A true Christian will be holy among the unholy. He will
retain and keep his holiness, let the times be ever so unholy.
If you take him among unholy friends—you shall find him holy.
If you take him at his table—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his shop—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his family—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his closet—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his journeyings—you shall find him holy.
If you take him in his recreations—you shall find him holy.
A holy Christian is like gold. Cast gold into the fire, or
into the water; cast it upon the ash-heap, or into the
pleasant garden; cast it among the poor or among the
rich, among the religious or among the licentious—yet
still it is gold, still it retains its purity and excellency.
Just so, cast a holy Christian—a golden Christian—
into whatever condition you will, and into what company
you will—and still he will retain his purity, his sanctity!
Yes, the worse the times are, the more a holy man
studies holiness, and prefers holiness, and prizes
holiness, and practices holiness.
The godly man is four square. Cast him where you will,
like a dice, he always falls sure and square. Just so, cast
a holy man where you will, and into what company you
will—yet still he falls sure and square for holiness. True
holiness is a part of the divine nature; it is of such a
heavenly complexion, that it will never alter.
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Thomas Brooks (1608 - 1680)
Much of what is known about Thomas Brooks has been ascertained from his writings. Born, likely to well-to-do parents, in 1608, Brooks entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1625, where he was preceded by such men as Thomas Hooker, John Cotton, and Thomas Shepard. He was licensed as a preacher of the Gospel by 1640. Before that date, he appears to have spent a number of years at sea, probably as a chaplain with the fleet.After the conclusion of the First English Civil War, Thomas Brooks became minister at Thomas Apostle's, London, and was sufficiently renowned to be chosen as preacher before the House of Commons on December 26, 1648. His sermon was afterwards published under the title, 'God's Delight in the Progress of the Upright', the text being Psalm 44:18: 'Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from Thy way'. Three or four years afterwards, he transferred to St. Margaret's, Fish-street Hill, London. In 1662, he fell victim to the notorious Act of Uniformity, but he appears to have remained in his parish and to have preached as opportunity arose. Treatises continued to flow from his pen.[3]
Thomas Brooks was a nonconformist preacher. Born into a Puritan family, he was sent to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He soon became an advocate of the Congregational way and served as a chaplain in the Civil War. In 1648 he accepted the rectory of St. Margaret's, New Fish Street, London, but only after making his Congregational principles clear to the vestry.
On several occasions he preached before Parliament. He was ejected in 1660 and remained in London as a Nonconformist preacher. Government spies reported that he preached at Tower Wharf and in Moorfields. During the Great Plague and Great Fire he worked in London, and in 1672 was granted a license to preach in Lime Street. He wrote over a dozen books, most of which are devotional in character. He was buried in Bunhill Fields.