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

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." - I PETER 4:12 [KJV] The "fiery trial," then, is not a strange thing which happens only to a few of the Lord's family, but is more or less the appointed lot of all. Do we not hear the Lord saying to His Zion, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction?" All then that are chosen must pass through the furnace of affliction, and all know experimentally the fiery trial, for by it they are made partakers of Christ's sufferings. But this is indispensable in order to be partakers of H is glory. "If so be that we suffer with H im, that we may be also glorified together." Thus they suffer with H im, "that when H is glory shall be revealed, they may be glad also with exceeding joy." And this suffering with and for Christ in the furnace of affliction salts the soul, preserves it fro...

“ Let us look upon a crucified Christ as the remedy of all our miseries. His cross has procured a crown and His passion has expiated our transgressions. His death has disarmed the law and His blood has washed a believer’s soul. His death is the destruction of our enemies, the spring of our happiness, and the eternal testimony of divine love!” -Gospel report by preacher Stephen Charnock (1628 – 1680 A.D.)

"I AM THE DOOR : by M e if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." -J OHN 10:9 [KJV] There is a finding pasture in providence. A sweet and healthy pasture indeed this is to watch the Lord's providential dealings with us spread through a long series of years. It is seeing the Lord's providential hand which makes the commonest temporal mercies sweet. Every nibble of grass or lock of hay which we can believe to be specially provided for us by the hand of that good Shepherd becomes thereby doubly sweet. But O what pastures in grace has God provided for H is hungry sheep! Look at the promises and declarations, the sacred truths and heavenly consolations scattered up and down the Scriptures of truth. But of all spiritual pasture thus provided for the flock, the chiefest is the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus.   This is H is own divine declaration: "For M y flesh is meat indeed, and M y blood is drink indeed...