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

"For by one offering, He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." -Hebrews 10:14  [KJV] I hope, my soul, thou hast still upon thee the sweet savour of His name, whom in the morning portion thou didst contemplate as wonderful. And if so, here is another view of Jesus, presented to thine evening meditation, to keep alive the blessed fragrancy, and under the Spirit's influence, to preserve both, not only through the night, but to the morning; and every night, and every morning that follows, until the night of death be passed, and that everlasting morning break in upon thee, in which thy sun shall no more go down, but Jesus Himself be thine everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.     Look, my soul, this evening, at thy Jesus, as this sweet scripture sets Him forth, and behold Him, in His high priestly office, at once the sacrifice, the sacrificer, and the altar, on which He hath offered up that one offering, by which He "hath perfected for ever them that are...

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."   -II Thessalonians 2:16, 17 [KJV] When the Lord is pleased to apply a promise, drop in a word of encouragement, speak home an invitation with power, He administers thereby consolation. It comforts the drooping heart; it speaks peace to a guilty conscience. And this consolation is "everlasting consolation;" for it flows from nothing less than such a source, viz. the eternal love of God; and flows onward to an everlasting ocean of infinite delight. Any intimation of an interest in the everlasting love of God is a blessing beyond all price; for the Lord never gives any such intimation but as a certain pledge, earnest, and foretaste of immortal bliss. He can neither disappoint nor deceive. Once blest, blest for ever.   We may indeed for a long time t...

"But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night ?"   -Job 35:10  [KJV] Ah, Lord! is it so, that among men of the world, though they are oppressed by the world, and the evils of it, and some are compelled to cry out under the bitterness of their sorrows, yet are there no hearts, no voices directed to Thee? When death entereth into their window, and taketh away the desire of their eyes with a stroke; or when pains and chastenings of the body chain them to their beds; do they lament the earthly bereavements, and groan under the consequences of sin, by which death and sickness came; and yet in all these things, will nothing lead their unthinking minds "to hear the rod, and Who hath appointed it?"     Will they turn from one creature comfort to another, and strive to fill up the vacancies made by distressing providences, in their fancied happiness with any thing, or even nothing, rather than look to Thee for comfort and support under their trouble? ...

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." - 1 Thessalonians 1:3 [KJV] It is air and exercise that keep the body healthy. So it is spiritually. The graces of the Spirit need to be often exercised and well aired to keep them healthy—aired with the pure breath of heaven, and exercised with the operations of the Holy Ghost drawing them forth into activity and energy. And just as in nature a man gains health and strength by using his limbs and working his muscles, so in spiritual things these graces of the Spirit gain strength by use and exercise. Faith by working hard, hope by enduring much, and love by labouring long in the face of difficulties, become each more strengthened, more confirmed, more active, healthy, and energetic.   It is a false faith to sleep all day in the sluggard's arm-chair; it is the hypocrite's hope who endures nothing for Christ's sak...

"Who is she that 1ooketh forth as the morning; fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?" -Song of Solomon 6:10  [KJV] By whomsoever this question is asked, there can be no question of whom it is said; for the church of Jesus, made comely by the comeliness which her Lord hath put upon her, is all this, and more, in every eye that can admire true loveliness; and will be a perfection of beauty, in the upper and brighter world for ever. The first openings of grace upon the soul, after a dark night of the fall, may be compared to the beauty of the morning. But though fair as the moon, it is but a borrowed light, as the moon, and subject to changes in its inceasings, and in its warnings also. As long as the sun's influences are upon this planet, its shinings will be fair. But when objects intervene from the earth, and the sun shines not, there will be an eclipse of all its borrowed lustre. Just so the church; and Oh! how often on my soul. While...

"Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents." - Song of Solomon 1:7, 8 [KJV] If you say that you want food and rest, to know Christ for yourself and to enjoy His presence and love, the Lord gives you two directions to attain to the enjoyment of these two blessings:  1. To tread in the footsteps of the flock, to walk in the way in which the saints of old have walked, in the path of tribulation and faith;   2. If you are favoured in any way to live within reach of the shepherds' tents, and have the privilege of hearing the gospel preached in its purity and power, to bring your kids in your arms beside the tent, and to put them down to feed on the juicy herbage. And be assured that if you come to ...

"And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship; and so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land." -Acts 27:44  [KJV] This is the beautiful conclusion of a history, which, during the providence wherein Paul the apostle and his companions were in shipwreck, afforded large opportunity for the exercise of faith. The issue, it appears, was not doubtful from the first; for an angel of God had assured Paul, that God had given unto him the lives of all that sailed with him. And so it proved; yea, the very wreck of the ship furnished out means for the people's safety. Now, my soul, here is a very precious instruction for thee. In the exercises of thy life, learn from hence to abide firmly by the promise, when every thing leading to its accomplishment seems to fail. God hath said, that eternal life, with all its preliminaries, is in His Son; and that "...he that hath the Son, hath life, and shall not come into condemnation."     Now let w...