("The Glorious Day of the Saints Appearance")
Love will enable the soul to persevere in the ways of
godliness against all discouragements, by putting a
blessed interpretation, and a heavenly construction
upon all the afflictions, sorrows, and discouragements
which an upright heart can meet with in the ways of
God. All the afflictions and discouragements which
upright hearts meet with, love will thus interpret and
expound: "Oh! all these afflictions are but means that
God will use to rub off my dross and filth, to convey
more of Himself! They are all my friends, and shall
work for my good! All these cursings, God will turn
to blessings," says Love. "All these afflictions which
befall me, are but out of some noble designs that God
has to reveal more of Himself and of His glory to me.
It is but that He may empty me more of myself and
of the creature, so that he may communicate more
of His own sweetness and fullness to my soul," says
Love. "I know, though for the present it is bitter—
yet," says Love, "it will be sweet in the end. I know
the way to the crown is by the cross, and I know all
those afflictions shall lead me to more heavenly
enjoyments of God!" Love thus puts a sweet
interpretation on all the afflictions which befall
the soul.
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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.