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

"That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee." -Proverbs of Solomon 22:19 [KJV] My soul, mark for thy morning meditation, what is here said. Observe, in the first place, the general knowledge the Lord hath given of His saving truth and mercies in Christ Jesus, and which becomes a sufficient warrant and authority for all the world to believe in Christ, and to accept of Christ, to the salvation of the soul.  Christ in the word is the Father's authority for every sinner to believe the record God hath given of His Son; and the rejection of this command will be the condemning sin to every one who despises this plan of salvation, because he hath heard and then turned his back upon this love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord. My soul, ponder over this view of the subject, and then turn to another sweet and distinguishing property of God's revelation which He makes by His blessed Spirit, in the particular apprehension of it. ...

"And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." -Acts 16:5 [KJV] Oh what an inestimable mercy it is for a man to know the truth for himself by divine teaching and divine testimony ; to have it applied to his heart by a gracious influence and a heavenly power , so as to know for himself what salvation is, whence it comes, and above all to enjoy a sweet persuasion that this salvation has reached his heart!  He will then know where to go in the hour of trouble, to whom to resort when sorrow and affliction come into his house, or illness or infirmity shake his tabernacle. He will not be a stranger to the throne of grace, nor to the sweetness of the covenant ordered in all things and sure. But there will be given him from above, out of the fulness of Christ, such grace and strength as will support him in the trying hour. It is by these gracious dealings upon his soul, that a believer becomes "stablished in the faith." N...

"This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son JESUS CHRIST, and love one another." -I John 3:23 [KJV] When a weary traveller has lost his way, what pleasure must the sight of a * directory afford him? How must his joy be increased, if it informs him he is near a dear friend’s house, who will kindly receive him? Weary pilgrim, look at this directory, and rejoice. You are near a dear Friend, who will kindly receive, and heartily welcome you. Obey this command, and enjoy the comfort.    Consider, (1st.) who commands. God the Father of heaven: that God against whom you have sinned, and by sin art become miserable. He would have you be both holy and happy. You can be neither without believing. Both are enjoyed in faith.    (2d.) The command. Believe . By the ten commandments thou art condemned: thou art brought in guilty by them. The law ministers nothing but wrath and condemnation. God be merciful to us miserable sinners! God shews ...

"And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." -Genesis 32:24 [KJV] My soul, here is a lovely portion for the morning. For the morning, did I say? Yea, both for night and morning, and, indeed, until the everlasting morning break in upon thee, and all the shadows of the night flee away. For are not all the seed of Jacob like their father, wrestlers in the actings of faith, and the fervour of prayer, until they come off, like him, prevailing Israels? And who was this man which wrestled with the patriarch? Let scripture explain scripture, and give the answer.  By his strength, said the prophet Hosea 12:3-5 “He had power with God; yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto him; he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; even the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is his memorial." Here then light is thrown upon the subject. He that is called a man in one scripture, is called an angel in this other. ...

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ." -Philippians 1:27 [KJV] What is this conversation? The word means the whole of your walk before God and before man. It is a very comprehensive term in the original, meaning, literally, "Conduct yourselves as citizens." It therefore includes the whole of our spiritual fellowship and daily intercourse with God and man. It thus views us as citizens of no mean city; as citizens, I may indeed say, of a heavenly city, the new Jerusalem; and it bids us walk and speak, live and act, as becometh citizens of a heavenly country. This, then, is the meaning of the word "conversation" in our text, and by it we are called to walk with God as becometh the gospel. He has reconciled us to Himself by the blood of His dear Son; and when we receive the atonement, or reconciliation, as the word means, then we can walk with God in peace, equity, and amity, for sin, which made the breach, is remov...

Every peaceful conscience is not a good one, nor is every uneasy conscience an evil one.  The conscience of some is quiet because it is insensible. ...  On the other hand, a tender conscience is liable to err through lack of sufficient light, and needlessly write better things against itself, which is a “weak conscience” (I Corinthians 8:12.) -preacher Arthur Pink , Exposition of Hebrews , p.1252

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." -Titus 3:5 [KJV] “Shew us a miracle, and we will believe You are inspired,” say carnal men. We can, but they have no eyes to see it. Blessed be God, miracles are not ceased. The Lord works miracles of grace daily. Every regenerate sinner is a miracle of God the Father’s mercy, of God the Son’s grace, and of God the Holy Spirit’s power. His humble language proclaims it.  I stand forth and declare, that I was a vile sinner, condemned by the law of God, and justly deserving the damnation of hell; yet full of the pride of my own works, and confident of salvation by my own righteousness; but God, by an act of sovereign mercy, has saved me from the power of sin, and a vain confident hope of my own righteousness. “Not by works which we have done.”  Our works are out of the question. For all boasting is excluded. Yet the notion of absolute mercy in God to any sinner, without res...