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

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy." -Zephaniah 3:17 [KJV] A truly gracious heart is restless and unhappy, when it experiences distance from the Lord. Notions in the head may satisfy formal, dry professors; but those who are alive to God, cannot rest without enjoying His presence. They will draw nigh to Him, praying Him, “Draw nigh to my soul, and say, I am thy salvation.”  That precious word lives and abides in our heart: Now, in Christ Jesus, we sinners, who, in times past, were far off from God, are made nigh by the blood of Christ   (see Ephesians  2:13.) Hence, we are called upon, “Sing, shout, be glad, rejoice with all the heart.”  Yea, thou God-fearing, soul-trembling sinner! even thou, the Lord has in His eye, and speaks from the love of His heart, “Fear thou not, let not thine hands be slack” (Zephaniah 3:14-16.) Dread not thy mighty, thy many enemies. Put on courage. Lift ...

"But none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?" -Job 35:10 [KJV] Ah, Lord! is it so, that among men of the world, though they are oppressed by the world, and the evils of it, and some are compelled to cry out under the bitterness of their sorrows, yet are there no hearts, no voices directed to Thee? When death entereth into their window, and taketh away the desire of their eyes with a stroke; or when pains and chastenings of the body chain them to their beds; do they lament the earthly bereavements, and groan under the consequences of sin, by which death and sickness came; and yet in all these things, will nothing lead their unthinking minds "to hear the rod, and who hath appointed it?" Will they turn from one creature comfort to another, and strive to fill up the vacancies made by distressing providences, in their fancied happiness with any thing, or even nothing, rather than look to Thee for comfort and support under their tro...

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." -I  Thessalonians 1:3 [KJV] It is air and exercise that keep the body healthy. So it is spiritually. The graces of the Spirit need to be often exercised and well aired to keep them healthy—aired with the pure breath of heaven, and exercised with the operations of the Holy Ghost drawing them forth into activity and energy. And just as in nature a man gains health and strength by using his limbs and working his muscles, so in spiritual things these graces of the Spirit gain strength by use and exercise. Faith by working hard, hope by enduring much, and love by labouring long in the face of difficulties, become each more strengthened, more confirmed, more active, healthy, and energetic. It is a false faith to sleep all day in the sluggard's arm-chair; it is the hypocrite's hope who endures nothing for Chri...