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

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." -Matthew 18:20 [KJV] What an encouraging declaration is this of our Jesus, to prompt the faithful to meet together on the Lord's day; or in short, any day, at all times, and all places. Observe, my soul, how sweet the Lord speaks; 'There am I in the midst of My people; not by My word only, not as represented in ordinances, not by the ministry of My servants, but I Myself spiritually. The calls, the motions of grace felt in the heart, the tender tokens, the manifestations of My suitableness, fulness, and all-sufficiency; these are all truly Mine, which, by the influences of My Spirit, I communicate among you.' Oh, precious, condescending Lord, now we see what it is that constitutes a true gospel church—even Thy presence. Thou art the beauty and glory of it; and from Thee alone all power and efficacy is derived. Thy churches are, indeed, as Thou hast taught, the...

" Have salt in yourselves." -Mark 9:50 [KJV] Salt preserves our food from putrefying, and makes it savoury to our palate. Job asks, “Can any thing that is unsavoury be eaten without salt? is there any taste in the white of an egg?” —(Job 16:6.) What salt is to our food, that the doctrines of the grace of God, and the grace of these doctrines are to the soul. Why could not our Lord have plainly told us so, without using the symbol of salt? He loves to deliver Himself in familiar images: they are best suited to our present state. Natural things sensibly strike us, and easily convey spiritual truths to the heart. Our tables are not furnished, if salt be wanting. Meat, without salt, is unsavoury. O! then let every meal remind us of our Lord’s words, “Have salt in yourselves.” You have daily need to have your souls seasoned with the grace of God, and the words of Christ.  (1st.) These will preserve our hearts from receiving, and being putrefied by the seeds of fal...

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." -Galatians 3:13 [KJV] Pause, my soul, and contemplate the unspeakable mercies contained in those precious words. However little thou hast regarded them, yet they contain in their bosom the whole blessings of the gospel. It is to Jesus in this one glorious act of his faith, should the sinner be continually looking. There, the believer should say, There hangs my hope, my joy, my confidence: "Christ hath redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me." Now, my soul, observe how Jesus accomplished this great mercy for thee. Whatever Christ redeemed the sinner from, He became that for him. In the act of redemption, by substituting Himself in the sinner's place and room, He redeemed him from that place and room, by standing there Himself. Hence, as the sinner stood before God, accursed by reason of sin; so Christ, by taking the sinner's sin upon Himself, ...

"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." -Titus 2:14 [KJV] How can any one who knows anything of the blessedness of atoning blood and redeeming love and the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit continue in sin that grace may abound? Doctrinal professors may do these things, for a mere letter knowledge of the truth brings with it no deliverance from the power of sin; but the living soul, in whom the God of all grace is carrying on His gracious work, can it trample under foot the cross of the suffering Son of God? It is impossible that a man who knows for himself the redeeming efficacy of Christ's atoning blood, and whose conscience is made tender in the fear of God, can, under the sweet influence of His love, deliberately crucify Him again. Not but what there is a falling under the power of sin and temptation, as David and Peter fell; but there will not be a wi...