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

" Mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden, they are too heavy for me." -Psalm 38:4 [KJV] Though there may be pleasures in sin for a season, yet at the last, “it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” O come hither and see, how the venom of sin has overspread poor David’s whole frame. Read this Psalm. Mark the anguish of his conscience, and the distress of his soul; and say, is not sin exceedingly sinful? What pain, out of hell, can be compared to the anguish of a guilty conscience? But better, infinitely better, to smart for sin here, than to cry out under the smart of sin and hell.  Conviction of sin by the Spirit, is in order to cleansing of sin by the blood of Christ. Better to roar from disquietude of the soul on earth, than to sleep secure in sin, till we drop into and roar for sin in the bottomless pit. One or other will be the portion of all flesh. Two similes are before us, expressive of David’s distress.  (1st.) “Mine i

"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.

"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, a