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

"The golden pot that had manna." -Hebrews 9:4 [KJV] There is somewhat very blessed in the account given concerning the furniture of the second tabernacle. Some few evenings since, my soul, a glance was taken of the candlestick, the table and shew-bread; in the first tabernacle. Perhaps the Lord the Holy Ghost will open to thy meditation some edifying considerations in the view of the contents of the second. The golden pot, which preserved the manna pure, that in itself was soon subject to corruption, was unquestionably a beautiful emblem of the divine nature of Jesus, imparting durableness and dignity to His human nature.   We are told concerning the manna, that if the Israelites kept it, though but for a day (except when miraculously preserved pure on the sabbath-day, to remind them of that ordinance) it bred worms, and stank; Exodus 16:20 . But in this golden pot, an omer full of manna put therein, was laid up before the Lord as a memorial, and preserved pure. Precious Lor...

"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself."   - Jeremiah 31:18 [KJV]  The spiritual feeling of sin is indispensable to the feeling of salvation. A sense of the malady must ever precede, and prepare the soul for, a believing reception and due apprehension of the remedy. Wherever God intends to reveal His Son with power, wherever He intends to make the gospel "a joyful sound" indeed, He makes the conscience feel and groan under the burden of sin. And sure am I that when a man is labouring under the burden of sin, he will be full of complaint.  The Bible records hundreds of the complaints of God's people under the burden of sin. "My wounds stink and are corrupt," cries one, "because of my foolishness. I am troubled: I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long" (Psalm 38:5, 6) . "My soul," cries another, "is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave" (Psalm 88:3) . "He hath led me,...

"The L ORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty. He will save. He will rejoice over thee with joy. He will rest in His love. He will joy over thee with singing."   -Zephaniah 3:17 [KJV] My soul! look at this old testament promise, through the medium of the new testament dispensation, and behold what a cluster of rich blessings it contains; and which, like all the other promises of the bible, is "yea and amen in Christ Jesus!" And observe how it opens. The L ORD thy God, that is, Jehovah in His threefold character of person, in rich covenant engagements, is "in the midst of thee;" hath set up His throne in Zion, and lives, and reigns, and governs in the hearts of His redeemed. So said Jesus, and so that dear Lord explained it in after ages: "If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him ; " John 14:23 . "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another ...

"Follow after righteousness."   -I Timothy 6:11 [KJV] We may understand two things by this expression. First, the discovery to the conscience of Christ's imputed righteousness, in the way of justification; and secondly, the communication to the soul of a divine or righteous nature, whereby it brings forth the fruits of sincerity and uprightness before God. Both are to be followed after. But it may be asked, Why the first, if a man has a knowledge of his justification, and a sense of his acceptance with God? But may not a sense of interest in Jesus' glorious righteousness, and the inward testimony of the Spirit be lost in the enjoyment of them, or at least considerably diminished, for a time?   We read (Luke 15:8) of the woman who lost a piece of silver. Was there not a lighting of the candle, a sweeping of the house, and a diligent search into every corner till it was found again? The woman's piece of money was not really lost; it was still in the house; but as t...

"And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter, and they that were with Him said, Master, the multitude throng Thee, and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me." -Luke 8:45, 46 [KJV] What a most interesting passage is here! What an evidence does it afford of the clear knowledge of the Lord Jesus; and, by an undeniable conclusion from such a proof of His omniscience, what a testimony does it bring with it of the Godhead of Christ! Pause, my soul, over the portion, and mark it well. Next pass on to another sweet improvement of it, and duly consider what a beautiful distinction is here drawn between the violent pressure of the throng, and the gentle touch of faith. Multitudes crowd to churches, and they hear of Jesus; but the personal knowledge and enjoyment of the Lord Jesus, is this touching Him.   Oh! for grace to have this right discrimination! It is very easy to attend the...

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."   - Psalm 62:5 [KJV] I believe that the Lord, before ever He communicates a real blessing to the souls of His poor and needy children, not merely convinces them by the Spirit of the depth of their poverty, of their truly ruined and lost state by nature, of the destitution of everything good in them; but He opens their eyes in a mysterious manner to see certain blessings which are stored up in Christ; for instance, righteousness to cover their nakedness, blood to atone for their transgressions, grace to superabound over all the aboundings of sin, faith to be the evidence of things not seen, hope to anchor within the veil, and love to be a foretaste of eternal bliss.   These and similar blessings the Lord presents before their eyes, and gives them a spiritual understanding that these mercies are stored up in Christ; and as He gives them this perception of what the blessing is, and shews them that these blessing...

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (10-12JUN22) 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 - Almighty God's unmerited favor - from our sins and from Hell: GOD OUR SAVIOUR “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared“ (Titus 3:4). Three times in this epistle to Titus the Lord Jesus Christ is called, "God our Saviour." Paul believed in and preached a divine Saviour, not just a mere man, but rather the Saviour, who is Almighty God. His name is Jesus, Saviour (Matt. 1:21), who shall save His people from their sin, that declares His office. But let us not forget that His name is also, Emmanuel (Matt. 1:23) God with us, that declares His nature. If you take away the Deity of Jesus Christ you have no gospel, no good news to preach, no salvation. It is not that just som...