Thomas Brooks

The Crown and Glory of Christianity Thomas Brooks

All men in the general, desire to be happy-but all men do not desire in this or that particular, or in this or that way-to be happy. Here there is an infinite difference-so many men-so many minds and opinions. A desire for happiness is planted in all men by the constitution of nature. This is so intrinsic and so innate in nature, that it is so engraved in it, that even the fall of Adam, as great as it was, has not blotted it out. This desire for happiness is left in man for a stock to graft holiness on. God grafts the plant of grace upon the stock of nature. Indeed happiness, like Rachel, Gen. 29:17, is so fair and so beautiful a thing, that everyone is apt to fall in love with it, and earnestly to desire it, yes, many there are, who would serve twice seven years to enjoy it. But by the standing law of that heavenly country above, the younger sister must never be bestowed before the elder; you can never enjoy fair Rachel-heaven and happiness-except you are first married to tender-eyed Leah-real holiness, Gen. 29:17-28. He who will have heaven, must have union and communion with Christ; and he who will have union and communion with Christ must be holy.