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

" And one of the malefactors, which were hanged, railed on Him, saying, If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him." -Luke 23:39-40 [KJV] My soul! thy morning meditation was directed to that soul-reviving, penitent, encouraging prospect, which the cross of Christ affords, in the recovery of the thief upon the cross, as furnishing the most illustrious example of the sovereignty of grace! Oh! what a trophy was there of the Redeemer's conquest! Now take thy stand again at the foot of the cross, and look on the other side, and behold the dreadful reverse, in the obduracy of the human heart. Here view the sinner dying in all the possibilities of a hardened conscience, railing and blaspheming; while the other departs in the most finished act of faith and repentance, glorifying the Lord.   Pause over the contemplation, and then ask, What was it made the mighty difference? Who made thee, my soul, to differ from another? And what hast thou, which...

"Hold fast that which is good."   -I Thessalonians 5:21b [KJV] There are two things especially which every saint of God is called upon to hold fast: these are, first,  the beginning of God's work  upon his soul; and, secondly, his  deliverance . Any manifestation too that you have had of the Lord Jesus Christ; any application of His atoning blood; any discovery of His glorious Person or shedding abroad of His love; hold that fast, for it is good. And so I may say, hold fast any promise you have ever had applied; any answer to prayer you have ever received; any felt blessing that may have been wrought in your heart by a divine power. All this is good. It comes from a good God; it works in a good way; it leads to a good end; it will make a good deathbed, and will land you in a most blessed eternity.  Therefore "hold fast that which is good." Everything which is commended to your conscience as really good; every good man; every good minister; every child of God wi...