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

" The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death." —Proverbs 14:32 [KJV] 'O, it is most comfortable, in a dying hour, to look back upon a well-spent life,' say many. It is most comfortable to "forget the things that are behind, and to look forward, and press towards the mark for the prize of our high-calling of God in Christ Jesus," saith the Christian.— Philippians 3:14 . What a delightful prospect, in a dying hour, to view a reconciled God, a glorified Jesus, and a kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world! but if we have not experienced a life of faith on Jesus, and by the grace of God had our conversation in the world, a life of self-righteousness will only beget vain confidence, and delude the soul with false hopes, which will end in awful disappointment at death. But who are the wicked? Verily all who reject the faith of the Son of God, refuse to submit to His righteousness, hope in t...

  " Are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" —I Corinthians 3:3 [KJV] The phrase CARNAL SAINTS, the self-righteous look on as a very opprobrious term, as though contradictory to the character of a real Christian. But such persons differ in judgment from an inspired apostle. Paul calls these Corinthian converts, "babes in Christ;" while he says to them, "Ye are yet carnal." Yea, he appeals to their judgments: "Are ye not so?" Doth not your walk, your words, your strife, your views, give sad evidence of the truth of this my assertion? do you not act and behave too much like men who are strangers to Jesus, and the life and power of vital godliness? But believers are a compound of flesh and spirit. The new-created soul dwells in a sinful body, and is opposed by a carnal nature. There may be true grace within, though much carnality appears without. Weak faith in Jesus may be opposed with strong corruptions and unbelief—a little true knowl...

" The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." —Psalm 51:1 [KJV] It is the wisdom and joy of disciples to see somewhat of Jesus in every page of the lively oracles. Then the word is searched with pleasure, studied with delight, and is made exceeding profitable to the soul. To this end the sins and backslidings, the humiliations and repentings, the joys and experiences of saints of old are recorded. We see their deserts to be the lowest hell: but grace reigns. Though sin abounded in them, yet grace super-abounded over them. But all is through Jesus; no mercy for sinful man, but through that dear man and blessed Mediator. So He glorifies His name, so He makes known His power to be "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever," in saving His people from their sins. Though sin may blind the eyes to His love, and harden the heart against His fear, and the spirit become stout and rebellious for a season, ...

A Fountain Opened     by D.G Miles McKee Have you ever heard of the Fountain of Youth?  It was a mythical fountain that, when tasted, gave everlasting youth to those who located it.  Some legends claimed this fountain was in St Augustine, Florida. where supposedly Ponce De Leon, a Spanish explorer, discovered its healing waters.  Some people still believe that the legends about the fountain are absolutely true.   However, there really is a Fountain of Life that can bring restoration to us …  but it is not in Florida!  It is in the man, Jesus Christ!   Jesus said in  John 4:14 , "… whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."   In the Old Testament, the prophet Zechariah prophesied there would be a fountain opened up for sin and uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1) . It was not, however, a lite...

" Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain; as the latter and former rain unto the earth." — Hosea 6:3 [KJV] Hearts of disciples enjoy sweet fellowship in the truth. Hence they mutually help and encourage each other's faith. The Saviour loves to have it so. He blesses them, and manifests Himself to them in this way. So it was with the disciples after His crucifixion and death. They resorted together, and communed with each other; and Jesus, though unknown to them at first, joined company with them, expounded the scriptures to them, opened their understandings; and they said one to another, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked with us by the way?" etc.—Luke 24:32. So the true disciples of the Old Testament church exhort one another in faith. "We shall know, we shall follow on to know the Lord." So the words may be rendered. Those wh...

" 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...