A Divine Cordial by Thomas Watson

A Divine Cordial by Thomas Watson CHOICE EXCERPTS If God left us! The sins of the ungodly are looking-glasses in which we may see our own hearts. Do we see a heinous, impious wretch? Behold a picture of our own hearts! Such would we be—if God left us! What is in wicked men's practice —is in our nature. Sin in the wicked—is like fire which flames and blazes forth. Sin in the godly—is like fire hid in the embers. Christian, though you do not break forth into a flame of scandalous sin—yet you have no cause to boast, for there is as much sin in the embers of your nature! You have the root of all sin in you, and would bear as hellish fruit as any ungodly wretch—if God did not either curb you by His power, or change you by His grace! Why might not God have left you—to the same excess of wickedness? Think with yourself, O Christian—why should God be more merciful to you, than to another? Why should He snatch you, as a brand plucked out of the fire—and not him? How should this make you to adore free grace! What the Pharisee said boastingly, we may say thankfully—"God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers, etc." If we are not as wicked as others—we should adore the riches of free-grace! Every time we see men hastening on in sin—we are to thank God that we are not such! If we see a crazy person—we thank God that it is not so with us. When we see another infected with the plague—how thankful are we, that God has preserved us from it! Much more when we see others under the power of Satan—how thankful we should be, that this is no longer our condition! "For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful . . . ." Titus 3:3 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It is better to go to heaven with the few "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." Mt. 7:13-14 It is better to go to heaven with the few—than to hell in the crowd! We must walk in an opposite course to the people of the world. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A beast with a man's head! Love to God is an expansion of soul, or the inflaming of the affections—by which a Christian breathes after God as the supreme and sovereign good. "There is nothing on earth that I desire besides You." Psalm 73:25. The Christian loves God above all other objects. God is the quintessence of all good things; He is superlatively good. The soul admiring in Him that constellation of all excellencies—is carried out in love to Him in the highest degree. God, who is the chief of our happiness—must have the chief of our affections. The creature may have the milk of our love—but God must have the cream! Though some drops of love may run to our kindred and friends—yet the full torrent must run out after Christ. Relations may lie on the bosom—but Christ must lie in the heart! We set a high value upon God as being the most sublime and infinite good. We so esteem God, as that if we have Him—we do not care though we lack all other things. The stars vanish, when the sun appears. All creatures vanish in our thoughts, when the Sun of righteousness shines in His full splendor. The soul that loves God, rejoices in Him as in his treasure—and rests in Him as his center. The heart is so set upon God—that it desires no more. We must love God more for what He is (His intrinsic excellencies)—than for what He bestows. True love is not mercenary. You need not hire a mother to love her child. Just so, a soul deeply in love with God needs not be hired by rewards. It cannot but love Him—for that luster of beauty which sparkles forth in Him! "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God." Romans 8:28 Despisers and haters of God—have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread—it belongs only to those who love God. This is a sharp reproof to those who do not love God, to such as have not a grain of love to God in their hearts—and are there such reprobates alive? He who does not love God—is a beast with a man's head! Oh wretch! Do you live upon God's bounty every day —yet not love Him! These are monsters in nature— devils in the shape of men! Let them read their doom: "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed!" 1 Corinthians 16:22 How can he expect love from God—who shows no love to Him? Will God ever lay such a viper in His bosom—as casts forth the poison of malice and enmity against Him? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Temptations work for our good "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Even temptations are overruled for good, to the children of God. A tree which is shaken by the wind is more settled and rooted. Just so, the blowing of a temptation does but settle a Christian the more in grace. Temptations are overruled for good in eight ways: (1.) Temptation sends the soul to prayer. The more furiously Satan tempts, the more fervently the saint prays. The deer being shot with the dart—runs faster to the water. When Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul—it then runs faster to the throne of grace. When Paul had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, he says, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me" (2 Cor. 12:8). That which makes us pray more, works for good. (2.) Temptation to sin, is a means to keep from the perpetration of sin. The more a child of God is tempted—the more he fights against the temptation. The more Satan tempts to blasphemy, the more a saint trembles at such thoughts, and says, "Away from me, Satan!" When Joseph's mistress tempted him to lust—the stronger her temptation was, the stronger was his opposition. That temptation which the devil uses as a spur to sin—God makes a bridle to keep back a Christian from sin! (3.) Temptation works for good—as it abates the swelling of pride. "To keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud!" (2 Cor. 12:7). The thorn in the flesh was to puncture the puffing up of pride! Better is that temptation which humbles me—than that duty which makes me proud! Rather than a Christian shall be haughty minded—God will let him fall into the devil's hands awhile, to be cured of his swelling pride! (4.) Temptation works for good—as it is a touchstone to try what is in the heart. The devil tempts—that he may deceive us; but God allows us to be tempted—that He may try us. Temptation is a trial of our sincerity. It argues that our heart is chaste and loyal to Christ—when we can look a temptation in the face, and turn our back upon it. Many have no heart to resist temptation. No sooner does Satan come with his bait—but they yield; like a coward who, as soon as the thief approaches, gives him his purse. But he is the valorous Christian, who brandishes the sword of the Spirit against Satan, and will rather die than yield. The valor and courage of a saint is never more seen than on a battlefield, when he is fighting the red dragon, and by the power of faith puts the devil to flight. That grace is tried gold, which can stand in the fiery trial, and withstand Satan's fiery darts! (5.) Temptations work for good—as God makes those who are tempted, fit to comfort others in the same distress. A Christian must himself be under the buffetings of Satan, before he can speak a word in due season to him who is weary. Paul was well-versed in temptations. "We are very familiar with his evil schemes" (2 Cor. 2:11). Thus he was able to acquaint others with Satan's cursed wiles (1 Cor. 10:13). A man who has ridden over a place where there are bogs and quicksands—is the fittest to guide others through that dangerous way. He who has felt the claws of Satan, the roaring lion, and has lain bleeding under those wounds—is the fittest man to deal with one who is tempted. None can better discover Satan's subtle devices—than those who have been long in the fencing school of temptation. (6.) Temptations work for good—as they stir up fatherly compassion in God to those who are tempted. The child who is sick and bruised—is most looked after. When a saint lies under the bruising of temptations, Christ prays, and God the Father pities. When Satan puts the soul into a fever, God comes with a cordial; which made Luther say, that "temptations are Christ's embraces," because He then most sweetly manifests Himself to the soul. (7.) Temptations work for good—as they make the saints long more for heaven. There they shall be out of gunshot; heaven is a place of rest, no bullets of temptation fly there. The eagle which soars aloft in the air, and sits upon high trees—is not troubled with the stinging of the serpent. Just so, when believers are ascended to heaven, they shall not be molested by the old serpent, the devil. In this life, when one temptation is over, another comes. This makes God's people wish for death—to call them off the battlefield where the bullets fly so quick—and to receive a victorious crown, where neither the drum nor cannon—but the harp and violin, shall be eternally sounding. (8.) Temptations work for good—as they engage the strength of Christ. Christ is our Friend, and when we are tempted, He sets all His power working for us. "Since He Himself has gone through suffering and temptation, He is able to help us when we are being tempted" (Heb. 2:18). If a poor soul was to fight alone with the Goliath of hell, he would be sure to be vanquished! But Jesus Christ brings in His auxiliary forces—He gives fresh supplies of grace. "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!" (Romans 7:37). Thus the evil of temptation is overruled for our good. Question. But sometimes Satan foils a child of God. How does this work for good? Answer. I grant that, through the suspension of divine grace, and the fury of a temptation—a saint may be overcome; yet this foiling by a temptation shall be overruled for good. By this foil, God makes way for the augmentation of grace. Peter was tempted to self-confidence; he presumed upon his own strength; and Christ let him fall. But this wrought for his good—it cost him many a tear. "He went out, and wept bitterly" (Matt. 26:75). And now he grows less self-reliant. He dared not say he loved Christ more than the other apostles. "Do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15). He dared not say so—his fall into sin broke the neck of his pride! The foiling by a temptation causes more circumspection and watchfulness in a child of God. Though Satan did before decoy him into sin—yet for the future he will be the more cautious. He will beware of coming within the lion's chain any more! He is now more vigilant and fearful of the occasions of sin. He never goes out without his spiritual armor—and he girds on his armor by prayer. He knows he walks on slippery ground, therefore he looks wisely to his steps. He keeps close sentinel in his soul, and when he spies the devil coming—he grasps his spiritual weapons, and displays the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16). This is all the hurt the devil does when he foils a saint by temptation—he cures him of his careless neglect; he makes him watch and pray more. When wild beasts get over the hedge and damage the grain—a man will make his fence the stronger. Just so, when the devil gets over the hedge by a temptation, a Christian will be sure to mend his fence; he will become more fearful of sin, and careful of duty. Thus the being worsted by temptation, works for good. Objection. But if being foiled works for good, this may make Christians careless whether they are overcome by temptations or not. Answer. There is a great difference between falling into a temptation, and running into a temptation. The falling into a temptation shall work for good—not the running into it. He who falls into a river is fit for help and pity—but he who desperately runs into it, is guilty of his own death. It is madness running into a lion's den! He who runs himself into a temptation is like king Saul—who fell upon his own sword. From all that has been said, see how God disappoints the old serpent—by making his temptations turn to the good of His people. Luther once said, "There are three things which make a godly man—prayer, meditation, and temptation." The wind of temptation is a contrary wind to that of the Spirit; but God makes use of this cross wind, to blow the saints to heaven! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Charging God with wrongdoing "It is the Lord's will. Let Him do what He thinks best." 1 Samuel 3:18 One who genuinely loves God, interprets all His dealings in the best sense. Though He afflicts sharply—the soul takes all well. This is the language of a gracious spirit: "My God sees what a hard heart I have, therefore He drives in one wedge of affliction after another—to break my heart. He knows how full I am of the cancer of covetousness, or the swelling of pride, or the fever of lust—therefore He gives me bitter remedies, to save my life. This severe dispensation is either to mortify some corruption—or to exercise some grace. How good is God, who will not let me alone in my sins—but smites my body to save my soul!" Thus genuine piety puts a good gloss upon all God's afflictive dealings. It is Satan who makes us have high thoughts of ourselves, and hard thoughts of God. "Take away everything he has—and he will surely curse You to Your face!" Job 1:11 "Then Job fell to the ground in worship and said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Job 1:20-22 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Five sharp stings! Many love sin, more than God. "They are haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning." (Romans 1:30) What is there in sin—that any should love it? Sin is a debt. "Forgive us our debts" (Matthew 6:12). Sin is a debt which binds over to the wrath of God! And will you love sin? Does any man love to be in debt? Sin is a disease. "The whole head is sick" (Isaiah 1:5). And will you love sin? Will any man hug a disease? Will he love his plague sores? Sin is a pollution. The apostle calls it "filthiness" (James 1:21). It is compared to leprosy and to poison of asps! God's heart rises against sinners. "My soul loathed them!" (Zechariah 11:8). Sin is a hideous monster. Lust makes a man brutish; malice makes him devilish! What is in sin to be loved? Shall we love deformity? Sin is an enemy. It is compared to a "serpent". Sin has five sharp stings: shame, guilt, horror, death, damnation! Will a man love that which seeks his death? Surely then it is better to love God than sin. God will save you—but sin will damn you! Is he not a fool—who loves damnation! But love to God will never let sin thrive in the heart. The love of God withers sin. The flower of love kills the weed of sin! How should we labor for that grace of love to God—which is the only corrosive to destroy sin! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We shall leave this staff at heaven's door Love is the most abiding grace. This will stay with us, when other graces take their farewell. In heaven we shall need no repentance—because we shall have no sin. In heaven we shall not need patience—because there will be no affliction. In heaven we shall need no faith—because faith looks at unseen things (Heb. 11:1). Then we shall see God face to face; and where there is vision, there is no need of faith. But when the other graces are out of date, love continues. And in this sense the apostle says that love is greater than faith or hope—because it abides the longest. "Love will last forever" (1 Cor. 13:8). Faith is the 'staff' which we walk with in this life. "We walk by faith" (2 Cor. 5:7). But we shall leave this staff at heaven's door—and only 'love' shall enter. Thus love carries away the crown from all the other graces. Love is the most long-lived grace—it is a blossom of eternity. How should we strive to excel in this grace, which alone shall live with us in heaven, and shall accompany us to the marriage supper of the Lamb! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A little honey in its mouth—but it has wings! It is better to love God, than the world. If you set your love on worldly things, they will not satisfy. You may as well satisfy your body with air—as your soul with earth! If the globe of the world were yours—it would not fill your soul. Will you set your love on that which will never give you contentment? Is it not better to love God? He will give you that which shall satisfy your soul to all eternity! If you love worldly things, they cannot remove trouble of mind. If there is a thorn in the conscience—all the world cannot pluck it out. King Saul, being perplexed in mind, all his crown jewels could not comfort him (1 Sam. 28:15). But if you love God, He can give you peace when nothing else can. He can apply Christ's blood to refresh your soul. He can whisper His love by the Spirit, and with one smile scatter all your fears and disquiets. If you love the world, you love that which may keep you out of heaven. "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:23). Prosperity, to many, is like a large sail to a small boat, which quickly overturns it. By loving the world, you love that which will endanger you. But if you love God, there is no fear of losing heaven. He will be a Rock to hide you—but not to hurt you. By loving Him, we come to enjoy Him forever. You may love worldly things—but they cannot love you in return. You love gold and silver—but your gold cannot love you in return. You give away your love to the creature—and receive no love back. But if you love God, He will love you in return. "If any man loves Me, My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him" (John 14:23). God will not be behindhand in love to us. For our drop of love to Him—we shall receive an ocean of His love! While you love the world, you love that which is infinitely below the worth of your souls. When you lay out your love upon the world, you hang a pearl upon a swine—you love that which is inferior to yourself. As Christ speaks in another sense of the birds of the air, "Are you not much better than they?" (Matt. 6:26), so I say of worldly things, Are you not much better than they? You love a fair house, or a beautiful garment—are you not much better than they? But if you love God, you place your love on the most noble and sublime object—you love that which is better than yourselves. God is better than the soul, better than angels, better than heaven! You may love the world, and receive hatred for your love. Would it not vex one, to lay out money upon a piece of ground which, instead of bringing forth grain or fruit, should yield nothing but nettles? Thus it is with all earthly things—we love them, and they prove nettles to sting us! We meet with nothing but disappointment. But if we love God, He will not return hatred for love. "I love those who love Me" (Proverbs 7:17). God may chastise His children—but He cannot hate them. Every believer is part of Christ, and God can as well hate Christ, as hate a believer. You may over-love the creature. You may love wine too much, and silver too much; but you cannot love God too much. It is our sin that we cannot love God enough. How weak is our love to God! If we could love God far more than we do—yet it can never be proportionate to His worth; so there is no danger of excess in our love to God. You may love worldly things—and they die and leave you. Riches take wings! Relations drop away! There is nothing here abiding. The creature has a little honey in its mouth—but it has wings! It will soon fly away. But if you love God, He is "a portion forever" (Psalm 73:26). As He is called a Sun for comfort, so a Rock for eternity. Thus we see, that it is better to love God than the world. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A sea of sin—and not a drop of sorrow! One sign of genuine love to God—is grief for sin. Where there is love to God—there is a grieving for our sins of unkindness against Him. A child who loves his father, cannot but weep for offending him. The heart which burns in love—melts in tears. "Oh! that I should abuse the love of so dear a Savior! Shall I give Him more gall and vinegar to drink? How disloyal and hypocritical have I been! How have I grieved His Spirit, trampled upon His royal commands, slighted His blood!" This opens a vein of godly sorrow, and makes the heart bleed afresh. "Peter went out, and wept bitterly!" That Peter should deny Christ after he had received such amazing love from Him—this broke his heart with grief! "He went out, and wept bitterly!" By this, let us test our love to God. Do we shed the tears of godly sorrow? Do we grieve for our unkindness against God, our abuse of His mercy, our non-improvement of the talents which He has given us? How far are they from loving God—who sin daily, and their hearts never smite them! They have a sea of sin—and not a drop of sorrow! They are so far from being troubled, that they make merry with their sins. "When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice!" (Jer. 11:15). Oh wretch! Did Christ bleed for sin—and do you laugh at it! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The daughter helps to destroy the mother "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Afflictions work for good to the godly, as they are destructive to sin. Sin is the 'mother', affliction is the 'daughter'; the daughter helps to destroy the mother. Sin is like the tree which breeds the worm; and affliction is like the worm that eats the tree. There is much corruption in the best heart; affliction does by degrees work it out, as the fire works out the dross from the gold, "The Lord did this to purge away his sin." (Isaiah 37:9) What if we have more of the rough file—if we have less rust! Afflictions carry away nothing but the dross of sin. Afflictions are the medicines which God uses to cure our spiritual diseases. Afflictions cure . . . the swelling of pride, the fever of lust, the cancer of covetousness. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The chain which fastened Jesus to the cross! "Because of His great love for us." Ephesians 2:4 Love made Jesus suffer for us. Love was the chain which fastened Jesus to the cross! "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail." Lamentations 3:22 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Glittering sins! Our best works are but glittering sins! "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Monuments of mercy Admire and adore God's free grace in saving you—that God should pass over so many, that He should pass by the wise and noble, and that the lot of free grace should fall upon you! That He should take you out of a state of vassalage, from grinding the devil's mill—and should set you above the princes of the earth, and call you to inherit the throne of glory! Fall upon your knees, break forth into a thankful triumph of praise! Let your hearts be ten stringed instruments, to sound forth the memorial of God's saving mercy. There are none so deep in debt to free grace—as you are; and none should be so high mounted upon the pinnacle of thanksgiving. Say as the sweet singer; "I will extol You, O God my King, every day will I bless You, and I will praise Your name forever!" (Psalm 145:1, 2). Those who are monuments of mercy —should be trumpets of praise! O long to be in heaven, where your thanksgivings shall be purer and shall be raised a note higher! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The idol of self-righteousness "Not having my own righteousness" (Phil. 3:9). He whose heart God has touched by His Spirit, lays down the idol of self-righteousness at Christ's feet, for Him to tread upon. The true Christian denies

Be the first to react on this!

A Divine Cordial

Thomas Watson

Group of Brands