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  SUCH A SMOKE IN THE SOUL
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Thomas Brooks explores how corruption can obscure the presence
of grace in the soul, emphasizing the need for divine revelation to
recognize it.

Topics: "Assurance", "Grace"
Scripture References: Genesis 21:19

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes that a person can possess true grace yet
struggle with assurance due to the 'smoke' of doubts and fears that
corruption creates within the soul. This obscurity prevents individuals
from recognizing the valuable graces present in their hearts, much like
smoke obscures the beauty of jewels. He illustrates this with the
example of Hagar, who could not see the well of water nearby until God
opened her eyes, paralleling how believers may overlook the grace within
them until God reveals it. Brooks encourages believers to seek divine
clarity to recognize and appreciate the grace that resides in their
souls.

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CONTENT
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A man may have true grace and yet lack assurance,

and this may arise from that smoke and clouds, those

fears and doubts which corruption raises in the soul.

Just so, that the soul cannot see those excellent graces

which otherwise might be discerned. Though there may

be many precious gems and jewels in the house, yet the

smoke may hinder a man from seeing them sparkle and

shine. So though there may be many precious graces in

the souls of saints, yet corruption may raise such a dust,

such a smoke in the soul, that the soul is not able to

see them in the beauty and glory.

The well of water was near Hagar--but she saw it not until

her eyes were opened by the Lord, Gen. 21:19-20. So grace

is near the soul, yes, in the soul sometimes, and yet the soul

does not see it, until God opens the eye and shows it. "The

Lord was in this place," says Jacob, "and I knew it not." So

many a precious soul may say, grace was in my heart, and

I knew it not, I saw it not.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/such-a-smoke-in-the-soul/
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