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

“The true vine.” -John 15:1 [KJV] Dearest Jesus, how shall I ever be able sufficiently to admire, much less adore Thee, for Thy wonderful and unequalled condescension? What image, what similitude in nature, hast thou made use of here, in that of the vine, to mark the lowliness and meekness of thy person; and in the same moment, thy fruitfulness, and love, and usefulness to thy people!    It was truly prophesied of Thee, my Lord, that Thou shouldest be "as a root out of a dry ground . " And what so apparently dry and unpromising, before the budding season, as the vine? It was said that Thou wouldest have "no form nor comeliness, nor any beauty, that we should desire Thee." And here when Thou callest Thyself "the true vine , " surely, Lord, Thou couldest have chosen no image more unsightly. It was said, that Thou shouldest be "lowly and meek, when coming with salvation." And what so low as the vine, that sends forth her branches upon the groun...

"Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off." -Proverbs 23:17, 18 [KJV] The Lord is here addressing Himself to a soul labouring under temptation, and passing through peculiar exercises; and this is the exhortation that He gives it: "Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long;" watching His hand, submitting to His will, committing everything into His care and keeping; not hardening your heart against Him, but looking up to Him, and worshipping Him with godly fear; "for surely there is an end." You may be tempted, exercised, and surrounded with difficulties, and see no outlet; but "surely there is an end;" and, when the end comes, it will make all plain and clear. This quiet submission, this watching and waiting, a man can never be brought to unless he has seen an end to all perfection; an end of his own strength, wisdom, and righteousness.    To sit still is th...

      We do not find rest, hope nor comfort in our faith, BUT IN CHRIST.  If you will give careful thought to that statement, it will be of great help to you. Faith is not a foundation, a refuge, nor a source of help.  Faith is a means, a look, an empty hand.  It is Christ who is our refuge, who protects from every storm.  He is our Rock on which we build.  He is our source of every mercy and our only plea.  My faith may be weak or weaker, but He cannot fail.  If all my debts have been paid by my Surety, I do not have to be ashamed to come before God.  The praise and credit goes not to my boldness and faith but to my Gracious Benefactor!  I am not debt-free because I believe (though I do, and that faith united me to Him) but because HE SET ME FREE AND PAID MY DEBT.  Christ is our confidence and our assurance.  The moment I seek a reason for hope in anything I do, even in the blessed grace of faith, I forfeit an...

My God! How cheerful is the sound! How pleasant to repeat! Well may that heart with pleasure bound, Where God hath fixed His seat. What want shall not our God supply From His abundant stores? What streams of mercy from on high An arm almighty pours! From Christ the ever-living Spring, These ample blessings flow: Prepare, my lips, His name to sing, Whose heart has loved us so. Now to our Father and our God Be endless glory giv’n, Through all the realms of man’s abode, And through the highest heaven. -old Gospel hymn,   "O For A Thousand Tongues"    "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His mercy is ev...

"My hopes from appearances are cold.  My faith has no bed to sleep upon but God’s omnipotency." -preacher Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661 A.D.)

"With clouds He covereth the light, and commandeth it not to shine, by the cloud that cometh betwixt."   - Job 36:32 [KJV]   The sun, from its first formation by its almighty Creator, shines at all times alike. There never was, is, or ever can be, any addition to, or diminution from, its light and heat. But we perceive a sensible difference. Even the intervention of a cloud coming between us and the sun, hides and obscures the glorious rays of light from us. There are fixed laws in creation. All nature acts under the direction of those laws, prescribed by our all-wise Lord.    As in nature, so in grace. As by the natural sun, so it is by the Sun of Righteousness : it shines with an equal degree of resplendent glory, of light, love, and grace at all times. But, we are not always alike sensible of it. Why not? As clouds and vapours arise from the earth, and interrupt the light of the natural sun, by coming between that and us; just so, the clouds of sin, the vapours of...