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  BELOW THE OX AND THE DONKEY
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes that ignorance is the root of all sin,
leading to enslavement to Satan and a lack of understanding of eternal
peace.

Topics: "Spiritual Awareness", "Ignorance of Sin"
Scripture References: Proverbs 4:7, Isaiah 1:3, Hosea 4:6, John 8:32, Romans 6:16, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Ephesians 4:18, James 1:5, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 John 1:8

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound consequences of ignorance in his
sermon 'Below the Ox and the Donkey,' using Isaiah 1:3 to illustrate
that while animals recognize their owners, God's people often fail to
understand their relationship with Him. He argues that ignorance is the
root of all sin, leading to spiritual enslavement and a lack of
awareness of one's need for salvation. Brooks warns that this ignorance
not only breeds sin but also prevents individuals from recognizing the
beauty of holiness, ultimately locking them in a state of spiritual
blindness. He calls for a deeper understanding of sin and holiness to
foster true repentance and spiritual awakening.

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CONTENT
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"The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's

feeding-trough, but Israel does not know; My people

do not understand." Isaiah 1:3

Ignorance is the source of all sin, the very well-spring

from which all wickedness does issue. Ignorance . . .

enslaves a soul to Satan;

lets in sin by troops;

locks them up in the heart;

shuts out the means of recovery;

and so plasters up a man's eyes, that he cannot see

the things which belong to his own eternal peace.

The Scripture sets ignorant people below the ox and

the donkey. Did men either see the deformity of sin,

or the beauty and excellency of holiness--they would

never delight in the one--nor cry down the other!

Ignorance is a breeding sin, a mother sin; all sins are

seminally in ignorance. Ignorance is the mother of all

the mistakes, and of all the misrule in the world.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/below-the-ox-and-the-donkey/
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