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

"Love not the world."   -I John 2:15 [KJV] There is one word too much in this text, to make it agreeable to the spirit and conduct of many professors. As Pharaoh said by the locusts, “Take away from me this death only,” (Exodus 10:17) so many may say, Take away this not only, for it is death to us; then we shall like the text, and most passionately obey its command, Love the world . Does it not seem by the conduct of too many, as though they thus read the text? Now, do not look at Mr. Such-an-one. Look at home. See if you are not the very person, in whom the love of the world reigns. You own it.  But instead of falling under conviction of the evil of it, you have an excuse for it. You say, “I have a large family—I ought to obtain a fortune for them—though I have some riches, I must get more—I must love, court, and follow the ways of the world—there is nothing to be done without industry—we must rise early, late take rest, eat the bread of carefulness, and b...

"And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found; know now, whether it be thy son's coat, or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat." -Genesis 37:32, 33 [KJV] The life of the patriarch Joseph is very beautiful and interesting, as a history only; and the several incidents arising out of it are such as cannot but more or less affect every heart. But when we have gone through the whole relation, in the mere letter of the word, we are constrained to believe, that in the spiritual sense and meaning of it, almost every thing in the life of Joseph was typical of Jesus!  I would not strain scripture upon any account. Neither would I to myself any thing fanciful of Jesus and His frame blessed offices; so as to see Him where He is not. Yet I cannot but think, that since in so many instances, as is universally allowed, Joseph is a lively type of Christ, the Holy Ghost, in His glorifying the Lor...

"In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." -Ephesians 1:13, 14 [KJV] Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Holy are its inhabitants, holy its employments, holy its enjoyments. Therefore unless we know something of the teaching, the work, and witness of the Holy Spirit here, and are made partakers of a new, holy, spiritual, and heavenly nature we have no pledge or earnest of our interest in the inheritance of the saints in bliss.  A carnal, unsanctified, unholy, unrenewed heart is utterly incapable of understanding, entering into, longing after, and loving an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. But every holy desire, heavenly affection, gracious longing, spiritual enjoyment, and believing, hoping, loving, looking unto and cleaving to the Lord of life and glory...