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

"For we which have believed do enter into rest."   - Hebrews 4:3 [KJV] We enter into rest by ceasing from our own works, and resting on Christ's ; according to the words, "For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His." Now when you can fully rest upon the finished work of the Son of God, and believe by a living faith that your sins were laid upon His head; that He bore them in His body on the tree; that He has washed you in His precious blood, clothed you with His righteousness, and is sanctifying you by His Spirit and grace, then you can rest. There is something here firm and solid for the conscience to rest on.  Whilst the law thunders, whilst Satan accuses, whilst conscience condemns there is no rest. But you can rest where God rests. God rests in His love; in the finished work of His dear Son; in the perfection of Christ's humanity; in His fulfilment of all His covenant engagements; in the glorificati...

  "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the time of their coming: but My people know not the judgment of the L ORD ." -Jeremiah 8:7 [KJV] When the Lord would expostulate with His people, what methods He graciously adopts! There are no creatures in nature so dull, so senseless, and stupid, as God's people are, by reason of the fall. Every animal hath an instinct, prompting to self-preservation. Are they exposed to danger? How speedily do they endeavour to remove! Are they apprehensive of a storm? they flee to some covering to hide them! The birds of passage, when the first symptoms of winter appear, gather together, to depart to a warmer climate. But man, poor blind improvident man, no winter of death can admonish him; no approach of the departing day of life can prevail, to induce him to flee from the wrath to come.   My soul! look round on human life, and mark this, by way of admiring, more and...

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations."   -I Peter 1:6 [KJV] As everything by nature in us is contrary to the life of God, there is a needs be for manifold trials and temptations to bring us out of those things which are opposed to the grace of God, and to conform us to the image of His dear Son. Thus we need trial after trial, and temptation upon temptation, to cure us of that worldly spirit, that carnality and carelessness, that light, trifling, and empty profession, that outside form of godliness, that spirit of pride and self-righteousness, that resting short of divine teachings, heavenly blessings, and spiritual manifestations, that settling on our lees and being at ease in Zion, that being mixed up with all sorts of professors, that ignorance of the secret of the Lord which is with them that fear Him—all which marks of death we see so visibly stamped upon the profession of the day.   There is a...

  He Must Increase!   by  D.G. Miles McKee Have you ever felt dissatisfied with your faith? Have you ever thought that if only you had a better quality of faith, then you could be sure of your salvation? This is dangerous thinking.  Why? Because we are never called to have faith in faith.  Since when does the Bible say, " Being satisfied with our faith, we have peace with God ”?   (See Romans 5:1).   Satisfaction with Jesus, His person and work is what is called for.  We are never called to be satisfied with our faith but called rather to be occupied with Christ and His objective, outside of us, finished work!   Let’s look further at this.   Gospel faith takes a hold of Christ and His accomplishments on our behalf.  Gospel faith releases us to set our affection on things above where Christ is seated in cosmic authority. (Colossians 3:2).  Gospel faith takes us out of ourselves and into the Lord Jesus. The result of gospel ...

"Aaron's rod that budded." -Hebrews 9:4 [KJV] One view more of the tabernacle, and the articles of furniture therein contained, may be rendered profitable, under the Spirit's teaching: and therefore, my soul, look at that standing miracle, which was preserved there, of the rod of Aaron. The history of it is related in the book of Numbers, chapter 17. It was the method, which the Lord was graciously pleased to appoint, for the determining on whom His choice rested for the priesthood. To this end, a rod was taken from every tribe, and laid up before the Lord in the tabernacle; the Lord having declared, that whichsoever of the tribes had the rod to blossom, should be the man. The rod of Aaron, on the morrow, had buds, and blossoms, and fruits. But in all these, Christ, in His everlasting priesthood, was typified. To behold a dry stick bring forth buds, and become green and flourishing, was miraculous, and only to be referred into the sovereign power and will of God.   B...

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."   - Philippians 2:12 [KJV] None but God's people under the teachings of the Spirit know what it is to "work out their own salvation." And all who work out their own salvation will work it out "with fear and trembling." For when a man is taught by God to know what he is; when he feels what a deceitful heart he carries in his bosom; when the various snares, temptations, and corruptions by which he is daily encompassed are opened up to him; when he knows and feels what a ruined wretch he is in self, then he begins to fear and tremble lest he should be damned at the last. He cannot go recklessly and carelessly on without "making straight paths for his feet," without "examining himself whether he be in the faith."   And whenever a man's dreadfully deceitful heart is opened up to him; whenever the hollowness of an empty profession is unmasked; whenever he feels how strait is ...

"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...