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

"LORD, be merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee."   -Psalm 41:4 [KJV]   Is this the language of the man after God’s own heart? Was David a saint when he uttered it? Yes, he was a holy man of God. This confession and prayer shew it. His heart was not hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, nor blinded by self-righteous pride, so as to say, “I have no sin.” Self-righteous hearts cannot away with this, that all the Lord’s saints are yet in themselves miserable sinners; that they daily see need to confess this; and to sue for mercy and healing from the Lord. Here is a confession, a plea, and a prayer.    (1st.) A confession, “I have sinned against Thee.” Thus we must come and confess to the Lord to-day, to-morrow, and every day, till the sun of life sets. Sense of sin, whether fresh contracted, or long since committed, abides with us. It wounds and pains a gracious soul. Here grace discovers itself. That soul waits not for time to...

"Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in Thine hand." - Deuteronomy 33:3 [KJV]   My soul, here is a very blessed portion to meditate upon in the night watches, and to lie down with, reposing in the bosom of Jesus. The word yea , is a sweet scripture word, and very strong to the purpose. God's "yeas," and "amens," are firmer than all the oaths of creatures; and when Jehovah puts His yea to the love that He hath to His people, it ought to give great comfort and confidence to our faith. And Oh what testimonies hath Jehovah, in His three-fold character of person, manifested in the Father's love, the Redeemer's grace, and the Holy Ghost's fellowship, in proof of this affection! Blessed Lord! help me to keep it in remembrance.   But, my soul, do not stop here. Mark what the Holy Ghost hath said, as a farther testimony of it: "All His saints are in Thine hand." In whatever point of view we read these words, they...

"I lead in the way of righteousness." -Proverbs 8:20 [KJV]   How does the Lord Jesus—who speaks here under the name of Wisdom— lead His saints "in the way of righteousness?" By casting a mysterious light into their souls, whereby they see what the word of God has revealed, and shedding abroad a mysterious power in their hearts, whereby faith is created, to receive, lay hold of, and credit that which God has made known. We may read the word of God for ever in vain, unless that word is made life and light to our souls; but when the Lord the Spirit, whose covenant office and work it is to take of the things of Jesus and reveal them to the heart, sheds a mysterious and blessed light upon those Scriptures which speak of Jesus as the Law-Fulfiller, as having brought in a glorious righteousness, and at the same moment is pleased to raise up faith and power in the heart to receive, credit, embrace, and handle what He has thus revealed, then by His own persuas...