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

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts, in your ignorance." -I Peter 1:14 [KJV] There is somewhat very striking in these words of the apostle; and they certainly mean more than not being found in actual transgression. The very fashion of a new-born child of God is supposed to distinguish his obedience; and his whole appearance, as well as his whole conduct, marks that the former lusts of his ignorant state, when unregenerated, are done away. And though the believer is not called upon to a singularity of dress or apparel, yet a singularity against customs leading to the confines of sin; and unsuited to the manners of a soul walking with Jesus, should certainly distinguish the Redeemer's people. It was said, as one among the characters by which they should be known; that "they should dwell alone, and should not be reckoned among the nations," Numbers 23:9 . And surely a total diversity of character, pursuit, and conduct, o...

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." - Psalm 61:2 [KJV] There is something in this expression in our text,  "rock,"   which seems, to my mind, to throw a sweet and blessed light upon what Jesus is to the poor and needy. The rock must go down to the bottom of the deep waters, as well as rise out of them, to be a sufficient place of refuge for the shipwrecked mariner! If the rock did not go to the bottom of the deep, it would not be firm; it would be but a quicksand. Is not this agreeable to the Spirit's testimony concerning the humanity of Christ? How deep that went into all our sorrows, into all our sufferings, into all our sins, into all our shame! However deep the waters may be, the rock is deeper than all; however deep the sufferings, sins, and sorrows of the Church may be, the sufferings and sorrows of "Immanuel, God with us," were infinitely deeper. But the wav...