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

"Who is she that looketh forth as the morning; fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?" -Song of Solomon 6:10 [KJV]   By whomsoever this question is asked, there can be no question of whom it is said; for the church of Jesus, made comely by the comeliness which her Lord hath put upon her, is all this, and more, in every eye that can admire true loveliness; and will be a perfection of beauty, in the upper and brighter world for ever. The first openings of grace upon the soul, after a dark night of the fall, may be compared to the beauty of the morning. But though fair as the moon, it is but a borrowed light, as the moon, and subject to changes in its increasings, and in its warnings also.    As long as the sun's influences are upon this planet, its shinings will be fair. But when objects intervene from the earth, and the sun shines not, there will be an eclipse of all its borrowed lustre. Just so the church; and Oh! how ofte...

"Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents." -Song of Solomon 1:7, 8 [KJV] If you say that you want food and rest, to know Christ for yourself and to enjoy His presence and love, the Lord gives you two directions to attain to the enjoyment of these two blessings: 1. to tread in the footsteps of the flock, to walk in the way in which the saints of old have walked, in the path of tribulation and faith; 2. if you are favoured in any way to live within reach of the shepherds' tents, and have the privilege of hearing the gospel preached in its purity and power, to bring your kids in your arms beside the tent, and to put them down to feed on the juicy herbage.    And be assured that if...

"What is your life?"   - James 4:14 [KJV] A short day, full of evils; a span long, replete with crosses. Each revolving day brings its troubles; each fleeting moment, its sorrows. ‘Yes,’ says a soul, ‘I am a living witness of this: I am a mark for the enemy to shoot his fiery darts at; against man he daily renews his attacks, constantly buffets, and is ever busy with his subtle devices. Each morning I rise, I am brought into the field to exercise my arms; or on the stage, to conflict with my enemies. Truly, I am almost worn and wearied out. What with a sense of indwelling corruptions, the plague of my heart, the attacks of Satan, the troubles of the world, want of the sense of my Lord’s love, and the workings of unbelief;—my life is one continued scene of sorrow and distress.’ Remember, for your comfort, your life is short: your rest shall be eternal and glorious. Consider what one sweetly says, “It is the great work and difficulty, and yet duty of a christian, ...

"And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship; and so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land." -Acts 27:44 [KJV] This is the beautiful conclusion of a history, which, during the providence wherein Paul the apostle and his companions were in shipwreck, afforded large opportunity for the exercise of faith. The issue, it appears, was not doubtful from the first; for an angel of God had assured Paul, that God had given unto him the lives of all that sailed with him. And so it proved; yea, the very wreck of the ship furnished out means for the people's safety. Now, my soul, here is a very precious instruction for thee. In the exercises of thy life, learn from hence to abide firmly by the promise, when every thing leading to its accomplishment seems to fail. God hath said, that eternal life, with all its preliminaries, is in His Son; and that "he that hath the Son, hath life, and shall not come into condemnation." Now...

"He will keep the feet of His saints."   -I Samuel 2:9 [KJV] The Lord sees His poor scattered pilgrims traveling through a vale of tears, journeying through a waste howling wilderness, a path beset with gins, traps, and snares in every direction. How can they escape? Why, the Lord keeps their feet, carries them through every rough place, as a tender parent carries a little child; when about to fall, graciously lays the everlasting arms underneath them, and when tottering and stumbling, and their feet ready to slip, mercifully upholds them from falling altogether. Thus the Lord keeps the feet of His saints. But do you think that He has not different ways for different feet? The God of creation has not made two flowers, nor two leaves upon a tree alike; and will He cause all His people to walk in precisely the same path? No; we have each our path, each our besetment, each our trials, each peculiar traps and snares laid for our feet. And the wisdom of the all wise a...

Particular Redemption, Limited Atonement, Definite Atonement & Effectual Atonement  These are all words used to describe the atoning work of Christ on the cross.  He died for a particular people.  His intention to save was limited to the elect.  His atonement was with a definite purpose for a definite people.  His atonement was effectual.  All for whom He died must be saved.  These terms are all well and good in their place, but a better word is plain old SUBSTITUTION.   All of these terms point to a real, substitutionary death on the cross.  SUBSTITUTION IS THE GOSPEL.    To deny, water down, or omit in our preaching the particular, limited, definite, effectual death of Christ on the cross ( substitution ) is to deny, water down, or omit the Gospel of Christ.  The meaning of substitution is so simple that adjectives are not even needed to describe it. -unknown preacher of righteousness