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

"He wist (- knew ) not that the LORD was departed from him." -Judges 16:20 [KJV] What do I read? Sampson’s name enrolled in the list of the ancient heroes of faith? See Heb. 11:32. What! he who loved a harlot, and was so blinded by his lust, as to bring on himself the most dreadful evils, even unto death? Yes . Grace reigned then. It reigns still, through the righteousness of Christ unto sinners .  What! That they should continue in sin, because grace abounds? God forbid! See the most awful evils it brought upon this man of God. Behold in him how sin blinds the eyes, hardens the heart, and stupefies the conscience. Think of this, and tremble at the first approach of sin and lust.  (1st.) Sampson’s lust to a vile, unchaste woman, had so blinded his reason, that he put his life into her hands three times. Yet he could not see that she had no regard for him, but only wanted to destroy him. Here was a judgment upon his sinful passions. The Philistines put out hi...

"By night on my bed I sought Him whom my soul loveth." -Song of Solomon 3:1 [KJV] Pause, my soul, over this account which the church gives of herself, and see whether such be thine exercises. It is night indeed in the soul whenever Christ is absent, or His presence not enjoyed. And though, blessed be God, the believer's interest in Christ varies riot, yet his joy in the sense of safety is not always the same. Though it be the bed of affliction, or the bed of sickness, it is not the bed of carnal security, when the soul seeks Jesus. We cannot be said to be in a cold, lifeless, and indifferent state, while Jesus is sought for. It may be night indeed, it may be a dark season; yet, nevertheless, when we can say, "With my soul have I sought Thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early : " surely, this earnestness implies grace, and love, and desire, in lively exercise. However dull, stupid, and unprofitable, at times, ordinan...

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." -II Peter 1:2 [KJV] If we do not know Jesus for ourselves, by some spiritual discovery of His Person and work, what testimony have we of an interest in His grace? Because, there is no grace except that which flows through Him, for "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."   This is what we should ever labour after. Our daily, hourly desire and prayer should be, to have spiritual discoveries of Christ; to see Him by the eye of faith; to enter into His glorious Person and finished work; to realise His presence, taste His love, and know Him and the power of His resurrection. This is what Paul so earnestly laboured after (Philippians 3:10) ; and for the excellency of this knowledge He suffered the loss of all things, and counted them but dung that he might win Christ.  To know Him as our Surety and Sin-bearer, our Advocate and Intercessor, our Friend, Husband, and Bro...

Abounding Grace,  Part I by D G Miles McKee   Romans 5:20, ”Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Here are some truths about grace: Grace is Amazing!   Grace is Matchless and Grace is Marvellous! One of our old hymns says it like this, Marvellous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. According to Romans 5:20, grace is also abounding! Listen to our verse again. Romans 5:20: Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might  abound . But where sin  abounded , grace did much more  abound :’ There are two words for ‘abound’ found in this verse. They each have a different meaning. ‘Sin abounded’, (Greek  ‘pleonazo’ ), ’But grace didn’t merely abound, it much more abounded,’ (Greek ‘ huperperisseuo ’)!   The sentence literally means something like this, ‘Where sin abou...

"But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." -Hebrews 4:15 [KJV] O, says a soul in heaviness, through manifold temptations, surely no one was ever tempted and tried as I am: St. Paul answers to the contrary. “There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to men,” (I Corinthians 10:13.) Is this any relief and support to you? If not, consider the text.   (1st.) Temptation was common to Christ as man. He was tempted in all points like as we are. View Him beset by Satan. See the hellish arts he practised upon Him. He tempted Him to the lust of the eye—to self-murder—to idolatry—to distrust God—to tempt God—yea, in all points, like as we are. You cannot feel a trial or temptation, but what Christ felt before you. Though He had no sin in His nature for Satan to work upon, yet, He doubtless felt all the assaults, which the power and malice of hell could attack Him with, yet without sin. Therefore, temptations are not sin.     (2d.) ...

"Shiloh."   -Genesis 49:10 [KJV]   Precious name of the Lord Jesus! How blessed hath it been in all ages to Thy people. Oh Lord, make it as ointment poured forth this morning to my soul! Both Jews and Christians alike agree in it, that it belongs only to the Messiah. And how then is it that they do not see Christ in it, even our Jesus, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, and died, as Caiaphas predicted the expediency, that one man should die for the people, and that He should fulfil the dying patriarch's prediction, by gathering together in one the children of God which were scattered abroad?  That Jesus answered to Jacob's prediction, and none but Jesus ever did, is evident from their own testimony:— "We have a law," said they to Pilate, "and by that law He ought to die." Now, then, they themselves hereby confessed that as Jacob prophesied, the Lawgiver was not departed from Israel when Christ came. And when they added, "We hav...

"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day." -Isaiah 2:11 [KJV] How does the Lord humble? By discovering to man what he is; by opening up the depth of his fall; by making him feel what a vile and guilty wretch he is before the footstool of mercy; by breaking him to pieces; by slaughtering and laying him low; by making him abhor himself in dust and ashes.   Was not that the way the Lord took with the saints of old? How did He humble Isaiah? Was it not by some discovery of His divine Majesty, to make him cry, "I am a man of unclean lips!" How did He humble Daniel? Was it not by manifesting Himself in His almighty purity, and turning his comeliness into corruption? How did He humble Hezekiah? By laying him upon a sick-bed, and laying his sins and iniquities with weight and power upon his conscience. None of these men produced humility in themselves.   How did t...