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

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do ." - Luke 23:34    My soul, art thou still taking thy stand at the foot of the cross? Art thou still looking up to Jesus? If so, listen now to His voice. There were seven expressions of Jesus, which were His last words, which He uttered on the cross. The last words of dying friends are particularly regarded: how much more the last words of the best of all friends; even the dying friend of poor lost perishing sinners. Those which I have chosen for the portion of the day were the first; and they contain the strong cry of Jesus to His Father for forgiveness to His murderers.    And what endears those expressions yet more to the heart are, that they are not only the first upon the cross, but they are wholly, not for Himself, but the people. During the whole painful process of suffering, when they scourged Him, crowned Him with thorns, smote Him with their hands, and mocked Him, we hear no voice of complaint.

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands   (09-11APR21) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in   SO GREAT SALVATION   by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from  our  sins and from Hell: CHRIST JESUS OUR SUBSTITUTE! "From whence this fear and unbelief? Hath not the Father put to grief His spotless Son for me? And will the righteous Judge of men Condemn me for that debt of sin Which, Lord, was charged to Thee?   Complete atonement Thou hast made; And to the utmost Thou hast paid Whatever Thy people owed; Nor can God's wrath take place If sheltered in Thy righteousness, And sprinkled with Thy blood.   If Thou hast my discharge procured, And freely in my place endured The whole of wrath divine, Payment God cannot twice demand, First at my bleeding Surety's hand, And then again at mine!" * Since all men by nature have stony hearts, a