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

" Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." —Acts 26:19 [KJV] One is sometimes called to bear testimony before unbelievers of the hope that is in One. It is difficult to speak of the manifestation of Christ to the heart, so that the Saviour alone may be exalted and glorified. Somewhat of self naturally creeps into the relation. It is very pleasing to nature, to be esteemed as one highly favored, and to have made great attainments in Christianity. O that single letter, with great sound, I! But it was farthest from the heart of Paul, that eminent champion for free-grace salvation, to give the least encouragement from his conversion to any fellow-sinner to talk of obedience to God's call, or faithfulness to His grace, as conditions of salvation. The soul of that man of God would be fired with a holy zeal for his Master's glory, was he now on earth, to hear His language abused, and His meaning perverted, by the pride of men....

" That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations." —Luke 24:47 [KJV] This is God's method of saving sinners by Jesus Christ. Those who know the preciousness of Christ, have a regard to the glory of God, and love for immortal souls, make this the rule of their preaching: for this doctrine, where it is known and experienced in the heart, makes a true Christian. Evangelical repentance flows from a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and an understanding heart; and is an evidence and effect of gospel-faith. To see the evil nature and dreadful effects of sin, its punishment in the sufferings of Jesus, to hear the curses and condemnation of the law against sinners, its dreadful thunders and menaces in the conscience; to understand in the heart that nothing but the blood of Jesus could atone for the guilty, none but he could fulfil the perfect demands of a holy law for the unrighteous; this humbles the soul, cuts off false hopes, lay...

" Knowing, that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me." —II Peter 1:14 [KJV] Nothing but the life of Jesus, manifest in our flesh, can reconcile us to death. This, and this only, delivers from the fears of death, disarms it of its sting, and fortifies the mind with the knowledge of complete victory over the king of terrors, "through Him Who hath loved us." Constant converse with Jesus makes death familiar. So we learn to die daily; so the spiritual, immortal life of the soul triumphs over the sensual, mortal life of the body. The happy spirit, in some highly-favored seasons, is so far from fearing and trembling at the body's dissolution, that it rejoices, and even longs to be set at liberty from its imprisoned state; it pants with desires after its beloved, and says, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly:" It wants To clap its glad wings and tow'r away, And mingle with eternal day. How sweet...

In Luke 18:1-8 the Lord Jesus gives us some wonderful instruction on prayer.  In this passage, the Master tells a parable to inform us that, when we pray, we are not to lose heart but to be persistent in asking.   To illustrate this truth, He tells a story of a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor regarded man. There was also a widow in the same town who kept coming to him and begging him to 'Vindicate me against my adversary .' She evidently had been wronged by someone and continually pleaded with the judge to punish the one who had wronged her.  For some time, the judge refused to do anything about her situation but eventually said to himself, 'I neither fear God nor respect man, but because this woman continually bothers me, I will grant her request, lest by her constant coming to me, she exhausts me.'   The Lord then continues, saying "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And shall God not vindicate His own chosen ones who cry to Hi...

" And Moses said unto the people, Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that you sin not." —Exodus 20:2 [KJV] Pride and self-confidence are deeply rooted in the human heart. False hopes are built on self-righteous pleas. By these the heart is blinded to the exceeding sinfulness of sin; hardened against the fear and dread of the Lord; and such live in rebellion against the truth as in Jesus. Like Paul, we are all naturally alive without the law; and, with the Israelites of old, are ready to say, "All that the L ORD hath spoken we will do." — Exodus 19:8 . Alas! poor souls utter such words of ignorance and pride, when, like the disciples on the mount, "they know not what they say." But whom the Lord loves, He proves. The Lord is a jealous God; He will permit no flesh to glory in His presence; nor shall His dear children live without His fear, and a holy hatred of pride and sin; therefore they mu...

" 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...