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

"Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?"   - John 20:15 [KJV]   Profession of Christ, without affection to Him, leaves the heart in dead formality. What is religion without the affections? What the highest pretension, the greatest depth of knowledge, without love to our dear Saviour? Here poor Mary discovers her affection to her Lord, by weeping for, and seeking after His crucified body. The fire of love in the heart carries out the soul beyond itself. Tell me, Sir, says she to Jesus (supposing Him to be the gardener) where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away . Poor weak being, her affections went beyond her strength. But to her inexpressible joy and comfort, Jesus manifested Himself to her. This was written for our instruction. Come ye weeping, seeking souls, learn a lesson of encouragement and comfort to-night, from your sister’s conduct, and your Lord’s dealings with her.    Observe, (1st.) Christ’s beloved disciples have their weeping and the...

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." -Revelation 12:1 [KJV] My soul! as the beloved apostle was invited to see those precious visions, which the Lord favoured him with, for the church's good, so do thou, this evening, attend his ministry, and gather, under divine teaching, instruction from this great wonder, which John saw. Surely, the woman here spoken of, means the church, the Lamb's wife, clothed in her husband's righteousness; and the moon, like that planet which ministers to our world, under her feet: and the crown, with which her head was adorned, sets forth how the church is made glorious by the ministry of the twelve apostles in the gospel of salvation: for what can be more suitable for the church to be crowned with, than the blessed truths contained in their writings?   Now, my soul, as every representation of the church not only ...

"Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of." -II Timothy 3:14 [KJV]   Various hindrances meet the child of God in his path heavenwards. And their tendency is such, that but for the grace of God, they would effectually succeed in driving him from the faith. When, then, he has to meet a head wind blowing right in his teeth, when the storm and hail beat roughly upon him, when the waves rise high and the stream runs strong, there seems no getting on; and he fears that he shall be like "the children of Ephraim, who, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle."     And yet there is that grace implanted in his heart, there is that faith which God the Spirit first created and still keeps alive in his soul, that though he may for a moment be driven aside, he yet never turns his back upon the truth; though retarded for a moment, his face is still Zionwards. I can say for myself, that all the trials I have ...