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

  Precious Savior, friend of sinners We, as such, to Thee draw near Let Thy Spirit dwell within us With that love that casts out fear. Matchless Savior, let us know Thee As the Lord our Righteousness Cause our hearts to cleave unto Thee Come, and with Thy presence bless.   Open now Thy precious treasure Let Thy Word here freely flow Give to us a gracious measure ‘Tis Thyself we long to know. Come and claim us as Thy portion Let us all find rest in Thee Leave us not to empty notions We would find our hope in Thee!   Gospel Hymn, “Our Great Savior”  

" Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake." -John 13:37 [KJV] Peter seems now in a happy frame indeed. All is warmth of love and sunshine of joy. Ecstacies carry us out of ourselves. We forget what we are, where we are, what we are exposed to, and what may soon befall us. Like Peter on the mount, we are apt to speak without due consideration. We know not what we say. The fire of passion exceeds the bounds of solid judgment. “ Why cannot I follow Thee now? Let the way be strewed with ever so many difficulties—let ever so many dangers oppose, nothing is able to dismay or dishearten me. I have just now such fervent love to Thee, that I could face death in the most frightful form, and lay down my life with the greatest pleasure for Thy sake.”  Doubtless, Peter now thought himself perfect and free from all sin. What thinkest, O soul? Is Peter’s language becoming him or not? Is it not a noble and generous declarati...

"It is certain, that for those who shall not be saved, salvation was not purchased, nor should it be offered to them, nor indeed to any.  ... Such for whom salvation is purchased ... to these, this salvation is not offered, but applied.  The Gospel is not an offer, but the power of God unto salvation , to these persons." -John Gill, The Cause of God in Truth , p.103

If men knew the Scriptural meaning of grace, all adjectives would be rendered redundant.  Adjectives like sovereign, saving, free and effectual are inherent in the meaning!  But no man by nature has any concept of what the Bible means by grace. Men believe it is an offer of good will on God’s part but the result of grace depends on man’s acceptance or rejection of that offer.  This concept of grace bears no resemblance to the Grace of God revealed in Holy Scripture!  Grace like that cannot save a sinner!  Therefore adjectives are needed to define grace.  God’s grace is not something offered.  It is always sovereign, always saving, always free, and always effectual. When grace is understood, these adjectives are inherent in the meaning of the word! -Unknown preacher of righteousness 

" I know that Thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living." -Job. 30:23 [KJV] What sweet familiarity does grace make, between God and believing sinners! How freely can they speak to him, upon that solemn event, death. In the exercise of faith, we think of it, without terror, and speak of it with delight. Why so? Because we have no sin, and are not sinners? No. But because we know Christ the Friend of sinners, Who has taken away all our sins, conquered death for us, subdued the fear of death in us, brought life and immortality to us, and is ever before the throne pleading for us. Yet we know, also, HE will bring us to death.  O this is soul-comforting knowledge! What wilt Thou, my loving God, my precious Saviour, Who bore my sins in Thine own body on the tree, bring me to death? Are the issues of life and death in Thy hand? Cannot death approach nor assault me, till Thou give him commission, and bring me to death? I thank Thee, my dear ...

(The author of the great hymn, “Amazing Grace,” wrote the following in a letter to a friend who had been sick a long time.)   I trust you will find the name and grace of Jesus more and more precious to you:  His promises more sweet, and your hope in them more abiding; your sense of your own weakness and unworthiness daily increasing; your persuasion of His all-sufficiency to guide, support and comfort you more confirmed.  You owe your growth in these respects, in a great measure, to His blessing upon those afflictions which He has prepared for you and sanctified to you.  May you praise Him for all that is past and trust Him for all that is to come. Your humble servant, John Newton, April 13, 1776 A.D.

" I am found of them that sought Me not." -Isaiah 65:1 [KJV] Every display of the Saviour’s grace, is a jewel in His mediatorial crown. O what hearts have we, that we are not more humble before Him, more thankful to Him, and more joyful in Him! Jesus, help us Gentile sinners, to look back, to look within, to look up, and to look forward, to excite humility, thankfulness, and joy of heart.  (1st.) Look back, O my soul. View thy natural state; lying dead asleep in the arms of the wicked one—dead to God—under the power of sin—in love with the world—blind to the charms of Christ, without a single desire after Him, or the least care for thy immortal soul.  (2d.) Look within, dost thou find affection to Jesus, and desires after Him? Is it the language of thy heart, none but Christ— I look to none but Him —I expect salvation from Him, and Him only? O whence this mighty change? Say, did you first seek Christ, or Christ you? Did your desires first go out after Christ, o...