PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks — Volume 1
Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680 · 335,539 words · 276 reading sections
Section 1
NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES. BY JOHN C. MILLER, D.D., LINCOLN OOLLEOB ; HONORARY CANON OF WORCESTER ; RECTOR OF ST MARTIN'S, BIRMINGHAM. WORKS OF THOMAS BEOOKS. COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION. W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology. Congregational Union, Edinburgh. JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newingt…
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The third device that Satan hath to keep souls in a sad, doubting, and questioning condition is, By working the sold to make inferences from, the cross actings of providence. Four remedies against this device, from . . 97-99 The fourth device that Satan hath to keep poor souls in a sad, doubting, and questioning condi…
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5. It is just with God to reserve the dregs of his wrath for them, who reserve the dregs of their days for him, from . 211 6. The sooner you are good on earth, the greater will be your reward in heaven, from ..... 211-214 7. The Lord is very much affected and taken with your seeking of him, and following after him…
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Obj. 5. My afflictions are very great, how then can I hold my peace ? &c. Answered six ways, . . . 361-364 Obj. 6. Oh ! but my afflictions are greater than other men's, &c, how then can I be silent ? Answered six ways, . 364-366 Obj. 7. I would hold my peace, but my outward afflictions are attended with sore tempta…
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We add Thomas Brooks to the ' Divines ' of the ' Puritan Period ' with no fear of contradiction when we claim for him a foremost place among the greatest of the later Puritans ; meaning thereby those who were m-cluded, and, as Thomas Fuller would have said, excluded also, by the 'Ejectment' of 1662. With the exception …
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(2.) The ' Cabinet of Jewels' was reprinted in a fair-looking volume, which bears the imprint, ' Huntly : published by Duncan Matheson. 1SG0.' If we err not, this is the earnest Revivalist and Missionary of Crimean celebrity. All honour to him as such, and all honour to his motives in re-issuing the precious book. But …
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In the cases of Sibbes himself, and Airay, and King, and Stock, and Torshell, and Bernard, and Marbury, and indeed nearly all, I have had to deplore the paucity of materials for anything like adequate Memoirs. But more than ever have I to do so in relation to Thomas Brooks. If a pun, that he himself would have relished…
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We are shut out from all insight into ancestry, parentage, and child- hood, and ' boy ' surroundings of our Worthy — whether he were of' blue blood' descent, or of a 'godly' or worldly fatherhood and motherhood, whether ' in populous city pent,' or blown upon by the freshening influ- ences of rural life. We do not know…
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had for Master that one of all the heads of Colleges, ' whose presence,' to quote the words of an unchallengeable authority — Professor David Masson — ' was the most impressive.'1 ' He was,' says Fuller — whose Chiuvhism never for a moment hindered his generous recognition of worth and wit in whomsoever found — 'the gr…
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on various accounts important and interesting Liographically. It fur- nishes certain facts which must be brought together. First of all, he must by this time have won a commanding positron, to have been appointed the ' Preacher' on so public and sorrowful an occasion. The honour came most unexpectedly, as was the givin…
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career of the two 'Commanders' named, viz., Colonel Rainsborough and Vice-admiral Goodson, with, by implication, a Captain Magger, lead me to the conclusion that he must have acted as 'chaplain/ both 'at Sea,' and 'on Land,' that is, in the Fleet and with the Army — alter- nating as the Commanders were then wont to do …
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contribution to his Biography and has many characteristic touches. It lies on the surface that the gist of the entire opposition lay in the Puritan-Rector's refusal — stern and fearless as that of Ambrose and John Calvin — to administer ' Baptism ' and the ' Lord's Supper ' to those palpably ' unworthy/ — a controversy…
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4 Calamy's 'Account,' p. 27; Continuation, pp. 28, 283. Calamy's 'Account' of Brooks lacks his usual carefulness. He describes ' St Margaret's, Fish-street hill 'as 'St Mary- Magdalen, Fish-street,' thus misreading 'St Mary' for 'St Magnus,' and also, if intending it, employing a name it did not bear until after the Fi…
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in ray net, and now I have done it/1 Thus was it unto the end: for in 1 675, in the ' Epistle Dedicatory ' to the ' Golden Key,' he uses much the same language: 'I must confess that that general acceptance that my former labours have found, both in the Nation and in foreign parts ; and that singular blessing that has a…
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A single other sentence. There is no accredited portrait of Brooks. Granger mentions one as being on the title-page of his ' Unsearchable Riches,' but we have the whole of the editions, and there is no portrait whatever. Doubtless the Historian mis-remembered and was thinking of the small unsatisfactory miniature prefi…
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Reader, I desire that thou wouldst cast a mantle of love over the mistakes of the printer, I having no opportunity to wait upon the press, by reason of my many engagements other ways. I will not by any jirolepsis detain thee at the door, but desire that the God of all consolations would bless thee with all external, in…
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(4.) I say, that these profane, malignant petitioners had neither a hand in choosing of me, nor yet hearts to make any trial of my ministry, so far as I can understand. And therefore they may well have a black brand put upon them, as men void of common honesty and ingenuity,1 in abusing the honourable committee, and pe…
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profane, ignorant, malignant, and scandalous persons, that they cannot find no profit nor no comfort by their ministry, be admitted as a thing that has worth or weight in it, 1 Kings xxii. 8-29. Without doubt, if this would carry the day against a godly ministry, we should hear a cry from all parts of the nation where …
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1 1DPI3 IDTO, nahhamu, nuhkamu, from DI12 nahham, which signifies first to repent (1 Sa.ni. xv. 35), and then to comfort, because true comfort belongs only to the penitent. Divine comfort is a delicate thing, and it is not given to him that admits any other, saith Bernard. Nulla verior miseria quam falsa l&titia : Ther…
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2 np^>1> velokeakh, which signifies, by art and industry, to catch souls, as fowlers do to take birds. 3 They that are wise cannot but observe much of this spirit upon all the profane, igno- rant, and malignant persons in the nation. 4 The petitioners seemed to be like those in Mat. xxii. 4G, that were nonplussed by …
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1 Isa. xxviii. 15, 18, JVQ WD, they cut a covenant with hell and death. In old time, men were wont to kill and cut asunder sacrificed beasts, and to pass between the parts divided, Gen. xv. 17 ; Jer. xxxiv. 18. The ceremony intended an imprecation that he might be cut in pieces, as that beast was, who should violate th…
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2 Read these scriptures : Prov. iv. 14—16 ; Eph. v. 14^1 Cor. v. 9-11 ; 2 Tim. iii. 1-5. The heathen could say, Qui ceqtio anirno malis immiscetur, rnalus est, he that is well con- tented to keep company with those that are naught, is himself made naught. +J p4 1*-/- Z/M. v//- ? Ill APPENDIX TO MEMOIR. rant, maligna…
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1 John xiii. 30. Hilary, Durand, Piscator, Beza, &c. Compare Mat. xxvi. and Mark xiv. together, and you shall find that neither of them do affirm that Judas was at the Lord's supper ; therefore we have no ground to believe that Judas was at that blessed supper, Luke xxii. 19, 20 ; Mat. xxvi. 26-29. a Were hypocrites a…
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be in office, and not to put conscience out of office). Several other writers were of Ter- tullian's opinion concerning Judas. 1 Cato hits M. Ccelis in the teeth with his baseness, that for a morsel of bread he would sell either his tongue or his silence. 2 lsa. liii. 2, 3 ; Acts v. 30, 31 ; Rom. viii. 34 ; Eph. i. 2…
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1 It was the saying of an ancient philosopher, Whosoever sinneth, doth in that decline from his purposed end, and is certainly deceived. 2 Hark, scholar, eaid the harlot to Apuleius, it is but a bitter-sweet that you are so fond of. Ah ! your scoffing and mocking will prove but a bitter-sweet at last. 3 Constantino t…
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2. Ground is this : because sinners under the gospel, cannot sin at so 1 Prayer is porta cceli, clavis paradisi. the gate of heaven, a key to let us in to para- dise, Heb. iii. 7-12. Nee Christus nee coelum patitur hypeibolem, a man cannot hyperbolize in speaking of Christ and heaven. Omne bonum, in surnmo bono, all g…
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5. God never takes away the gospel from a people till the body of that people have thrust the everlasting gospel from them ; when, indeed, they have been so bold as to thrust away the everlasting gospel, God hath been severe unto them ; but till the body of a people have thrust away the everlasting gospel, God hath not…
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Leg. 6. I would Leave with you is this: Be always doing or receiving good. Our Lord and Master went up and down in this world doing good ; he was still doing good to body and soul ; he was acted by an untired power. Be still doing or receiving good. This will make your lives comfortable, your deaths happy, and your acc…
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provoking to him that he threatens them to lead them into captivity for not considering of them. But above all look to the work that God is carrying on in your souls. Not a soul but he is carrying on soma work or other in it, either blinding or enlightening, bettering or worstening ; and therefore look to what God is d…
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lxviii APPENDIX TO MEMOIR. by and stand by this in the great day of account. Do not make any authority that stands in opposition to the authority of Christ a rule to walk by, for who dare Btand by this before Jesus Christ? Ah ! sirs, walk by no rule but what you dare die by, and stand by at the great day. Leg. 27. An…
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The waves did but lift Noah's ark nearer to heaven ; and the higher the waters rose, the nearer the ark was lifted up to heaven : sometimes such an operation afflictions have upon Noahs, upon preachers of righteousness ; and if they have not had the same operation upon the author of the ensuing discourse, I am much mis…
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Secondly, The designs of God in all the sharp afflictions he exercises his children with, as (1.) the purging away of their sins, Isa. i. 25; (2.) the making of them more partakers of his holiness, Heb. xii. 10 ; (3.) the trial of their graces, Job xxiii. 10; (4.) the communication of more of himself and of his love to…
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the three first thou wilt find this great and glorious truth, viz., 'that a heart trem- bling at God's word is very precious in God's eyes, — Heb. vi. 10 ; Isa. lxii. 6 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 37, — clearly opened, fully proved, and sweetly and faithfully im- proved, so as that, by a blessing from on high, it may contribute gre…
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Ana. 4. Fourthly, The godly tremble, and mourn and tremble. Their trembling hearts are broken hearts, and their broken hearts are trembling hearts ; they look upon sin and tremble, and they look upon sin and mourn, Isa. lxvi. 2 ; Jer. ix. 1, 2; Ps. cxix. 136 : Jer. xxv. 13, 17, ' But if ye will not hear it, my soul sha…
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(2.) Secondly, Those that are bold sinners, secure sinners, stupid sinners, insensible sinners ; for these will find variety of arguments to awaken them, to startle them, to soften them, and to work them into a trembling frame and a tender frame, with singular directions and counsel how to obtain those spiritual frames…
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Seventhly, About her trustings and cleavings to Christ as the ivy cleaves to the oak, the child to the mother, or as the wife cleaves to the husband. In all her ups and downs, she would be still hanging upon Christ, and cleaving to Christ, John xiii. 15 ; Acts xi. 23 ; Ruth i. 14 ; Gen. ii. 24. Eighthly, About her thi…
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3. It was an extensive love ; it extended to those that were remote in respect of place, as well as to those that were near, to those saints wbose faces she never saw, a° well as to those whose faces she daily beheld ; and all upon the serious reports of the grace of God that has been sparkling and shining in them, Rom…
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2 Mr Mayor of the University Library, Cambridge, informs me that there was a ' printed catalogue' of Brooks's Library issued for the sale. I have not been so fortunate as to trace it. — G. 3 Benjamin Woodbridge, M.A., was the venerable 'Ejected' of Newbury in 1662. See Palmer's • Nonconformist's Memorial,' vol. i. pp.…
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Beloved in our dearest Lord, Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan's devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these, they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter. It is my work as a Chris- tian, but much more as I am a Watchman, to …
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Reason 6. I have many precious friends in several countries, who are not a little desirous that my pen may reach them, now my voice cannot. I have formerly been, by the help of the mighty God of Jacob, a weak instrument of good to them, and cannot but hope and believe that the Lord will also bless these labours to them…
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Dear Friend ! — Solomon bids us buy the truth (Prov. xxiii. 23), but doth not tell us what it must cost, because we must get it though it be never so dear. We must love it both shining and scorching.1 Every parcel of truth is precious, as the filings of gold ; we must either live with it, or die for it. As Ruth said to…
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In the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th verses, the apostle stirs up the church to forgive him, to comfort him, and to confirm their love towards him, lest he should be 'swallowed up with over much sorrow,' Satan going about to mix the detestable darnel, Mat. xiii. 25, of desperation with the godly sorrow of a pure penitent hea…
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1 Cf. [Daniel] Pareus in loc. 1 Tim. iv. 1. [Works, 3 vols, folio, 1647.— G.] * So to reduce Dr [Rowland] Taylor, martyr, they promised him not only his par- don, but, a bishopric. Acts & Mon. fol. i. 86. [Foxe. ed. 1631. Vol. iii. p. 176.— G.] .... lnest peccatum cum delectaris : regnat si consentis. [Augustine in Ps.…
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4 When the golden bait is set forth to catch us, we must 6ay as Demosthenes the orator did of the beautiful Lais, when he was asked an excessivo sum of money to behold her, ' I will not buy repentance so dear;' I am not so ill a merchant as to sill eternals fur temporals. If intemperance could afford more pleasure than…
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4 Turpiora sunt vitia quaj virtutum specie celantur. — Jer[ome.'] .... Thus the Illuminates (as they called themselves) a pestilent sect in Arragon, professing and affecting in themselves a kind of angelic purity, fell suddenly to the justifying of bestiality, as many have done in these days. 2 Cor. II. 11.] against s…
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1 One of the Rabbins, when be read what bitter torments the Messias should suffer when lie came into the world, cried out, Yeniat Messias et ego non videam, i.e. Let the Messias come, but let not me see him! Dionysius being in Egypt at the time of Christ's suffering, and seeing an eclipse of the sun, and knowing it to …
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Remedy (3). The third remedy against this third device that Satan hath to draw the soul to sin, is solemnly to consider, That it is sad to stand with God j \>r a trifle. Dives would not give a crumb, therefore he .should not receive a drop, Luke xvi. 21. It is the greatest folly in the 1 An Italian having found his en…
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I have read of that noble servant of God, Marcus Arethusius, minis- ter of a church in the time of Constantine, who in Constantine's time had been the cause of overthrowing an idol's temple ; afterwards, when Julian came to be emperor, he would force the people of that place to build it up again. They were ready to do …
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Now, the remedies against this device of the devil are these : Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of (Satan is, seri- ously to consider, That the Spirit of the Lord hath been as careful to note the saints' rising by repentance out of sin, as he hath to note their falling into sins. David falls fearfully, …
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The Jews have a proverb, ' That there is no punishment comes upon Israel in which there is not one ounce of the golden calf;' mean- ing that that was so great a sin, as that in every plague God remem- bered it ; that it had an influence into every trouble that befell them. Every man's heart may say to him in his suffer…
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Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, That God is as just as he is merciful. As the Scriptures speak him out to be a very merciful God, so they speak him out to be a very just God. Witness his casting the angels out of heaven, 2 Peter ii. 4-6, and his binding them in chain…
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4 Augustus, in his solemn feasts, gave trifles to some, but gold to others that his heart was most set upon. So God, by a hand of general mercy, gives these — poor trifles — outward blessings, to those that he least loves ; but his gold, his special mercy, is only towards those that his heart is most set upon. SO PREC…
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4 it was a vain brag of king Cyrus, that caused it to be written upon his tombstone, Tiivra. vrotiTv 1vii.f4.ni, 1 could do all things ; so could Paul too, but it was ' through Christ, which strengthened him.' [Of. Arrian vi. 29 : Plutarch, Alexander, 69. — G.] 32 PRECIOUS REMEDIES [2 COR. II. 11. Remedy (2). The sec…
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Again, repentance doth include, not only a loathing of sin, but also a loathing of ourselves for sin. As a man doth not only loathe poison, but he loathes the very dish or vessel that hath the smell of the poison ; so a true penitent doth not only loathe his sin, but he loathes himself, 1 It is said of Ithacus, that t…
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Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is solemnly to consider, That if the work of repentance were such an easy work as Satan would make it to be, then certainly so many would not lie roaring and crying out of tvrath and eternal ruin under the horrors and terrors of conscience, for not repenting ; …
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Remedy (6). The sixth remedy against this device of Satan is, seri- ously to consider, Tltat he that now tempts thee to sin 'upon this ac- count, that repentance is easy, will, ere long, to ivork thee to despair, and for ever to break the neck of thy soul, present repentance as the diffcidtest and hardest work in the w…
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It was good counsel that Livia gave her husband Augustus : ' It behoveth thee not only not to do wrong, but not to seem to do so,' &c. : so Jude 23, ' And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.' It is a phrase taken from legal uncleanness, which was contracted…
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2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 41 avoid the occasions of sin ! Every one should strive to be like to them in grace, that they desire to be equal with in glory. He that shooteth at the sun, though he be far short, will shoot higher than he that aimeth at a shrub. It is best, and it speaks out much of Christ w…
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provoke God to be wroth and angry, as men's talcing encouragement from God's goodness and mercy to do wickedly. This you may see by that wrath that fell upon the old world, and by God's raining hell out of heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah. This is clear in Jere- miah xliv., from ver. 20 to ver. 28. The words are worthy o…
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2 Cor. II. 11 .J against satan's devices. 45 their insides, you will easily find that they fill the head full of cares, and the heart full of fears. What if the fire should consume one part of my estate, and the sea should be a grave to swallow up another part of my estate ! what if my servants should be unfaithful ab…
1,324 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition from Internet Archive OCR; OCR may contain recognition errors. Included as historical Christian writing, not Scripture.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.