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

" Jesus said, One thing is needful ." —Luke 10:42 [KJV] The disposition and carriage of the sisters, Martha and Mary, much resemble the different desires and actings of the flesh and spirit, of which every Christian is composed. The flesh, like Martha, is careful and troubled about many things: it is ever restless and uneasy; always in want; seldom satisfied; never truly happy. But the spirit hath chose that good part, that one thing needful: it is truly wise in its choice, quite satisfied in its object, and truly happy in its enjoyment. Thus it is while the Christian is under the prevailing influence of this ONE THING NEEDFUL. One thing, the enjoyment of God, was our first parents' paradise . A thirst after, and enjoyment of two things (the knowledge of evil as well as good) caused all their woe, and made them miserable: and it is the knowledge of the former which keeps all their posterity under the sad circumstances they are fallen into, till they are br...

"Thy Maker is thine Husband." —Isaiah 54:5 [KJV] All marriages are, or ought to be, founded in mutual love between the contracting parties. This is the chief ingredient to produce happiness in the conjugal state. Where this is wanting, true comfort is not enjoyed. When a person of noble birth and great fortune marries a woman poor in circumstances, and involved in debt, we justly conclude he chose her out of pure love and affection to her person: and surely such an one is under the most endearing obligations to love and chastity. She can never call to mind her former indigent state and her present affluent circumstances, but it must tend to inflame her with the most ardent affection to her husband. This is somewhat the case between Christ and His church. Pure love in the heart of the heavenly Bridegroom caused Him to betroth His church unto Himself, in loving kindness. Though she was in the most abject state and despicable condition, yet He secretly loved her pe...

" 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] That is a sweet petition in the service of the church of England; 'Grant, O Lord, that we may not only hear, read, mark, and learn, but inwardly digest the holy scriptures.' As soon as the Lord hath fulfilled this prayer upon any poor sinner, then Jesus is the hope of his soul; he esteems the scriptures as his daily food, the doctrines of grace are the joy and rejoicing of his heart; and he will love and attend such prophets of the Lord, who have also "found God's words and have eat them." Glory to our loving shepherd, He finds His sheep scattered and starving upon the barren mountains, He leads them to green pastures of gospel-grace and love: there they feed and lie down beside the still waters of peace and salvation. And this heightens every comfort, and imp...

" Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." —II John vs. 8 [KJV] The salvation of God's people is certain, by His immutable love. Their safety depends on His almighty power; their confidence and glorying is in the finished work of Jesus; and their comforts are enjoyed from the Spirit's testimony of the Saviour to their hearts; as having loved, redeemed, and saved them as lost, guilty, and perishing sinners. The clearer views we have of this truth, so much the more do we cleave to Jesus. As our faith increases our comforts are strengthened; and this is the evidence of a gracious heart; the comforts of love ever excite to care and circumspection in life and practice. A glimpse of Jesus begets longing after more comfortable enjoyment of Him: so also a holy jealousy of soul, lest what is gained should be lost in sense and enjoyment. While surrounded by false teachers, exposed to unscriptural doctrin...

"This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The L ORD our righteousness ." —Jeremiah 33:16 [KJV] Before days began or years were numbered, in the book of God's election were all the members of Jesus written, "which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them." —Psalm 139:16. God's electing love would have remained an eternal secret to us had not the Spirit of truth made it known. But as it is revealed in the word, it is an object of our faith; and it ever will be the subject of glorying and triumph to those who possess the faith of God's elect; for faith is a blessed evidence, that "God hath chosen them in Christ before the foundation of the world." —Ephesians 1:4. Was the man Jesus, God the Father's "elect, in Whom His soul delighteth?" —Isaiah 42:1 . So are all His members loved with the same love as the Head. God gave not the Spirit by measure unto Jesus, the glorified Head of the church; ...

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. —Psalm 121:1 [KJV] The most comforting subject to a spiritual mind, the most delightful object to a spiritual eye, is "God in Christ, reconciled to us, not imputing trespasses unto us." The hills afford us a pleasing idea of Jesus. As they are elevated parts of the same earth with the lowest valley, so Jesus "was found in the fashion as a man, took on Him the same nature, and was in all things like unto His brethren, sin only excepted."  "God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name," —Philippians 2:9, even the precious name JESUS, the Saviour. We can never dwell too much upon the human form and humble appearance of Jesus, while we entertain the most exalted ideas of His eternal power and Godhead. "He bore our sins, and carried our sorrows;" all our help is laid upon Him; all our hope is in Him; and our help cometh from Him. And for the encoura...

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." -1 Peter 4:12 [KJV] The "fiery trial," then, is not a strange thing which happens only to a few of the Lord's family, but is more or less the appointed lot of all. Do we not hear the Lord saying to his Zion, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction?" All then that are chosen must pass through the furnace of affliction, and all  know experimentally the fiery trial, for by it they are made partakers of Christ's sufferings. But this is indispensable in order to be partakers of His glory. "If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." Thus they suffer with Him, "that when His glory shall be revealed, they may be glad also with exceeding joy." And this suffering with and for Christ in the furnace of affliction salts the soul, preserves it from corruption, com...