Thomas Brooks:  Remedies for division amongst God’s people.  

Grace is the choicest flower in all a Christian’s garden. It is the richest jewel in all his crown. It is his princely robes. It is the top of royalty. Therefore, [grace] must necessarily be the most pleasing, sweet, and delightful object for a gracious eye to be fixed upon. Sin is darkness; grace is light. Sin is hell; grace is heaven. And what madness it is to look more at darkness than at light, more at hell than at heaven!

Tell me, saints, doth not God look more upon His people’s graces than upon their weaknesses? Surely He doth. He looks more at David’s and Asaph’s uprightness than upon their infirmities, though they were great and many. He eyes more Job’s patience than his passion. “Ye have heard of the patience of Job” (Jam 5:11)—[but] not a word of his impatience. He that drew Alexander7 whilst he had a scar upon his face, drew him with his finger upon the scar. God puts His fingers upon His people’s scars that no blemish may appear. Ah, saints! That you would make it the top of your glory in this: to be like your heavenly Father. By so doing, much sin would be prevented, the designs of wicked men frustrated, Satan outwitted, many wounds healed, many sad hearts cheered, and God more abundantly honored.