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

"...and killed the Prince of life."   -Acts 3:15 [KJV]   O dreadful effects of the fall of man! We are not only become enemies to God, and rebels against Him, but are also, so ignorant of ourselves, and so blind to our own state, that we do not see this: we will not own it. An enemy to God! What, to that good and gracious Lord, in whom I live, move, and have my being? I cannot think, that any one upon earth can be so wicked, as to be an enemy to God. Such is the language of blind nature. Thou that utterest it, art the man. Yea, such is the enmity of thine, of every man’s nature against God, that were it possible and in our power we should kill God.    Start (- don't be startled ) not at the thought. Horrid as it is, here is proof of it. God was manifest in the flesh. How was He received? How was He treated by sinful man? Let the annals of His holy life, speak the base contempt and hellish treatment He met with from man. Let the history of His painful an...

"Elect, according to fore-knowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." -I Peter 1:2 [KJV]   Of all blessings, surely this is the highest, and the best, which holds forth to a poor sinner the assurance of redemption, as the united result of the love, grace, and mercy of all the persons in the Godhead. My soul, pause over the glorious truth, and sweetly mark the testimony of each cooperating and acting together in the great work of salvation. Behold thy God and Father setting apart, from all eternity, the chosen vessels of mercy, foreknowing and fore-appointing every event, in His own counsel, purpose, and will. What a blessed thought, in the mind of the redeemed, is this, to live upon, to cherish, and keep alive in the soul, from day to day, to call up the unceasing fruits of adoration, love, duty, and praise, in grace here, and in glory to all eternity.    Go on, my soul, t...

"Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion." -Jeremiah 31:12 [KJV]   Until the redeemed know something of the efficacy of atoning blood and have their consciences purged from guilt and filth by its application, they cannot come and sing in the height of Zion. But when they are redeemed from the hand of Him who is stronger than they; when atoning blood is applied to their consciences to purge away guilt and filth; when Christ is revealed and made experimentally known; when His gospel in the hands of the Spirit becomes a word of power, and a view of the King in His beauty is granted to the believing heart, then, drawn by the cords of love and the bands of a man, they come to Zion, where the King sits enthroned in glory.    It is called "the height of Zion," not only because Zion was high literally, but because the Lord of life and glory is exalted to the highest place of dignity and power. God's ancient promise was, "Behold, My s...