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

"It is necessary that they [ the sheep ] should be taught to follow, and not stray away into the unfenced fields of wheat which lie so temptingly on either side.  The shepherd calls from time to time to remind them of his presence.  They know his voice and follow on; but if a stranger call, they stop, lift up their heads in alarm, and if the call is repeated, they turn and flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.  This is not the fanciful costume of a parable; it is simple fact.  I have made the experiment often." -Thompson, from Vincent’s Words Studies in the New Testament, vol.2, p.189

—One mediator between God and man, the man CHRIST JESUS. - I Timothy 2:5 [KJV]   O my fellow sinners, I heartily congratulate your soul and my own for this blessed truth! Lord help us to live upon it in our consciences from day to day. For it is not a speculative, but an experimental truth. It enters into the very essence of our faith, is the very life of our hope—lies at the foundation of our peace—and is the very source of every blessing and comfort. If we are not continually looking to this ONE mediator JESUS, we lose the peace of faith, the comfort of hope, the fellowship of love, and get into perplexity of mind. Then, we do not draw nigh to God with confidence, stand before Him with boldness, nor cheerfully walk with Him in love and holiness.    Consider, (1st.) A mediator stands as a middle person, interposing between two parties at variance, to make peace and reconciliation. This, Christ hath perfectly done. He hath for ever made peace by the blood of...

"By faith, the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." -Hebrews 11:31 [KJV]    It were a pity to disconnect what the Holy Ghost hath joined; and as the relation of the destruction accomplished by faith on the walls of Jericho, is followed in the scripture history, with an account of a deliverance, from the same principle, in this wonderful woman, who was an harlot, do thou, my soul, let thy last evening's meditation on the one, be followed up in this, by the exercise of thy devout thoughts on the other; for both are expressly intended to one and the same purpose, which is to encourage the Lord's people to be "followers of them, who now, through faith and patience, inherit the promises."   What extraordinary events are there in the scripture account of Rahab, the harlot; that such a woman, and an harlot, should be distinguished with such grace! That in such a city, even an accursed city...

"What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose." -Psalm 25:12 [KJV] In all the multiplicity and variety of circumstances that have distressed the children of God, has the Lord ever taken a wrong step? Though He has baffled nature, though He has disconcerted reason, though He has turned our plans upside down, though perhaps He has done the thing that we most feared, and thwarted every natural purpose and inclination of our heart— can we say that He has erred? that He has made a mistake? that He has acted unwisely? that He has not done that which is for our spiritual good? Murmuring, rebellious, unbelieving heart, hold thy peace! Shall man, foolish man, a worm of the earth, a creature of a day, lift up his puny voice and say that God can mistake? Your path is very dark, very intricate, very perplexed; you cannot see the hand of God in the trial that is now resting upon you; you cannot believe that it will work together fo...