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

"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" - Genesis 39:9 [KJV] Look now at young Joseph, and say, is not this the noblest reasoning against a fierce temptation? Here is a youth in the bloom of life, in the vigour of nature, passions ran high, affections strong, a violent temptation presents, a fair seducer solicits. Yet, amidst all this, with the coolness of age, with the grace of faith he reasons, and with a holy fortitude of soul he withstands and overcomes the sin. Here is a blessed lesson for you, ye youth! nor less instructive to me, and to you, ye aged! Every period of life has its peculiar temptations.  Ye children of special grace, ye contenders for its glorious doctrines, consider, (1st.) what is implied in this, sin against God ? Would not Joseph have sinned against the best of masters: against the wife of his master: against his own soul? Doubtless: but his God is above and beyond all other objects. The love of his gracious God w...

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself."   -I John 5:10 [KJV] The grand point to have decided in a man's bosom is, whether he is Christ's or not; and this is a problem which none but the Lord Himself can solve. Blessed is he who has the witness in himself; and this he can only have by believing on the Son of God, as John speaks, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself."  This is the internal witness of the Spirit, as the apostle declares, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." What witness have you ever had in your bosom that you are a child of God? Or if you have not had this special witness, what marks or evidences, what tokens for good has the Lord bestowed upon you? Can you not remember something that the Lord has done for you in times past, some promise applied, some manifestation of His presence, some look of love, some softening tou...

"Nevertheless, He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known." -Psalm 106:8 [KJV] Pause, my soul, over this verse, and observe how thy gracious God took occasion, from the misery of Israel, and even from their unworthiness, to magnify the riches of His grace. Israel had highly sinned: they had provoked the Lord; and their provocations were aggravated, from the spot where they were committed, for it was at the sea, even at the Red Sea, that memorable sea where the Lord had made a path for their deliverance. And wherefore, then, did He save them? Wherefore did not the Lord drown them in the depths of the sea, for their unbelief and hardness of heart? This sweet scripture gives the reason. "He saved them for His name's sake." His name was engaged in covenant promises, and His glory was magnified in making good His engagements, notwithstanding all their undeservings. And what saith this doctrine to thee, my soul...