Sin is hell, grace is heaven; what madness it is to look more at hell than heaven.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that one should focus on the positive aspects of life (grace and heaven) rather than the negative (sin and hell).
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the futility of dwelling on negative thoughts and actions (sin) instead of aspiring towards the positive and hopeful aspects of existence (grace and heaven). He argues that it is irrational to give more attention to the darkness of life when one has the opportunity to embrace the light and the positive potential that grace represents.
In practice
During a motivational speech about overcoming adversity.
Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking his own righteousness, and living really and purely upon the righteousness of Christ.
Grace and glory differ very little; the one is the seed, the other is the flower; grace is glory militant, glory is grace triumphant.
He is the best preacher, not that tickles the ear, but that breaks the heart.
Ah! sinner, remember this, there is no way on earth effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth, and power of sin, but by believing in a Saviour. It is not resolving, it is not complaining, it is not mourning, but believing, that will make thee divinely victorious over that body of sin that to this day is too strong for thee, and that will certainly be thy ruin, if it be not ruined by a hand of faith.
Self is the only oil that makes the chariot-wheels of the hypocrite move in all religious concerns.
Humility can weep over other men's weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces.
Chess is a forcing house where the fruits of character can ripen more fully than in life
The Darwinian movement has made no difference to mankind, except that, instead of talking unphilosophically about philosophy, they now talk unscientifically about science.
Forbid a man to think for himself or to act for himself and you may add the joy of piracy and the zest of smuggling to his life.
The universe unfolds in the body, which is its mirror and its creature.
Sometimes it seems as if there are more solutions than problems. On closer scrutiny, it turns out that many of today's problems are a result of yesterday's solutions.
Too much openness and you accept every notion, idea, and hypothesis-which is tantamount to knowing nothing. Too much skepticism-especially rejection of new ideas before they are adequately tested-and you're not only unpleasantly grumpy, but also closed to the advance of science. A judicious mix is what we need.
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