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

"Faith is the eye of the understanding whereby the soul comes to see the great things which God the Father has prepared for them who love Him.  Beloved, these are the last times wherein it behooves you to beg with much earnestness, strength from the Lord that He may put straight steps to your feet so that you may walk to His praise, exalting Him alone as your life and glory."   -preacher William Kiffin

"We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe, to the saving of the soul."   - Hebrews 10:39 [KJV]   There is somewhat implied in this text, which is not expressed. It was not out of the apostle’s thoughts. It ought never to be out of ours. Why do we not draw back unto perdition? Is it because of our own might, power, and faithfulness? No. “But because we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (I Peter 1:5.) Why do any draw back unto perdition? Because they do not believe the word of God: do not live upon the power of God: their hearts are not renewed by the grace of God; and they do not choose for their portion, in time and eternity, the Son of God.    But they must have made some progress in the way of salvation, else how can they draw back unto perdition? Many go great lengths in profession and expressions. They are like a new moon that shines bright at the beginning, but does not last all night. They ...

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the time of their coming: but My people know not the judgment of the LORD." -Jeremiah 8:7 [KJV]   When the Lord would expostulate with His people, what methods He graciously adopts! There are no creatures in nature so dull, so senseless, and stupid, as God's people are, by reason of the fall . Every animal hath an instinct, prompting to self-preservation. Are they exposed to danger? How speedily do they endeavour to remove! Are they apprehensive of a storm? they flee to some covering to hide them! The birds of passage, when the first symptoms of winter appear, gather together, to depart to a warmer climate. But man, poor blind improvident man, no winter of death can admonish him; no approach of the departing day of life can prevail, to induce him to flee from the wrath to come.   My soul! look round on human life, and mark this, by way of admir...

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." -I Peter 1:6 [KJV]   As everything by nature in us is contrary to the life of God, there is a needs be for manifold trials and temptations to bring us out of those things which are opposed to the grace of God, and to conform us to the image of His dear Son. Thus we need trial after trial, and temptation upon temptation, to cure us of that worldly spirit, that carnality and carelessness, that light, trifling, and empty profession, that outside form of godliness, that spirit of pride and self-righteousness, that resting short of divine teachings, heavenly blessings, and spiritual manifestations, that settling on our lees and being at ease in Zion, that being mixed up with all sorts of professors, that ignorance of the secret of the Lord which is with them that fear Him—all which marks of death we see so visibly stamped upon the profession of the da...