everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds. - John Newton

A secret dependence upon our prayers, tears, resolutions, repentance and endeavors, prevents us from looking solely and simply to the Savior, so as to ground our whole hope for acceptance upon his obedience unto death, and his whole mediation.

"The psalmist reminds us that caution in these things is proper: "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul" (Ps. 66:16) and our Lord cautions us not to "cast pearls before swine" (Matt. 7:6). The pearls of a Christian are, perhaps, his choice experiences of the Lord's power and love in regards to his soul. These should not casually be made public, lest we provide an occasion for disreputable persons to make fun of what they cannot understand."

Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. He sometimes offers to teach us humility; but though I wish to be humble, I desire not to learn in this school. His premises perhaps are true, that we are vile, wretched creatures — but he then draws abominable conclusions from them; and would teach us, that, therefore, we ought to question either the power, or the willingness, or the faithfulness of Christ.