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

"Seest thou this woman?” -Luke 7:44 [KJV] My soul, look at this woman at the feet of Jesus; for thy Jesus bids thee look, and gather instruction from the view, as well as the pharisee. Behold how she wept, how she washed the feet of Jesus, and anointed them with ointment. These were sweet tokens of her love and adoration. But were these the causes for which she obtained forgivings? Oh, no. Read what the Lord said to her: "Thy faith hath saved thee." Learn, then, my, soul, in what salvation lies. Love may bring ointment to Jesus. Sorrow for sin, when grace is in the heart, will cause tears to fall. But faith brings nothing, for it hath nothing: it casts itself wholly upon Jesus. Amidst all its guilt, and fears, and tears, it is Jesus only to whom faith looks; it is Jesus upon whom alone it depends. It hath nothing to do with self; neither our own feelings, nor the exercise of our graces.  These are blessed evidences of the work of the Lord upon the heart; b...

"They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward." -Jeremiah 50:5 [KJV] Zion is the seat of all gospel blessings. In it is laid "the precious corner-stone" (Isaiah 28:16) ; in it is "placed salvation for Israel" (Isaiah 46:13) ; the Lamb of God stands upon it (Revelation 14:1) ; mercy, redemption, pardon, comfort, strength, deliverance, and glory come out of it. In turning the face then Zionwards, is implied the seeking of gospel blessings. The redeemed are therefore said "to seek the L ORD their God," Who is only to be found in Zion, His dwelling-place, and where praise waiteth for Him (Psalm 65:1) . But they ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward in no light and trifling spirit, and in no positive certainty that they shall ever arrive there. They have to ask the way step by step, often doubting and fearing whether they be in the way. Having been so often deceived and deluded, they dare no more trust their...

" And the L ORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his own place." -Genesis 18:33 [KJV] Love is the bond of friendship. Unless love be mutual, friendship cannot subsist. The sweets of friendship are enjoyed in free communications. Friends are delighted with each other’s presence. Long absence causes pain. This is true between God and the soul. If you feel concern at the absence of God, you love God: you are a friend of the Lord’s. The Lord stoops to earth: He takes our flesh: He visits and converses with us as friends. This same Lord communes with Abraham.  Consider, (1st.) Abraham was a poor sinner, as we are; he could no more behold the essential glory of the Godhead, without a mediator, than we can. Nor can God in His essential glory, as perfectly holy and righteous, draw near to fallen man, without a mediator, but sudden destruction must be his awful doom. Therefore it was Jesus the Lord, the sinner’s Friend, ...

"And they shall call His name Emanuel, which being interpreted, is God with us." -Matthew 1:23 [KJV] My soul, hast thou never remarked what a peculiar beauty and sweetness there is in every name by which thy God and Saviour is made known to thee in His holy word? Surely, if nothing more had been intended by it, than to identify and prove His sacred person, one name would have answered this purpose: evidently, therefore, somewhat of great importance is designed from His many names. And depend upon it, my soul, so much loveliness is there in every individual name of thy Jesus; and at one time or other, in thy walk of faith, so very much wilt thou need every one, and find the preciousnes of every one, that thou wouldest not part with one of thy Redeemer's names—no, not for the world. This of Emanuel, by which thou art commanded to call Him, is a sweet one to endear Him to thee. Had He not been Emanuel, He could not have been Jesus, for none but God can save a s...

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ ." -Romans 8:17 [KJV] This is the peculiar blessedness of being a child of God, that death, which puts a final extinguisher on all the hopes and happiness of the children of men, gives him the fulfilment of all his hopes and the consummation of all his happiness; for it places him in possession of "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."   In this life we have sometimes sips and tastes of sonship, feeble indeed and interrupted, so that it is with us as Mr. Hart speaks: " Though thou here receive but little, scarce enough For the proof of thy proper title; " yet are they so far pledges of an inheritance to come. But this life is only an introduction to a better. In this life we are but children, heirs indeed, but heirs in their minority; but in the lif...