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

"Now when Jesus was risen early, the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils."   -Mark 16:9  [KJV] My Lord! I have often found occasion to stand amazed at the wonders of Thy grace, as set forth in Thy blessed word. Every thing manifests that it is altogether free and undeserved; nothing, in the objects of it, having the least tendency to call it forth into exercise; no, not even our misery: for though our misery afforded an opportunity for the greater display of it, yet Thy grace was long before our misery, originating as it did in Thine own everlasting love.     Every circumstance connected with the manifestation of Thy grace calls forth astonishment. The greatness, the continuance, the unceasing nature of it, notwithstanding all the undeservings of the objects of Thy rich bounty; all tend to excite astonishment in my soul. But, Lord! when at an time I behold abounding grace shewn, where there have been abound...

"Man's goings are of the L ORD ; how can a man then understand his own way?"   -Proverbs 20:24 [KJV] Does not your heart sometimes quake with fear lest you have nothing but a nominal profession, lest the god of this world be blinding you, and lest your conscience be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin? It is good to have such fears. He who feareth not, who has no solemn apprehensions, no anxious inquiries, who is never exercised with some internal trepidation of soul, it is much to be feared has never known what it is to have "the candle of the Lord searching the inward parts of the belly."   But if God has quickened your soul into spiritual life, and you have ears to hear, I would just put two questions to you: Have you obtained righteousness by a manifestation of Christ's righteousness; pardon by the application of Christ's blood; love by a shedding abroad of love; deliverance by a discovery of God's outstretched hand? My other question is th...

"And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me; for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? saith the LORD."   -Jeremiah 30:21  [KJV] When the patriarch Jacob was dying, he pronounced, under the spirit of prophecy, that "the sceptre should not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come," Genesis 49:10. And here in the prospect of the Babylonish captivity, now on the eve of its arrival, the prophet is commissioned by the Lord to tell the church, that notwithstandidg all present appearances, no foreigners should judge or rule over them; but one should proceed from the midst of them, to be their governor, even David their king, whom I (saith Jehovah, verse 9) will raise up unto them. One like unto themselves, such as our Jesus was, like unto His brethren. Sweet confirmation of our faith! And that no doubt ...

"I the L ORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day."   -Isaiah 27:3 [KJV] The Lord Jesus Christ, who lives at God's right hand, has to send down supplies of His grace continually to keep your soul alive unto Himself. Without this life being kept up and maintained by these continual supplies of His grace, you cannot pray, or read, or hear the word, or meditate with any feeling or profit. You cannot love the Lord and His blessed ways; you cannot submit to His righteous dealings; or hear the rod and Him who appointed it. You may approach His throne, but your heart is cold, clouded, and unfeeling; your spirit sinks under the weight and burden of the trials and difficulties that are spread in your path; nor are you able to do anything that satisfies yourself, or that you think can satisfy God.   By these painful but profitable lessons, you are experimentally taught that you want the life of Christ as well as the death of Chri...

"In deaths oft."     -II Corinthians 11:23  [KJV] What did the apostle mean by this expression, but that from living in Christ, he was always on the lookout for dying in Christ; so that death could make no change of state, whatever change it made of worlds; for that living or dying, he was still in Christ? Paul seems to be speaking out his whole soul in the thought. It seems as if the conscious sense of his union and interest with Jesus was so inwrought in His very nature, that he was "in deaths oft," hoping that this providence, or that appointment, would be found the messenger to call him home to his Redeemer, to be with Him for ever.     My soul! As every night the bed of sleep to thy wearied body becomes a representation of the night of death, and the chamber of the grave, sit down this evening, and look over the memorandums of thine heart, whether there are some of the same sweet testimonies, and arising out of the same blessed source, as the apostle's, th...

"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."   -James 5:11 [KJV] The words translated "endure" and "patience" are the same in the original; and in fact, the example of Job is given as an instance of the happiness of those who endure. The same word is also used by our blessed Lord, where he says, "He that  endureth  to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22) . We have need then of endurance. As he that runs a race needs not so much swiftness as enduring strength to hold out to the end, never to give up as long as he can drag one limb before another; as the British soldier must never suffer himself to be beaten; so it is in the Christian race: we must never give up; we must never say "die;" we must never allow ourselves to be beaten by sin or Satan.  If God Himself seem to thrust us away from His throne,    we mus...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (21-23JAN22) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in SO GREAT SALVATION by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from our sins and from Hell: IT IS FINISHED When Christ was dying on the cross for the sins of His people, He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). What was finished (brought to its full and final completion and culmination)? Consider the following: The whole will of God in regard to the salvation of the elect and the ground of redemption (Hebrews 10:7). The whole work His Father had given Him to do in saving His people from their sins (1 Timothy 1:15). The Old Covenant law and all types and ceremonies (Hebrews 10:9-14). The righteousness of God performed, perfected, and which is imputed to believers (Romans 3:19-24; Romans 10:4; II Corinthians 5:21). The proof of the accomplishment of all tha...