God usually begins with such early in life—whom He has
had thoughts of love and mercy towards, from everlasting.
If, in the spring and morning of your days, you do not bring
forth fruit to God—it is a hundred to one that you never shall
bring forth fruit to God when the days of old age shall overtake
you. It is rare, very rare—that God sows and reaps in old age.
Usually God sows the seed of grace in youth—which yields
the harvest of joy in old age.
Though true repentance is never too late—yet late
repentance is seldom true. Millions are now in hell, who
have flattered themselves with the thought of repenting
in old age! Yes, what can be more just and equal, that such
should seek and not find—who might have found when young,
but would not seek; and that God should shut His ears against
their late prayers—who have stopped their ears against His
early calls?
The ancient warriors would not accept an old man into their
army, as being unfit for service; and do you think that God
will accept of your dry bones—when Satan has sucked
out all the marrow? What king will take into his service
—those who have served his enemies all their days? And
will God? will God?
The Circassians, a kind of mongrel Christians, are said to
divide their life between sin and devotion—dedicating their
youth to rapine, and their old age to repentance. If this is
your case, I would not be in your case for ten thousand worlds!
"But since you rejected Me when I called, and no one gave
heed when I stretched out My hand, since you ignored all
My advice and would not accept My rebuke—I in turn will
laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes
you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster
sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble
overwhelm you. Then they will call to Me but I will not answer;
they will look for Me but will not find Me. Since they hated
knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they
would not accept My advice and spurned My rebuke—they
will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit
of their schemes." Proverbs 1:24-31
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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.