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

 "I will bear the indignation of the L ORD , because I have sinned against Him, until He plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness. ...Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.  He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." -Micah ch. 7, vss. 9, 18-19 [KJV]

" The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." —Galatians 5:22, 23 [KJV] This numerous issue is of supernatural generation; like Isaac, who sprang from the dead body of Abraham and barren womb of Sarah. Though believers love to bring forth such fruits, delight to see them, yet through humility they are backward in speaking of them, and averse to glory in them as productions of their own. Hence when these fruits of the Spirit appear inward or outward, like the bride of the Lamb on another occasion, she cries out in lowliness of heart, "Who hath begotten me these?" — Isaiah 49:21 . But is any thing too hard for God? "He maketh the barren soul to be a joyful mother of children." — Psalm 113:9 .  To this very end believers are "married to Jesus by faith, that they may bring forth fruit unto God." — Romans 7:4. There is no member of the ...

" A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory." —Matthew 12:20 [KJV] Through a sight of their sinful state, a sense of strong corruptions, weakness of faith, and small degree of the knowledge of Jesus, young converts, like David just come to the throne, are apt to say, "I am this day weak, though anointed king;" and to fear with him, "the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me," — II Samuel 3:39 . The accuser of the brethren is ever an adversary to Jesus and the truth; he is always busy with souls, to stamp upon their minds the blackest impressions. He paints the Saviour, not as loving, gentle, and merciful to relieve distressed and comfort wounded, afflicted consciences; but as a rigid, austere, and cruel exactor.  When carnal reason joins in with false accusations, it is sore distress and conflict to the mind. But to the law and to the testimony. How readest thou, O soul? ...

"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips—for mine eyes have seen the King, the L ORD of Hosts ." —Isaiah 6:5 [KJV] When the glory of Jesus is manifested to the soul in the light of the Spirit, how doth it stain the pride of all human glory! The prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles of Jesus under the New, were men of like passions, sinners like unto ourselves: by nature there is no difference: they were all saved by the same precious Saviour of sinners: a sight of themselves in the light of truth humbled them to the dust.  "O wretched man that I am!" cries Paul the apostle. "Woe is me; I am unclean, I am undone!" cries Isaiah the evangelical prophet. "God will suffer no flesh to glory in His presence." Jesus the Saviour alone shall be exalted; man, the sinner, though the subject of grace and salvation, shall be laid low; every hope in himself cut off; the exceeding sinfulness of sin...

Speaking of our LORD JESUS here, " Thou hast received gifts for men." —Psalm 68:18 [KJV] The dedication of this Psalm, according to Beza, is to Him that excelleth, even Jesus, the excellent One. It contains a glorious display of the Redeemer's kingdom. The royal prophet was highly favored with clear and comfortable views of the ample provision which is made for poor rebellious sinners in the settlements of the everlasting covenant of grace and love. Jesus is the rich treasury; all grace is laid up in Him. So it pleased the Father, so it rejoiced the heart of all his members like Joseph's brethren, to receive all gifts from his hands. Jesus is the unspeakable gift of God the Father to us. — see John 4:10 .  All His members were given to Him: in Him Jehovah loves us, delights in us, and rejoices over us to do us good. Alas! too, too often we are apt to think vainly, and talk arrogantly; to ascribe what we are, and what we hope for, to something in us, or...

"And they laughed Him to scorn." — Matthew 9:24 [KJV] Wonderful indeed is our Master in patience, meekness, love, and goodness, under such insult and scorn. "When Herod saw Jesus he was exceeding glad: he desired to see Him of a long season, for he hoped to see some miracle done by Him." Miracles may satisfy the curiosity; they do not of themselves, convert the heart to the truth. This is plain. Herod saw in Jesus a most astonishing miracle. Behold innocence itself arraigned and accused—death in its most cursed and ignominious form threatened.  Amazing to consider! Jesus stood mute; His tongue locked up in silence. His mighty arm, which could have dealt destruction at a blow, He suffered to be bound; Himself set at nought, mocked, and in derision arrayed in a robe of mock royalty—WHITE, saith Beza. So Herod, though undesigned, gives him a token of His innocence; as Pilate, contrary to his judgment and intention, gives Him a title, "This is the King...

The Much-Needed Mediator by D.G. Miles McKee ‘For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. ’ (1 Timothy 2:5).   The truth of salvation could scarcely be more beautifully expressed than in this one scripture, 1 Timothy 2:5.   What a verse!  If we were to meditate on it, we would find that it contains a vast volume of truth in a very little space.  For example, it declares that God is One and that we need a mediator to get through to Him.  Then it tells us that there is only one mediator, not two, not three … only one.   We find more truth about the mediator throughout the Bible.   Take for example the Book of Job.     Do you remember how Job’s friends were convinced that the evil things that had befallen him were because of Job’s sin?  Job was having none of it and made himself busy by justifying himself, saying things like, “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let...