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

"I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good."   -Jeremiah 32:40 [KJV] A minister lately preaching on the tremendous solemnity of the last day, at the close of his sermon, thus addressed his hearers: “Most awful as my subject has been; most solemn as the things which you have heard have been—yet I have one thing more to add, which is as awful. ‘Tis this.—Ere to-morrow’s sun, perhaps, you will have forgotten all you have heard of this solemn subject!” Awful conclusion! is not this too much our case, respecting the covenant love and faithfulness of our God? Else, why those unreasonable doubts, groundless suspicions, heart-rending jealousies, and soul-dejecting fears which possess us?  Else, whence that slowness of heart to approach the Lord, to cast our care upon Him, put our trust in Him, glory of Him, live upon Him, and rejoice in Him? The Lord will ever be mindful of His covenant (Psalm 111:5.) But, shame t...

"And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire, which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year, without spot, day by day, for a continual burnt-offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even ." -Numbers 28:3, 4 [KJV] Pause, my soul, over the scriptural account of this solemn transaction! Think how infinitely important in the sight of Jehovah, was, and is, that vast sacrifice of the Lamb of God "slain from the foundation of the world , "   which every day, morning and evening, the Lord commanded to be set forth in an offering made by fire. With what exactness did the church observe this daily rite of oblation! How scrupulous were all true Israelites in this service! And how fully did it proclaim to them the doctrine that "without shedding of blood there was no remission!" Who that reads the solemn precept, and remarks the strictness of Israel in their obed...

"For we are His workmanship." -Ephesians 2:10 [KJV]   Consider what is here declared of those who are saved by grace through faith—that they are God's "workmanship" —the fruit and product of His creative hand. All, then, that we are and all that we have that is spiritual, and as such acceptable to God, we owe to the special operation of His power. There is not a thought of our heart, word of our lips, or work of our hands, which is truly holy and heavenly, simple and sincere, glorifying to God or profitable to man, of which He is not by His Spirit and grace the divine and immediate Author.   How beautifully is this expressed by the Church of old, and what an echo do her accents find in every gracious heart: "But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand"   (Isaiah 64:8) . How suitable, how expressive is the figure of the clay and the potter. Look at the moist clay under th...