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

"If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." -Hebrew 10:26, 27 [KJV] Awful words! enough to make one’s heart tremble, excite a holy fear, and provoke a godly jealousy. Wilful sin brings on woeful complaints. Yes, says a soul, I find it so by dreadful experience. I have received the knowledge of the truth of salvation by Christ Jesus, and O what have I done! Sinned wilfully, and now I must be punished eternally. There is no hope nor help. My sin is unpardonable. There remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain, fearful looking for of destruction. I am shut up in despair. I wait with terror my dreadful doom.  Stop a little. Write not such bitter things against thyself. True, thou art condemned for thy past wicked conduct. It is proper you should take shame to yourself, and rep...

"But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." -1 Peter 5:10 [KJV] If " the God of all grace " has indeed "called you unto His eternal glory," —if He has indeed touched your heart with His blessed finger,—remember you will have to walk, from beginning to end, in a path of suffering; for the whole path, more or less, is a path of tribulation.  And, while walking in this path, and suffering from sin, Satan, the world, and the evil of your own heart, it is only to lead you up more unto "the God of all grace;" it is only that God may, in His own time, "make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle you."   And when your soul has passed through these trials, you will see God's hand in all, praise Him for all, and will perceive how good it was for you to have been afflicted, and to have walke...

" For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee . So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me ." -Hebrews 13:5, 6 [KJV] Sweet thought! Blessed promise of a covenant promiser, whose name is I AM ! Indeed, the whole covenant of grace is made up of God's wills , and His engaging for our shalls : and the whole is founded in the purposes of God's love, and faithfulness, and immutability; secured in the blood and righteousness of Christ; and stamped with the broad seal of heaven, by God the Holy Ghost . Hence, therefore, the covenant runs, "I WILL be their God, and they SHALL be my people."  Hence, also, Jesus with all His fulness is in the covenant. And hence, also, the Holy Ghost is engaged to abide with them for ever, to lead them into all truth, and to glorify the Lord Christ in their hearts. How is it possible for them to do otherwise than rejoice, and boldly to say, "The Lo...