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

"NONE OF THEM can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)" -Psalm 49:7-8 [KJV] How very striking is the former of these verses! And Oh! how justly true! If it were possible for the rich worldling to keep back from the grave, by purchase, his worldly friend, would he do it? Yes, indeed, it is possible he might, under the presumption, that when it came to his turn, he should himself be redeemed. It is, however, of little consequence to estimate human friendship, when they are altogether helpless in the most important of all concerns.  But, my soul, doth not this scripture point to Him, and tend to endear Him to thy warmest affections, who was indeed "a Brother born for adversity;" and Who, "though rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich?" Jesus was, and is, the Brother (mentioned in that scripture, Leviticus 25:2...

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." - Colossians 3:1 [KJV] How many there are even of those who desire to fear God who are kept down by the world, and to whom it has not lost its attractive power; who are held fast, at least for a time, by worldly business, or entangled by worldly persons or worldly engagements. Their partners in business or their partners in life; their carnal relatives or their worldly children; their numerous connections or their social habits; their strong passions or their deep-rooted prejudices, all bind and fetter them down to earth. There they grovel and lie amid, what Milton terms,   "The smoke and stir of this dim spot which men call earth;"   and so bound are they with the cords of their sins that they scarcely seek deliverance from them, or even desire to rise beyond the mists and fogs of this dim spot into a purer air, so as to breathe a heavenly atmospher...