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

" If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." —John 8:36 [KJV] Our most glorious sovereign Lord and King, Jesus , like some mighty conqueror whose subjects have been taken captive by an enemy, delivers them from their captivity, sets them at liberty from the dominion and tyranny of their enemies, and restores them to all the rights and privileges of His kingdom and government. Alas! in what a deplorable state doth our great Deliverer find our souls! taken captive by the devil at his pleasure, slaves and vassals to his will and power, under worse than Egyptian bondage, "tied and bound with the chains of our sins," bond-slaves to our corrupt lusts and carnal passions.  In this hopeless, helpless, deplorable state, we all continue without power, yea, without will or desire to be set at liberty. Nay, we are naturally pleased with the drudgery of sin and Satan, in love with our bondage, fancying ourselves at liberty, and enjoying the...

" Go, tell His disciples and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him." —Mark 16:7 [KJV] How different is the Gospel from the law; one is the voice of condemnation, terror, and wrath; the other speaks nothing but grace, peace, and love. God's children only murmured for water in the wilderness, and even the meek Moses is in wrath with them, and calls them REBELS. Here, though the poor disciples had acted most base and ungrateful to their loving Saviour; for they added sorrow to His distress, when they all forsook Him and fled, and Peter above all the rest; for as though Jesus was the most abandoned wretch, Peter with oaths and curses denied that he even knew Him.  What could they expect, but that the first message from their Lord should be full of upbraiding? Was it, Go tell those apostate REBELS I am risen from the dead, they shall receive their just deserts; vengeance is Mine, I will repay them? No: be astonished, O heavens! Hear,...

" Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" —Mark 4:38 [KJV] Saints in all ages have experienced, that their extremity of distress has been God's opportunity to deliver; so these disciples found it; they were in the most imminent danger and in the greatest fears and distresses. Their vehement address to Jesus bespeaks it. "Jesus was asleep." We believe in our Saviour, as a MAN like unto ourselves: we adore Him as the sovereign Lord Whose "eyes are over the righteous, and His ears are ever open to their prayers." —1 Peter 3:12 .  Of this we have the clearest evidence, the fullest proof. Jesus awakes as a man, and with the power and sovereignty of Jehovah He rebukes the boisterous wind, and says to the raging waves, "Peace, be still ; " and instantly all nature obeys its Creator; all is hushed into a profound calm. While others are pleased with the feats of a Caesar, or the conquests of an Alexander, it is our delight to meditate...

" How can ye believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" —John 5:44 [KJV] "The fear of man bringeth a snare." —Proverbs 29:25 . It is a great enemy to the power of faith in the heart. The esteem of men, to be well spoken of, to have honor and applause from them, are pleasing to the flesh, but hurtful to the Spirit. The wisdom and learning of natural men, are contrary to the simplicity that is in Christ, incompatible with the cross of Christ, and withstands an open confession of Him Who is an honor to us; for by the faith of Jesus we are honored of the Father to be His children, and to enjoy sweet fellowship and communion with Him in our spirits.  Here is the blessedness of the faith of disciples; "It standeth not in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God." —1 Corinthians 2:5 . Hence we are to "call no man Rabbi, for One is our Master, even Jesus." We are to suffer no man to lord...

" If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." —Romans 8:17 [KJV] If a child, from a spirit of untowardness, runs into and rolls itself in the dirt, would not that parent be a monster of barbarity who, instead of cleansing it from its filth, should dash out its brains? Yet there are those who dare assert such to be the conduct of God towards His children in Christ. For they say, though a man be a child of God, by faith in Christ Jesus, yet he may so fall into sin, that God may consign him eternally to hell for it; but, like Paul, such speak "ignorantly, and in unbelief."   While we wish them to be taught better; from such miserable teachers, and such false doctrine, we pray "Good Lord deliver us." What! Can any of God's children be in such a filthy, polluted condition, that He has not wisdom enough to know them? Is there not love and power enough in His Spirit to lead them to the fountain of Christ's blood, th...

" The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." —John 1:17 [KJV] It is natural to us all to say of the moral law, as the king of Israel said of that faithful prophet of the Lord, Micah, "I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." —1 Kings 22:8 . It is true, that the holy, spiritual law of God can yield no comfort, hope, or peace to any poor sinner of mankind. Yet the believer in Jesus cannot hate the moral law; it is a transcript of his Father's mind and will; it is God's good gift; it answers very valuable ends and purposes to the souls of His children. We know sin by the law, as we know Christ by the gospel: though the law was given by Moses, a meek prophet, yet it is full of fiery wrath, ministers' condemnation, and denounces curses, yea eternal death and damnation to every transgressor.  Yet why, O soul, shouldst thou hate the law? That is not the cause of all these evils; but thy sins,...

" Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." —Colossians 3:24 [KJV] Saving knowledge is accompanied with humility, productive of love to Jesus, and delight in His service. To desire to know more of the truth, in order to gain greater measures of love, and more cheerful conformity to Him, this is praiseworthy. "For whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed." —James 1:25 .  Christian, thou art not called to dream over dry disquisitions and subtle refinements, merely to fill thy brain with nice speculations; but to have thy heart warmed with love, thy practice influenced to obedience, as well as thy judgment established in truth. Remember thy calling, study thy reward, glory in being a servant of Jesus; His work is pleasant, His service perfect freedom, His wages infinitely gr...