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

" Only believe." -Mark 5:36 [KJV] A short answer to a case of great distress. A simple recipe from the greatest Physician. A grand universal remedy that suits all cases, states, and circumstances, and is seasonable at all times. Look at this history. Look to the Author of faith to profit by it. Here is a ruler falls at Christ’s feet, beseeching help for his daughter, who is at the point of death. Jesus went with him. Before he arrives at the house, news is brought that the child is dead. The Lord of life and death forbids the father’s fears. Be not afraid. He encourages his hope: Only believe . Fears are natural to sinners. Faith expels them. Christ restores her to life. Joyful news for us.  (1st.) Here is precious encouragement for our faith, in every application to Christ.  For, (2d.) here is a marvellous display of His great love, ready will, and almighty power, to help and relieve us. He not only restores at the last gasp, but, when life is departed, recall...

"Thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt." -Matthew 14:31 [KJV] My soul, how sweet is it to eye Jesus in all things, and to be humbled in the recollection of His compassions to thy unaccountable instances of unbelief, after the many, nay, continued and daily experiences, which thou hast had of His love and faithfulness. And doth thy Jesus speak to thee this day, in those expostulating words, Oh! "Thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" What answer wilt thou return? Is there any thing in thy life to justify, or even to apologize for doubting? Look back - behold thy God and Father's grace, and mercy, and love;—a Saviour so rich, so compassionate, so answering all wants, in spirituals, temporals, and eternals; - a blessed Spirit, so condescending to teach, to lead, and by His influences to be continually with thee!  Surely, a life like thine, crowded with mercies, blessings upon blessings, and one miracle of grace followed by anot...

"But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." -Job 23:10 [KJV] What a purifying effect experience of temptation produces; what a separation it makes of the dross from the ore! If a man has a grain of faith in his soul, temptation will discover it; if he has a particle of living hope, temptation will bring it to light; if he has a grain of love, temptation will extract it from the ore; if he has any patience, any humility, any fear of God, any desire to be right, any dread to be wrong, any honesty, any sincerity, any integrity, in a word, if he has any vital power in his soul, anything of the grace of God in his heart, temptation will make it manifest, as the hot flame of the furnace, acting upon the crucible, manifests the gold by breaking up its alliance with the dross. You scarcely know whether you are a believer or an unbeliever until you pass through temptation. You do not know what the nature of faith is as a divin...