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

" What doth it profit, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" —James 2:14 [KJV] Many of God's dear children are often in doubt and perplexity, lest their faith should not be the faith of God's elect; to which salvation is sure. This may arise through the weakness of their understanding in the word of truth; and because, as yet, faith doth not bring forth the fruits of joy and assurance. But sooner or later the Holy Ghost, in believing, will make this matter clear and satisfactory to their hearts. But the soundness and orthodoxy of our faith is least of all suspected by us while in a state of nature; for we all think, are very confident, have not the least doubt, we all say "we have faith," true faith; but this is a weed which grows wild in nature's field; this is the faith which James here speaks of, which all the world rest in who know not the Son of God.  All men have not faith, the faith of God's ele...

" The holiness of God is His glory, as His grace is His riches.... Holiness is the crown and beauty of all His other perfections. His power is a holy power. His wisdom is a holy wisdom. Without holiness, His patience would be an indulgence, His mercy fondness. His wrath madness, His power tyranny, and His wisdom mere subtlety.  His name, which stands for all He is, is holy (Psalm 103:1).... He did not choose to be holy, for then He might have chosen to be unholy as well. Nor was He somehow compelled to be holy. Rather, holiness is a free necessity. It is simply inconceivable that He should be anything but holy." -preacher S. Charnock

  Christ Lifted Up! Part 1   by D. G. Miles McKee   “And I, If I be lifted up from the earth: I will draw all men unto Me .” -John 12:32 [KJV]   THREE times in the Gospel of John our Lord refers to His being ‘lifted up.’  On the first occasion, He spoke of it in a private conversation with Nicodemus. This is where the Master said, “ As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish; but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15 ). Jesus, in that verse, was referring to the absolute necessity of the cursed cross.   Again, in a public discourse, in the Temple, Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the son of Man, then shall you know, that I am He ” (John 8:28).  In this passage, He was speaking to those who would be guilty of executing Him in the manner reserved only for the lowest of the low…the cross.   Lastly, just after His triumphal entry into Jerusal...

" We wrestle..." —Ephesians 6:12 [KJV] It is too comm on for the children of God, when exercised with sharp conflicts of soul, to write bitter things against themselves. But we do well always to remember we are travelers through the territories of an implacable and powerful enemy, whose malicious spirit delights in harassing and distressing us in every part, soul and spirit, as well as flesh. That herein we are not alone; it is the common lot of all the children more or less.  Take, my brethren, the prophets and apostles as an example herein. We shall find them at times, under severe trials and sore conflicts of spirit. But know, Satan our adversary is a conquered foe; he can go no farther than our own loving Saviour permits him. Our exercises last not one moment longer than our dear Lord sees needful; none of them shall issue in our destruction but in Satan's flight, our soul's deliverance, and our God's glory; and, like every thing else that bef...

" 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...