PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks — Volume 3
Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680 · 327,831 words · 286 reading sections
Section 1
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Toronto http://www.archive.org/details/completeworl<s03broo NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES. BY JOHN C. MILLER, D.D., LINCOLN college; honoeaet oason of worcestee; ekctoe of st maetis's, biemixgham. WOEKS OF THOMAS BROOKS. COUNCIL OF …
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(1.) The several worthy names and titles that are given them in Scripture, speak them out to be honourable, . (2.) Their work is honourable, . . . . (3.) They are fellow-labourers with God in the salvation of sin- ners. And what greater honour than to be a co-worker with God ?...... (4.) The honourable account that …
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Here you may see that those that are lowest in their own esteem, are highest in God's esteem. Here you may see that humble souls are not so low and contemptible in the eyes of the world, as they are honourable in the eyes of God.^ And if ever there were an age since Clirist w^as on earth, wherein it was needful to pre…
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My last and least request to you is this. That you will please to cast a mantle of love over the mistakes of the press, and do me that right, and yourselves the courtesy, as, befoi-e you read, to correct any material faults that you shall find pointed at in the errata.^ God's easy passing over the many and daily errat…
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' Gal. i. 16. a»iJi;^>/a*T«». Nec Christuanec cwliim patitur hyperbolfvi, a. man cannot hyperlmlize in speaking of Christ and heaven. Ovinc bonum in eummo bono, all g<iod is iu the chiefest good. EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 9 See it in Job.^ No man ever received a fairer or a more valuable certificate under the h…
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' ny^iri' ^olaynaUi, an humble soul is a little, little notliing in his own eyes. < (juA lines to lu-ar this as a parcel of his praise, parcere sul>jectis et delellare super- Los, to spare the lowly and strike down the proud. EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 11 fourteen years converted, as some judge. He was a man th…
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own righteousness, and lives ujjon the righteousness of another, toivit, tlte Lord Jesus. So the apostle, Philip, iil 8-10, overlooks his own righteousness, and lives wholly upon the righteousness of Christ : ' I desire to be found in him,' saith he, ' not having mine own righteous- ness.' Away with it, it is dross, it…
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■• Cirius [Cyrus?] and Scipio. These heathens will rise in judgment against many proud professors in these days, who scorn to stoop to mean services, &c. Venial, vmiat verbttm Domini, et submittemus illi sexcenla etsi nobis essent colla, said Baldassar, a German minister. So it is with all that are high in worth and hu…
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[6.] A sixth property of an humble soul is this. He judges himself to be belovj the ivrath and judgments of God!^ An humble soul looks upon himself as one not worthy that God should spend a rod upon him, in order to his reformation, edification, or salvation. As I am unworthy, saith an humble soul, that God should smil…
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No holiness below that matchless, peerle.ss, spotless, perfect holiness that saints shall have in the glorious day of Christ's appearing, will satisfy the humble soul. An humble heart is an aspiring heart ; he cannot be contented to get up some rounds in Jacob's ladder, but he must get to the very top of the ladder, to…
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So David, when Shimei manifested his desperate fury and folly, malice and madness, in raving and raging at him, in cursing and reproaching of him, says he, ' Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him,' 2 Sam. xvi. 5, 14. God, says he, will, by his wi.se provi- ' Pa. xxxix. 9, ^nO'?S3. frnm ahm, wh…
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When Valens the emperor sent messengers to win Eusebius to heresy by fair words and large promises, he answered, Alas, sir ! these speeches are fit to catch little children that look after such things, but we that are taught and nourished by the holy Scriptures are readier to suffer a thousand deaths than to suffer one…
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A proud cardinal, in Luther's time, said, Lideed, a reformation is needful, and to be desired, but that Luther, a rascally friar, should be the man should do it, is intolerable.^ Pride is like certain flies, called cantharides, who light especially upon the fairest wheat and the most blown roses. ^ Though Licinius, wh…
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[17.] The seventeenth property of an humble soul is this : an humble soul luill bless God, and be thankful to God, as vjell under misery as under mercy ; as tuell when God froiuns as when he smiles ; as well when God takes as when he gives; as ivell under crosses and losses, as under blessings and mercies:^ Job i. 21, …
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Prov. XV. 12, ' A scorner lovetli not one that reproveth him, neither Avill he go unto the wise.' Amos v. 10, ' They hate him that reproveth in the gate ;' as Ahab did good Micaiah, and John Baptist did Herod, and our Saviour the Pharisees,^ Luke xvi. 13. Christ being to deal with the covetous Scribes and Pharisees, he…
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' I have read of a stork that cast a pearl into the bosom of a inaid, which had healed her of a wound. So humble souls cast the pearl of praise into the bosom of God for all his favours towards them. — Guc. Hist., lib. iv. [Guicciardini.— G.] 28 THE UNSEARCHABLE [EPH. III. 8. [3.] A third reason why the best men are …
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* A prouci heart resists, and is resisted ; this is duro durum, flint to flint, fire to fire, yet down he must. 30 THE UNSEARCHABLE [EPH. III. 8. [2.] Secondlv, As you would approve yourselves to be high in the account of God, as you would approve yourselves to he not only good, hut emioiently good, keep hwmhle. Sinc…
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Prov. xxix. 27, ' A man's pride shall bring him low ;' for it sets God against him, and angels against him, and men against him ; yea, even those that are as proud as himself. It is very observable, that whereas one drunkard loves another, one swearer loves another, and one thief loves another, and one unclean person l…
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that I may not be reproached, abused, slighted, neglected? That which will break a proud man's heart, will not so much as break an humble man's sleep. In the midst of a storm, an humble soul is still in a calm. When proud hearts are at their wit's ends, stamping, swearing, and swaggering at God, and man, and providence…
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I have read of one who, seeing in a vision many snares of Satan spread upon the earth, he sat down and mourned, and said with him- self^ 'Who shall pass through these?' whereunto he heard a voice answering, * Humility shall pass through them.' A proud heart is as easily conquered as tempted, vanquished as assaulted. Bu…
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lono- time followed with these horrid temptations, at last he thought to get rid of them, by yielding to that he judged the least, and that was to be drunk ; but when he was drunk, he did both lie with his mother and murder his father.' Why, such a hellish nature is in every soul that breathes ! and did God leave men t…
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Secondly, Meditate much on this, that many vAched men take raore ixdns to damn their souls and go to hell, than thou dost to save thy soul and to get to heaven, Mat. xxii. 15. Oh, what pains do wicked men take to damn their souls and go to hell ! Lactantius saith of Lucian, that he spared neither God nor man. He took …
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It is very remarkable, that the pride and ambition of Nebuchad- nezzar did usher in the destruction of the Assyrian monarchy ; and the ambition and pride of Cyrus that did usher in the overthrow of the Babjdonian monarch}^ ; and the ambition and pride of Alexander was the cause of the annihilation of the Persian monarc…
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and -wantonness : Prov. vii. 10, ' There met the young man a woman in the attire of an harlot.' The Hebrew word signifies a habit or or- nament finely set- and fitted to the body ; and saith the text, * She was subtle of heart,' or trussed up about the breasts, with her upper parts naked ; so Levi-Ben-Gersom reads the …
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sweetness, that spiritualness, that quickness that once they had, and are dried and shrivelled up by a hand of justice.^ They are like the apples of Sodom, glorious without, but rotten and worthless within. Some there are that have been very shining, yet by reason of pride have fallen from a seeming excellency to be na…
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and insult over her mistress Sarah, Gen. xxi. The poor sons of Zebedee would sit at Christ's right hand and left, Mat. xx. 20, 21. And those that Job disdains to set with the dogs of his flock, yet contemn him in the da}'- of his sorrow, Job xxx. 1. The foot strives to be equal with the head, the servant as the master,…
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In the Old Testament, the Jews, being babes and infants in grace and holiness, had a world of temporal promises, and very few spiritual promises. But now in the days of the gospel, the Lord is pleased to double aud treble his Spirit upon his people, and now you meet with very few temporal promises in the gospel, but th…
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for me, said Latimer in his letter to Ridley ; for I am sometimes so fearful, that I would creep into a mouse-hole.— [/'oxt'l ylc^s et Mon. 1565. [Rather, 'A Conference had be- twixt Master Ridley and Master Latimer in Prison,' &c. Foxe, by Townsend, vii. 423. The words are touchingly humble : ' Pardon me, and pray for…
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They dwell more upon their sins than upon a Saviour ; more upon their misery, than upon free grace and mercy ; more upon that which may feed their fears, than upon that that may strengthen their faith ; more upon the cross, than upon the crown ; more upon those that are against them, than those that are for them : Isa.…
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Now he calls them carnal, partly because the flesh was strong in them, and partly because they followed and relished the things of the flesh, and partly because they did in their actions resemble carnal men. Do carnal and wicked men cry up one good man, and cry down another ? Do they lift up one, and abase another ? So…
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Oh their graces, their comforts, their enlargements, their meltings, and their warmings, &c., are the things that most take them. Their thoughts and hearts are so exercised and carried out about these, that the person of Clirist is much neglected by them. The child is so taken with babies^ and rattles, «&c., that the m…
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their sufferings and of his leaving of them; and upon the thoughts hereof their hearts were so filled with sorrow, that they could not so much as say, 'Master, whither goest thou?' ver. 6. But now, souls strong in grace will hold on in holy and gracious actings in the very face of the gi-eatest discouragements, as thos…
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EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 61' as mucli interest in the Lord as the strongest saint hath, though he hath not that skill to improve that interest. And is not this a singular comfort and support ? Verily, were there no more to bear up a poor weak saint from fainting under all their sins, and sorrows, and suffer- in…
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He that drew Alexander, whilst he had a scar upon his face, drew him with his finger upon the scar. So when the Lord comes to look upon a poor soul, he lays his finger upon the scar, upon the infirmitv, that he may see nothing but grace, which is the beauty and the glory of the soul. Ah ! but weak Christians are more a…
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I have no need of thee ; nor again the head to the foot, I have no need of thee.' By the head and by the eye he means such saints as were eminent in gifts and graces, that were adorned more richly and that shined more gloriously in grace and gracious abilities than others. Oh these should not despise those that were no…
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An old man being asked if he grew in goodness, answered, Yea, doubtless I believe I do, because the Lord hath said, ' They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat, and flourishing;' or green, as the Hebrew hath it.^ In the island of St Thomas, on the back side of Africa, in the midst of it is a hil…
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' When Latimer was at the stake, ready to be burned, ho breathed out these sweet words, Fiddia eat Deits, God is faithful, &c. — [/oze] Ada et Mon. fol. 157U. [liy Town- send, as before, vii. 550, et alibi. — G.] * Num. xii 3 ; Exod. xvi. 7. 8 ; Num. xiv. 27, 36, and xvi. 11 ; E.\od. xv. 24 ; James V. 11 ; read tlie 1…
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' Rear! Jer. iii. Out of llie most poisonful drugs God distils his glory and our salva- tion. Galen speaks of a maid, called Nupella, that was nourished by poison. God can and will turn the very sins of his people, which are the worst poibou in uU the world, into his children'.s advauta^'e. EpH. III. 8.] EICHES OF CHR…
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' The ancieilts use to say commonly, that Alexander and Hephastion had but one soul in two distinct bodies, because their joy and sorrow, glory and disgrace, was mutual to them both. [Cf. Sibbes, vol. i. p. l'J4, note b. — G.] It is so between Christ and his saints. Their names, that are written in red letters of blood…
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* Omne honum in summo bono, all good is in tlie chiefcst good. * Plutarch's reasoning ia good : to. tut ^i\ut tumto. xoimu, friends have all things in com- mon ; but God is our friend. Ergo, . . . This was a raro speech from a heathen. \_Moralia, sub voce. — G.] ^ The wife shares with her husband in all his titles of…
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' One of the kings of Englanrl in his straits cried out, ' A kinpdom for a horse ! a kingdom for a horse!' [Kicliard III., qs before. — G.] So do awakened consciences cry out, A kingdom for a Christ ! a kingdom for a Clirist, or a little grace ! * Lycurgus, saitli Musculus, amongst all his laws, made none against the …
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' The child is restless till it be in the mother'ti nrnis. * Tola Vila boni ChrUliani sanctum dcsidirium est. EpH. III. 8.J RICHES OF CHRIST. 79 [3.] Though I dare not say that Christ is mine, yet I can truly say, that Christ, his love, his tvorks, his gra.ce, his word, are the main objects of nny contem2^lation and …
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[9.] I find the same conflict in my soul that Paul found in his soul, after he was converted near upon fourteen years, after he was taken up into as clear and choice enjoyments of God, as any soul that ever I read of. The conflict that is mentioned, Rom. vii. 6, I find in my soul. The whole frame of my soul, understand…
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You think, because of the weakness of your grace, you must be bonie with in this, and that, and what not. But remember, it is your duty to live up to the light and grace you have; and nothing below this will effectually stop the mouths of graceless wretches from barking against the ways of God, the truths of God, and t…
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- Joh xvii. 23 ; Cant. vi. 10 ; Prov. iv. 18. History reports oi' a country in Africa where the people's industry liath an ahundant rowanl ; for cviry hiisJn 1 of bc(h1 tliey sow, tliey leceive one liuudrcd and fifty after. — JJlazacium. I'li <y,\\\). xviii. cup. x. 'J'ho ujiplicatioa is easy. EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF …
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' Gill. ii. '20. Philip, i. 6. Dens nihil coronal nisi dona tua, when God crowneth us, he doth but crown his own gifts in us. — Au'/nstine. ^ ^iX"'')'''' **' TiXi/a/T*!*, the leader and crowuer. EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 87 according to his working which worketh in me mightily.' So Philip, iv. 13, 'I can do al…
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' IK anlyfiKTi, in a riddle. Enigma is properly obscura allrgoria, an oh.'scure allegory : it is an alle<:;ory with a mask, or it is a cloudy, knotty, intricate speech, sealed and locked up from vulgar apprehensions. That is a riddle. * Grace is homogeneal. Every twinkling of light is light; every drop of water it wat…
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' Covet rather graces than gifts ; as to pray more fervently, though less notionally or eloquently. Stiimmoring Mosos must pray rather than well-8pok(3n Aaron. The Co- rinlliiun.s caino Lfliiuti in no gift, 1 Cor. i. 7 ; yet were babes and carnal, chap. iii. 2, 3. * Vide Lyra and Juniu.s on the words. ^ Tliat ii', tl…
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They rise early, go to bed late ; they go from one end of the world to another, and venture through all manner of dangers, deaths, and mi.ser- les, to gain those things that are vain, uncertain, vexing, and dangerous to their souls, Ps. cxxvii. 2, Mat. xvi. 16. And wilt not thou, as 'a good soldier of Christ,' 2 Tim. i…
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Verilv, if you ^vill make sense and feeling the judge of your estate and condition, you will never have peace nor comfort all your days. Thy estate, O Christian, may be very good, when sense and feeling says it is very bad. That child cannot but be perplexed that thinks his father doth not love him, because he does not…
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(1.) It signifies to receive weak saints as our own bowels ; to receive them with the greatest tenderness, affection, pity, and compassion that possibly can be. So the same Greek word is used in the Epistle of Philemon, ver. 12, where Paul entreats Philemon ' to receive Ouesimus as his own bowels.' The word there is th…
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1 Cor. viii. 13, ' Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.' Strong saints must stand unchangeably resolved neither to give offence carelessly, nor to take offence causelessly. Says the apostle, I will not stand to dispute my Christian…
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Many preachers in our days are like Heraclitus, who was called ' the dark doctor;' they affect sublime notions, obscure expressions, uncouth phrases, making plain truths difficult, and easy truths hard. ' They darken counsel with words without knowledge,' Job xxxviii. 2. Studied expressions and high notions in a sermon…
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Thuanus reports of Lodovicus Marsacus, a kuight of France, when lie was led with other martyrs that were bound with cords, going to execution, and he for his dignity was not bound, he cried, Give me my chains too, let me be a knight of the same order.^ It should be between a strong saint and a weak, as it is between t…
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[2.J Repentance. Repentance is not a flower that grows in nature's garden. Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God the Father exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.' So in 2 Tim. ii. 25, 'The servant of the Lord must in meekness instruct those that oppose themselves, if God pera…
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[5.] Fifthly, Christ gives pardon of sin. And do you know what a mercy that is ? Ask the troubled soul, ask the soul that knows what it is to lie under the wrath of the Almighty, and he will tell you that pardon of sin is a gift more worth than a thousand worlds. Now that pardon of sin is a gift of God, you may see in …
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There are five negatives in the Greek to assure God's people that he will never forsake them. Five times this precious promise is renewed in the Scriptm-e, that w^e might have the stronger consolation, and that we may press and oppress it till we have gotten all the sweetness out of it. And verily many precious souls h…
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years as there be stars in heaven, his glory shall be as fresh and as green as it was at his first entrance into heaven. All worldly glory is like the flowers of the field ; but the glory that Christ gives is lasting and durable like himself, &c. [10.] Tenthly, and lastly, He gives himself, and verily this is a gift o…
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[1.] First, The gifts that Christ gives to his are sinritual and hea- venly gifts, as is most clear by what hath been already said, and the spirituality of them doth demonstrate the excellency of them. And doubtless the more spiritual any gift, any promise, any truth, any prayer, or any service is, the more excellent i…
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[3.] Thirdly, He doth it upon this account, that he 7nay the more en- dear the hearts of his p^oyle to him. The greatest design of Christ in this world is mightily to endear the hearts of his people ; and indeed it was that which was in his eye and upon his heart from all eternity. It was this design that caused him t…
1,297 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.