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

"According as H e hath chosen us in H im before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before H im in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to H imself, according to the good pleasure of H is will." -E PHESIANS 1:4, 5 [KJV]   It is a very solemn but a very true assertion, that no man can quicken his own soul; and it is an equally solemn, we might almost say, a tremendous truth, that the gospel only comes in power to those whom God has chosen unto eternal life. Indeed the one flows from the other; for if no man can quicken his own soul, it necessarily follows it must be of sovereign grace that it is quickened at all. Once you allow the fall, and acknowledge that a man is by nature so thoroughly dead in trespasses and sins that he cannot raise himself up out of this state to newness of life, then the doctrine of election necessarily follows. A living soul may reason thus: "Am I quickened? Yes

I constantly try to drive home this point to our hearts: GO TO CHRIST ! Yet there are many who still will not go to Christ. I ask you this question: Where else can you go? Where else can you go for forgiveness of your sin? It is “the blood of Jesus Christ H is Son cleanseth us from all sin” [I JOHN 1:7 ] . Where else can you go for salvation? “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” [ACTS 4:12 ] . Where else can you go for righteousness? “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” [GALATIANS 2:21 ] . Where else can you go for the water of life? “If any man thirst, let him come unto M e, and drink” [ J OHN 7:37 ] . Where else can you go for the way of salvation, the truth of God, and eternal life? “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by M e ” [ J OHN 14:6

The grand design of the Heavenly Father in creation, providence, and salvation is to have a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, populated by a holy people out of all nations, perfectly conformed to the likeness of His Son. This work He gave to our Lord Jesus in the eternal council and covenant to accomplish, to perfect, and to deliver to Him at the end. And "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth" [ISAIAH 42:4 ] . - Gospel report by preacher Henry Mahan