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

" The L ORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." —Psalm 23:1 [KJV] All comfort is derived to the soul from the knowledge of what Jehovah is to us. This we know by the word of truth, and enjoy in the sweet exercise of faith. "I am the good shepherd , " saith Jesus— John 10:11 . Thou art MY shepherd, says the believing soul. Thus, whatever office or character Jesus sustains, it is the glory of faith not only to view the Lord as such, but to draw sweet peace and comfort from it to one's own heart: that Thou art to ME. David knew the duty of a shepherd by experience. How watchful to preserve from danger, and how careful to guide and feed the sheep committed to his trust!  But herein is the peculiar love of the shepherd of our souls; He "gave His life for His sheep." And after such love manifested to them, shall they want either His power to protect, or His grace to supply their need? No; that is impossible. But a sheep is a silly weak creatu...

" Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee: in whose heart are the ways of Them." —Psalm 84:5 [KJV] When hearts are united in love there is a mutual complacency and delight in each other. Presence increaseth pleasure, absence begets uneasiness, jealousy of displeasing and fear of offending mutually subsist in each party. In some sense this holds good between the beloved soul and the loving Lord. All love is from Him; and as rivers from the sea return back to the great ocean, so the love which comes from God naturally flows back in complacency and affection of soul to Him. To know God is to love Him; both for what He is in Himself, and what He is to us in Christ Jesus.  The poor sinner who knows that he is in himself "without strength," rejoiceth at his very soul to know that the omnipotent Jesus is his strength; that all his might and power to strive against sin, to resist Satan, to overcome the world, is from above; it is treasured up in Jesus, a...

" I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him." —Isaiah 57:18 [KJV] What a glorious declaration of free grace is this! Here is an absolute promise of mercy, not excited by the worthiness of the creature, but proceeding solely from the loving heart of a covenant God. Well might David say, "In Thy word do I trust: I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil." —Psalm 119:162 . The life of the soul is supported by the word of the Lord. This is the object of faith, the encourager of hope, and the exciter of love. Jesus is the essential word by whom Jehovah speaks.  The scriptures are revealed truths by the Spirit, of God's purposes, promises, and grace. Behold, be astonished and humbled, O soul, at thy apostacy, backslidings, and rebellion! Behold, admire, adore, and love the infinitely gracious procedures of the Father of all mercies. Here is the criminal arraigned at the bar; iniquity charged ...

" Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty: only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh." —Galatians 5:13 [KJV] Peter was grieved because his Lord asked him the third time, "Lovest thou Me?" Sure it ought to be matter of concern and grief to the loving, generous hearts of disciples, to think they yet need this caution of the Spirit. But, verily we all do. The most sanctified is yet in the flesh; and the flesh with its affections and lusts are alive: they are ever lusting and striving against the Spirit. The holy, happy soul, who is set at liberty from sin, Satan, and the law, in his conscience, is hereby liable to be brought again under bondage to the law and thraldom to sin.  Know thy danger; dread thine enemy; yea, rather fear and love thy best friend Jesus; cry to Him, Lord keep me continually . "Thou hast delivered my once captive soul from the power of the enemy; thou hast brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and ...

" And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him?" —Judges 6:31 [KJV] When the Lord Jesus appears and manifests Himself to the soul, it is so struck with His glory and grace, that it cries out in holy ecstasy, "What have I to do any more with idols?" — Hosea14:8— and an altar for spiritual worship is presently set up in the heart, and consecrated to Jehovah-Shalom, the L ORD of peace . In this chapter is a sweet view of the zeal of Gideon for the true worship of Jehovah. He instantly obeyed the word of Jesus, the angel of the presence, the man, the PEACE who appeared to him, and at His command he threw down the altar of Baal. He expected opposition from his Father's household and from the men of the city, therefore he did it by night.  A blessed instance of the obedience of faith joined to sanctified reason. As to the consequence after the work done, he "conferred not with flesh and blood;" he wa...

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s...

" Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." — John 3:7 [KJV] Spiritual doctrines ever appear to the judgment of carnal reason, foolishness. Marvel not to find the wisdom of natural men ever crying out, "How can these things be?" and explaining away their spiritual meaning by corrupt reasonings. We are not to expect a total freedom from our own carnal objections. The old man is yet alive; the kingdom of his residence, the flesh, is at war against that kingdom into which the soul is spiritually born. Many souls see clearly the nature of the doctrine of a new-birth of the soul, and are convinced of the necessity of it, in order to see the kingdom of God. But how are they straitened, pained, and perplexed to know whether it be accomplished in them or not!  And indeed, many have so unscripturally treated of the new birth, as sadly to puzzle and grievously distress simple hearts. Is it not marvellous to find men gravely telling us how many s...