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

"He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing." -Zephaniah 3:17 [KJV] Instead of two meditations on this verse, it is worthy the study of our whole lives. Eternity itself will never exhaust the fulness of that rich and glorious grace contained in it. When the vanity of the creature, and the richness of God’s everlasting love and free grace are the subjects, well might the preacher say, “Of making many books there is no end; though much study may be weariness to the flesh”   (Ecclesiastes 12:12.) Yet such study is reviving and refreshing to the spirit. Well, saith the poor sinner, ‘I remember the day of my espousal to Jesus: it was sweet. My heart was filled with peace and joy in believing. But, ah me! I have lost my first love: I am cold, and dark, and dead: I go on heavily, while the enemy oppresses me, and is daily saying to me, Where is now your God, in whom you once delighted, and of whom you formerly made your boast? Thy love is cold to Him: He has tota...

"Having loved His own, which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." -John 13:1 [KJV] Sweet thought, my soul, for thee everlastingly to cherish; thy Jesus is the same, and His love the same, amidst all thy changings: yet He abideth faithful. His love, and not thy merit, was the first cause of thy salvation; and the same love, and not thy undeservings, is the final cause wherefore thou art not lost. But mark in this blessed scripture, how many sweet and lovely things are said. Jesus hath a people, and that people are in the world, and that people are His own. What! had He not a people in the other world? Yes! by creation all are His, in common with the Father. But by redemption He had none, until He had redeemed them from this present evil world. And observe how very graciously they are spoken of. They are His own, His peculiar people, His treasure, His Segullah, His jewels. And how dearly doth He prize them! They were first given to Him by His Father; that made them ...

"God, who is rich in mercy." -Ephesians 2:4 [KJV] Mercy well suits a sensible sinner; and the riches of God's mercy especially suit those who are brought down in real extremity of soul to see and feel how abundant He must be in mercy, how overflowing in the exceeding riches of His grace, that they may venture to entertain a hope of an interest in it, as freely coming down to them in their low and lost estate. We know mercy, feelingly and experimentally, before we know love. Love is first in God, but it is not first in our experience of it; nor do we go to God when made first to feel our need of mercy, as if we were objects of His love, or could venture to entertain the remotest idea that a God so holy could love a sinner so vile; but we go to Him to obtain mercy, as the apostle speaks: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"   (Hebrews 4:16). Mercy is the first thing sought for at...