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

"The golden pot that had manna." - Hebrews 9:4 [KJV]   There is somewhat very blessed in the account given concerning the furniture of the second tabernacle. Some few evenings since, my soul, a glance was taken of the candlestick, the table and shew-bread; in the first tabernacle. Perhaps the Lord the Holy Ghost will open to thy meditation some edifying considerations in the view of the contents of the second. The golden pot, which preserved the manna pure, that in itself was soon subject to corruption, was unquestionably a beautiful emblem of the divine nature of Jesus, imparting durableness and dignity to His human nature.   We are told concerning the manna, that if the Israelites kept it, though but for a day (except when miraculously preserved pure on the sabbath-day, to remind them of that ordinance) it bred worms, and stank; Exodus 16:20. But in this golden pot, an omer full of manna put therein, was laid up before the Lord as a memorial, and preserved p...

"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself." -Jeremiah 31:18 [KJV]   The spiritual feeling of sin is indispensable to the feeling of salvation. A sense of the malady must ever precede, and prepare the soul for, a believing reception and due apprehension of the remedy. Wherever God intends to reveal His Son with power, wherever He intends to make the gospel "a joyful sound" indeed, He makes the conscience feel and groan under the burden of sin. And sure am I that when a man is labouring under the burden of sin, he will be full of complaint.    The Bible records hundreds of the complaints of God's people under the burden of sin. "My wounds stink and are corrupt , " cries one, "because of my foolishness. I am troubled: I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long" (Psalm 38:5, 6). "My soul , " cries another, is "full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave" (Psalm 88:3) . "He...

"Nothing is more offensive to Satan than humility, for he is a proud spirit, and his desire is to puff us up and get us to walk and act independently of God."   -preacher Arthur Pink, excerpt from 'Resist the Devil'

"Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day?"   -Genesis 40:7 [KJV]   A sympathizing spirit at all times becomes Christians. They are called “to rejoice with them who do rejoice, and to weep with them who weep” (Romans 12:15.) Joseph could not observe the sad looks of his fellow prisoners, without inquiring the cause. They said, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it.” Mind the use Joseph made of the distress. He refers them to the Lord. “Do not interpretations belong unto God?” O may the Lord help us to make some improvement of this.    Consider, (1st.) Christians are all fellow prisoners in a body of sin and death.    (2d.) We are all subject, at one time or another, to have cause for sad looks.    (3d.) We should imitate Joseph. Be of a sympathizing spirit. Feel for one another’s distress. Inquire the cause of our brethren’s sad looks.    (4th.) As he did, so we should refer to the Lord. Aim, as enabled by...

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty. He will save. He will rejoice over thee with joy. He will rest in His love. He will joy over thee with singing." -Zephaniah 3:17 [KJV]   My soul! look at this old testament promise, through the medium of the new testament dispensation, and behold what a cluster of rich blessings it contains; and which, like all the other promises of the bible, is "yea and amen in Christ Jesus!" And observe how it opens. The LORD thy God, that is, Jehovah in His threefold character of person, in rich covenant engagements, is "in the midst of thee ; " hath set up His throne in Zion, and lives, and reigns, and governs in the hearts of His redeemed. So said Jesus, and so that dear Lord explained it in after ages: "If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him ; " John 14:23 . "I will pray the Father, and He shall give...

"Follow after righteousness." -I Timothy 6:11 [KJV]   We may understand two things by this expression. First, the discovery to the conscience of Christ's imputed righteousness, in the way of justification; and secondly, the communication to the soul of a divine or righteous nature, whereby it brings forth the fruits of sincerity and uprightness before God. Both are to be followed after. But it may be asked, Why the first, if a man has a knowledge of his justification, and a sense of his acceptance with God? But may not a sense of interest in Jesus' glorious righteousness, and the inward testimony of the Spirit be lost in the enjoyment of them, or at least considerably diminished, for a time?    We read ( Luke 15:8 ) of the woman who lost a piece of silver. Was there not a lighting of the candle, a sweeping of the house, and a diligent search into every corner till it was found again? The woman's piece of money was not really lost; it was still in th...