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

"Behold, the skin of the face of Moses shone, and they were afraid to come nigh unto him." -Exodus 34:30 [KJV] Here see the glorious effects of being on the mount with God; of having free access to and holy converse with Him. When we draw nigh to God, and He draws nigh to us, our souls catch the splendour and glory of His grace. This revives our countenance, and makes our face to shine. Here is somewhat worthy our attention; for the holy Inspirer calls upon us, Behold. Lord! give us to behold this to our edification and comfort.   (1st.) “When Moses came down from the mount his face shone, but he knew it not.” O! it, is well for us, when we are so wholly taken up with the majesty and glory of our Lord, and see such splendour of grace and love shine on his countenance, as not to be looking at ourselves, and admiring our own gifts and graces. It is to imitate fops and fribbles in nature, to look in a glass to admire ourselves. “To fall in love with our own beauty, ...

"The mercy promised." -Luke 1:72 [KJV] "The mercy promised!" Why, God graciously promised many mercies, and most faithfully and fully performed them. Yes! every thing out of hell may well be called a mercy. Every child of Adam beareth about with him, day by day, tokens of God's mercy. The air we breathe, the garments we put on, the food we eat; all the comforts, conveniences, enjoyments of life; these are all mercies. But none of these are what the sweet portion of the morning points at. It is here a particular, a special, one specific mercy.  And who can this mean, my soul, but Jesus, thy Jesus? - He is, indeed, "the mercy promised," the first mercy, the first promise; the first, best, and comprehensive gift of God in the bible. He is indeed the mercy of mercies, the first born, the sum and substance of every other. He is essential to make all other mercies really and truly mercies; for without Him, they ultimately prove injurious. He ...

"Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death." -Hebrews 5:7 [KJV] The apostle says that Christ was "crucified through weakness" (II Corinthians 13:4) . We must remember, however, that weakness was not imperfection in Him, though it is imperfection in us; for when we speak of the weakness of Jesus' human nature, we mean its weakness as compared with the strength and power of His divine nature. Our Lord felt the weakness of His humanity, for though in union with His eternal Deity, though most blessedly upheld and supported by the power and strength and consolation of the Holy Ghost, yet it was inherently weak, and an experience of its weakness was a part of the sufferings that He endured. Having, then, to bear as laid upon this weakness the whole weight of imputed sin, the whole curse of the law, the whole indignation of the Almighty, our L...