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

" Behold My servant, Whom I uphold; Mine elect, in Whom My soul delighteth." -Isaiah 42:1 [KJV] Angels reproved disciples of old with, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” (Acts 1:11.) How much do we deserve this reproof? Why stand ye gazing upon the vanities of the earth? Soul, what art thou looking at? What is the object of thy intention tonight? Be it what it may, God calleth to thee, and demands audience of Him, and attention to Him. It is for your comfort and His glory. The Majesty of heaven speaks to sinful worms of the earth. Behold. Take off your eyes and thoughts from every object; be all eye, ear, and attention to Me. Ye poor, miserable, law-condemned, sin-distressed souls, look at, and take special notice of My servant. Wonder, adore, rejoice, and love.  My beloved, My co-equal Son, Who is Lord of all, becomes man, takes on Him the form of a servant, to do My will perfectly, and to finish your salvation completely. Whom I uphold. Carnal reason bow. ...

"And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." -Luke 10:18 [KJV] It deserves our utmost attention and prayerful consideration to see, by the eye of faith, the display of wisdom and power shining forth in the way in which the all-wise God sent His dear Son "to destroy" or, as the word is in the original, to unloose "the works of the devil" (I John 3:8) . Satan had, so to speak, spun a ravelled knot when he cast the cords of sin round man's heart. This tangled and tight-drawn knot could not be cut through as by a sword of omnipotent power; but had by infinite wisdom and patience to be unravelled through its whole length. The work which Satan had done was to be undone. Disobedience had to be repaired by obedience—the voluntary obedience of the Son of God, and therefore of infinite value. Sin had to be atoned for by sacrifice—the sacrifice of the nature which had sinned, in union with the Person of the Son of God, an...

"But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" -Luke 12:50 [KJV] My soul, look at Jesus under His straitenings, and thou wilt find it the best support and encouragement under thine. He had in view, when He thus expressed Himself, the water-spouts, and the billows of divine wrath against sin, which, as the sinner's Surety, were to be poured upon Him. Jesus calls it a baptism. I cannot sufficiently admire the word, because it is my Lord's, and because it is so applicable. Afflictions, then, are baptisms to His people, when commissioned by His grace, and when blessed by His Holy Spirit.  Never lose sight of them, my soul, in this view; they will be always sacred: and from the straitenings of Jesus, until His were accomplished, do thou at all times fetch relief and encouragement under thine. He that felt straitening for Himself, well knew how to enlarge thine heart: and He that knew the baptism He had to go throu...