Those spots which a Christian finds in his own heart
can only, by a hand of faith, be washed out in the
blood of the Lamb.
Suppose that the power and prevalency of sin hinders
the soul's sweet communion with God—so that the soul
cannot sport itself, and joy and delight itself in God, as
in the days of old; it cannot see God smiling, stroking,
and speaking kindly, as in former days. Now, there is
nothing in all the world which can ease the soul of this
burden of sin, but the exercise of grace.
"Oh," says such a poor soul, "I pray—and yet I sin;
I resolve against sin—and yet I sin; I combat against
sin—and yet I am carried captive by sin; I have left
no outward means unattempted—and yet after all,
my sins are too hard for me; after all my sweating,
striving, and weeping—I am carried down the stream."
It is not our strong resolutions or purposes which
will be able to overmaster these enemies.
There is nothing now but the actings of faith upon a
crucified Christ, which will take off this burden from
the soul of man. You must make use of your graces
to draw virtue from Christ; now faith must touch the
hem of Christ's garment—or you will never be healed.
It is sad to consider how few professors in these days
have attained the right way of mortifying of sin.
They usually go out against their sins in the strength
of their own purposes, prayers, and resolutions, etc.,
and scarcely look so high as a crucified Christ; they
mind not the exercise of their faith upon Christ; and
therefore it is a righteous thing with Christ that after
all, that they should be carried captive by their sins.
Nothing eats out sin like the actings of grace; nothing
weakens and wastes the strength of sin like the exercise
of grace. Oh! did men believe more in Christ—sin would
die more!
Then He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed
you. Go in peace." Luke 8:48
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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.