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

"This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." - Luke 15:2 [KJV]   My soul! wouldest thou, by faith, review some more than ordinary representation of the Lord Jesus, to melt the finer feelings of thy heart, in the contemplation of His unequalled condescension and love? Let this be it, which the evangelist hath here drawn of the Son of God. Behold Him, encircled with poor publicans and sinners, alluring them to the arms of His mercy; and behold the self-righteous pharisees and scribes withdrawing from the sacred spot, and with all that indignation and scorn, which marked their character, murmuring at the grace of Jesus, saying, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them!"     Well is it for thee, my soul, that the Son of God hath received sinners; else how should I have been looked upon by Him? And well is it that His table hath been spread for sinners; or how should I have been fed by Him?   Yea, Lord, is it not the very feature of Thy rich...

"His bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." -Genesis 49:24 [KJV]   Our ancestors, you know, were celebrated bowmen. Victories were won at Cressy and Agincourt by the English yeomanry, who were skilled in the use of the bow. Latimer says, in a sermon preached before the king, that no man could be a good archer who did not learn from his boyhood; and the custom he tells us was for the father to put his hands upon the son's hands, to teach him how to shoot, and throw the whole strength of his body into the bow.    When the boy drew the bow, it was not the strength of his own arm that drew the string, nor was it the keenness of his eye that directed the arrow to the mark. The child appeared to draw the bow and to direct the arrow; but the hand of the father was upon the hand of the child, and the eye of the father was guiding the eye of the child; thus though the child seemed to draw the bow, it...

Paul the apostle speaks of “the grace of God that brings salvation” (Titus 2:11) . This is indeed a glorious picture! God’s grace is here portrayed as a vehicle – His chariot. In it is the salvation He is delivering to His people. This salvation is both a person and a blessing.       First, the salvation in this chariot of grace is a person . He is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jehovah in Old Testament times called Jesus “ My salvation” whom He would send to His people (Isaiah 49:6; 56:1) . When Jesus came, Simeon called Him “ Jehovah’s salvation” (Luke 2:30) , for He is the very embodiment of the salvation Jehovah ordained for His people. Every saint knows Jesus as “my salvation” (Psalm 27:1) , for Jesus is not only our Savior but also the salvation wrought by the Savior.       Second, the salvation in this chariot of grace is a blessing . And this blessing of salvation is in the hands of Him who is our salvatio...

" And he bowed himself, and said,  What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" -II Samuel 9:8 [KJV] Old love cannot be forgotten: it makes such deep, and leaves such lasting impressions on the mind, which time itself cannot efface. This was verified in David and Jonathan. The latter is dead; yet love to his memory lives in David’s heart. Hence, he enquires after the remains of his family, to shew kindness unto them. Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, is introduced to the king: he thus expresses the affection of his royal heart to him, “Fear not; I will surely shew kindness to thee, for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”   Had any of David’s subjects a right to arraign, and call him to an account, for this sovereign act of favour? Which of them would dare to say unto him, What doest thou?  But yet proud hearts rise with ...

"A nail in a sure place." -Isaiah 22:23 [KJV] My soul! through grace, thou hast long been enabled to hang all thy grand concerns for eternity upon the Lord Jesus; and will it not be a very refreshing subject for thine evening meditation, to see how eternally firm and secure all rest, with an unshaken and-unchangeable confidence? Behold Him as He is in Himself, in His person, work, and righteousness; "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Next contemplate Him as the source, origin, fountain, and support of all the great things of salvation. There is not a purpose of God, but is founded on Christ; not a promise, but is made, confirmed, and fulfilled in Christ; and not a dispensation in all the kingdoms of nature, grace, and glory, but comes from Christ and His own righteous government. Go on, under a third branch of meditation, and behold Jesus as a nail in a sure place, and that the persons, concerns, and blessings of His people ...

"I am the LORD that healeth thee." -Exodus 15:26 [KJV] How does God heal the diseases of His people? He heals them chiefly by subduing them; for in this life they are never thoroughly healed. The promise runs: "He will subdue our iniquities"   (Micah 7:19) . To subdue them is to restrain their power. Thus He sees one suffering under the power of unbelief. He gives him faith: this subdues his unbelief. Here is another poor languid patient, dying of exhaustion: He gives him strength. Here is a third mourning under his corruptions: He gives a drop of His blood to purge his conscience, and a taste of His love to warm his heart. He sees a fourth crying under the strong assaults of Satan: with one look Satan flies and the soul is set free. Thus with infinite wisdom blended with infinite love and power, He passes on from bed to bed of every sick patient, administering health wherever He goes. This blessed Physician has a remedy for every disease, and the reme...