Sin and sorrow, iniquity and misery—always
go hand in hand.
"The wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23. Every
sinner is worthy of death. "Those who do such things
deserve death," Romans 1:32. If God is a just and
righteous God, then sin cannot absolutely escape
unpunished; for it is but "a just and righteous thing
with God"—to punish the sinner who is worthy of
punishment. As God must be just—so He must be
faithful. And if He must be faithful—then He must
carry out His threatenings against sin and sinners!
Look! As there is not a promise of God but shall surely
take place; just so, there is not a threatening of God
but shall surely take place. The faithfulness of God, and
the honor of God, are as much concerned in making good
of His dreadful threatenings—as they are concerned
in making good of His precious promises. God has given
it from His own mouth, that:
"He will by no means clear the guilty;"
"the soul that sins, shall surely die;"
"the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him;"
"He will render to every man according to his deeds."
Will God abrogate His own laws—or will He dare men to
sport and play with His threatenings? Will not every wise
and prudent king look to the execution of their own laws?
And shall not that God, who is wonderful in wisdom, and
whose understanding is infinite—see all that all His laws
are put in execution against offenders? Surely yes!
"He will repay them for their sins and destroy them
for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy
them!" Psalm 94:23
"I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will
repay you in accordance with your conduct and the
detestable practices among you. Then you will know
that it is I the LORD who strikes the blow!" Ezek. 7:9
"When I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand grasps
it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries
and repay those who hate Me." Deuteronomy 32:41
Be the first to react on this!
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.