PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks — Volume 2
Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680 · 342,041 words · 288 reading sections
Section 241
put their trust in thee ; for thou, Lord, hast not forgotten them that seek thee.' 2 Tim. i. 12, ' For the which cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed ; for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.' I shall n…
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3 7N"mnD. The Hebrew useth to note excellent things, by adding the name of God ; as cedars of God, Ps. Ixxx. 10 ; rivers of God, Pa. Ixv. 19 ; wrestlings of God, Gen. xxx. 8 ; harps of God, Rev. xv. 2, 44-8 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIII. 32-34. ness within his own reach, and a righteousness within Satan's reach ; it wa…
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' 2 Peter i. 4. Mark, the whole word of God is the object of faith ; but the promises, more especially, are the prime object about which faith is most conversant. 2 Spelled ' egregious ;' meaning ' peculiar.' — G. ' xara -rirrn, t. e. persevering in faith, oKr^rara/nvoi. Some think that it is an allusion to the custo…
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[1.] TJie first property of that faith that accompanies salvation is this : it puts forth itself into vital operation.* It makes a man full of life and activity for God ; it will make a man diligent and venturous in the work and ways of God. Faith is a most active quality in itself, and so it makes a Christian most act…
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[2.] The second property of that faith that accompanies salvation is this : it is of a growing and increasing nnture. It is like the waters of the sanctuary, that rise higher and higher, as Ezekiel speaks. It is like a tender plant, that naturally grows higher and higher ; it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which thou…
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it hath a crown, a kingdom in reversion ; and this makes the soul to set light by the things of this world, 2 Tim. iv. 8. Faith raises and sets the soul high. ' And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,' saith the apostle, Eph. ii. 6. Faith makes a man live high :…
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> It is the excellency of faitb, that it can turn the blood of Christ both into food and into physic. Rom. VIII. 82-34.] heaven on earth. 457 good of the soul, for the purifying of the soul, and for the bettering of the soul; and no potion, no means will profit the soul, if this heavenly ingredient be not mixed with …
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(3.) Faith overcomes the world by telling the soul that all things are its own. Says faith, This God is thy God, this Christ is thy Christ, this righteousness is thy righteousness, this promise is thy promise, this crown is thy crown, this glory is thy glory, these treasures are thy treasures, these pleasures are thy p…
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» As it is dangerous to make false definitions of sin, so it is dangerous to make false definitions of grace. » But a babe cannot improve bis interest, as be that is of grown years, 2 Peter i. 1. Rom. VIIL 32-34.] heaven on earth. 461 strangled in its infancy. He that hath begun a good work will perfect it, Philip, i…
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^ True hatred ia ili vk yinfi, to the whole kind. — Aristotle. And God has engaged him- self to cleanse the hearts of his people from all, and to set their souls against all, Jer. xxxiii. 8 ; Ezek, xxxvi 25, 29, 33 ; 1 John i. 9. Repentance for sin is nothing worth with- out repentance from sin. * Thus did Herod and Ju…
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[1 .] Jt takes in a sight and sense of sin. Men must first see their sins, they must be sensible of their sins, before they can repent of their sins. Ephraim had first a sight of his sin, and then he repents and turns from his sin. ' After I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh,' Jer. xxxi. 18, 19. A man first sees hi…
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[5.] That repentance that accompanies salvation, comprehends loath- ing and abhorring of sin, and of ourselves for sin, as well as shame a/iid blushi/ng for sin, Job xlii. 6 ; Ezek. xvi. 61, 62, 63 ; Amos v. 15 ; Ezek. XX. 41, 42, 43, ' And ye shall remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled …
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It is an extraordinary vanity in some men to lay aside their sins before solemn duties, but with a purpose to return to them again, as the serpent layeth aside his poison when he goeth to drink, and when he hath drunk, he returns to it again, as they fable it. It is sad when men say to their lusts, as Abraham said to h…
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mandments, but also in ordinances ; not only in ordinances, but also in commandments. They were good souls, and good at both. A man sincerely obedient lays such a charge upon his whole man, as Mary, the mother of Christ, did upon all the servants at the feast : John ii. 5, ' Whatever the Lord saith unto you do it.' Eye…
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• Where love is, the soul says of every command, Bonus sermo, it is a good saying ; but •where love is wanting, the man cries out, Durus sermo, * it is a hard saying ; who can bear it?' 472 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIII. 82-34. Ps, xviii. 44, * As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey rae ; the strangers shall submi…
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2 JosVphus reports of such resolute Christians, that in the face of all reproachea and difficultidk:^.followed Christ to the cross. 3 You may as well stop the sun from running his race, as you are able to hinder gracious souls from obeying divine commands, Ps. xliv. 13, 14. As a wicked nature make^ the wicked perempto…
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(8.) The eighth prope7iy. Eighthly, and lastly. Passive obedience acccmipanies salvation as well as active. ' Every one that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution,' 2 Tim. iii. 12, ii. 12, from tongue or pen, from hand or heart. ' If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him,' Rom. viii. 17, 18. The…
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(2. j The second property. Secondly, That love that accompanies sal- vation is obediential love, it is operative and working love} The love of Christ makes a man subject to the commands of Christ : ' If any man love me, he will keep my commandments ;' and again, ' He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it i…
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2 Judas was kin to the bag, he was not kin to Christ ; and he in Clement was not his, but his riches', kinsman. Christ hath many such kinsmen. A Christian cares not for anything that hath not aliquid Christi, something of Christ in it. He says with him, Sine Deo omnia copia est egestas, without Christ, all plenty is sc…
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Man loves Christ by knowing, and knows Christ by loving. Man's love is answerable to his light. He cannot love much that knows but little ; he cannot love little that knows much.* As a man rises higher and higher in his apprehensions of Christ, so he cannot but rise higher and higher in his affections to Christ. Again,…
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Look what Harpalus once said, Qtiod regi placet, mihi placet, what pleaseth the king pleaseth me, that says a true lover of Christ, What pleaseth Christ, that pleaseth me.^ Holiness pleaseth Christ and holi- ness pleaseth me, says a lover of Christ. It pleaseth Christ to overcome evil with good, to overcome hatred with…
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Now, because many mistake in their love to the saints, and the con- sequences that follow that mistake are very dangerous and pernicious to the souls of men, I shall therefore briefly hint to you the properties of that love to the saints that accompanies salvation. And, (1.) The first property. The first is this, true…
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as the fairest day hath its clouds, the finest linen its spots, the richest jewels their flaws, the sweetest fruits their worms, so when precious Christians are under temptations, they may, and too often do envy and repine at those excellent graces, abilities, and excellencies that cloud, darken, and outshine their own…
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Tenthly, That love that accompanies salvation, shews itself by work- ing the heart to be affected and afflicted with the least dishonours that are done to Christ. Love is curious of little things ; it is as much afflicted with an idle word or with an impure dream, as lovers of Christ are with adultery or blasphemy. Dav…
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Thirteenthly, That love that accompanies salvation, shews itself hy breathing after more clear evidence and full assurance of Christ's love to the soul. Divine love would fain have her drop turned into an ocean, her spark into a flame, her penny into a pound, her mite into a million. A soul that truly loves, can never …
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[2.] The second requisite. The second requisite in prayer is this, viz.. The matter of your prayer must he good : 1 John v. 1 4, ' And this is the confidence that we have in him. That if we ask anything ac- cording to his will, he heareth us.' The favourites of heaven have no further the ear of the King of kings in pra…
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Thirdly, To pray in a right manner, is to pray intensely, fervently, earnestly. So James v. 16, ' The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much ;' or, as the Greek hath it, ' the working prayer,' that is, such prkyer as sets the whole man a-work.' The word signifies such a working as notes the liveliest…
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* ix>ca»i7¥, i. e. Non defatigari. — Cornelius a Lapide. To pray always is u *a,iri xai^ai, to pray in every opportunity. ' Semper oral qui beni semper agit. To pray always, is to pray omni tempore. Prayer, saith one, is Flagelluin diahoLi. * Augustine's usual wish was, that when Christ came, he might find him Aut pr…
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^ Maximilian's motto was, Tene tnensuram, et respiee finem, keep thyself within com- pass, and have always an eye to the end of thy life and actions. * Lord, saith Austin, whatever thou hast given, take all away ; only give me thyself, Isa. 1. 11 ; Zech. vii. 6 ; Amos v. 22 ; Hosea vii. 14. Many heathens, as Aristides…
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The fourth difference. Fourthly, A gracious soul looks and lives nnore upon God in prayer than upon his prayer. He knows, though prayer be his chariot, yet Christ is his food. Prayer may be a staff to support him, but Christ is that manna that must nourish him, and upon him he looks, and lives : Ps. v. 3, ' In the morn…
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Ah ! but wicked men come off from prayer with hearts more encouraged to sin, and more resolved to walk in ways of sin : Prov. vii. 14-24, ' I have peace-offerings with me,' saith the harlot ; ' this day have I paid my vows : therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. Come, …
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(3.) The third property. Thirdly, That perseverance that accom- panies salvation is an ohiding or continuing in the word or doctrine of Christ} John xv. 7, ' If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.' 1 John ii. 14, 'I have written unto you, young men, beca…
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First, That hope that accompanies salvation isu grace of God whereby we exi^ect good to come, waiting patiently till it corned (1.) I call it a grace of God, because he is the donor of it ; and therefore he is called the God of hope : Rom. xv. 13, ' Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.' No…
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3. Thirdly, That hope that accompanies salvation, that comprehends salvation, that borders upon salvation, is grounded upon the firmest foundations, to wit, the 'promises of God, Pro v. x. 28, as hath been fully shewed before; and it is built upon the free grace of God, 1 Peter i. 13. It is built upon the infinite and …
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because it brings life and comfort into the soul ; and it is called a lively hope in opposition to the withering and dying hopes of hypocrites and wicked men ; and it is called a lively hope, because it flows from lively causes, viz. the Spirit of Christ, and the soul's union and communion with Christ ; but mainly it i…
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* Patience is nothing else but hope spun out. If you would lengthen patience, be sure to strengthen hope. 3 Hope's motto is, Quod defertur non avfertur, forbearance is no acquittance. ' * Pittacus, one of the seven sages, used to say, A wise man must recover that by patience which force cannot command. [Diogenes Laer…
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[2.] The second caidion is this: Though thou dost not jind every one of those things in thee that do accompany salvation, yet if thou dost find some of those things, ay, though but a few of those thimgs, yea, 1 Philostratus, Vit. Apoll., vi. 39.— G. 2 I have read of a Rhodian, who being cast into a dungeon fnll of ad…
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' Assurance of Christ's love made Jerome admiringly to say, 0 my Saviour, didst thou die for love of me alone, a [death] more dolorous than death, but to me a death more lovely than life itself ! I cannot live, love thee, and be longer from thee. * David, though in a wilderness, seeks not for bread or water or protect…
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So, when it pleased God to call Paul by his grace, and to reveal Christ in him^ and to him, ah ! how doth he labour, as for life, to bring others to an acquaintance with Christ, and to an acceptance of Christ, and to an assurance of everlasting happiness and blessedness by Christ! After Paul had been in paradise, he ma…
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(1.) The first haTidmaid. The first is love. Oh!, the assurance of divine favour doth mightily inflame a man's love to Christ. Mary Magdalene loved much ; Christ's love to her drew out her love very much to Christ, Luke vii. Assurance makes the soul sing it out with that sweet singer of Israel, ' I will dearly love the…
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(1.) The first difference. First, The Spirit of Christ doth not witness by any oviward voice, as God did from heaven of Christ, Mat. iii. 17; nor by an angel, as to the Virgin Mary, Luke i. 80-34; ; but by an inward, secret, glorious, and unspeakable way he bids believers be of good cheer, their sins are forgiven them,…
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(5.) The fifth difference. Fifthly, The testimony and witness of the Spirit ia a sure testimony, a sure witness. The Spirit is truth itself; he is the great searcher of the deep things of God. The Spirit of the Lord is the discoverer, the confuter, and destroyer of all false spirits.'* The Spirit is above all possibili…
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the soul. Nothing puts such golden engagements upon the soul to holiness, as the Spirit sealing a man up to the day of redemption, as the Spirit speaking and sealing peace, love, and pardon to the soul, Ps. Ixxxv. 8; 1 Cor. xv. 31; 2 Cor. v. 14. Nothing makes a man more careful to please Christ, more fearful to offend …
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Fourthly, If you wouid strengthen and maintain your assurance, then look that your hearts are more taken up with ChHst than with your graces. Though grace be a glorious creature, yet it is but a creature ; therefore let grace have your eye, but be sure that Christ have your heart. Christ must have your heart. Christ wi…
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^ niT^DB'l, low of spirit, nvnn?, to quicken or make to live the spirit of humble ones, Isa. xli. 10. • ' Looking over,' = superintending. — G. ■Rom. VIII. 32-34.] heaven on earth. 627 recovery of thy lost assurance will cost. The gaining of assurance at first cost thee dear, but the regaining of it, if thou shoulds…
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» Ps. Ixxi. 20, 21, and xlii. 6, 7, 8 ; Isa. liv. 7, 8 ; Micah vii. 18, 19 ; Cant, iii 4 ; Ts. Izzxiv. 11 J &c. Rom. VIII. 32-34.] heaven on eaeth. 529 doth not this age, as well as former, furnish us with many instances of this kind ?^ Doubtless many there are among the precious sons and daughters of Zion that have …
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have a saying, that since the destruction of Jerusalem, the door of prayers hath been shut ; but the door of tears was never shut, saith one. God hath by promise engaged himself that those that ' sow in tears shall reap in joy,' Ps. cxxvi. 5. The tears of the saints have such a kind of omnipotency in them, that God him…
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When the Spanish ambassador boasted that his master was king of such a place, and of such a place, and of such a place, &c., the French ambassador answered, My master is king of France, king of France, king of France ; signifying thereby that France was of as much worth or more worth, than all the kingdoms under the po…
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.