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

"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed." -Romans 4:16 [KJV] Men come to earthly inheritances, either by heirship, gift, or purchase. Each one can tell how he came by his estate, and by what right he holds it. Come, Christian, examine thy heavenly inheritance to-night. See how thou camest possessed of it, and by what means thou dost hold and enjoy it.  (1st.) It is thine by purchase. Not that thou didst ever contribute one mite to buy it; but Christ thy elder Brother paid the full price for it. Therefore it is called “the purchased inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14.)  (2d.) It is thine by gift: “...it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” (Luke 12:32.)   (3d.) It is thine by heirship: thou wast born to inherit it: not by thy natural, but by thy spiritual birth. Now thou art “an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ , ” thy elder Brother. (Romans 8:17.)   (4th.) Ho...

" Most men love to hear of the doctrine of grace, of the pardon of sin, of free love, and suppose they find food therein; however, it is evident that they grow and thrive in the life and notion of them.  But to be breaking up the fallow ground of their hearts, to be inquiring after the weeds and briers that grow in them, they delight not so much, though this be no less necessary than the other." -preacher John Owen

  Storms, Sinking Ships and the Sleeping Saviour. Part 1 by D.G. Miles McKee In Mark 4 we encounter a great storm story where it seemed to the disciples that they were about to die.  It is interesting to observe the rulership and majesty of Jesus displayed throughout the whole narrative.   There was something about Jesus, a compelling, divine majesty, that moved and conquered the hearts of men.  These disciples were experienced fishermen and I’m sure some of them must have smelt the storm brewing.  They were fishermen; they knew how to read the signs.  Yet, they followed Jesus right into the storm.    We see this divine majesty demonstrated all through the Master´s life. Consider how, for example, Christ walked up to Matthew the businessman/tax collector and simply said, “Follow Me” and Matthew instantly got up and left everything…except his pen.  Christ did the same to Peter and the fisherman instantly left his nets. If y...

" Peter was grieved, because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me ?" -John 21:17 [KJV] Peter had grieved his Lord by three denials of Him. Now his Lord grieves him with three questions, respecting his love to Him. We may often read our sin in our punishment. Peter’s Lord suffered him to fall, to lower his pride and self-confidence. Now He has caused him to descend to the valley of humiliation, He keeps him there. A little while since, he boasted of his superlative love to Christ, above all the rest of his disciples. “Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended—I am ready to go with Thee both into prison and to death—Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee. Bold words! who can doubt of the sincerity of Peter’s heart in all this?  Hence learn, (1st.) The warm frames of young converts, are often attended with great self-confidence. There is much of nature’s fire in them. My heart has often rejoiced, and ...

  It is one of the Lord's dealings with His beloved children, to make them feel . . . their weakness and His power; their pollution and His holiness; their nothingness and His all sufficiency. The more we are brought under the teachings of the Holy Spirit, the more we shall find the truth of this remark. It is the great design of God . . . to humble our naturally proud hearts, to bring down our naturally self righteous spirit, to root out our naturally idolatrous affections. -preacher Thomas Reade

" I have remembered Thy name, O L ORD , in the night." - Psalm 119:55 [KJV] Consider, (1st.) Hebrew names express the nature of the things to which they are applied. Whatever name the L ORD makes Himself known by to us, is expressive of His nature, and of His covenant love and grace to us. Hence there is no name so sweet to us sinners, as that which He hath assumed, the name JESUS: The Lord, the self-existing Jehovah, Jesus. All the glorious perfections of wisdom, love, and power, shine with the greatest lustre in that name: the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13.) All the attributes of Jehovah are magnified and glorified in that precious name.  (2d.) To remember the name of the Lord, is to meditate in faith, upon what He is to us, hath done for us, and hath promised to bestow upon us, as the Lord our Saviour. O what a wide field for meditation is here! But David remembered the Lord in the night. While others were sleeping, or doing worse, he ...

" The answer of a good conscience towards God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." -I Peter 3:21 [KJV] The grand business of faith is, to give being and subsistence to divine truths in the mind (Hebrews 11:1.) Hence conscience obtains relief and peace, and the soul is made happy.  Consider, (1st.) What is conscience? Science is knowledge. Pre-science is foreknowledge. Conscience is something joined with knowledge. “Some have their conscience defiled” (Titus 1:15.) With what? The guilt of their sins. Some are said, to be sprinkled from an evil, or guilty conscience. (see Hebrews 10:22.) With what? The blood of Christ. Therefore, in respect to a good, or bad conscience, something must be joined with the science or knowledge of the mind to determine it by. In this sense, the word conscience is used in scripture.  Hence, (2d.) We may easily see, what is the answer of a good conscience before God. Join the law of God with your science, or knowledge of yourself....