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

"Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure." -II Peter 1:10 [KJV] Work for life, say the sons of ignorance and pride. Work not at all, Christ has left us nothing to do, say the sons of sloth and licentiousness. But, say the sons of wisdom, we labour and give diligence in the ways of God, not in order to obtain life; not to be saved for what we do; but to enjoy more of the life of Christ, the love of God, and the assurance of His Spirit, that we are His children. To this Peter exhorts. Brethren! Ye who profess to believe in the Son of God, and long to know assuredly that ye are the children of God, “Give diligence.”   Do not rest in a few idle wishes, cold desires, and formal duties, but be earnest—be active—be upon the stretch for God. As we say, leave no stone unturned. Study the Lord’s word of grace—dwell upon the rich promises of His love—meditate upon the finished salvation of Christ—confer with His people— be fervent in prayer—strive ag...

" The joy of the L ORD is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:10 [KJV] This is a precious, evangelical chapter. Glorious gospel truths are here held forth to us. Lord, help us to see them, and feed upon them. Here is, (1st.) a solemn observation of the feast of tabernacles. This was appointed by the wisdom of God the Father, (Leviticus 23:34.) Did God solemnly command the people to dwell in booths for eight days, but to some glorious end? Christ is the substance of the whole law: here is a shadow of Him. Here is typified, God’s beloved Son, Who was to tabernacle in our flesh, and all the Father’s glory to dwell in Him.  (2d.) “The people gathered together as one man.” So, “Unto Shiloh, the Messiah, shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10.) (3d.) Ezra the priest reads and expounds to them the law, in the open street: (much such another crime as field preaching) the people were convinced of sin, and wept. The law ministers death and condemnation to them....

"Generally speaking, those that have the most grace and the greatest gifts, and are of the greatest usefulness, are the most humble , and think the most meanly of themselves.  So those boughs and branches of trees which are most richly laden with fruit bend downwards and hang lowest." -preacher John Gill (1697-1771 A.D.)

A Motto to Live By by D.G. Miles McKee   In the 1800s a man called William Miller became convinced that Christ would return in the year 1843. When Miller announced that April 3 was the actual day of the Lord´s return many of his followers went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to Heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in glorious reunion with their departed loved ones. In Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside of town to avoid entering God's kingdom amid the common herd. When April 3 came and went the Millerites were understandably disillusioned and disappointed. However, their leader had predicted a range of dates for Christ's return. They still had until March 21, 1844. Although discouraged, the devout among them continued to make ready, but again they were disappointed. A third date, October 22, was set, but it also passed with out the promised event. These Millerites got it wrong, but they got one thing right and that is, ...

" The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son: for he should not stay long in the place of breaking forth of children." -Hosea 13:13 [KJV] "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him" (Proverbs of Solomon 22:15.) Though God’s children are made wise unto salvation, yet folly is bound up in their nature. Their conduct discovers it, and proves the necessity of the rod of correction to drive it from them. Here is a threatening—a charge—the reason for it— and a most precious promise from the Lord .  (1st.) The threatening. God loves His children too well, to spare the rod and spoil them. “For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth: even as a father the son in whom He delighteth ” (Proverbs 3:12.) Therefore painful sorrows, like those of a travailing woman, come upon them. Nature’s pains prove nature’s remedies. The painful visitations of love, prove spiritual remedies to ...

" Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." -Psalm 51:7 [KJV] Here is majesty in misery: a king in penitence: a monarch of the earth at the footstool of mercy. David as a miserable sinner, polluted with the complicated crimes of adultery and murder, is here ascribing honour to the blood of the Lamb, by the pleading of faith. Had you now asked David, what he thought of the pleasures of sin?  He would have read the most affecting lecture on its exceeding sinfulness, and that almost insupportable distress, terror, and horror it brought upon his soul. Though invested with the government of a kingdom, yet he could not command away its terrors from his mind, its burden from his conscience, nor its pollution from his soul.  He now found the words of his son fully verified, “Whoso breaketh through a hedge, a serpent shall bite him” (Ecclesiastes 10:8.) He had broken through the hedge of God’s law, and that old serpent who tempted him, now stings and torments him. But w...

" I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." -Romans 1:16 [KJV] Says Mr. Bunyan, “Of all the men that I met with in my pilgrimage, Shame, I think, bears the wrong name. This boldfaced Shame would never have done. I could scarcely shake him out of my company. He would be continually haunting me, and whispering me in my ear. Indeed, this Shame is a bold villain” (excerpt from Pilgrim’s Progress .)   Have you not found the same? Lord, pardon Thy servant, that this shame still cleaves unto me. Lord, I am ashamed of myself, that I ever should be ashamed of Thee and Thy gospel. Lion of the tribe of Judah, drive away this shame from my heart.  Consider, (1st.) its origin. It is begotten by pride. We are proud of our good names, our characters, our reason, and understanding, among the men of the world. If we openly profess the gospel of Christ, and live and walk under the influence of it, we cannot do as the rest of the world does. Hence, we shall soon get a nick-name; ...