The Sweet Nature of Grace
The sermon emphasizes the joy, sweetness, and benefits of experiencing God's grace in one's life.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the sweet nature of grace, describing it as a source of immense joy and a refuge against life's troubles. He illustrates grace as a nourishing force, likening it to sweet spices, wine, and milk, and highlights its role in enhancing our spiritual services, making them pleasing to God. Grace is portrayed as essential for the soul, providing strength, healing, and guidance in our walk with Christ. Brooks also notes that grace transforms even the harshest natures into something beautiful and amiable, showcasing its power to change lives. However, he warns that grace can sometimes be overshadowed by an unrefined nature, much like a precious jewel in an unsuitable setting.
Text
Dwell much upon the sweet nature of grace.
Grace begets the greatest joy and sweetness in the
hearts of men, that possibly can be. Grace is a panoply
against all troubles--and a paradise of all pleasures.
Grace is compared to the sweetest things; to sweet spices,
to wine and milk. Grace is a sweet flower of paradise, a
spark of glory, etc. Grace is nourished and maintained by
that sweet word, which is sweeter than the honey or the
honey-comb, and by sweet union and communion with
the Father and the Son.
Grace is exercised about the sweetest objects, namely--
God, Christ, promises, and future glory.
Grace sweetens all your services and duties. Your best
religious performances are but stinking sacrifices--if they
are not attended with the exercise of grace. Grace is that
heavenly salt which makes all our services savory and
sweet in the nostrils of God.
Grace is of the greatest and sweetest use to the soul.
It is an anchor at sea, and a shield at land. Grace is a
staff to uphold the soul, and a sword to defend the soul.
Grace is bread to strengthen the soul, and wine to cheer
the soul. Grace is medicine to cure all diseases, and a
plaster to heal all wounds, and a cordial to strengthen
the soul under all faintings, etc. Grace is . . .
your eye to see for Christ,
your ear to hear for Christ,
your head to design for Christ,
your tongue to speak for Christ,
your hand to do for Christ, and
your feet to walk with Christ.
Grace makes men of the harshest, sourest, crabbedest
natures--to be of a sweet, lovely, amiable, pleasing temper.
Grace turns lions into lambs, wolves into sheep, monsters
into men, and men into angels--as you may see in Manasseh,
Paul, Mary Magdalene, Zaccheus, and others.
Yet sometimes grace, in a rugged unhewn nature, is like . . .
a gold ring on a leprous hand, or
a diamond set in iron, or
a jewel in a swine's snout, etc.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Nature of Grace
- A. Grace begets the greatest joy and sweetness in the hearts of men
- B. Grace is a panoply against all troubles and a paradise of all pleasures
- II. The Sweetness of Grace
- 'A. Compared to sweet things: spices, wine, milk, etc.'
- B. Nourished by the sweet word and sweet union with the Father and the Son
- III. The Exercise of Grace
- 'A. Exercised about the sweetest objects: God, Christ, promises, and future glory'
- B. Sweetens all services and duties
- IV. The Use of Grace
- A. An anchor at sea, and a shield at land
- B. A staff to uphold the soul, and a sword to defend the soul
- C. Medicine to cure all diseases, and a plaster to heal all wounds
Key Quotes
“Grace is a panoply against all troubles--and a paradise of all pleasures.” — Thomas Brooks
“Grace is a sweet flower of paradise, a spark of glory, etc.” — Thomas Brooks
“Grace is that heavenly salt which makes all our services savory and sweet in the nostrils of God.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognize the joy and sweetness that God's grace brings to your life.
- Nourish and maintain your faith with the sweet word and sweet union with the Father and the Son.
- Exercise your faith by focusing on the sweetest objects: God, Christ, promises, and future glory.