"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me,
and I will give to everyone according to what he
has done." Revelation 22:12
Though God does not reward men simply for their
works, namely, for the merit of them—yet He rewards
according to their works.
"He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God
rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater
value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was
looking ahead to his reward." Hebrews 11:25-26.
Keep your eye upon the recompense of reward, as
Moses did. This will work you—
(1.) To walk more holily, humbly, thankfully;
(2.) To live more cheerfully and comfortably;
(3.) To suffer more patiently, freely, resolutely;
(4.) To fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil more valiantly;
(5.) To withstand temptations more steadfastly and strongly;
(6.) To be contented with a little;
(7.) To leave the world, relations, and friends more willingly;
(8.) And to embrace death more joyfully.
A Christian will never repent of all the hard things that
he has suffered for Christ or His truth. Every one of his
sufferings shall be a sparkling jewel to give a luster to
his crown of glory.
"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude
you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because
of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,
because great is your reward in heaven!" Luke 6:22-23
O Christians, all your sufferings will certainly increase your
future glory! Every affliction, every persecution, will add
to your heavenly glory! God will richly reward you for every
tear, for every sigh, for every groan, for every hazard, and
for every hardship that you have met with, in the way of
your duty.
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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.