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

" For the L ORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: Because it hath pleased the L ORD to make you His people ." — I Samuel 12:22 [KJV] The prophet Samuel, like the apostle Paul, "shunned not to declare all the counsel of God." — Acts 20:27 . They feared no licentious consequences from preaching the faith-establishing, soul-comforting truth of God's unchangeable love to His people. Yet Samuel encourages the people to cleave close unto the Lord, and not turn aside from following Him; assuring them, if they walked contrary to the Lord, though He would never change in His love, or cast off His people, "whom He did foreknow," yet He would change in His conduct and dealings towards them. "God will surely visit their transgression with a rod, and their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, His loving-kindness He will not utterly take away, nor suffer His faithfulness to fail." — Psalm 89:32, 33 . Like a tender...

" The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." — I Peter 3:4 [KJV] Godly parents are delighted at their very hearts, if they see their dear children partakers of the grace of God. How joyful to hear those, who are part of one's self, enquire after Jesus and His salvation! Love and duty unite to constrain us to teach our little ones the knowledge of Jesus; to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. And if the spirit of grace is pleased to crown such endeavours with success, infinitely more precious is the adorning of grace to their immortal souls, than all the gaiety of dress to their perishing bodies. As we to ours, so doth the Lord rejoice over all His dear children in Christ Jesus. He takes pleasure in their dress, which is the robe of His Son's righteousness. Their ornaments, which are the graces of His Spirit, are delighting to His eyes. "He makes them all-glorious within:" He loves His own image, wh...

Jesus, the Bread of Life for the Hungry Soul by D. G Miles McKee   In John’s Gospel, we find the seven ‘I Am’ scriptures, spoken by Jesus to declare His Deity.  Among them, we discover John 6:35, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” Listening to this, we must conclude that, if Jesus is not God, He can hardly be viewed as a repository of deep humility.  Here, He declares Himself as the Bread, the One who sustains life.  What a cheek to make this claim … that is if He is not God! Indeed, when we read the discourse, in John 6, we discover that Jesus makes a sevenfold reference to Himself as the Bread of Life (see verses 32, 33, 35, 48, 50, 51,58).  According to Jesus, this is the very bread that must be eaten, by faith, to receive everlasting life (see verses 50, 51, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58).    We should note that the Roman Communion makes much of this discourse to establ...

" And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sins ." — Matthew 1:21 [KJV] O precious birth! precious Son! precious name! The Holy Ghost brings consolation to the hearts of poor sinners, from the belief of the manhood of JESUS. To this end the comforter bears so particular testimony by the word of the conception and birth of Christ. This is our happiness; at all times to consider the Saviour as "Emanuel, God with us:" our brother: "flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone." As Elihu says of himself, "Behold I am, according to thy wish, in God's stead. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee." Job 33:6, 7 . Thus to conceive of Jesus, is a sweet mystery, joyfully known to believing hearts. The Holy Ghost brings joy to our souls, by the NAME of JESUS. This name is above every name to us: it is "as precious ointment ...

"For Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." — Hebrews 9:24 [KJV] How highly was Zacharias honored! He heard the gospel of salvation from the mouth of an angel; who said, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God, and am sent unto thee, to shew thee these glad tidings." But we see the awful effects of unbelief. Though thus beloved, and honored of God, yet he was struck dumb for a season— Luke 1:20 . Though God most dearly loves His people in Christ, yet, He sees their sins, and with fatherly affection chastises for them. Do we not see somewhat of our own case here? For, as faith inspires the heart and tongue with boldness, so unbelief strikes us dumb. We cannot speak a word, nor offer a plea for our poor souls, if faith lose sight of Jesus. But He never forgets us. Our souls are never neglected by Him. The Lamb is in the midst of the throne FOR US. In our nature, in the same human body, which was hang...

" Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God ." — Daniel 6:5 [KJV] Happy Daniel, to have such a testimony of thy conduct from the mouth of thine implacable enemies. These men could allege nothing against this servant of God, in regard to his outward life and conversation; for he was a good subject, a quiet neighbour, just and honest in his dealings. Though in an eminent station, yet with what contempt and scorn do they seem to speak of him! This Daniel, this over-righteous fellow, who pretends to be more religious than all the rest of his neighbours. As it was in the beginning, so it is now, and ever will be, "He that is born after the flesh, will persecute him that is born after the Spirit." — Galatians 4:29 . What then? our enemies no sooner assault us, with their tongues, but our God takes our part. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are y...

" And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus." — Matthew 14:12 [KJV] Thus was extinguished that burning and shining light, John Baptist. It is very staggering to the eye of sense, and the judgment of carnal reason, that the "Lord, whose eyes are over the righteous," should yet suffer His faithful ministers, and dearest children, to fall a sacrifice to the rage and malice of cruel, and unreasonable men. This puzzled the royal prophet David; this was an exercise to patient Job; and it has put disciples to the stand in all ages. We are ready to cry out, "Where is the God of Elijah!" When it comes nearer home, and we ourselves are the subjects of insults and injuries, from the power and malice of enemies to Jesus and His truths; this is a trial of faith. If this exercise is continued, if the enemy triumphs, and God our Friend appears not, as our Deliverer, how does Satan, who has stirred up fightings witho...