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

“Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.”   -Hebrews 2:17-18 [KJV]   The Son of God, in our nature, having finished His redemption-work, and returned to heaven, wears that nature in an everlasting union with His GODHEAD.  So that as God and Man in one Person, He hath a perfect sense and apprehension of what constitutes the nature of both.  He knows as GOD.  He feels as MAN.  Hence, it follows, that His consciousness of what our nature is by His own, cannot but make Him enter into an intimate concern and fellow-feeling, in all that belongs to His church.  He knows all and enters into the concerns of all, and feels for all His afflicted people.     ...

" And He said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk and are sad ?" -Luke 24:17 [KJV] Time is the best medicine for most diseases, whether of body or mind. A present hour my cause sadness, the next may bring joy. This is a living comfort in saddest seasons, Christ knows both our sorrows and the cause of them. He is always near to us, though we see Him not. His sympathising spirit manifests itself in this question.  Observe, (1st.) Here were two disciples communing together, and reasoning with one another. This is right, it is pleasing to our Lord, to see His dear members converse with Him, and strive to edify each other in the faith of Him—and that they bear each other’s burdens.  For, (2d.) Jesus joined company with them. Disciple, how often have you found it so? Christ delights in the fellowship of His saints. “How can one be warm alone?”  -Ecclesiastes 4:11.  (3d.) Christ inquires what is the subject...

"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered?"  -Jeremiah 8:22 [KJV] Yes, there is both balm in Gilead, and a physician there. For the blood and righteousness of Jesus is the truest balm; and Jesus Himself a Sovereign and an Almighty Physician. But if that blood be not applied, if Jesus be not known nor consulted, how shall health be obtained? My soul, hast thou known thy disease, felt thy disorder? Art thou convinced that it is incurable by all human means— no medicine, no earthly physician, can administer relief? Hast thou known these things?  And convinced of the infinite importance of seeking elsewhere, art thou come to Jesus? What sayest thou, my soul, to the enquiry? Art thou acquainted with Jesus? Hast thou made known thy case to Him? And hath He told thee all that is in thine heart? Hath He taken thee under His care? Is He administering to thee the balm of Gilead? Oh my soul, ...

" That He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." -Deuteronomy 8:3 [KJV] This is the grand lesson which we have to learn in our wilderness journey— "that man doth not live by bread only," that is, by those providential supplies which relieve our natural wants. Thanks be to God for any bread that He gives us in His kind and bountiful providence. An honest living is a great mercy. To be enabled by the labour of our hands or by the labour of our brain to maintain our families and bring them up in a degree of comfort, if not abundance, is a great blessing.  But God has determined that His people shall not live by bread only. They shall be separated from the mass of men who live in this carnal way only; who have no care beyond earthly possessions, and the sum of whose thoughts and desires is, what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and wherewithal the...

"If ye do these things, ye shall never fall." -II Peter 1:10 [KJV] What things? add to your faith every Christian grace and good work. If ye live in the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty, ye shall never fall. But it is here plainly implied, if ye do not these things, ye certainly will fall. How fall? Into all manner of sin; yea, and into hell too, if the Lord Christ keep you not.  But He most assuredly will keep all His sheep from thus falling. For He hath said, They shall never perish—I give unto them eternal life . But what evidence can any one have that he is Christ’s sheep, if he do not hear His voice, and obey His word?  My dear fellow-sinner, deceive not thy own soul. Beware of corrupt notions, and unscriptural ideas. It is most true, salvation is sure. Every one who believes in Christ shall most assuredly be saved. But surely there is such a thing, as living and walking close with Christ—cleaving to Him with full purpose of heart, cheerfully obe...

"The justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."   -Romans 3:26 [KJV] And who is this, indeed who can it be, but Jehovah? "It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?" But, my soul, mark how each person of the Godhead is revealed in scripture under this character; as if to convince every poor sinner that is looking for redemption in Israel only in Jesus, that God can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. God the Father justifieth the poor believing sinner: for He manifests that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, having found a ransom in the blood of His Son for sin, whereby He is faithful to all His covenant promises in pardoning us, having received at our Lord's hand double for all our sins. God the Son justifieth also His redeemed: for it is expressly said by the prophet, "In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." And that God the Holy Ghost justifieth, is a...

"Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world."  -John 17:24 [KJV] How great, how elevated above all utterance or all conception of men or angels, must the glory of Christ be as the Son of the Father in truth and love! And not only is the Lord Jesus Christ glorious in His essential Deity as the Son of God, but glorious also in His holy, spotless humanity which He assumed in the womb of the virgin Mary. For this, though the flesh and blood of the children, was "that holy thing which was begotten of the Holy Ghost," and was taken into union with His eternal Deity, that He might be "Immanuel, God with us." The purity, holiness and innocence, the spotless beauty and complete perfection of this human nature, make it in itself exceedingly glorious; but its great glory is the union that it possesses and e...