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

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." —I John 5:21 [KJV] Idolatry is founded in ignorance of Jesus, the true God, and eternal life. None are spiritual worshippers of God but believers in Jesus. There are many idols in the world, suited to the pride and lusts of our corrupt nature. These we are cautioned against. But, in reading this very exhortation, the idol of "free-will" is ready to present itself; as though disciples, by their own power, were to keep themselves. This notion opposes the Spirit and power of Jesus and springs from that grand idol, pride. Pride introduces the idol of self- righteousness. This blinds the eye to the glory of the righteousness of Christ, freely imputed by God, through faith. Thus this trinity of idols, free-will, pride, and self-righteousness, are in unity with each other.  By the simple faith of Jesus, we are daily to guard our hearts against all their specious pretensions. So also, every outward object su...

"The year of My redeemed is come." -Isaiah 63:4 [KJV] Yes! from everlasting the precise period of redemption was determined, and the appointed time of the vision could not tarry. Every intermediate event ministered to this one glorious area-redemption by Jesus. The church was in Egypt four hundred and thirty years, and in Babylon seventy. But we are told in the former instance, 'the self-same night' the Lord brought, them forth with their armies; and the latter did not out stay the hour of their promised deliverance. So when the fulness of time was come, the Son of God came for the redemption of His people.  And observe how graciously Jesus speaks of them; He calls them His redeemed. They were so in the covenant from everlasting; and when the time arrives for calling them by His grace, He claims them as the gift of His Father, and the purchase of His blood. My soul, is this thy jubilee year? Art thou living as the redeemed of the Lord? If so, plead ...

"I will sing of the mercies of the L ORD for ever." -Psalm 89:1 [KJV] We are surrounded with mercies; mercies for the body, and mercies for the soul. There are indeed times and seasons when all the mercies of God, both in providence and grace, seem hidden from our eyes, when, what with the workings of sin, rebellion, and unbelief, with a thorny path in the world, and a rough, trying road in the soul, we see little of the mercies of God, though surrounded by them. Like Elisha’s servant, though the mountain is surrounded by the horses and chariots of fire, and the angels of God are round about us, yet our eyes are holden, we cannot see them; and at the very moment when God is already showering mercies upon us, and preparing others in reserve, through some trying dispensation, we are filled, perhaps, with murmuring and rebellion, and cry, "Is His mercy clean gone for ever, will He be favourable no more?" This is our infirmity, our weakness; but it no mo...