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

Some of our young people, it’s sad to say neither know, nor seem to care, what the price of freedom can cost. I read a letter Abraham Lincoln wrote to a mother who had five sons killed in the civil war. This is what he wrote: “Dear Madam; - I have been shown in the files of the war department a statement of the adjutant general of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously in the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln."

The Word of our soon coming KING OF GLORY ( Christ JESUS ) states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." -Psalm 19:1-3 [KJV]

Because God is holy, acceptance with Him on the ground of creature-doings is utterly impossible. A fallen creature could sooner create a world than produce that which would meet the approval of infinite Purity. Can darkness dwell with Light? Can the Immaculate One take pleasure with "filthy rags" [ Isaiah 64:6 ] ? The best that sinful man brings forth is defiled. A corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit. God would deny Himself, vilify His perfections, were He to account as righteous and holy that which is not so in itself; and nothing is so which has the least stain upon it contrary to the nature of God. But blessed be His name, that which His holiness demanded His grace has provided in Christ Jesus our Lord. Every poor sinner who has fled to Him for refuge stands "accepted in the Beloved" [Ephesians 1:6] . Hallelujah! -preacher Arthur W. Pink

" Who by H im do believe in God , that raised H im up from the dead , and gave H im glory ; that your faith and hope might be in God ." - I PETER 1:21 [KJV] Observe the special mark which is here given of those for whom Christ was manifested. It is said of them that "by H im they believe in God." If this be their distinctive mark, we may well inquire what is intended by it. It must surely be a very great thing to believe in God with a faith that brings salvation with it. It is easy to believe that there is a God in nature, or a God in providence, or a God in grace, according to the mere letter of the word, and this is what thousands do who have no manifested interest in redeeming love and atoning blood. In fact, it is the great delusion of the day, the religion of that religious multitude who know neither God nor themselves, neither law nor gospel, neither sin nor salvation. All this is a believing about God, or a believing of God, such as that He exists, or

THERE IS A 'BUOYANCY' IN THE CROSS Cling to the cross­ though your sins rise up before you like mountains for their size; like the sands on the sea shore for their number; and glowing like scarlet and crimson, in color! For no sins, however great, or however numerous should tempt us to despond, or to let go of our hold on the cross - ­seeing the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from ALL sin.  There is a 'buoyancy' in the cross­ which will never let anyone sink, who clings to it!  If our sins were as ponderous as the globe, or as numerous as all the particles of created matter ­yet embracing the cross of Jesus they are all forgiven, and forgiven forever!  They are all blotted out­ like the dark clouds, which obscured the sun for a little while on the summer's morning!  They are all blotted out­ like a stone cast from an angel's hand into the depths of ocean!  They are all forgiven and forgotten forever!  Cling to the cross! -James Smith, 1857 A.D.