PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks — Volume 2
Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680 · 342,041 words · 288 reading sections
Section 61
his glory, Isa. xlvi. 13 ; and his ornament, Ezek. vii. 20 ; and his throne, Jer. xvii. 12 ; and his diadem, Isa. Ixii. 3 ; and his jewels, Mai. iii. 17. These scriptures speak out plainly and clearly that great propriety and interest that God hath in all those that have a propriety and interest in him. O sirs ! look, …
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Lam. hi. 24.] an ark for all god's noahs. 1 07 to seek after an interest and propriety in God ! All true propriety and interest in God is of a diffusive nature ; it is like light, that will spread itself over all ; it is like leaven, that will run through all ; it is like Mary's box of sweet ointment, that filled all …
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Alciat observes in one of his Emblems,' that a dog then barketh most when the moon is at fullest ; but whether it be by some special in- fluence that it then worketh on the dog, or whether it be occasioned by the spots in the moon represented unto him in the form and shape of an- other dog, I shall not conclude ; but y…
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[6.] Sixthly and lastly. Evidence your interest and propriety in God, by falling roundly inwith the interest of God, in opposition to all carnal interests in the world. 0 sirs ! the interest of God will by degrees eat out and swallow up all other interests in the world. Look, as Pharaoh's lean kine ate up the fat, Gen,…
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ing God to he thy portion, Luke xviii. 27. All the angels in heaven, and all the men on earth, do not know to the contrary but that God may be thy portion, even thine. If thou art but heartily willing to be divorced from that wicked trinity, the world, the flesh, and the devil, there is no doubt but that God will be th…
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> When Pyrrhns tempted Fabricius the first day with an elephant, so huge and mon- strons a beast, as before he had not seen, and the next day with money and promises of honour, he answered, 1 fear not thy force, and I am too wise for thy fraud. If nature? could do this, grace can do more. [Plutarch, Pyrrhus. — G.] 114…
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» Ps. xi. 6, ix. 17 ; Tsa. xxxiii. 14 ; Mat. xxiv. 51 ; 2 Tlie3. i. 7-10; Heb, xii. 22-24. * Eph. ii. 12; Rom. viii. 7 ; Eph. ii. I, 2, iv. 18. 3 Artetin prays, Lord, saitli he, whatever thou hast given, take it all away, only give me thyself. 116 AN ABK FOR ALL GOD'S NOAHS. [LAM. III. 24. in jewels, but these jewel…
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ever you would have God for your portion, it highly concerns you to give up yourselves to God with highest estimations, and with most vigorous affections, and with utmost endeavours, according to that pre- cious promise, Isa. xliv. 5, ' One shall say, I am the Lord's ; and another shall call himself by the name of Jaco…
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* In my former treatise I have spoken very largely about the use of holy means, especially in my last on ' Holiness,' and therefore a touch here must suffice. [The refer- ' ence is to his ' Crown of Holiness,' Brooks's largest work, which forms Vol. iv. of our edition. — G.] Lam. III. 24] an aek for all god's noahs. 1…
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' Job. Bodin. Com. weal, [that 18, in his ' Livrea de la Kepubliquo,' 1577, and after- warda in Latin ' De Republica.' — G. Lam. III. 24.] an ark for all god's noahs. 121 to make that great Scripture their greatest companion : Ps. Ixviii. 18, ' Thou hast ascended on high,' speaking of Christ, * thou hast led cap- tiv…
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[1.] First, Thus to act is to run counter-cross to Christ's express Lam. III. 24.] an ark for all god's noahs. ] 23 commands: Mat. vi. 33, 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness ; and all these things shall be added unto you' ;^ and so ver. 19, 20, ' Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon eart…
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[2.] Secondly, I answer, that the Lord hath never bestowed himself 1 2 Cor. iv. 15 ; 1 Tim. i. 14 ; 1 Peter i. 8. Lam. Ill 24.] AN AUK FOR ALL GOD's NOAHS. 125 as a portion upon any yet hut unworthy ones. David was as un- worthy as Saul, and Job as Joab, and Peter as Judas, and Paul as Simon Magus ; and the publicans…
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[5.] Fifthly and lastly, I answer, that if you will not seek after the Lord to he your poiiion till you are worthy to enjoy him as your portion, then you will never seek after him, then you will n^ever enjoy him for your God and portion. Personal worthiness is no flower that grows in nature's garden. No man is born wit…
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Second Position. The second position is this, That it is one thing for a man to have Oodfor his portion, and another thing for a man clearly and convincingly to make it out to him^self or others, that God is his portio7i. Doubtless there are many thousands that have God for their portion, who yet, if you would give the…
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sad truth. And therefore let no man conclude that God is not his God, because he hath lost the sight and sense of his interest and pro- priety in God ; let no man say, that God is not his portion, because he hath lost those evidences, at the present, by which he halh formerly proved God to be his portion. Though a man …
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* Roger bishop of Salisbury in King Stephen's days was so troubled that he could not live, and durst not die, &c. 132 AN ARK FOR ALL GOD'S NOAHS. [LaM. III. 24. that God will never be your portion, because for the present he is not your portion. Remember the gracious invitations of God, and remem- ber the glorious ri…
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[4.] Fourthly, The Lord's supper is a sealing ordinance, and was ordained, instituted, and appointed for that very purpose and to that very end, viz., to seal up the believer's propriety in God, and to assure him of his interest in God, in Christ, in the everlasting covenant, and in all the benefits of Christ's death, …
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To conclude ; they know that assurance of their propriety in God will make death more desirable than terrible, yea, it will make the thoughts of death sweet, and the approaches of death easy, and all the warnings of death pleasant to their souls, and therefore they follow God hard day and night, with strong cries, pray…
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Micah vi. 9, ' The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall hear thy nxime : hear ye the rod, and who hath ap- pointed it* The matter that I shall offer to your consideration from this scrip- ture, will be not only of special concernment to yourselves, but also of high concernment to all sorts an…
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(2.) Secondly, Parents choose what rods they please to correct their children with. The child shall not choose what rod he pleaseth to be corrected with. Oh, no ! It is the prerogative of the father to choose ' The contemporary use of the word, common in Bishop Pearson G. 142 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. the rod. The fa…
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* Plutarch, lib, de tuperstitione. • Eodolphua the emperor's motto was, Omnia ex voluntaU Dei, all must be as God will [have it. And this should be every Christian's motto under the rod. » [?oxe] Acts and Mon. in Edward I. [Sub nomine : Foxe, by Townsend, vol. ii. 577, 144 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. him, seeing him s…
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[3.] Thirdly, The rod is used to "prevent further folly, mischief, and ftiisery: Prov. xxiii. 13, 14, 'Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.' It is said of the ape, that she huggeth her youn…
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Bernard compares afflictions to the teasle, which, though it be sharp and scratching, is to make the cloth more pure and fine. The Jews were always best when they were in an afflicted condition. Well waters arising from deep springs are hotter in the winter than they are in the summer. Stars shine brightest in the dark…
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three champions, would never have been fit for so high a rule, had they not been first cast into the fiery furnace, Dan. iii. 29, 30. Nor Daniel, for that exceeding high honour, and glory, and greatness to which he was exalted, had he not been first cast among the lions, Dan. vi. 25, et seq. And so had Esther never bee…
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&c., it will be thy wisdom to subscribe to the secret cry of conscience. But, Ans. 2. Secondly, Seriously observe what that sin is that thy soul would have spared above all, that thy soud is most unwilling to leave, and bid an everlasting farewell to. Observe what thy right hand sin, thy bosom sin, thy constitution si…
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hinder thee in holy duties and services, and that doth most interrupt thee in thy communion ivith God. Inquire what particular sin that is that thy heart is most apt to run after when thou art on the mount of holy duties, Ezek. xxxiii. 31. Whilst the disciples were healing dis- eases and casting devils out of other men…
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raging pestilence, is to cleave and cling close to God under the rod. Oh how doth the child cling and hang upon his father when he takes up the rod. Let such a child-like spirit be found in you, when the Father of spirits takes up the rod. When the rod was upon David's back, oh how doth he cleave to God, even as the wi…
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Go, hang upon such a man but a few years ; and to another, Go, hang upon such a man but a year ; and to another, Go, hang upon such a man but a few months ; and to another. Go, hang upon such a man but a few weeks ; and to another, go, hang upon such a man but a few days ; and to another, go, hang upon such a man but a…
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13, 14, ' If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways ; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive t…
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tions of his Holy Spirit, as may enable you to take out those twenty lessons that I have laid open before you. I confess the epistle is large, but do but consider your own conditions, and the present dispensations under which we are cast, and then I suppose you will not call it by the name of a tedious epistle. Dear f…
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Bellarmine' and some others turn the text into an allegory. They say that in these words there are two allegories. First, the chamber door is the sense, ' shut the door,' that is, say they, thy sense, lest vain imaginations and worldly thoughts distract thy mind in praying. Secondly, the door, say they, is our mouth, '…
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[] .] First, The most eminent saints, both in the Old and New Testa- ment, have applied themselves to private prayer. Moses was alone in the mount with God forty days and forty nights, Exod. xxxiv. 28. So Abraham fills his mouth with arguments, and reasons the case out alone with God in prayer, to prevent Sodom's desol…
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is to be preferred before the greatest and best company in the world. And there was a child of a Christian gentlewoman, that was so given to prayer from its infancy, that before it could well speak, it would use to get alone and go to prayer ; and as it grew, it was more frequent in prayer and retiring of itself from c…
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[2.] Secondly. Consider, when Christ was on earth, he did much exercise himself in secret prayer; he was often with God alone, as you may see in these famous scriptures : Mat. xiv. 23, ' And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray ; and when the evening was come, he was there alon…
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Ans. 5. Fifthly, That he might approve himself to our understand- vngs and consciences to be a most just and faithful High Priest, Heb. ii. 17, John xvii. Christ was wonderful faithful and careful in both parts of his priestly office, viz., satisfaction and intercession ; he was his people's only spokesman. Ah ! how ea…
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Ambrose brings in the devil boasting against Christ, and challeng- ing Judas as his own. ' He is not thine. Lord Jesus, he is mine: his thoughts beat for me ; he eats with thee, but is fed by me ; he .takes bread from thee, but money from me ; he drinks with thee, and sells thy blood to me.' There is not a sin that a s…
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hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying imto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said. What is it, Lord ? and he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.' Vers. 30, 31, * And Cornelius said. Four days ago I was fasting until this ho…
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3 Nunquam minus solus, quam cum solus ; never less alone, than when alone, said the heathen. And may not a saint say so much more that hath communion with God ? Mat. VI. 6.] the pkivy key of heaven. 177 And it was a most sweet and divine saying of Bernard, * O saint, knowest thou not,' saith he, 'that thy husband Chr…
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river springing by Rabba, the metropolis of the Ammonites, and issuing into Jordan beneath the Sea of Galilee, Num. xxi. 24 ; Deut. ii. 37 ; Judges xi. 13, 15 ; Deut. iii. 16. Jacob did never enjoy so much of the presence of God as when he had left the company of men. Oh ! the sweet communion that Jacob had with God wh…
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aloud,' saith one, ' not with thy tongue, but with thy eyes ; not with thy words, but with thy tears ; for that is the prayer that maketh the most forcible entry into the ears of the great God of heaven.' Penitent tears are undeniable ambassadors that never return from the throne of grace without a gracious answer. Tea…
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yet could not prevail, at last they appointed a day for fasting and prayer ; at which time there came a poor woman to the chamber door where the exercise was begun and craved entrance, but she being poor they would not admit her in ; upon that the poor woman kneeled down behind the door and sought God by prayer. But sh…
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long in the more public duties of religion. O sirs ! remember that in private prayer we have a far greater advantage as to the exercise of our own gifts and graces and parts, than we have in public ; for in public we only hear others exercise their parts and gifts, &c. ; in public duties we are more passive, but in pri…
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open and unbosom himself to all his bosom friends. To be reserved and close is against the very law of friendship. Faithful friends are very free in imparting their thoughts, their minds, their secrets, one to another. A real friend accounts nothing worth knowing unless he makes it known to his friends. He rips up his …
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Chrysostom compares the mysteries of Christ, in regard of the wicked, to a written book, that the ignorant can neither read nor spell; he sees the cover, the leaves, and the letters, but he understands not the meaning of what he sees. He compares the mystery of grace to an indited epistle, which an unskilful idiot' vie…
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Now I appeal to the very consciences of all that fear the Lord, whe- ther it be not a just, equal, righteous, and necessary thing, that the people of God should freely and fully lay open all the secrets of their hearts before the Lord, who hath thus highly honoured them, as to reveal the secrets of his providence, king…
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[14.] Fourteenthly, Consider that God is OTnnipresent} We cannot get into any blind hole, or dark corner, or secret place, but the Lord hath an eye there, the Lord will keep us company there : Mat. vi. 6, ' And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.' So ver. J 8. There is not the darkest, dirtiest…
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for public ordinances. He that makes conscience to wait upon God in private, shall find by experience that God will wonderfully bless public ordinances to him, Micah ii, 7. My design is not to set up one ordi- nance of God above another, nor to cause one ordinance of God to clash with another, — the public with the pri…
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[17.] Seventeenthly, Consider that the near and dear relations that you stand in to the Lord calls aloud for secret prayer, John xv. 14, 1 5. You are his friends. Now, a true friend loves to visit his friend when he may find him alone, and enjoy privacy with him. A true friend loves to pour out his heart into the bosom…
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[19.] Nineteenthly, Consider that Satan is a very great enemy to secret prayer. Secret prayer is a scourge, a hell to Satan. Every secret prayer adds to the devil's torment, and every secret sigh adds to his torment, and every secret groan adds to his torment, and every secret tear adds to his torment. When a child of …
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Now, what can be more comely or more desirable than to see their natures and their practices to answer to their names ? They are the Lord's secret ones, his hidden ones ; and therefore how highly doth it concern them to be much with God in secret, and to hide themselves with God in a comer ! Shall Nabal's nature and pr…
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200 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MaT. YI. 6. (3.) At noon, they thank God for half the day past. (4.) After that, they pray for a good sunset. (5.) And after that, they thank God for the day past. And then, sixthly and lastly, they pray for a good night after their day. Certainly these very Moors will one day rise in…
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Objection. But many will be ready to object and say, We have Triuch busiTiess upon our hands, anA we canTwt spare time for private prayer; we have so much to do in our slwps, and in our ivarehouses, and abroad with others, that we cannot spare time to wait upon the Loi^d in our closets. Now to this objection I shall g…
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(5.) FiftMy, I answer, That it is our duty to redeem time from all our secular businesses for private prayer.^ All sorts of Christians, whether bond or free, rich or poor, high or low, superiors or inferiors, are expressly charged by God to redeem time for prayer, for private prayer, as well as for other holy. exercise…
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who spent his time in catching of moles ;' but also against many pro- fessors who, instead of redeeming of precious time, do trifle and fool away much of their precious time at the glass, the comb, the lute, the viol, the pipe, or at vain sports, and foolish pastimes, or by idle jestings, immoderate sleeping, and super…
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(7.) Seventhly, I answer, Thxit God did Tiever appoint or design any man's ordinary, particular calling to thrust private prayer out of door} That it is a great sin for any professor to neglect his parti- cular calling under any religious pretence, is evident enough by these scriptures : Exod, xx. 9, ' Six days shalt t…
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(8.) Eighthly, and lastly, I answer, The more worldly business lies upon thy hand, the more need hast thou to keep dose to thy closet. Much business lays a man open to many sins, and to many snares, and to many temptations. Now, the more sins, snares, and temptations a man's business lays him open to, the more need tha…
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The religious servant should be as careful in'the choice of his master, as the religious master is careful in the choice of his servant. Gracious servants are great blessings to the families where they live ; and that master may well be called the uniiappy master, who will rather part with a gracious servant, than spar…
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Secondly, A fellowship with God in his blessedness, viz., in the beati- fical vision and brightness of glory. To be made 'partakers of the divine nature,' say others, is to be made partakers of those holy graces, those divine qualities, which sometimes are called, * the image of God, the likeness of God, the life of Go…
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If it was a capital crime in Tiberius his days, to carry the image of Augustus upon a ring or coin into any sordid place, as Suetonius saith it was ; what crime must it be in those masters who despise, revile, re- proach, scorn, abuse, and tread under foot, such servants as have the image of the great God stamped upon …
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' The evangelist applies these words to Christ, Mat. xii. 15-18. Christ is called God's servant in regard of his human nature, and in regard of his office of mediatorahip. » Sophocles, Phocilides, &c. [Qu. Philoctetes, as be/ore.— G.] Mat. VI. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 217 if their masters be unconverted, and in '…
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.