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

“ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” -M ATTHEW 22:11-14 [KJV] The wedding garment of Scripture, particularly spoke of in Matthew 22, hath been a subject of so much anxiety to many precious souls, that the matter itself ought to be put in the clearest light possible. The general belief is, that by it is meant Christ’s person, work and righteousness. And hence the church is represented as singing, “ I will greatly rejoice in the L ORD : my soul shall be joyful in my God, for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himse...

"I will be as the dew unto Israel." -H OSEA 14:5 [KJV] Sometimes the Lord, without applying H is word with any very great and distinguishing power to the heart, makes H is truth to drop with a measure of sweetness into the soul. This is as rain or dew, according to H is own gracious declaration, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain; M y speech shall distil as the dew" [DEUTERONOMY 32:2 ] . The dropping, then, of H is doctrine, or, as the word means, H is "teaching," as rain, and the distilling of H is gracious speech as dew, kindle in the soul a love of the truth, and wherever this is felt there is salvation, for we read of those who perish that "they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved" [II THESSALONIANS 2:10 ] . There is a receiving of the truth, and a receiving of the love of the truth. These two things widely differ. To receive the truth will not necessarily save; for many receive the trut...