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Thomas Brooks

Thomas Brooks

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.
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Thomas Brooks

God's tools and instruments

"I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things." Isaiah 45:7 Let us see the hand of the Lord in this recent dreadful fire which has turned our once renowned London into a ruinous heap! London's sins were now so great, and God's wrath w... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A beautiful harlot sitting in her chariot

"I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" Ecclesiastes 2:1-2. Solomon's question bids a challenge to all the masters of mirth, to produce any... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A bubble, a shadow, a dream!

"My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away." Job 9:25 TIME is a precious talent which we are accountable for. Cato and other heathen held that account must be given, not only of our labor—but also of our leisure. At the great day, it will appear that those who have spent their time in... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A Christian's graces

"What do you have—that you have not received?" 1 Cor. 4:7 What grace do you have—that you have not received? All the light, and all the life, and all the love, and all the joy, and all the fear, and all the faith, and all the hope, and all the patience, and all the humility, etc., that you have—are ... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A cleaner way to hell

It was the saying of a precious saint—that he was more afraid of his duties than of his sins; for his duties often made him proud—but his sins always made him humble. It was good counsel Luther gave, "We must take heed not only of our sins—but of our good works." Duties can never have too much dilig... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A cooler hell

"God, I thank You that I'm not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get." Luke 18:11-12 Many please and satisfy themselves with mere civility and common morality. They bless themselves that they are no... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A detestable, stinking weed

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44 Satan is the father of... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A devil in an angel's dress

"Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall." Ezekiel 18:30 True repentance is a turning, not from some sin—but from every sin. Every sin strikes at the law of God, the honor of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore the penitent must strike at a... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A devil in an angel's garb!

"Having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:5 All formalists have only a form, a show, a profession of holiness—but have nothing of the reality, spirit, life, or power of holiness in them. They have a face, a cloak, a mask, a show of godliness—but they have nothing of the pith, s... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A drop in a bucket

"The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him." Lamentations 3:24 "Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust." Isaiah 40:15 All nations are but as a drop in a bucket, that may in a... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A dumb devil

Among all God's children, there is not one possessed with a dumb devil. Prayerless people are . . . forsaken of God, blinded by Satan, hardened in sin, and every breath they draw, are liable to all temporal, spiritual, and eternal judgments. Prayer is that part of natural worship due to God, which n... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A faithful minister

"Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." 1 Timothy 5:17 The which is here rendered labor, signifies not simply to labor—but to labor with much travail and toil, to labor even to exhaustion, as he does who chops wood, or ... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A flower which does not grow in nature's garden!

"Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 2:25 Repentance is a turning from sin (the most darling sin) to God. It is mighty work, a difficult work; a work which is above our power. There is no p... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A fool to his schoolmaster

He who goes to school to his own carnal reason, has a fool to his schoolmaster; and he who allows his faith to be overruled by his reason, shall never lack woe. No man lives so free a life, so holy a life, so heavenly a life, so happy a life—as he who lives a life of faith. Now the soul is put upon ... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A golden Christian

A true Christian will be holy among the unholy. He will retain and keep his holiness, let the times be ever so unholy. If you take him among unholy friends—you shall find him holy. If you take him at his table—you shall find him holy. If you take him in his shop—you shall find him holy. If you take ... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A great degree of holiness

The more a man conflicts with heart sins, with spiritual sins, with invisible sins—with sins which lie most hidden and obscure from the eyes of the world—and the more spiritual victories and conquests a man obtains over them—the greater measure of holiness that person has certainly attained to. A li... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A great nothing

"The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp." Acts 25:23. That is, with great phantasy or vain show. All the honor, pomp, and accolade of this world is but a phantasy. Worldly honor is but a great nothing—a glorious illusion, a shadow, a dream. Great swelling titles a... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A greater honor

It is a greater honor for a man to outwrestle sin, Satan, temptation, the world, and lust—than ever Alexander the Great could attain unto. The Romans built Virtue's and Honor's temple close together—to show that the way to honor was by virtue; and, indeed, there is no crown compared to that which go... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A heaven here and a heaven hereafter

To be in a state of true grace, is to be miserable no more; it is to be happy forever. A soul in this state is a soul near and dear to God. It is a soul much beloved, and very highly valued by God. It is a soul housed in God. It is a soul safe in God's everlasting arms. The being in a state of grace... Read More
Thomas Brooks

A heaven unto me!

That knowledge which accompanies salvation, is a heart-affecting knowledge. It affects the heart with Christ, and all spiritual things. Oh, it does wonderfully endear Christ and the things of Christ to the soul. "Oh, feed me with Your love—Your 'raisins' and Your 'apples'—for I am utterly lovesick!"... Read More

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