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

" For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect." -Romans 4:14 [KJV] Who are of the law? The openly professed Jew only? Nay, verily; but every man, who has the faith and hope of a Jew, he is of the law. What is their faith and hope? Every man’s hope is of the same nature as his faith. A Jew believes, that he is to seek for righteousness and life by the works of the law—that on account of his obedience to it, he hopes he shall be an heir of life and glory. Well, but the Jews totally reject Christ, says one, but I do not. I believe Christ died for the sins of the whole world; that I am justified, and pardoned through His blood now; and that at the last day, I shall be justified, and entitled to God’s kingdom, for the sake of my good works: that there is first a justification by faith, and a second justification by works.  Take knowledge of thyself. Thou art of the law, and under the law, and expectest to be an ...

"Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." -I Corinthians 3:21-23 [KJV] Whatever there be in heaven, whatever there be in earth, that can be for your spiritual good, all is yours so far as you are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ. The silver and the gold and the cattle upon a thousand hills are all Christ's because all power is given to Him in heaven and in earth. Whatever your temporal wants may be, He can supply them, because He is king on earth as well as in heaven.  Whatever enemies you may have, He is able to defeat them; whatever evils may press upon you, He is able to subdue them; whatever sorrows surround you, He is able to console you under them. Everything in time, everything in eternity, in this world and in the world to come, are all on your sid...

"Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits, camphor with spikenard, spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all the chief spices." -Song of Solomon 4:13, 14 [KJV] Hear, my soul, what Christ, thy Husband and thy Saviour, saith to the church! and as thou art a part of it in Him, take it to thyself. Surely the church of Jesus is His garden, and every plant in it, which the heavenly Father hath planted, must flourish, with all the increase of God, as trees of the Lord's right-hand planting. Even the tenderest plants, the youngest of His people, form a part in this orchard of pomegranates; for every one hath been taken out of nature's wild wilderness, and brought, by sovereign and distinguishing grace, into the Lord's garden, His church; and, like pomegranates, a large and full-bearing fruit, sweet and delicious, they are in Jesus's eye most pleasant, from the beauty a...

The Gospel and the New Creature in Christ , Part II     by D.G. Miles McKee Last time we discovered that the apostle Paul didn't seem to be making progress in his Christian life. In A.D. 56 he saw himself as the least of the Apostles!  Four years later, he considered that he was the least of all the saints! Then another 4 years later he claimed to be chief of sinners ! And this is progress? Indeed, he seems to have everything back to front.  Back to front?  Yes, let me explain. You see, I thought that when salvation first took a hold of people, they came to the church feeling as though they were sinners. After a while, they got their lives somewhat cleaned up and felt as though they had now graduated to become the least of the saints. Then finally, they perhaps got some kind of ministry and became, so to speak, the least of the apostles. Paul seems, however, to be walking in reverse! What was going on here? There’s a famous story back in...

" Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee." -I Samuel 20:4 [KJV] Such is the language of generous love, and sincere friendship. There never was a greater instance of it, subsisting between men, than between Jonathan and David. Poor David was in great distress. Saul sought his life. He flies to his friend Jonathan, opens his whole heart to him, and solemnly assures him, “As thy soul liveth, there is but one step between me and death.” On which, Jonathan thus declares his love and faithfulness. “Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.” How must David’s heart be affected by this noble, this loving promise! O Christian, here is somewhat very similar to thine own case.  Consider, (1st.) There is but a step between thee and death. Thou knowest not how soon thy last step may be taken. What friend hast thou to go to? Verily, the King’s Son, the Son of God. As Jonathan signifies, given of the Lord: so Jes...

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." - Hosea 2:14 [KJV] It is in the margin "to her heart;" and God speaks to the heart; that is the special characteristic of His voice. Men may speak to the ear, and they can do no more; but God speaks to the heart, for it is there that His voice alone is heard. All religion first and last lies in a man's heart. He may have his head well furnished with notions, yet a heart destitute of grace. But not so with the vessels of mercy, for they "believe with the heart unto righteousness;" and it is by the voice of God heard in the heart that a saving faith is raised up in the soul. There God must speak if there is to be any heart religion, any sound or saving experience, any knowledge of the truth so as to be blessed and saved thereby. But in the wilderness we learn the deep necessity there is that God should speak to our heart. We want the L...

"His glory is great in thy salvation; honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him; for thou hast made him most blessed for ever." -Psalm 21:5, 6 [KJV] My soul, it is the most delightful of all thoughts, when at any time thou art solacing thyself in the glories of thy Redeemer, to call to mind that God the Father is glorified, while thou art made happy in the salvation thy Jesus hath accomplished by His blood and righteousness. It is indeed God the Father which called Jesus to the office and character of the Redeemer, and furnished Him with all suitable requisites for the vast work He called Him to do. But the glory and honour of Jehovah were the first and great object of the Redeemer's work; and hence Jesus, in the days of His flesh, never speaks of His own glory, but as in connection with, and leading to the glory of Jehovah. Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him! Father! glorify Thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee. Hence, t...