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

"Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." -I Corinthians 5:8 [KJV]   My soul, hast thou duly considered the unsuitableness of all leaven to mix up with the unleavened bread of the gospel of Jesus? Whatever sours, and gives a principle of taint to the mind, is indeed a leaven, carefully to be avoided. And "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump!" So that it was expressly enjoined, in the divine precept of the law, on the passover, that "there should be no leaven found in their houses; the soul that did eat of it was to be cut off from the congregation," Exodus 12:19. Sweet instruction, couched under the prohibition! With Jesus there is to be no mixture; nothing of creature leaven, of self-will, or self-righteousness to mingle .    My soul, thou hast been at the gospel feast, and sat with Jesus at His table. Surely thou hast kept t...

"O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in Thine anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing." -Jeremiah 10:24 [KJV]   "Fury is not in Me," saith the Lord. No; there is no wrath in the bosom of God against the persons of His people. They are for ever "accepted in the Beloved," and stand in Him before the throne of God without spot or wrinkle; but there is displeasure against their sins; and this displeasure their kind and gracious Father makes them feel when He withdraws from them the light of His countenance, and sends His keen reproofs and sharp rebukes into their conscience. But these very "judgments" help them (Psalm 119:175) , for they lead to deep searchings of heart; and as the same blessed Spirit who sets home the reproof communicates therewith repentance, they sorrow after a godly manner, and this godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of (II Corinthians 7:10).    If, then, our afflictions, crosses, ...

Frequently in Scripture we read, “We know,” or “”I know,” or “You know.”   Not, I think, or I hope, or this is my opinion.   I know.   When is it we can say, “We know” ?     When we see it is what Scripture actually teaches.    We cannot say, “We know” without that.     We say, “We know” when it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.   It is only then that, “We know.”     After seeing it is what the Scriptures teach and it has been revealed to our hearts by the Spirit of God, it is now the only thing that makes sense!    When I see what the Bible says about me, and God the Holy Spirit reveals to me what the Bible says about me is true, I am by nature, choice, and practice sinful… dead in trespasses and sins, the only thing that makes sense for my salvation is God’s sovereign choice of me in Christ before the foundation of the world .   Christ actually put away my sins, making a way for God to be just ...

"I stir up your pure minds, by way of remembrance."   -II Peter 3:1 [KJV]  All the children of God are the subjects of pure minds. Many of them complain of bad memories. All need to have their minds stirred up, and their memories quickened. There is no doubt but Peter had a pure mind, when he denied his Lord. But he seems to display a very treacherous memory, in sadly forgetting himself, his Lord, and His words. Forgetfulness of dangers, causes us to fall into them. Forgetting our own weakness to stand, causes us to fall.    Consider, (1st.) What is a pure mind. That which we are all destitute of by nature. “Our mind and conscience is defiled, and unbelieving” (Titus 1:15.) Our mind is made pure, when our hearts are sprinkled from an evil or guilty conscience, by the blood of Christ through faith (Hebrews 10:22.) So that a pure mind is a believing mind, which receives the truth as it is in Jesus, in the power and purity of it; and holds the mystery of...

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say, Come. And let him that is athirst, Come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." -Revelation 22:17 [KJV]   My soul, doth not the evening bell, which calleth to the ordinance, in all its melodious sounds, seem to express these gracious invitations? Wilt thou not attend? Private meditation is indeed sweet; but public ordinances are of more avail. "The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob!" What a blessed sight is it to see the house of God well filled! What a refreshment to my poor weary sin-sick soul, to hear Jesus in His word saying, "Come unto Me, all ye that are weary, and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And every part and portion of the service proclaims the gospel cry:— "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, wit...

"God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light." -Psalm 118:27 [KJV]   If God the Lord hath shewed us light, He hath shewed us light both with respect to Himself and with respect to ourselves. He hath shewed us with respect to Himself who He is; He hath stamped something of Himself upon our consciences; He hath discovered something of His glorious character to our souls; and brought us, under the operation of the Holy Spirit, into His presence, there to receive communications of life out of Christ's inexhaustible fulness. Thus in this light we see and feel that we have to do with a heart searching God; in this light we see and feel that we have to do with a sin hating God; with a God who will not be mocked nor trifled with; in this light we see and feel that every secret of our heart, every working of our mind is open before Him; and in this light, so far as He is pleased to manifest it, we see what we are in His holy and pure eyes—a mass of sin, filth, and cor...