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

" And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? " -II Samuel 9:8 [KJV] Old love cannot be forgotten: it makes such deep, and leaves such lasting impressions on the mind, which time itself cannot efface. This was verified in David and Jonathan. The latter is dead; yet love to his memory lives in David’s heart. Hence, he enquires after the remains of his family, to shew kindness unto them. Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, is introduced to the king: he thus expresses the affection of his royal heart to him, “Fear not; I will surely shew kindness to thee, for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”   Had any of David’s subjects a right to arraign, and call him to an account, for this sovereign act of favour? Which of them would dare to say unto him, What doest thou? But yet proud hearts rise with indignati...

" The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." -I Corinthians 4:20 [KJV] It is the wisdom of a Christian to improve from the various objects he meets with. See we an open, profane sinner? beware of looking down upon him with Pharisaic pride, and supercilious contempt: behold in him your wicked nature! Remember, grace alone made the difference: be humble: adore the God of grace. See we only the form of godliness in any? St. Paul tells us how to act: “From such turn away” (II Timothy 3:5.) You will get no good from them. There is little hope of doing good to them: leave them.  Why so? Because they are strangers to the vital power of godliness, and destitute of the inward experience of the grace of Christ upon their souls. True, they may make a great shew; have vast zeal for the interest of a party; be very warm and violent for the form of sound words, a consistent plan of doctrine, and a set of Scripture notions. But, yet, after all, it is but the notion and...

Selfish Salvation?   by D.G. Miles McKee   1 Corinthians 10:31 ¨ do all to the glory of God.¨ Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm concerned about the motives that led me to Christ. They were very selfish. They were not seeking the glory of God." Selfish? Not seeking the glory of God? Yes indeed, that’s probably true. Most if not all of us were like that, we were concerned only for ourselves when we first trusted Christ for mercy. When we saw our wretched lostness, neutral feelings about our condition tended to melt away. Through the gospel, the Holy Spirit often imparts a sense of impending and imminent trouble that causes us to turn to God. Although these motives for self-preservation do not qualify us for salvation, they most certainly do not disqualify us from the same. Our first trusting in Christ is usually motivated by self-interest. But is this wrong? Some might say that a man who fled from a burning house was selfish or self-centred, yet others of...

" Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." -I Corinthians 10:12 [KJV] Formal professors of His name are called the Lord’s people, as well as those who are possessors of His love. The former for want of love to God, have no zeal for His glory. Hence, they are careless of their walk, and are liable to fall from the height of a towering profession, into the bottomless pit of perdition. Possessors of God’s love are also liable to fall, though not out of the hands of Christ into hell, yet into many things which may wound their souls, bring a hell into their consciences, a dishonour on the name and gospel of Christ, and give the enemies thereof an occasion to blaspheme that worthy name by which they are called.  O, Christians! see to your standing. You are called upon, as you love your dear Saviour, as you value the peace of God, and the comfort of your souls, “To take heed lest you fall.” Be not high-minded, but fear. You stand by faith...

" Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God." -I John 3:21 [KJV] A text misapplied, is like a bone out of joint, which puts the body to pain. This text may have such an effect upon the soul. For what poor sinner is there upon earth, but his heart must condemn him for coming short of God’s glory, and perfect obedience of His holy law? Must he therefore give up his confidence towards God? Yes, if we so understand the text. But surely this was not the apostle’s design: for this would effectually destroy love to God, and distress His poor children’s souls, by taking away the comfort of faith, that, “there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1.)   What meaneth he then? Plainly to establish our hearts in the faith of God’s love to us in Christ, and from this love experienced in the heart, in love to our brethren in Christ. This is an experienced truth—if faith and love abate, our hearts condemn us, and our confidence...

" Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die: believest thou this?" -John 11:26 [KJV] Under great declining of strength, dejection of spirits, and in consideration of the near approach of death, these precious words of our dear dying Lord were brought to my mind: they were as a comforting, reviving, draught to my spirits. Lord! I bless Thee for them. O, my soul! dwell on them. Am I a sinner, born to die? Is death the wages of sin? Must these eyes, which now read thy precious sayings, be soon closed by death? Must the hand, which now directs this pen, be shortly still and motionless?  Yet dost Thou, my Lord, say, “Living and believing in thee, I shall never die?” Dost thou ask me, “Believest thou this?” “Lord, Thou knowest all things!” knowest, that, by Thy grace, I can say, “Thou art the Son of God” —Thou hast fulfilled Thine own promise, “O death, I will be thy plague! O grave, I will be thy destruction!” (Hosea 13:14.) “Death is swallowed up in ...

" ...perfecting holiness in the fear of God." -II Corinthians 7:1 [KJV] Who are thus exhorted? saints in Christ. What for? To labour to get perfect holiness, to obtain the favour of God? No: they are already perfectly justified in His sight, and sanctified to His glory. But some reject this: they legalize the gospel (if I may so speak) under a specious shew for holiness, as though that was to procure more for us from God, than the blood and righteousness of His dear Son. This is aiming to perfect holiness, in ignorance and unbelief: this eclipses the glory of Christ’s work for us, inverts the order of gospel economy, and brings perplexity and distress upon God’s children.  For, this is the glory of the gospel,—that moment a sinner is justified by the faith of Christ, he is sanctified by the Spirit of Christ. Our title to heaven, and our meetness for glory, come together by the same rich grace: being brought into the sense of God’s favour, we have also suitable ...