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

"What profit is it, that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?" - Malachi 3:14 [KJV]   These words were spoken to the carnal Jews. They may be applied to us. For the filthy leaven of the proud Pharisee, works in all our natures. At least, I know one who finds it does. What does it produce? Hard thoughts of God, and stout words against Him. We are apt to censure His good conduct towards others, and think He deals rather hardly with us.    (1st.) “We call the proud happy.” In a dark, tried, tempted, deserted hour, when we see the poor, proud sons of pride and folly, ranting and reveling in all the gay scenes of mirth and jollity, we are apt to look at them, think of them, and draw such conclusions from them as these—Well, surely these people are happier in their ways, than I am in mine. They are strangers to my heart burdens and soul distresses. Mirth sits on their countenance, while grief and sorrow weigh me ...

"He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretyship is sure." -Proverbs 11:15 [KJV] Blessed Jesus, well is it for me that Thou didst not hate to become a Surety; for hadst Thou so done, and refused the vast undertaking, I must have perished for ever. And hadst Thou consented to have become a Surety only for friends, and those only that loved Thee, still here again I should have been lost: but when Thou condescendedst to become Surety for me, Oh Lord, it was not simply for a stranger, but for a rebel, a hater and despiser of Thee, and of Thy great salvation.  Oh the love of God that passeth knowledge! And how, blessed Jesus, didst Thou indeed smart, and wert crushed and broken, when for my dreadful debt of sin, which surpassed all the angels of light to pay, it pleased the Father to bruise Thee, and to put Thee to grief. Oh matchless love of a most compassionate Saviour! Me thinks I still see Thee taking my place under the angry ey...

"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake." - Psalm 115:1 [KJV] Many of God's dear children cannot get much beyond gentle intimations of His mercy, passing touches of His gracious hand, and softenings of heart under a sense of undeserved goodness and love; yet they feel sensibly relieved by what their faith thus lays hold of and brings in, and give glory to God. Sometimes again, as they hear the preached word and get a blessing under, it, or some precious promise comes home to their soul with divine power, or they are favoured in secret prayer, and light and life break in upon their mind, they see such a glory in what is thus made known to them that they glorify God for what they see and feel. But more especially when the way of salvation is opened up to them; when Christ is revealed to their soul by the power of God; when they see that wondrous plan unfolded, how God can be just, and yet the ...