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

"Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." -Philippians 3:15 [KJV] St. Paul says, his preaching Christ, warning and teaching every man of his ruined state, in all wisdom, was to this great and glorious end— To present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28.) How often have our minds been distressed and dejected, (I speak for one) from seeing our imperfection in all we are, and in all we do? Instead of this, we are called, again and again, to "rejoice in the Lord alway,” (Philippians 4:4.) This we shall do, if our consciences be made perfect, by the blessed work of Christ, received by faith, as was observed in the last meditation.  O rest not short, of perfect satisfaction in this matter. The work of Christ has perfectly satisfied God’s justice and truth, and rendered honourable His holy law : why should it not then perfectly satisfy your conscience, and make it perfect? Now, we are exhorted to be like minded. In what respect

"That I may win Christ." -Philippians 3:8 [KJV] What is it to "win Christ?" It is to have Him sweetly embraced in the arms of our faith. It is to feel Him manifesting His heavenly glory in our souls. It is to have the application of His atoning blood, in all its purging efficacy, to our conscience. It is to feel our heart melted and swooning with the sweet ravishments of His dying love, shed abroad even to overpowering. This is winning Christ. Now, before we can thus win Christ, we must have a view of Christ, we must behold His glory, "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."   We must see the matchless dignity of His glorious Person, the atoning efficacy of His propitiating blood, the length and breadth, the depth and height of His surpassing love. We must have our heart ready to burst with pantings, longings, and ardent desires that this blessed Immanuel would come down from the heaven of heavens in which H

"And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible." -Jeremiah 15:21 [KJV] My soul, hast thou ever considered some of the many ways of softening trouble? Sit down, and learn it from this sweet scripture. Here is a general promise, which may be suited to particular circumstances, and such as will hold good in all. But first remember, that He Who promiseth to deliver from the sorrow, is the same that appointeth the sorrow: Hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it . The Lord's rod hath a voice that speaks, as well as corrects; and it is a mark of wisdom to listen, as well as feel. Hence, if we mark the hand that appoints, we shall observe also all the other interesting particulars, both of the instruments by which the Lord works, the time and place, the means and end, and then discern love and grace, yea, Jesus Himself, in all. Suppose it be the world that crosses, or Satan that tempts, or false frien