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

"The day-spring from on high." -Luke 1:78 [KJV] Truly it was so when Jesus came; for a long night of Jewish darkness and ignorance had covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Look, my soul, at Jesus under this blessed similitude. Though it be evening with thee, this dayspring will give light, and the promise will be fulfilled, "at even-time it shall be light." Jesus was the day-spring in the everlasting council and purpose of Jehovah, when He stood up the light of His people from all eternity. And when, in the fulness of time, He came, it was to fulfil all the shadows of ordinances concerning Him. And what is it now, in every individual instance of His visiting His people, but as "the day-spring" on their souls? When first, from a state of nature, He calls them to a state of grace, is it not "the day-spring from on high?" And in all the after-stages, during a life of grace leading, to glory, is not every renewed manifest...

" Keep thy heart with all diligence." -Proverbs 4:23 [KJV] Camden reports, that “Redwald, king of the east Saxons, the first prince of this nation who was baptized; yet, in the same church, allowed an altar for Christ, and another for the heathen idols.” How many professors imitate him! Their hearts are not whole with Christ. They are sons of folly. This a charge of wisdom to all her children. Consider, there is but one object can make your heart happy. There are a thousand that promise happiness, but only give misery. Keep thy heart in [the sense of] the love of God , (Jude 1:21.)   Give all diligence to this blessed end. Unless you do, vanity may prevail in the mind, error in the understanding, perverseness in the will, the affections may be inordinately set upon other objects, than thy Lord; and so thy conscience will contract fresh guilt. Then thou mayest be left to bemoan a hard heart, and an absent God: darkness may surround thee; fears and terrors hau...

"Whom having not seen, ye love." -I Peter 1:8 [KJV] How this speaks to our hearts; and cannot some, if not many of us say too, "Whom having not seen, we love?" Do we not love Him, dear readers? Is not His name precious to us as the ointment poured forth? But we have not seen Him. No, not by the eye of sense and nature; but we have seen Him by the eye of faith; for He has manifested Himself to us, or to some of us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. It is, then, by faith that we see Jesus. We read of Moses that, "by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible."  So by faith we see Jesus Who is invisible; for as faith is "the substance of things hoped for," so is it "the evidence of things not seen." Thus we see that it is by Jesus coming to the soul and manifesting Himself unto it that we see Him...

"Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?" -I Corinthians 9:7 [KJV] Surely Jesus will not! Is not Jesus' church His vineyard? Did He not purchase it with His blood; and does He not water it every moment with the same? And will He not eat of the fruit of His own vine, of His own planting, and what cost Him so dear? Or doth Jesus buy a flock; daily, hourly, feed His flock; carry the lambs in His arms, and cause them to lie down in His bosom; and will He not eat of the milk of His flock? Lord Jesus, when I contemplate Thy love to our poor nature; when I behold all things, by Thine ordination, ministering to our nature; when I see such a profusion of grace, and love, and mercy bestowed for our accommodation; all things prepared for man; both worlds engaged for him; yea, man himself as if a world in himself, and another prepared for him; the sacred word designed wholly for hi...

" Underneath are the everlasting arms." -Deuteronomy 33:27 [KJV] It is related of Anteus, that every time Hercules threw him to the ground, he rose up the stronger, for he received new strength, by touching his mother, the earth. This is true of the Christian. The more he is assaulted, and thrown down by the enemy, the more he falls into the Lord’s everlasting arms, and gets fresh strength. He cannot be thrown down lower than God permits: for “underneath are the everlasting arms.” His word is full of grace—His arms almighty—His love everlasting. Here is the wisdom, here the glory of the Lord’s people, to look for themselves, to go out of themselves, for safety and salvation.  For they rest upon God’s word. They believe the Lord to be all that to them, which He has said. This is living by faith—honouring the Lord’s truth—glorifying the Saviour’s name. Why are we told? “Underneath are the everlasting arms.” Because we know and see ourselves deserving of hell, a...

"And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt." -Hosea 2:15 [KJV] Now the "valley of Achor" signifies the "valley of trouble." It was the valley in which Achan was stoned. And why stoned? Because he had taken the accursed thing; because his eye had been captivated by the Babylonish garment and golden wedge, and he had buried them in the tent. This may throw a light on what the "valley of Achor" is spiritually. Perhaps you have been guilty of Achan's sin; you have been taking the accursed thing; have been too deeply connected with the world; have done things which God's displeasure is against. Let conscience speak in the bosom of each. The consequence has been, that you have got into the "valley of Achor!" Trouble, sorrow, and confusion are your lot, and you...

"Them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with Him." -I Thessalonians 4:14 [KJV] My soul, thy last night's thoughts, with which thou fell asleep, were upon a subject so truly connected with Jesus, that I hope thou couldest and didst say, "My meditation of Him was sweet!" There is another blessed thought, connected both with Jesus and it, that may be, proper to take along with it. Seek of God the Spirit to unfold its beauties in Jesus to thy view, this evening, and lead thee with it to fall asleep, this night, as on the former, in the Lord. The apostle opens it to thy meditation in these words; "They which sleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him." The bodies, as well as the souls of the redeemed, are alike the purchase of Christ's blood, and Jesus will have them all with Him. They are His jewels, His treasure. He suffers them to lie among the dust, it is true; but He saith Himself, though they have so lain, yet shall they be ...

" Then said JESUS unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." -Matthew 16:24 [KJV] We are called to follow Christ in the regeneration, (Matthew 19:28.) That is, in the new state of things, called, “the time of reformation,” (Hebrews 9:10) wherein He has set all things right between God and us sinners. Christ has not left us any thing to do, whereby to satisfy divine justice, and to fulfil the holy law, in order to procure God’s favour, and a title to His kingdom: but only to come after Him, to reap all the glorious spoils and victories of the law-fulfilling life, and sin-atoning death, in our perfect reconciliation to God, justification before Him, acceptance and peace with Him.  O soul, this knowledge is essential to thy following Christ, in faith and love. Without this you cannot come after Him one step. Therefore in love He bids thee deny thyself. As though He had said, all things in the old creation of fallen nature are contr...

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." -I Corinthians 2:15 [KJV] It is true that real grace can suffer neither loss nor diminution, but its manifestations and its actings may. Who that possesses faith is not conscious that it ebbs and flows, rises and sinks, is strong and weak, and varies from day to day and from hour to hour? Thus when a sharp trial comes, its immediate effect is to depress faith. It falls upon it like a weight, and bends it down to the ground. Faith may be compared to the quicksilver in a weather-glass, or in a thermometer. The quantity of mercury in the bulb never varies; but it rises or falls in the tube, according to the weight of the air, or the heat of the day. Thus faith, though it abides in the heart without loss or diminution, yet rises or sinks in the feelings, as the weather is fair or foul, or as the sun shews or hides himself. Did Job's faith, for instance, mount equally high when ...

"And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." -Revelation 22:4 [KJV] My soul, thy morning thoughts were directed to the sweet subject of being called to fellowship with thy Lord Jesus Christ in grace. Do thou, this evening, beg of God the Holy Ghost to enable thee to connect with it the transporting subject of the everlasting enjoyment of Jesus in glory. This is the great end and final consummation of all. This blessed scripture leads immediateIy to the contemplation: "They shall see His face;" and on "their foreheads shall be His name:" that is, the token of their oneness, union, and relationship in and with Jesus; so that He will be their glory, their supreme happiness and joy; and thus He will never cease to be the immediate Head of all His body, the church, "the fulness that filleth all in all;" yea, the only and everlasting medium of communication in glory, as He is of grace in this life. Pause, my...

God's understanding is infinite: "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5) . Nothing has ever happened or will ever happen that God did not know beforehand. He knows the end from the beginning. - W. E. Best , God's Sovereignty is Absolute Arbitrariness

" Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed?" -Matthew 6:31 [KJV] The word of the Lord is like a drawn picture, which, whoever looks at, thinks the eyes are towards him, and fixed on him. There is in Christ’s word, somewhat that suits our state, under every circumstance, and in all times and seasons. Pliny speaks of a rod of myrtle, which if a traveller carries in his hand, he never grows faint nor weary. Verily, Christ’s word is like this rod of myrtle. For it beguiles our weary steps—smoothes our rugged paths—braces our weak nerves—animates our weary minds—resolves our unreasonable doubts—forbids every anxious thought, and provides for every tormenting care.  Christ would have our hearts simple in faith, and our hope steadily fixed on Him; so as not to be agitated with anxious cares about a dying body, and a perishing world. To suppress these, let it suffice, that our heavenly Father knoweth that ye ...

"That I may be found in Him." - Philippians 3:9 [KJV] The apostle knew a time was coming when God would search Jerusalem as with candles. He knew a day was hastening on when the secrets of all hearts would be revealed. He knew an hour was approaching when the eyes of the Lord would try, and the eyelids of the righteous judge would weigh the words and actions of men. And he knew in his own soul's experience, that all who, in that awful day, were not found in Christ, would be consigned to the eternal pit of woe. He knew that when the judge took His seat upon the great white throne, and heaven and earth fled away from His presence, no one could stand before His look of infinite justice and eternal purity, but those who had a vital standing in the Son of God.  And therefore, looking to that awful time, and the solemnities of that day of judgment, that day of wonders, this was the desire of his soul—and towards that he pressed forward, as an active runner presses ...

"The daughters saw her, and blessed her." -Song of Solomon 6:9 [KJV] These are the words of Jesus, in commendation of His church. He holds her forth as lovely not only in His view, but in the eyes of others. The daughters probably, mean true believers, in whose esteem Christ and His church are most engaging; and it is more than probable that by daughters, young believers are particularly meant, whose first love, like the blossom of the apple-tree, is most beautiful in its first opening. Pause, my soul, and behold, from what Jesus Himself saith of His church, how truly lovely she must be in the Redeemer's view; and indeed without a proper apprehension of the infinite value of the human soul, it is not possible to conceive of the exalted light wherein the church must appear to Jesus. We may form some faint idea of its value, from the vast price it cost Jesus in the redemption. None but the Son of God could make the purchase; and even Jesus only by blood. Who ...

" My beloved is mine." -Song of Solomon 2:16 [KJV] Here is a knowledge worth more than heaven and earth. For heaven and earth shall pass away, but this knowledge endureth for ever. O happy souls who are favoured with it, give fresh glory to your Beloved to-night. Ye who are seeking it, rejoice. For He hath said, “every one who seeketh findeth” (Matthew 7:8.) Happy Job was favoured with it, when he was in heaviness through manifold temptations—broken in the place of dragons, and covered with the shadow of death.  Then he must have utterly fainted, had he not believed. Time was, when Job could say, my health, my wealth, my honours, my children, my comforts, but a period came when all these were taken from him. He had nothing within nor without to stay his soul upon, but the word of the Lord, and the Lord revealed in the word.  This was his support and his glory. Though I have lost all things, I have my Redeemer still. He lives. I know it. While He lives, I canno...

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no many; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." - Isaiah 55:1 [KJV] How many a poor sensible sinner has, upon the strength of these words, looked unto Jesus and been lightened (Psalm 34:5) , come to Him and met with a kind reception. By the power which attends such invitations the heart is opened, as was the heart of Lydia, to attend unto the things spoken in the gospel. It is not put away as too holy for a poor polluted sinner to touch, nor is the Lord Jesus viewed as an angry judge; but in these invitations His clemency, tenderness, and compassion are seen and felt, and beams and rays of His mercy and grace both enlighten the understanding and soften and melt the heart. Thence spring confession of sin, self-loathing, renunciation of one's own righteousness, earnest desires and breathings after the Lord, and an embracing of the love of the...

"All my springs are in Thee." -Psalm 87:7 [KJV] Sweet thought! And this, as Solomon saith upon another occasion, forms the conclusion of the whole matter. Jesus is the source, the fountain, the author, the finisher of all our mercies; for every thing of life and salvation, of grace and glory, flow from Him, centre in Him; and therefore in Him and from Him, as the source of blessedness, all our springs must flow. In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. All glories are in Him: the glory of the church above; the glory of the church below; yea, the glory of angels and of God Himself; for the Father hath given all His glory into His almighty hands.  Hence, my soul, from whom should thy springs flow, but from Jesus? If all divine attributes, all divine perfections are in Him; if grace be no where but in Jesus; no blessing, no redemption but in His blood; if all gifts, and graces flow from Him, and can no where else be found, to whom shall the gathering...

" What profit is it, that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the L ORD of Hosts?" -Malachi 3:14 [KJV] These words were spoken to the carnal Jews. They may be applied to us. For the filthy leaven of the proud Pharisee, works in all our natures. At least, I know one who finds it does. What does it produce? Hard thoughts of God, and stout words against Him. We are apt to censure His good conduct towards others, and think He deals rather hardly with us.  (1st.) “We call the proud happy.” In a dark, tried, tempted, deserted hour, when we see the poor, proud sons of pride and folly, ranting and reveling in all the gay scenes of mirth and jollity, we are apt to look at them, think of them, and draw such conclusions from them as these—Well, surely these people are happier in their ways, than I am in mine. They are strangers to my heart burdens and soul distresses. Mirth sits on their countenance, while grief and sorrow weigh me down. T...