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

" To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He (our Holy Father) hath made us accepted in the Beloved (Christ JESUS) ." —Ephesians 1:6 [KJV] When Jacob was about to meet his offended brother Esau, he was greatly afraid and distressed. He sends a present to appease his wrath before he durst venture into his presence. "Peradventure he will accept of me," says he —Genesis 32:20 . Now his hope was not founded on the affection of his brother, but upon the favor which his present should procure. He was not influenced by love, but fear and terror; hence his expectation arose only to a peradventure (a shot-in-the-dark) . So it is natural for sinners to conceive of and act to an offended God. Instead of believing His gospel of free grace, and confiding in His messages of rich mercy in Christ, we are prone to think of sending presents, of doing something to pacify God's wrath, and conciliate His love to us.  Some terms of accommodation, some condition...

"My Beloved is gone down into His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies." -Song of Solomon 6:2 [KJV] Wonderful condescension! Jesus, the Beloved of all His people, is indeed come down into His garden, the church; for He loves the sacred walks of a spot so near and so dear to Him, which is at once the gift of His Father, and the purchase of His own most precious blood. Moreover, He hath gathered it out of the world's wide wilderness and separated it as a sacred enclosure by His distinguishing grace. Surely then He will visit it. Yes, here He constantly walks; here He comes to observe the souls of His people as trees of His own right-hand planting.  He is said to feed here; for the graces of His Spirit, which He calls forth into exercise, are more fragrant to Him than all the spices of the east. And all the beauty and whiteness of the lily is not to be compared to the glory, loveliness, and sweet-smelling savour of the rig...

" Bless the L ORD , O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name ." -Psalm 103:1 [KJV] As the Son has glorified the Father and the Father has glorified the Son, so there is a people in whom both the Father and the Son will be glorified. He therefore said, "And the glory which Thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one" (John 17:22) ; and again, "And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them."   When, then, God’s goodness and mercy in the face of Jesus Christ are manifested to this people whom He has formed for Himself that they might shew forth His praise, then they give Him back His glory. But how is this done? By praising and blessing His holy name for the manifestation of His goodness and mercy to their soul. We thus see in what a blessed circle this glory runs. The Father glorifies the Son; the Son glorifies the Father; both unite in glorifying His chosen and redeemed ...