(2.) Secondly, Those that are bold sinners, secure sinners, stupid sinners, insensible sinners ; for these will find variety of arguments to awaken them, to startle them, to soften them, and to work them into a trembling frame and a tender frame, with singular directions and counsel how to obtain those spiritual frames which are infinitely more worth than all those crowns and kingdoms that men are this day contending for in blood.
(3.) Thirdly, Those that are under many fears, and doubts, and disputes in their own hearts, whether they do tremble at this word or no, and whether they have a tender heart or no ; for I dare venture to say that such persons will find in this treatise those blessed truths that will, by a blessing from on high, scatter their fears, resolve their doubts, and put a happy issue to all their disputes.
Reader, When thou hast once seriously read over this little treatise, I cannot but judge that thou wilt readily conclude with me, viz. That the two special points here handled, viz. our trembling at God's word, and a tender heart, are, (1.) Two great and weighty points. (2.) Two very noble and necessary points, which all should labour to know and understand who would be blessed here and happy hereafter. (3.) Two seasonable and suitable points to the days and times wherein we live, which abound with all sorts of sins, and which are attended with the sorest of spiritual judgments, such as blindness, hardness, in- sensibleness. (4.) Two important points that have singular other points wrapped up in the womb of them, and that are dependent upon them. (5.) Two points that are not every day handled in the pulpit, nor sent unto the press.
Reader, The importunity of a worthy friend hath prevailed with me to give thee the trouble of reading this epistle. And now I shall conclude with a few words of counsel : (1.) Let him that casts his eye on this book not borrow it, but buy it ; (2.) seriously read it ; (3.) highly prize it ; (4.) earnestly pray over it ; (5.) endeavour to have his heart and life made conformable to the matter contained in it ; (6.) to lay it up among his choicest treasures ; and (7.) when he is in the mount, to remember him who unfeignedly and earnestly desires that this little piece may be highly blessed to the writer, reader, and hearer : and so I shall take leave and rest,
Thy real friend and soul's servant,
APPENDIX TO MEMOIR. lxxvii
D. — Mrs Brooks. (See ante, p. xxxiv).
The following is the title-page of the Funeral Sermon of the first Mrs Brooks : —
Preached at the FUNERAL of
Mr. THO. BROOKS Minister of the Gospel in London ;
Who Departed this Life June 20. 1676.
Some EXPERIENCES of the Grace and Dealings of
GOD, Observed and Gathered by a near Relation of
the said Mrs. Brooks.
By J. C. a Friend of the Deceased, and her Surviving Husband. 2 COR. 12. 10.
Ei/idvva&cui0-/i<ruv affo air^ivita,;, —
Printed for John Hancock at the Three Bibles in Popes-Head
Alley, Cornhill. 1676. [4to.]
We give the ' Notes' that were furnished by, no doubt, Brooks.
A short account of some of the choice experiences, blessed discoveries, and gracious evidences, of Mrs Martha Brooks, who fell asleep in Jesus, June 20. 1676. Drawn up by a near relation, that best understood her spiritual estate and condition.
It is long since that the Lord made it the day of his power — Ps. ex. 3 — upon her soul. Many years ago, the great and glorious God, by his Spirit and power, by his word and rod, brought her from under the power, use, and dominion of sin and Satan, 1 Thes. i. 5 ; Prov. xxix. 15, and brought her off from resting or stayings upon her own righteousness — which she daily looked upon to be but filthy rags, and as a menstruous cloth — and brought her into fellowship and com- munion with himself, his Son, and his blessed Spirit, &c, Rom. vi. 14 • Acts xxvi. 18 ; Isa. lxiv. 6 ; John i. 3, 4 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.
To make a full narration of these great things, would make this little piece to swell beyond its due proportion ; and though it might please some, yet it might dissatisfy others ; and therefore I shall do little more than hint at things, that so I may bring all I intend to say into a narrow compass.
Should I say all I could,
First, About her knowledge and acquaintance with Christ, when and where should I make an end ? Only this I may say : 1, her knowledge was inward ; 2, it was affectionate ; 3, experimental ; 4, humbling ; 5, growing ; 6, com- municative ; 7, practical, Job xxii. 21 ; John xvii. 3, vii. 17, xiii. 1.
Secondly, Should I say all I could about her high approbation of Christ, —
lxxviii APPENDIX TO MKMOIR.
Acts iv. 12; 1 Tim. i. 15; Col. i. 19, i. 2, 3; Acts v. 31; Col. ii. 6; Horn. vii. 12; Ps. cxix. 72; Rev. iii. 19; Dan. ix. 14 ; Neh. ix. 33 — when and where should I make an end? Only this I may hint: 1, that she highly approved of the person of Christ as the most suitable good in heaven or earth to her soul ; 2, she highly approved of the personal excellencies of Christ as the most transcendent excellencies ; 3, she highly approved of Christ in all his offices, both kingly, prophetical, and priestly ; 4, she highly approved of all the precious things of Christ, as his day, his laws, his worship, his ordinances, his ways, his saints ; 5, she highly approved of the rebukes, of the severe rebukes, of Christ, knowing that they were the fruits of his love, and that he was holy and wise, just and righteous, in all his rebukes, &c.
Thirdly, About her choice and election of Christ to be her Head and Husband, Cant. ii. 16 ; Deut. xxvi. 17, her Sovereign and Saviour; upon choice she would have none but Christ to save her, nor none but Christ to rule her.
Fourthly, About her reception of Christ, Job i. 12 ; Ps. xxiv. 7-10 : 1, in all his offices ; 2, into every room of her soul ; 3, once for all ; 4, upon his own gospel terms, Mat. xvi. 24.
Fifthly, About her high, her very high, estimation of Christ, 1 Peter ii. 7, she prized above all her duties, above all her privileges, above all her graces, above all her outward contentments, and above all her spiritual enjoyments ; he was to her the chiefest of ten thousand, Cant. v. 10 ; Ps. xlv. 2 ; Mat. xiii. 26 ; Prov. viii. 11; Philip, iii. 8 ; he was fairer than the children of men ; he was the pearl of price in her eye ; he was more precious than rubies to her soul. She looked upon all things as nothing in comparison of Christ ; she had rather have one Christ than a thousand worlds.
Sixthly, About her marriage union and communion with Christ, of which freely and frequently she discoursed both with ministers and Christians through- out her sickness. Her marriage union with Christ was breasts of consolation and •wells of salvation to her, Cant. iii. 11 ; Hoseaii. 18-20 ; 2 Cor. xi. 2 ; Ps. lxvi. 11, xii. 3. Throughout her nine months' sickness by these she did live, and in these things were the life of her spirit, Isa. xxxviii. 16.