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

" Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth." —John 17:17 [KJV]  Thus prayed our great High Priest on earth. What He asked in His humiliation, is founded upon the word and will of His Father; and He hath power to effect in His exaltation. Hence we have the fullest assurance of the perfect sanctification of all His members. Hence the desires and breathings of souls after holiness are encouraged; and the prayers of the faithful gather the strongest confidence of success.   While our Beloved expresses His affectionate concern for His people's salvation, we see an equal regard for the honor and glory of His Father's word. Love for holiness, and love of the truth are inseparable. As the gospel prevails in the heart, holiness is increased. It is first life, then liveliness in the soul: it is the ministration of the Spirit in the sanctification of the spirit. Whatever working we find of the Spirit in the heart, it is by the word of truth. The life of believers is fr...

" O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." —Psalm 42:6 [KJV]    In times of dejection and distress, the thoughts of a dear friend, who has comforted us in times past, tend to alleviate the mind. If we are assured of his love to us, we question not his readiness to assist us. So under the affecting loss of a dear brother, Martha addresses the Saviour, "Lord, if Thou hadst been there, my brother had not died." —John 11:21 .   Inexpressible blessedness, to live in a holy familiarity with the God of love! How simple are David's words! how freely doth he pour out his complaints, and tell God of his sorrows! though his soul was bowed down within him, heaviness of mind beset him, the sweet sunshine of joy was overcast by the dark cloud of sorrow, yet faith's piercing eye looks through all. Regardless of his own frames and feelings, he has direct recourse to God.  ...

" For His anger endureth but a moment: in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." —Psalm 30:5 [KJV]    Verily here is a glorious assemblage of comforting truths like a reviving cordial of rich compounds to enliven drooping spirits. Too, too often do God's children judge of their Father's love, from corrupt ideas. Through the carnality of their natures, the depravity of their judgment, the weakness of their faith, the uncertainty of their frames and feelings, and the artful insinuations of Satan, their loving Father is considered as an implacable being, full of wrath and anger against them. But this is contrary to God's revelation of Himself in Christ Jesus as a God of love. So also is it injurious and hurtful to the souls of the faithful; for it damps their love, distresses their spirits, deadens the exercise of their graces, and hinders their increase in holiness; the essence of which is founded in the love of God. Ther...

" Let us go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." —Hebrews 13:13 [KJV]  The profession of Jesus is easy to nature. There is nothing irksome to the flesh in being called a Christian. But to know Jesus in heart, to confess Him with the tongue, and to follow Him in our life, will ever expose us to reproach and contempt. But if, with Philip, we have really found that blessed HIM of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, we must, we shall speak of Him to others. We shall esteem Jesus our beloved as our richest treasure. Our hearts and affections will be going out after Him. Moses' choice will be ours: "We shall esteem the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." But fleshly wisdom is contrary to all this. That ever prompts, 'Save thyself—take care of thy good name—fear, lest that be cast out as evil—beware of thy character—go not too far, thou wilt sustain damage. In the camp of this world, riches, pleasures, and honors are...

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (20-22JAN23 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: HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOUR! Believer, what a Saviour God has provided for His people (Gen esis 22:8; Matt hew 1:21)! The Almighty God (John 1:1), yet all tender Saviour and Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us (John 10:11; Psa lm 23:1). How well-fitted Jesus Christ is to be our Great High Priest (Heb rews 2:17; 4:14-16). How sufficient is He to supply our every need according to His riches in glory (Col ossians 2:9-10; Phil ippians 4:19). How complete His wisdom and grace to provide for us perfect atonement and full justification from all our sin (Heb rews 9:12; Rom ans 3:24). How gracious the Lord is to impute His righteous...

" If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed." — John 8:31 [KJV]  As mutual love subsists between Jesus and His believing members, so there is a mutual choice of each other. Hence, saith the church, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." —Songs of Solomon 6:3 . So also there is a mutual inhabitation; every believer dwells in Christ, and Christ in him. This matter is only comfortably experienced by continuing in the truth. For "whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." —II John 9 . Many profess to be disciples of Jesus in name. But what profit is this? If souls have not been sick of sin, alas, Jesus will be a physician of no value to them. If souls have not seen themselves lost, their state accursed, and their case hopeless and desperate, so that none but Jesus can restore and save them, they will but lightly es...

Who Says? God Says!   by  D.G. Miles McKee Some years ago, in a town in England, a minister held a gospel meeting.   The next morning, a young man called at the house where the preacher had spent the night and asked to see the gentleman who had been preaching the night before. He was welcomed and brought in and upon being seated, he related something of his past life. He said that for many months he had been in very great soul trouble, and distress about his sins, and had longed for rest and salvation. He had gone round all the churches in the town, hoping he might hear something that would give him comfort, but without any result. "But, after the meeting last evening," he said, " I went home so thoroughly wretched that I was unable to sleep a wink the whole night long, and now I have come to you to ask you whether you can tell me out of the Bible, how may I KNOW that MY sins are forgiven?" " Yes," replied the preacher, But, before I do, you let me ask you...