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

"I will walk before the LORD, in the land of the living."   -Psalm 116:9 [KJV] When the king confers the honour of knighthood, he bestows an empty title, and nothing more. But when the King of saints calls a poor sinner into His presence, He confers on him not a mere title of an empty sound, but He dignifies him with a nature: He makes him a new creature. These two different kinds of spirits are to be avoided.    (1st.) Such as under a great shew (- showing or display ) of holiness, deny the fundamental doctrines of grace.    (2d.) Those who make a vile abuse of those doctrines. In the former pride reigns. Over the latter, lusts have the dominion.    David reproves both. Under the lively sense of distinguishing mercy and sovereign grace, he here makes a holy resolution. “Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” What then? Now all is safe and well, I will flee to the tents of ungodliness, and ...

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:12 [KJV]   My soul! Take the apostle for an example in thine evening's meditation. Here he freely and fully confesseth himself, after all his attainments in the life of grace, to be far short of what he longed to attain. And observe the aim of the apostle: all his pursuit, and all his desire was, like an arrow shot at a mark, to apprehend Christ, as Christ had first apprehended him: to grasp Jesus, as the Lord Jesus had held, and did hold him . Happy desire! Happy pursuit! And blessed mark of grace! For let the Lord have given out to the soul ever so largely, there is more to give out, more to be received, more to be enjoyed. And the Holy Ghost, who is leading a child of God out of himself, more and more, to lead him more and more to the enjoyment of Jesus, is sweetly training ...

"And they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away."   -I  Corinthians 7:31 [KJV] Nothing is real but that which has an abiding substance. Health decays, strength diminishes, beauty flees the cheek, sight and hearing grow dim, the mind itself gets feeble, riches make to themselves wings and flee away, children die, friends depart, old age creeps on, and life itself comes to a close. These fugitive, transitory things are then mere shadows; there is no substance, enduring substance in them. Like our daily food and raiment, house and home, they support and solace us in our journey through life.    But there they stop; when life ends, they end with it. But real religion—and by this I understand the work of God upon the soul —abides in death and after death, goes with us through the dark valley, and lands us safe in a blessed eternity. It is, therefore, the only thing in this world of which we can say that it is real. ...

"The difference between true and false repentance is as great as that between the running of water in the paths after a violent shower, and the streams which flow from a living fountain.  A false repentance has grief of mind and humiliation only for great and glaring offences, or until it supposes pardon for them obtained: true repentance is a continued war against sin, a permanent inward shame for its defilements, until death sounds the retreat. " -copied 

  WE GLORY IN JESUS    To glory in ourselves we’re prone, Because we’re vain and full of pride; Lord, keep this vaunting spirit down, In Thee to boast, and nought beside    What Jesus is of God to me, And not what in myself I am; Shall all my glory daily be, That I am righteous in the LAMB.                                                             -------O-------   THE SCRIPTURE       “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”   -II Timothy 3:16 [KJV]      Let me break this verse down.   “All scripture” - not only the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well.  No part of scripture is unnecessary, and no part ever becomes obsolete.   “But...

"Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?" - Song of Solomon 3:3 [KJV] An abrupt question. Very oddly stated. Had this enquirer no name for her beloved? Can she suppose every one she asks, knew who was the beloved of her soul, and was acquainted with her loss of him? The spouse of Christ here seems to be in great discomposure of mind. Just like a tender mother, who had lost the beloved son of her womb: or an affectionate wife, in search after an indulgent husband; thinking every one has heard of her distress, asks with the utmost eagerness, Have you seen him?     O for more of this love of Christ in our souls! Observe here, the actings of a gracious heart, under the sense of Christ’s withdrawing His comforting presence. That Christ, for wise and good ends best known to Himself, doth withdraw Himself, is a truth that has been experienced by all His saints. You have not been long married to Christ, if you have not taken up the words of the church of old, “Verily Thou art a...