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

"And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?"  -Luke 24:38 [KJV]   Help, O help us, Thou dear Lord, who spake these words to Thy affrighted disciples, to gather some sweet consolation from them to our hearts this night. We know Thou prayest for us, when Thou prayest for all who should believe on Thee (John 17:20.) O speak in life and power these words to our troubled hearts, and for the rising thoughts of distress. Thine is the power: Thine shall be the glory.    (1st.) We here see, though their dear Lord was present, yet His beloved disciples were troubled. Yea, and though He had but that moment pronounced peace unto you, yet fears again rose in their hearts. They were as we are, flesh, as well as spirit: men of like passions with us. The frights, fears and troubles which nature is subject to, discompose the spiritual frames of disciples.    But, (2d.) They do not alter our state, nor separate us from ...

"Never man spake like this man." -John 7:46 [KJV]   What a decided testimony were even the enemies of Christ compelled, from their own consciences, to give to the Godhead and power of the Lord Jesus Christ! Think then, my soul, what an evidence thou wouldest bring, if called upon to tell what Jesus hath said to thee! From the first moment that Jesus revealed Himself, in His word, and by His word, to thy heart, thou couldest truly say, as the Jewish officers did, "Never man spake like this man." Never any spake like this Godman, this Glory-man, thy Redeemer. All His words were, and are divine words; powerful, persuasive, tender, gracious words, and full of salvation.    Say, also, how very blessed all that Jesus spake of salvation was to thy heart, when He made it personal, and spake it all to thee. When He said, I am thy salvation. I have pardon, I have peace, I have righteousness, I have grace here, and glory hereafter; and all I have is for thee. S...

"If a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." -II Timothy 2:5 [KJV] In other words, it is not a bare striving, but a striving according to certain rules. But these rules are spiritual rules; and being spiritual rules, exclude everything of sense, reason, and nature. Now man, in an unregenerate condition, whether he be in a state of profanity, or in a state of profession, has no spiritual knowledge of the way by which to overcome. He may strive against his lusts; he may endeavour to overcome those things that conscience bears testimony against; but he is not crowned, because he strives not lawfully. He strives in his own strength; contends in his own wisdom; and trusts in his own righteousness. Such strugglers and such overcomers (if overcomers they ever are) are not crowned, because they strive not according to the rules laid down in God's word. This at once excludes all creature righteousness, human wisdom, and natu...