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

"In that day, sing ye unto her, a vineyard of red wine. I the L ORD do keep it, I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." -Isaiah 27:2, 3 [KJV] And in what day, but the gospel day, could this song be sung with greater justness? Christ's church is indeed a vineyard, hedged in, and fenced round, from the world's wilderness; so that all within it may well sing this song in Judah, when God hath made it like a strong city, and appointed "salvation for walls and bulwarks." Yea, God Himself hath sung to His well beloved Son, this song of His beloved, touching His vineyard. But what is the red wine of the vineyard? Red wine of Judaea, was of the choicest grapes; and surely the blood of Christ is the choicest of all blessings to the sinner's view.   Now, my soul, mark the sweetness of Jesus's promise; it is He who engageth to keep it; yea, to have His eye upon it night and day, lest any hurt it; yea, not only to keep it...

"Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy."   - Micah 7:18 [KJV] God delighteth in mercy. It is not drawn from Him unwillingly; it is not forced out of Him even by importunity; it is not dragged out of His heart by the cries of His family; but He delights in it as being His darling attribute, the very pleasure of God being in shewing mercy to the miserable. How hard it is for us to believe this until mercy visits the soul and a sweet sense of it is felt in the conscience. How we represent to ourselves God in His anger, in His justice, in His terrible displeasure against sin and sinners; how unable to believe that there is mercy for us, and that He delights in manifesting mercy to poor miserable, penitent sinners.  Whoever would have thought of mercy unless it had first been in the bosom of God? Who could have ventured to entertain o...