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

"As the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto Me the whole house of Israel, and the whole house of Judah, with the LORD; that they might be unto Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory." -Jeremiah 13:11 [KJV]   See, my soul, the blessedness of witnessing to God, and witnessing for God. His people, the Lord saith, are called, and are, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, as lights in the world. Both Israel and Judah are included in what is here said; and by the figure of a girdle cleaving to the loins of a man, so close, so strongly bound, and extending all around, is shewn the nearness, and firmness, and the security in every way, and by every direction, in which the Lord's people are brought into relation with Him. Such, then, were the Lord's people of old, a people near to Himself; and as they were the Lord's own choice, so were they dear to the Lord; and as He had made the whole of the n...

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."   - Hebrews 10:36 [KJV] Why is patience needed? Because if we are the Lord's people, we are sure to have many trials. The Lord sends us afflictions that He may give us the grace of patience to bear them. But O, what a rebellious heart do we carry in our bosom! What perverseness, peevishness, and self-will dwell in us! How soon our temper is stirred up, and our irritable minds roused in a moment by the veriest trifle! How little patience have we under the trials that God sees fit to lay upon us! We thus learn our need of patience, and that it is not a fruit of nature's soil. The want of it makes the soul follow after it; and when the Lord does give submission to His will, and enables His children to see how profitable these trials are for their souls, and how, but for this heavy ballast, they would certainly have been carried away into the world, they can see His mer...

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood."   -Hebrews 13:12 [KJV] My soul, I would have thee this evening, take a view of thy Jesus in His own blood, under the special and particular act in which this scripture holds Him forth; sanctifying the people by the application of it, as the great object and design for which He suffered. There is somewhat uncommonly interesting in this view, though not so commonly considered. That this is the only laver for sin, is unquestionable; and that it is infinitely meritorious, and of eternal efficacy, is also equally true.   But when we consider farther, the infinite purity of it, flowing, as it did, from an holy heart, in a nature that was altogether holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; there is somewhat which, though too deeply founded in mystery to be perfectly apprehended by us, may yet serve to intimate the immense preciousness of it, and its immense import...

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart; for I am called by Thy name, O L ORD God of hosts."   - Jeremiah 15:16 [KJV] There is a sweetness in the promises which captivates the heart; a beauty in Christ which wins the soul; a saving unction and power in the word of God, when applied, which draws forth toward it every secret and sacred affection. Can you not sometimes look up and say, "Blessed Jesus, I do love thee?" And when the word of God is opened up, applied, and made sweet and precious, have you not felt sometimes as if you could kiss the sacred page, as conveying such sweetness into your soul? This is embracing a promise in love—throwing our arms round it, drawing it near to our breast, kissing it again and again with kisses of love and affection, and taking that sweet delight in it with which the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, as now all his own—at times almost lost, but now wooed and won, n...

"And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible." - Jeremiah 15:21 [KJV]    My soul, hast thou ever considered some of the many ways of softening trouble? Sit down, and learn it from this sweet scripture. Here is a general promise, which may be suited to particular circumstances, and such as will hold good in all. But first remember, that He who promiseth "to deliver from the sorrow, is the same that appointeth the sorrow: Hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it." The Lord's rod hath a voice that speaks, as well as corrects; and it is a mark of wisdom to listen, as well as feel.   Hence, if we mark the hand that appoints, we shall observe also all the other interesting particulars, both of the instruments by which the Lord works, the time and place, the means and end, and then discern love and grace, yea, Jesus Himself, in all. Suppose it be the world that crosses, or Satan that tempts, or false...

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (14-16OCT22 A.D.) 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: INVINCIBLE GRACE I do not doubt for a moment the glorious doctrine of the invincible grace of God. The Lord must overcome the natural rebellion of the sinner, quicken that sinner by almighty power and draw him or her to Christ. Unless God exerts this mighty power of life-giving grace, none will ever come to the Savior for cleansing in His precious blood. Here are some very good words by Mr. Spurgeon, which I have edited to provide clarity.   “ Man by nature is like a wild horse dashing toward a steep cliff. If he is restrained in his course and turned away from the danger, it is only because of the mighty Rider Who knows how to pull the bit and gui...

"That I may win Christ." - Philippians 3:8 [KJV] What is it to "win Christ?" It is to have Him sweetly embraced in the arms of our faith. It is to feel Him manifesting His heavenly glory in our souls. It is to have the application of His atoning blood, in all its purging efficacy, to our conscience. It is to feel our heart melted and swooning with the sweet ravishments of His dying love, shed abroad even to overpowering. This is winning Christ. Now, before we can thus win Christ, we must have a view of Christ, we must behold His glory, "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." We must see the matchless dignity of His glorious Person, the atoning efficacy of His propitiating blood, the length and breadth, the depth and height of His surpassing love. We must have our heart ready to burst with pantings, longings, and ardent desires that this blessed Immanuel would come down from the heaven of heavens in which He dwells beyo...