PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks — Volume 2
Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680 · 342,041 words · 288 reading sections
Section 121
[5.] Fifthly, and lastly. Because the servant's redeeming of time for private prayer from his sleep. Ids meals, his recreations, &c., cannot but be infinitely pleasing to God ; and that which will afford, him most comfort when he comes to die. The more any poor heart acts contrary to flesh and blood, the more he please…
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(10.) Tentldy, and lastly, I answer, that the promised reward in tJte teed lies as fair and as open to the servant as to the 7)iaster, to the bond as to the free, to the peasant as to the pHnce. Whosoever prays to his heavenly Father in secret, be he high or low, rich or poor, honour- able or base, servant or master, h…
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222 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MaT. VI. 6. influences, and deny the soul his assistance ; and what can a Christian then say or do ? h\it, [2.] Secondly, I answer, Tfiou canst not pray ; hut canst thou not »igh, nor groan neither ? 1 here may be the Spirit of**adoption in sighs and groans, as well as in vocal prayer, R…
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The publican's prayer had nat much rhetoric or eloquence in it, ' God be merciful to me a sinner,' Luke xviii. 13, and yet God accepted it. He prayed much, though he spake little, and God did not turn a deaf ear upon him. That God that once accepted a handful of meal for a sacrifice, and a gripe of goat's hair for an o…
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[1.] First, They are all sanxitified hy the Spirit-. J Cor. vi. 11, 'Ye are sanctified by the Spirit of our God.' I do not say, that they are all equally sanctified by the Spirit, but I say they are aU really sanctified by the Spirit. Though all the servants of Christ have their talents, yet all have not their ten tale…
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Secondly, All things needful to life and godliness, 2 Peter i. 3. Thirdly, All things needful to their places, callings, sexes, ages, and conditions. 1 Cf. Works, by Yonge, vol. i. pp. 378, aeq.—Gc. * « 1 Cor. vi. 9-11 ; 1 Tim. iv. 1 ; John xvi. 26 ; Isa. xlviii. 17 ; Eceles. xi. 6. . ' [NcU. Hist."] Lib. xi. cap. ix.…
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230 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MaT. VI. 6. (2.) VTtimate, and that is, the praise of his glory. Sixthly, The time, how long this seal and earnest shall assure us, and that is, ' till we have the complete possession of what it is an ear- nest.' To prevent mistakes and disputes about the sealings of the Spirit on the on…
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heinous, enormous wickednesses, and a fair, sweet, harmless behaviour towards men. Fifthly, There is relative self, which takes in our nearest and dearest relations in the flesh ; as wife, children, father, mother, brothers, sisters, &c., Ps. xlv. 7-1 1. Now when a man comes thus universally to deny himself for Christ…
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Now mark, the Spirit of God that is in all the saints, is a Spirit of prayer and supplication : Rom. viii. 15, 'Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.' While the child is in the womb it cannot cry, but as soon as it is born it cries. Whilst Paul did lie in the womb of his natural estate,…
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Ohj. 4. Fourthly, Some may further object and say, God is very well acquainted with all our wants, necessities, straits, trials; and there is no moving of him to bestow any favours upon us, which he doth not intend to bestow upon us, whether we pray in our closets or no ; and therefore to what purpose do you press secr…
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To this objection I shall give these three short answers : (1.) First, / suppose this objection concerns but a few Christians in our days. That God that hath given a Christ to believers doth com- monly give them a convenient corner to enjoy private communion with himself in, Rom. viii. 32. Most Christians, I am afraid,…
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person under heaven whose heart is not full of infirmities, weaknesses, follies, and vanities; and whose body and soul is not too often indis- posed to closet duties ? 1 Kings viii. 46, ' If they sin against thee, for there is no man that sinneth not, &c. ;'^ Eccles. vii. 20, ' For there is not a just man upon the eart…
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(3.) Thirdly, I answer. It is not the infirmities and weaknesses of a Christian which are seen, lairfiented, bewailed, and resisted, that can obstructor hinderthe efficacy and success of his prayers.^ Letmeclearup thi s in afew instances. Jonah, you know, was a man full of sinful passions, and other weaknesses, &c,, an…
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Fifthly, Saints are in a marriage-covenant with God, Hos. ii. 19, 20. Now what husband is there that will cast off his wife for her failings and infirmities ? So long as a man is in covenant with God, his infir- mities can't cut him off from God's mercy and grace. Now it is cer- tain a man may have very many infirmitie…
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Oh ! but it may be she did not know his voice, and therefore she would not open. No chaste wife will at unseasonable hours arise and open her doors unto a stranger, especially in her husband's absence. Oh yes, she knew his voice : verse 2, 'It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh.' She was not so fast asleep, but t…
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First, 2 here is a contracted indisposition to private prayer, and there is an involuntary indisposition to private prayer. There is a contracted indisposition, and that is when a man, by his wilful sinning against light, knowledge, conviction, &c., contracts that guilt that lies as a load upon his conscience. Now guil…
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your indisposition to private prayer be total, then you must wait upon the Lord in all his appointments for a changed nature, and for union with Christ ; but if your indisposition to private prayer be only partial, then the Lord will certainly pardon it, and in the very use of holy means in time remove it. But, Thirdl…
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suffer by your neglect of private prayer ! Oh, let not Zion suffer ! Oh, let not any particular saint suffer by your being found seldom in your closets. Certainly, it might have gone better with the churches of Christ, and with the concernments of Christ, and with many of the poor people of Christ, if most Christians …
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tempers, 1 Tim. ii. 8 ; for when passions are up, holy affections are down, and this is a very unfit season for closet-prayer ; for such prayers will never reach God's ear which do not first warm our own hearts. In the Muscovy churches, if the minister mistake in reading, or stammer in pronouncing his words, or speak a…
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* Amama quotes Tamovius, who mentions a sort of men that brought in an opinion which he calls a new gospel, that if a man perform the external duties of religion, viz., if he go to the church, hear the word, pray. &c., it was sufScient to salvation. [Qu. Anama? Tamovius, a learned commentator on Scripture. — G-] 254! …
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(5.) M.y fifth advice and counsel is this, Labour to bring your hearts into all your closet-prayers and performances. Look that your tongues and your hearts keep time and tune. Ps. xvii. 1, ' Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned Ups,' or, as it is in the Hebrew, * without lips of deceit.' Heart and to…
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(G.) My sixth advice and counsel is this, B^ fervent, he warm, he importunate vnth God in all your closet duties and performances. James v. ] 6, ' The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much;' o-r, as the Greek hath it [iv^yovfuvrj], 'The working prayer;' that is, such working prayer as sets the whole…
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Oh the heavenly fire, the holy fervency that was in Daniel's closet prayer 1 ' O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do, defer not for thine own sake,' Dan. ix. 19. Look, as there be two kinds of antidotes against poison, viz., hot and cold, so there are two kinds of anti- dotes against all the troubles of…
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saith he, ' he exhorts its to pray in prosperity as well as in adversity, and not to quit the d\ity of prayer in a prosperous estate, because we are not driven to it by outward pressing necessities and miseries; and by praying with perseverance, he admonisheth us that we be not weary of tlie work, but continue instant …
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• Non progrtdi est regredi. Mat. VI. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 263 thirst and long after communion with Qod. In all your private re-^ tirements, take up in nothing below fellowship with Grod, in nothing, below a sweet and spiritual enjoyment of God, Cant. iii. 1-3, Ps. Ixxiii. 28. Ps; xxviL 4<, 'One thing have I d…
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Mat. VT. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 265 a friend to come in at the fore-door, and then he comes in at the back- door ; and at other times, when we look for him at the hack-door, then he comes in at the fore-door ; and just so it is with God's coming into his people's souls. Sometimes they go into their closets, and …
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Now, let no Christian say, that he hath no communion with God in closet-prayer, because he hath not such a full, such a choice, such a sweet, such a sensible, and such a constant communion with God in closet-prayer, as such and such "saints have had, or as such and such saints now have ; for all saints do not alike enj…
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[6.] Sixthly, 1 answer. When closet-duties fit a man for those other duties that lie Tiext his hand, then doubtless he hath had com-munion with God in them. When private duties fit a man for public duties, or when private duties fit a man for the duties of his place, calling, and condition, wherein God hath set him, th…
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There was a gentlewoman, of no ordinary quality or breeding, who, being much troubled in mind, and sadly deserted by God, could not be drawn by her husband, or any other Christian friends, either to hear or read anything that might work for her spiritual advantage ; at last her husband, by much importunity, prevailed s…
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After Moses had enjoyed forty days' private communion with God in the mount, how did his heart rise, and his anger wax hot against the molten calf that his people had made ! Exod. xxxii. 1&, 20, 'And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing ; and Moses' anger waxed ho…
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(10.) My tenth advice and counsel is this. Be sure that you offer all your closet-prayers in Christ's name, and in his alone ; John xiv. 13, 14, ' And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.' John xv. 16, 'That w…
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Lord shall please to give you an answer to the secret desires of your souls in a corner. It hath been the custom of the people of God, to look after their prayers, to see what success they have had, to observe what entertainment they have found in heaven : Ps. v. 3, * My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; i…
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' Mr Glover [Foxe] Acts and Mon. [tub nomine; also Clarke, as before.— G.] * August, de Gen. ad lit., lib. viii. cap. 8. 278 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MAT. VI. 6. saith Solomon, Pro v. xix. 15. An idle life and an holy heart are far enough asunder. By doing nothing, saith the heathen man, men learn to do evil things.…
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For a close, remember that idleness is so great an evil, that it hath been condemned and severely punished by the very worst of men. Among the Egyptians, idleness was a capital crime. Among the Lucans,^ he that lent money to an idle person was to lose it. By Solon's law, idle persons were to suffer death ; and Seneca h…
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in the blessed Scripture, which their shallow reason cannot fathom ! They are only a company of fools in folio, that affect to know more than God woidd have them. Did not Adam's tree of knowledge make him and his posterity mere fools ? He that goes to school to his own reason, hath a fool for his schoolmaster. The read…
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worldly businesses. Many have so much to do on earth that they have no time to look up to heaven. As much earth puts out the fire, so much worldly business puts out the fire of heavenly affections. Look, as the earth swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num. xxii. 32 ; so much worldly business swallows up so much pr…
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It was an excellent saying of Ambrose, 'If thou canst not hide thyself from the sun, which is God's minister of light, how impossible will it be to hide thyself from him, whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the sun.'^ Though a sinner may baffle his conscience, yet he can- not baffle the eye of God's omnisci…
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* In my treatise called ' Apples of Gold,' &c., I have proved by many arguments that the sins of the saints shall not be brought into the judgment of discussion and discovery in the great day, pp. 155 to 172, and therefore understand this second particular of such who live and die in their secret sins without repentanc…
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I have read of one Parthenius, an homicide, treasurer to Theodobert king of France, who, having traitorously slain an especial friend of his called Ausonius, with his wife Papianillae, when no man suspected or accused him thereof, he detected and accused himself after this strange ' See Glossary for other examples of …
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If Satan can but wound our heel, as the poets feign of Achilles, he will make a hard shift but he will send death from the heel to the heart. If this subtle serpent can but wriggle in his tail by an ill thought, he will soon get in his head by a worse action. Hence it is that Christ calls hatred murder, and a wanton ey…
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Oh remember that at such a time you went into your closets with hard hearts, and dry eyes ; but before you came out of your closets, ah how sweetly, how evangelically, how powerfully were you melted, and humbled before the Lord ! Ps. vi. 6, xxxix, 12, Ivi. 8. Oh remember how that at another time you went into your clos…
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[5.] Fifthly, Love Christ with a more inflamed love. Oh strengthen your love to Christ, and your love to closet-duties. Lovers love much to be alone, to be in a corner together. Cant. vii. 10-12. Certainly the more any man loves the Lord Jesus, the more he will delight to be with Christ in a corner. There was a great d…
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[7.] Seventhly, Labour for a greater effusion of the Holy Sjnrit; for the greater measure any man hath of the Spirit of God, the more that man will delight to be with God in secret : Zech. xii. 10, ' And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications ;'…
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The same author relates a story out of Benedictus Rhexanus* of an ungodly fellow, who on a certain night could not sleep, who, upon the serious consideration of death and eternity, and the damned lying in hell, could not be at rest, but eternity did still run in his mind ; fain would he have shaken off the thoughts the…
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The better anything is, the more communicative it will be ; for honuTTh est sui communicativum. There are two sorts of goods ; there are bona throni, and there are bona scabelli: goods of the throne, as God, Christ, grace, assurance, &c. ; and goods of the footstool, as honour, riches, &c.* A. man may have enough of th…
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First, Get and keep communion with God. Your strength to stand, and your strength to withstand all assaults, is from your communion with God. Communion with God is that that will make you stand fast, and triumph over all enemies, difficulties, dangers, and deaths.^ While Samson kept his communion with God, no enemy co…
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Sirs, I beseech you remember that it was Cato, a heathen, that said ' that account must be given not only of our labour, but also of our leisure.'^ And in affirming this, he affirms no more than what the Scrip- ture speaks. But oh what a sad account, then, have some to make ! Well, as Cleopatra said to Mark Antony, ' I…
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Alexander willed that the Grecians and the Barbarians should no longer be distinguished by their garments, but by their manners ; so should Christians be distinguished from all others, by their lives and by their examples ; 2 Sam. xxiii. S, 'The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over me…
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Dear sirs, I had much more to say, but I am afraid that I have already kept you too long from sucking of the honeycomb, from drinking at the fountain. I have held you too long in the porch ; and therefore I shall only crave, that you will bear with my plainness, and overlook my weakness ; remembering that other address…
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1 The philosopher could say, that desires are properly v^ii ra kiayxavra., to what is necessary. * Them that are extant are sold by the same man that sells this, at the first shop in Pope's-head Alley, next to Cornhill. [See Vol. I. — G.] * Joel iii. 16 ; Hag. ii. 6 ; Isa. xxiii. 9 ; Isa. Ixiii. 2, 8. that little we…
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To be in a state of true grace, is to be miserable no more ; it is to be happy for ever. A soul in this state is a soul near and dear to God. It is a soul much beloved, and very highly valued of God. It is a soul housed in God. It is a soul safe in everlasting arms. It is a soul fully and eminently interested in all th…
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The word evidences truth, it evinces falsehood ; it fights against folly, it opens the bowels- of mercy, and it assures believing souls of eternal felicity. That is a precious word in Heb. vi. 18.^ God hath given us his word, his oath, his seal, that our consolation may be strong, and that our salvation may be sure. No…
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Fourthly, God hath hy promise engaged himself to assure his people of their happiness and blessedness. ' The Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk up- rightly,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. If he will withhold no good thing, then cer- tainly he will not always withhold assurance, whi…
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Again, A good conscience is another spring of assurance :- 2 Cor. i. 12, ' For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in sim- plicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abund- antly to you-wards.' So 1 John iii…
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The riches, honours, langiaages, and favours of this world cannot be obtained without much trouble and travel, without rising early and going to bed late, and do you think that assurance, which is more worth than heaven and earth, can be obtained by cold, lazy, heartless services?^ If you do, you do but deceive your ow…
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under fears and doubts, sighing and mourning; that have run from minister to minister, and from one duty to another, &c., and yet could never be persuaded of the love of Christ to their poor souls ; but still their fears and doubts have followed them, till they have waited upon the Lord in this glorious ordinance, by w…
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* Wo say he is a wise child that knows his father ; such wise ones believers are. « ' With eager desire,' an early form of ' wistfully.' — G. Qu. Is it not rather connected with weak, sour wine ? Wuht/-w<uhi/ is a colloquial compound. — £o. Rom. VIII. 32-34.] heaven on earth. 329 all those that aflSrm that believers…
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' The heathens used to absolve men by giving them white stones, and condemn them by giving them black ones. * f^ov^ivfiitevs, kept safe and fast, as in a strong garrison. ' See former footnote on this Treatise, and Index sub nomine- — G. * Tarn paler nemo, iumpiut nemo. — Tertulliau. Rom. VIII 32-34.] heaven on ear…
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* This made one cry out, Quid restat 0 peccator, nisi ut in tota vila tua deplores tolan vitam tuam. Oh ! what then remains but in our whole life to lament the sins of our whole life. ' Heb. iii. 13, Sin hath its original from a deceitful subtle serpent, and is the ground of all the deceit in the world, and is the gre…
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(7.) The seventh and last reason why God denies assurance, for a time, even to his dearest ones, is, That they may live clearly and fully upon Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ may he seen to he all in all. It is natural to the soul to rest upon everything below Christ ; to rest upon creatures, to rest upon graces, to re…
1,248 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.