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

" Then said one unto Him, Lord, are they few that be saved?" -Luke 13:23 [KJV] Peter’s fervent prayer, “Lord, save, or I perish!” was much better than this curious question. It was an unprofitable one. Suppose our Lord had given a direct answer to it, assured him there were but few that would be saved, and told him the exact number, what good would this querist have got by it?  Learn hence, (1st.) that unprofitable questions are to be avoided. They proceed from a vain curiosity, and are proposed to gratify the itch of a speculative humour. Indulge no thoughts in thy mind above, beyond, nor contrary to what is written. They may amuse and perplex, but cannot edify thy soul.  Observe, (2d.) the wisdom of thy Lord. He does not give a direct answer to this vain question, but improves it to general usefulness. As though He had said, Friend, thy question is impertinent. Thou art prying into a matter that concerns thee not! Thou hast a notion of salvation in thy head, ...

"Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." - Isaiah 28:17 [KJV] Wherever God the Holy Ghost begins and carries on a work of grace in the heart, He will weigh up, and mete out, from time to time, all a man's religion and try every inch of the way whether it lies straight and level with the Word and will of God. Depend upon it the Lord Who "weigheth the spirits" (Proverbs 16:2) , and by Whom "actions are weighed" (I Samuel 2:3) , will put into His righteous and unerring scales both nature and grace, both human and divine teaching, and make us know which is full weight in heaven's court. The religion of the present day is too much to confuse everything of an experimental nature; to cover and obscure the work of grace in the heart. But there can be no question that God will never suffer our religion, if, inde...

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you." -John 16:23 [KJV] My soul, do not fail to remark, in this blessed promise of thy Lord, how He hath secured the accomplishment of it. Here is a double verily if one will not do. And this is said by the faithful witness, and the amen of heaven. Had Jesus said but the words themselves, without a single verily, His bare word was enough to give confirmation to faith; but when He says, "Verily, verily," repeating it twice over, how gracious and condescending, as well as comforting and confirming, ought it to be to our dependance upon what He hath said. But the promise itself comes in with a blessed shall and will ; and that not to any limited request or petition, but extended to a whatsoever ; as if Jesus threw the reins of government into His people's hand. In some parts of scripture we find a may be for our encouragement. "It may be," said t...