legal hopes and fears cleaves to me—and too much love of the world in me, to my grief and burden ....

"The eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." -Deuteronomy 11:12 [KJV] Oh for grace, to live always under an abiding sense of this most blessed truth. My soul, never forget it, if possible, but always possess in recollection an abiding apprehension of Jesus' gracious presence. And do Thou, dearest Lord, when Thou art coming forth in mercies, give me grace to be going forth to meet Thee with praises: and while Thou art bartering Thy riches for my poverty, let all Thy bounties be doubly sweetened in coming from Thine own hand, and being sanctified by Thy blessing, that I may receive all to my soul's joy, and to the praise of the Father's grace in Christ Jesus. Amen. -preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." -Acts 20:32 [KJV] Not only did Paul "commend"  the church at Ephesus "to God,"  but he commended them also in an especial manner "to the word of His grace."  There is a difference between "grace"  and "the word of His grace."  Nothing but grace can save the soul; nothing but super-abounding grace can blot out and hide from the view of justice our aggravated iniquities. But "the word of His grace"  is that word which brings this grace into the heart, which communicates life and power to the soul, which the Spirit by his inward teaching and testimony seals on the conscience, and by which He reveals and sheds abroad that favour of which He testifies. This is what the Lord's people want. It is "the word of grace"  that reaches their soul...