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

" And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the L ORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy ." —Exodus 33:19 [KJV] Carnal reason, pride, and unbelief, like a threefold cord, binds the soul under legal bondage; each of these mutually strengthens the other, and all combine to oppose the sovereign goodness and grace of our Lord. Instead of believing in, so as to be comforted by free-grace declarations from our God, how apt are we to consult flesh and blood! How prone to reject them, because we cannot reconcile them to our carnal reason! here is the grand source of that damning sin, unbelief .  Marvel not, believer, though the pride of thy flesh rises and rebels against distinguishing grace and discriminating love. This, though sweet to the experience of faith, is bitter to the stomach of rebellious nature: but here is thy mercy; grace, which is s

" Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of Him." —II Corinthians 5:9 [KJV] "In all labour there is profit." —Proverbs 14:23 . The belief of this maketh the heart diligent, lively, and active. When Nehemiah was stirred up to build the wall of Jerusalem amidst the scoffs and opposition of enemies on every side, yet, in prayer, watching, and working, he and his brethren wrought with one hand, a guard in the other, and this confidence of faith in their hearts, "Our God shall fight for us." —Nehemiah 4:20 . Thus animated they laboured till the work was finished. Thus the beloved brethren of Jesus are called to be "stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;" being confident that the Lord fights for them, and "knowing assuredly that their labour is not in vain in the Lord."   The labour of love is pleasant, it is profitable to the believing heart; the work of faith is delightfu