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

" But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: to Him be glory both now and for ever . Amen." — II Peter 3:18 [KJV] Christian, know thy danger. Thou art ever liable to be led away by the error of the wicked one, to decline from the TRUTH, and to fall away from thy stedfastness in the faith of Jesus. Exhortations warn of this; they tend to quicken stronger exercises of faith and love, as a remedy against this; yea, through the influences of the Spirit they cause new-born souls to grow and increase with the increase of God, just as reviving showers of rain and warm influences of the sun, cause the fruits of the earth to grow. It behoves every follower of the Lamb to consider this; to wrestle with the God of all grace, lest he grow faint in his mind, his hands hang down, and his knees become feeble; but that he "grow strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus." Behold the inseparable connection between grace and Jesus...

" He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul." — Psalm 106:15 [KJV] When the sunshine of worldly ease, and a greater portion of the good things of this life than he was wont to enjoy, fell to the lot of that champion of Jesus of blessed memory, Luther; it excited a holy fear and jealousy in his heart, which made him cry out, 'Lord, I will not be put off with these things.' However pleasant and agreeable worldly prosperity may be to the flesh, yet indulging and pampering the body begets and feeds many disorders and humors which are destructive to the health of the soul. The body without exercise naturally loses its strength and vigor. Afflictions are the exercise of the soul; though they be dreaded because grievous to the flesh, yet are they profitable to the spirit; or else not one of God's dear children should know what a single trouble is: for they are all the allotments of covenant love. In our prayers we often imitate James a...

" Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." — Hebrews 2:1 [KJV] The body receives little nourishment, if its food hastily pass through it. To health and strength proper digestion is necessary. Divine truths, eagerly heard and soon forgot, do not comfort, nor strengthen the soul. When the babe Jesus was lying in the manger, and the shepherds had told the glorious things they had seen and heard concerning Him, many WONDERED. But it was the happiness of the virgin mother, "she kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." — Luke 2:19. We can never be comfortable in Jesus; but while the truths concerning Him dwell in our minds. Many complain of bad memories. They can retain but little of the doctrines of grace. True, Jesus saves none for the sake of a strong memory; neither will His loving heart cast off any because of a weak one. Yet it is our daily interest t...

No Other Hope by D.G Miles McKee     In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus spoke a parable to people who were self-righteous and who, because of their imagined righteousness, looked down on others (See verse 9 ).  Here’s what the Master said. "Two men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'O God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week and tithe (give a tenth of all that I earn)' ‘The tax collector stood afar off, and would not lift even his eyes to heaven, and smote (kept beating) his breast saying, ' God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified (accepted) with God rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."   Back in New Testament times the devout Jew observed three prayer ...

" Jesus said unto them, Take heed what ye hear ." — Mark 4:24 [KJV] It is our unspeakable mercy, it calls for our daily tribute of praise, and daily study to improve it, that a free use of the lively oracles of truth is permitted us; others are denied this rich privilege. Happy those to whom the word of God is the rule of their faith, a light to direct their paths, and a standard whereby they try and prove the doctrines they hear, whether they are of God or man. The WHOLE TRUTH, as it is in Jesus, is precious to every believer. "Faith comes by hearing the word of God." As the ear is the inlet to the soul, we should ever take heed what kind of doctrines we hear. It was through the ear Satan gained access to the heart of Eve, and beguiled her. Paul alludes to this— II Corinthians 11:3 . "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." What i...

" Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope." — Psalm 119:49 [KJV] It is not natural to us to hope in God's word. This the power of God causeth us to do . Where there is true knowledge of Jesus, the essential word, there will be a real esteem for the scriptures, the written word of Jehovah. The Spirit that dwelt in Jesus dictated the truths concerning Him; and the same Spirit testifies of Jesus in the hearts of His children. By the word we are favored with clear ideas, just conceptions, and encouraging views of the truths of grace and salvation: hence we have the firmest foundation, the strongest confidence, and fullest assurance to build our faith and hope upon: hence also we are emboldened to draw nigh to a throne of grace, to plead our case, present our distress, and claim, with humble boldness, a supply of all our need. When there is a death upon all comfortable sense and joyful feelings, when all things around us wear a ...

" Thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear ." — Romans 11:20 [KJV] So we are called upon by the spirit of prophesy, "Behold, (give the most earnest attention, let this truth sink deep in your hearts) his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him" - Habakkuk 2:4 . Standing by faith, and living by faith, are ever opposed to pride, vain confidence, and an high conceit of our own attainments. True faith in Jesus sinks the soul in humility, works by real love to God, is accompanied with a child-like fear of offending Him, and excites to a godly jealousy over our own souls, lest we fall—fall into sin, fall away from the hope of the gospel, fall from the precious privileges of Jesus, and the comforting sense of His love. Without this, what is profession, but an empty name, talking ever so highly, but a sound of words, pretension to the greatest things, but a vain shadow, while the substance is not enjoyed? It is the glorying of believers in...