A Precious Book
The precious book of promises is a source of comfort, sweetness, and strength for believers, and faith lives upon these promises to satisfy and support their souls.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the invaluable nature of God's promises, likening them to precious gems that provide comfort and sustenance to faith. He encourages believers to deeply engage with these promises, especially during times of spiritual struggle, as they contain the heart and love of Christ. Brooks illustrates how faith thrives on these promises, which offer support, direction, and assurance in various aspects of life. He urges Christians to cherish and rely on these spiritual promises to strengthen their faith and overcome fears. Ultimately, he asserts that embracing God's promises leads to a more honored God, a more engaged heart, and a victorious life over sin.
Text
As every precious gem-stone has a rich virtue in it, so has every promise. The promises are a precious book, every leaf drops myrrh and mercy; and upon these precious promises, precious faith looks and lives. From these breasts, faith sucks comfort and sweetness. Psalm 119:49-50, "Remember Your word (that is, your promise) unto Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has quickened me." It would be an endless thing to show you how the faith of the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and other saints has been acted and exercised upon promises of sanctification, upon promises of justification, upon promises of salvation, upon promises of glorification, upon promises of protection, upon promises for direction, upon promises for support, etc. Look! as the lamp lives upon the oil, and the child upon the breasts, so does faith upon the promises.
In your looking upon the promises, mind most, eye most, spiritual promises, absolute promises. These spiritual and absolute promises are of nearest and greatest concernment to you; these carry in them most of the heart of Christ, the love of Christ, the goodwill of Christ; these are of greatest use to satisfy you, and to settle you when you are wavering; to support you when you are falling; to recover you when you are wandering; to comfort you when you are fainting; to counsel you when you are staggering, etc. Therefore make these your choicest and your chief companions; especially when it is night within your souls; when you are sensible of much sin and but a little grace; of much corruption but of little consolation; of much deadness but of little quickness; of much hardness but of little tenderness; of many fears and but a little faith. O beloved, there is much marrow and fatness, there is much honey and sweetness, much grace and glory wrapped up in the promises. Oh press them, and squeeze them until you have obtained all the riches and sweetness which is in them.
Ah, Christians! did you but do this, God would be more honored, the promises more prized, your graces more strengthened, your fears more abated, your hearts more warmed and engaged, and your lives more regulated, and Satan more easily and frequently vanquished.
Sermon Outline
- The Precious Book of Promises
- The Importance of Spiritual Promises
- Making the Promises Your Companion
- The Rich Virtue of Promises
- Faith Lives Upon the Promises
- Absolute Promises Carry the Heart of Christ
- Spiritual Promises Satisfy and Support
- Pressing the Promises for Riches and Sweetness
Key Quotes
“The promises are a precious book, every leaf drops myrrh and mercy; and upon these precious promises, precious faith looks and lives.” — Thomas Brooks
“Look! as the lamp lives upon the oil, and the child upon the breasts, so does faith upon the promises.” — Thomas Brooks
“Oh press them, and squeeze them until you have obtained all the riches and sweetness which is in them.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Make the promises your choicest and chief companions, especially when you are struggling with sin and corruption.
- Press the promises and squeeze them until you have obtained all the riches and sweetness that is in them.
- God will be more honored, your graces will be more strengthened, and your fears will be more abated when you prize the promises and live upon them.