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 prefixed, along with numerous others, to some of the collections of the ' Farewell Sermons.' And so we introduce our Worthy and his Books : one who, while living, as ' ever under the great Task-masters eye/ wore in all simpleness and truth,
1 The grand old name of gentleman, Defamed by every charlatan, And soiled with all ignoble use.' — [7ra Memoriam, c. x.]
Alexander B. Grosart.
XXX Vlll APPENDIX TO MEMOIR.
A. — Controversy on appointment to St Margaret's, Fish Street : See ante, pages xxxi, xxxiv, et alibi.
CASES CONSIDERED and RESOLVED.
All the tender godly conscientious Ministers in Eng- land (Whether for a Congregationall, or a Presbyteriall way) are concerned.
Pills to Purge Malignants.
And all prophane, ignorant, and scandalous persons.
(But more particularly Calculated for the Meridian
of Margarets Fishstreet-hill) from those gross conceits
tbat they have of their Children's right to Baptisme ; and of
their owne right to the Supper of the Lord, $c.
Good Conncell to bad men. Or friendly advise (in severall particulars) to unfriendly Neighbours.
By Thomas Brooks, a willing Servant unto God, and the Faith of his People, in the glorious Gospel of Christ, at Margarets Fishstreet-hill.
Mallem mere cum Christo, quam regnare cum Cozsare. Luther. Si Veritas est causa discordicc mori possum tacere non possum. Jerome.
LONDON : Printed by M. Simmons, for John Hancock and are to be sold at the first Shop in Popes-Head- Alley, next to Corn- hill 1653.
To the Conscientious Reader.
The world is full of books ; and of how many may it be said, that they do but proclaim the vanity of the writer, and procure weariness, if not vexation, to the reader, in this knowing and censorious age ! What I have written is out of faithfulness to Christ, and love to souls. If my pains shall prove advantageous for the internal and eternal good of any poor souls, I shall count it reward enough. I doubt not but those that are spiritual will find something of the Spirit in what follows, and for that cause will relish and love it, though others may therefore stand at the greater distance from it. Surely, where truth comes, the children of truth will entertain it, and ask nobody leave. In these days, they that have least right to ordinances do make the greatest noise in crying out for ordinances. God's ordinances are choice pearls, and yet too often cast before swine, which, doubtless, hath pro- voked the Lord to shed the blood of many among us who have un-
APPENDIX TO MEMOIR. XXXI X
worthily drunk the blood of his Son, and trampled it under their feet / as an unholy thing, Heb. x. 29. Though my candle be but little, yet I must not hide it under a bushel. Though I have but one talent, yet I must not hide it in a napkin. I hope thou hast that anointing of the Spirit that will teach thee not to reject the fruit for the tree's sake ; nor so much to mind the man as the matter. But, lest I should hold thee too long in the porch, I will briefly acquaint thee with the reasons that have induced me to present to the world what follows ; and so draw to a close.
The reasons are these :
First, That the honour, truth, and ways of Christ, which I hope are dearer to me than my life, and which are struck at through my sides, may be vindicated, 1 Sam. ii. SO.
Secondly, That the mouth of iniquity, or, which is all one, that the foul mouths of profane, ignorant, malignant, and scandalous persons, may be effectually stopped, Ps. cvii. 42 ; Titus i. 1 1 ; Ps. lxiii. 11.
Thirdly, That the honest, just, and righteous proceedings of the Honourable Committee may be manifested, and not smothered by the false reports of any profane, malignant spirits that were present, who are apt and ready enough to call good evil, and evil good, light dark- ness, and darkness light, &c, Isa. v. 20.
Fourthly, That the importunate desires of several ministers and Christians may be satisfied, especially those to whom I preach, &c.
Fifthly, That my ministry and good name, which should be dearer to me than my life, may be vindicated, 2 Cor. x. 33.*- ' A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold/ Prov. xxii. 1. 'A good, name is better than precious ointment/ saith Solomon, Eccles. vii. 1. The initial letter (e) of the Hebrew word (nitD, tob) that in this text is rendered good, is bigger than ordinary, to shew the more than ordinary excellency of a good name amongst men. The moralists say of fame, or of a man's good name, Omnia si yerdas, famam servare memento ; qua semel amissa postea nullus eris, i. e. Whatsoever commodity you lose, be sure yet to preserve that jewel of a good name.1 But if any shall delight to blot and blur my name, that their own may shine the brighter, I shall desire them frequently to remember a sweet saying of Austin : Quis- quis volens detrahit famce mece, nolens addit mercedi meos, He that willingly takes from my good name, unwillingly adds to my reward, Mat. v. 11, 12. The remembrance of this, and the bird in the bosom • — conscience — singing, makes a heaven of joy in my heart, in the midst of all the trials that do attend me, 2 Cor. i. 12.
Sixthly, That others may be undeceived, who are apt enough to judge that there are other things, and worse things, charged upon me than indeed there is. And indeed, some say already that there were eighteen things, others that there were six-and-twenty things, charged against me ; and all this to render my person and my doctrine con- temptible in the world, &c, Jer. xx. 10, 11 ; Ps. xxxv. 11.
Seventhly, That the malignant and profane petitioners, and others of their stamp, may be either satisfied, convinced, and reformed, or
1 The French have this proverh among them, That a good renown is hetter than a golden girdle. [For Omnia si perdas, &c, see Claudian, De Cons. Mall. Theod., v. 3. — G.]
xl APPENDIX TO MEMOIR.
that they may be found speechless, and Avithout excuse in the day of Christ.
Eighthly, Because my case is a general case, and reaches all the godly, conscientious ministers in England, be they of one judgment or another. And clearly if, upon the following charge against me, the profane, ignorant, and malignant party should out and rout the godly ministers in the nations, I wonder where there would be found a con- scientious minister that should not upon these grounds be outed and routed !