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

" God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." -I Thessalonians 5:9 [KJV] Here is a precious negative, a glorious positive, and happy souls. Lord help us to meditate upon them, to our profit. (1st.) The negative. “God hath not appointed us to wrath.” St. Paul has in his eye, what our proud nature cannot bear to hear of, the sovereignty of God. It is as though he had said, we are all by nature children of wrath. We have all by practice deserved wrath. Here is myself, the other day I did not know the Son of God, but persecuted Him and His servants. If God had dealt with us according to our just deserts, we should have suffered His eternal wrath in hell.  Is your conscience convinced of this? Do your eyes see it? Does your tongue confess this? Does your heart fear this? Rejoice with wonder. That just God, Who had a sovereign right, yet will not appoint you to wrath for your sins. If you have trembled under a sense of wrat...

" Men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed." -Psalm 72:17 [KJV] “Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10.) This curse, God hath never revoked. Every man upon the earth is naturally under it. But the greatest curse is, men neither believe it, feel it, nor care for it. Hence they slight and disregard that dear Man, Who was made “a curse for us,” that we might be blessed in Him. Says our Lord, “search the scriptures, they testify of Me,” (John 5:39.) Here is a sweet testimony for our mind, and precious food for our faith.  Jesus, Master, bless me while I meditate on it. (1st.) See all blessedness in Christ. Well might Luther say, “I will have nothing to do with an absolute God.” That is, God without a Mediator . O sinner, O saint, there is nothing but curse and wrath for us, out of Christ. There is a hell of sin in our nature. The pride of the devil, and ...

" Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." -II Peter 1:10 [KJV] Without election there had been no Saviour given: no salvation wrought out: no promises made: no Spirit sent: no sinners effectually called to be saints: no love from God to comfort them; nor any heaven open to receive them. O how do poor sinners fight against their own mercies, when they call in question and reject the electing love of God.  But, says one, I tremble to think, if I should not be one of the elect, what a dreadful thing would that be? Not at all more dreadful, but just the same, as if there had been no election. But what kind of argument is this, against any truth? Suppose a profane sinner says, if there is a hell, and I should be one of the damned, what a dreadful thing would that be? What does this prove? People are apt to stand in nature and self, and judge of the truths of God. Hence they have hard thoughts of a God of love.  Behold, I shew unto you a more excellent ...

"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, ...