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VOL. X. Comimmt cations. Opelika, Ala., Sept. 6, 1860. “ lie that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.” Psalms lxviii 20. At the request of Bro; J. W. Richards of La., I offer a few remarks on the above text. “He that is our God is the God of salvation .” This peculiar form of expression by sacred wri ter appears to set forth a very pointed distinction in the character of this God from all other gods, and likewise the people who justly claim him as their God are distinguished in the Scriptures from all other people. “All the gods of the nations are idols,” but the God who is spoken of in the text as the only God of salvation, made the heavens and all that is therein. The earth is hie and all the fulness thereof. Hence, it is by no means sinful or presumptuous to believe that He rules and governs the world in righteousness. He is the Lord- God Omnipotent that reigneth, having never relinquish ed any of his power or right of government over any thing which he has created in heaven or earth. 1 here ‘s no G<>d br?.i who is the God of salva tion. All other gods fall far short of universal a fid omnipotent power, and therefore they cannot, save sinners from the ** wrath to come.” “ But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an eveilasting sal vation: ve shall not he ashamed or confounded, world without end. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth and made it, he hath established it; he creat ed it not in vain, he formed it to beinhabited. I am the Lord, and there is none else.”lsa. xlv. 17, 18. The God of salvation is not disappointed by any tiling which has taken place in the earth and heav ens. He created not the earik in vain; he declar ed the end from the beginning, and his word does not return unto him void, but in every instance it accomplishes what he doth please and prospers in the thing whereunto he sends it. Surely, then he is the God of salvation without aid or assistance from any inferior or subordinate power. The people who realize this salvation are sinners like all others. Justly condemned by the holy law of God. Death has passed upon them all and with out a satisfaction equivalent to the demands of jus tice, they must foiever continue under the curse of the law. Blood must be shed to pay the debt, and that blood must l>e like the perfections of the law, “ holy, harmless, separate from sinners.” It must be the blood of Jesus Christ'flu) through the “eter nal Spirit offered himself without spot unto God.” DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS. “085 seas, on rntfi, as# @ss gAffisA” COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., OCT- 1, 1860. No spot of imperfection, no guilt or sin was in him. Hence, when he bare our sins in his own body, he bore them as the surety who had voluntarily agreed to pay the whole debt due to divine justice for all the Father gave unto him. He saves his people from their sins. He that is our God is the God of salvation. He hath laid help upon one and only one that is mighty. In laying help for us upon Je sus, the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all and by his stripes we are healed. The saving of sinners from their sins with an everlasting salvation is a great work, but God is a Great God and all his works are great. When it is said that “ salvation is of the Lord” it is thereby declared that everything pertaining tosalvation from first to last is of him. There is no salvation with out the choice of God in Christ. He hath there fore from the beginning chosen us unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. His fore knowledge too is connected with salvation; so then the subjects of salvation are “ Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father.” There is no deliverance from sin without the predestination of God. “Whom he did fore know, he also did predestinate to be conformed to ‘he image of his Son.” If sinners are saved they ■> - V’ <'** . * . must be conformed lo the fc'c: ga of CAns* and this conformity is secured to them by the predestinat ing woik of God and not of man. It requires that Christ should die for them and put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. “He that is our God is the God of salvation,” and there is nothing connected with the subject of salvation but what is of him. — Redemption is of him, and Christ is of God made unto us wisdom, sanctification and redemption. In him and no where else we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. “ He gave himself tor us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto him self a peculiar people zealous of gooel works.” Hence, we clearly see that we cannot refer to any point touching our salvation but what it is ascrib ed to God and not to man. Indeed, if any part of salvation was of men or angels, it could not be said that “ He that is our God is the God of salvation.” The subjects of this great love of God have an inheritance in Jesus Christ as heirs of God, “ being predestinated unto the adoption of children by Je sus Christ to himself according to the good pleas ure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he bath made us accepted in thebeloved.” God hath done all this, and the “ good pleasure of his will” is in it all, and it is all to the praise of the glory of his grace, and not one particle of it is to the praise or glorv of rpan’s works, and therefore men do not like the plan. It debases proud man and lays his wisdom and honor low in the dust, but it exalts the wisdom and honor of God and gives all the glory of salvation to “ our God who is the God of salvation.” “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.” “Ascribe ye greatness and strength unto our God.” All the glory of sal vation from sin, death and hell is certainly due un to the Name of our God. Do not be so blasphe mously presumptuous as to try to take that glory from him, for “His glory he will not give to another, nor his praise to graven images. “ Ilis arm brought salvation,” and no other arm or power can do it. Therefore, hear him declaring, “Hearken unto me ye stout hearted,” jes, ye “ stout hearted, that are far from righteousness.” And what will the God of salvation say unto them ? He rays, “ I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” Isa. xlvi. 13. Let Zion be glad and itjoice, for “salvation will God appoint walls and buiwaiks,” and he hath clothed all his children with the garments of salvation.” Isa. !xi. 10. O, what beautiful gat> monte of wrought gold from the deep mines of God*s power, wisdom, purpose and everlasting love, which for ages and generations has been securely kept hid in God and in Christ, but is revealed unto the heirs of promise; God has positively declared that will •“ leautifg salvation” Psa. cxlix. 4. Is it not a beautiful apparel, salvation, deliverance from sin ; clothed with the robeofiight eousr.ess, even the imputed righteousness of Christ? Tiie righteousness of God in Christ—a glorious church without spot of sin or wrinkle of iniquity, Chosen and loved of God. These are parts of the “ garments of salvation.” Redemption from sin by the blood of Christ is another part of the same beautiful dress. Justification is connected with other parts of salvation and that also is of God.—- “It is God that j istifieth. Who is he that con demned! ?” Freely justified by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ. In conclusion, let us not overlook the fact that in order to salvation, it is necessary that we he bom again ; that we have faith, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; but as salvation is of the Lord, these things are as much of him as our re demption, calling or justification, for his “divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto, life and godliness.” 2 Pet. i. 4. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?” I might write a week on this subject without exhausting it. The few hints given must suffice for ihe present. W. M. MITCHELL. NO. 19