“What sweetness is there in God?” by Thomas Watson

“Did God make this glorious world? Did He make every thing good? Was there in the creature so much beauty and sweetness?

Oh! Then what sweetness is there in God?

The cause is always more noble than the effect. Think with yourselves, is there so much excellency in house and lands—then how much more is there in God, that made these!

Is there beauty in a rose? What beauty then is there in Christ, the rose of Sharon!

Doth oil make the face shine? Ps. 104:15. How will the light of God’s countenance make it shine!

Doth wine cheer the heart? O what virtue is there in the true vine! How doth the blood of this grape cheer the heart!

Is the fruit of the garden sweet? how delicious are the fruits of the Spirit!

Is a gold mine so precious; how precious is he who founded this mine! What is Christ, in whom are hid all treasures? Col. 2:3.

We should ascend from the creature to the Creator. If there be any comfort here below, how much more is there in God, who made all these things!

How unreasonable is it, that we should delight in the world, and not much more in him that made it?

How should our hearts be set on God, and how should we long to be with God, who hath infinitely more sweetness in him, than any creature!

Did God create the world? Let us wisely observe those works of creation.

God hath given us not only the book of the scriptures to read in, but the book of the creation.

Look up to the heavens, they shew much of God’s glory,—the sun gilds the world with its bright beams,—behold the stars, their regular motion in their orbs, their magnitude, their light, their influence.

We may see God’s glory blazing in the sun, twinkling in the stars. Look into the sea, and see the wonders of God in the deep, Ps. 107:24.

Look into the air, there the birds make melody, and sing forth the praises of their Creator.

Look into the earth, there we may wonder at the nature of minerals,—the power of the loadstone,—the virtue of herbs; see the earth decked as a bride with flowers; all these are the glorious effects of God’s power.

God hath wrought the creation as with curious needle-work, that we may observe His wisdom and goodness, and give him the praise due to Him, Ps. 104:24., “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.'””

–Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity Contained in Sermons Upon the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1692/1970), 117.