Thomas Brooks 1608-1680
“We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
All the afflictions, and
all the temptations, and
all the oppressions, and
all the oppositions, and
all the persecutions—
which befall a godly man, shall work for his good.
Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease—
which befall the holy man, shall work for his good.
Every device,
every snare,
every deceit,
every stratagem,
and every enterprise of Satan against the holy man, shall work for his good.
They shall all help to make him . . .
more humble,
more holy,
more heavenly,
more spiritual,
more faithful,
more fruitful,
more watchful.
Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort—
shall work for the holy man’s good.
When God gives a mercy—
that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy—
that shall work for his good.
Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
the care,
the fear,
the watchfulness,
the tenderness,
the zeal—
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the detestation—which God raises in the hearts of His children against sin—by their very falling into sin!
Oh what love to Christ,
what thankfulness for Christ,
what admiration of Christ,
what cleaving to Christ,
what exalting of Christ,
what drawings from Christ’s grace—
are saints led to, by their very falls!
It is the glory of God’s holiness, that . . .
He can turn spiritual diseases—into holy remedies!
He can turn soul poisons—into heavenly cordials!
He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!
O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you,
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you,
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you,
what though men rage, and devils roar against you,
what though sickness is devastating your family,
what though death stands every day at your elbow—
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions and tribulations which come upon you—considering that they shall all work for your good.
O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid—that you do not run so often as you should—to the breasts of this promise, nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would yield, and that your several cases may require. “We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition of God’s people calls for the strongest cordials, and the choicest and the sweetest comforts.
The Crown and Glory of Christianity 1662
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Bless you Andy for sharing this with us.
I read this earlier on today and it made my very being leap as I read. It is just such wonderful, truthful writing and not from a theory only, because anyone who can write words such as these, knows them because he has lived them out in his own life and so speaks from experience.
I have shared this on my own blog and emailed it to a few of my family
All glory to God alone!
Hi again Andy
I went and did some research on Thomas Brooks and found that he was alive during the time of the Act of Uniformity in 1662 – “The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 14 Charles II c. 4 (1662), which required the use of all the rites and ceremonies in the Book of Common Prayer in Church of England services. It also required episcopal ordination for all ministers. As a result, nearly 2,000 clergymen left the established church in what became known as the Great Ejection.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Uniformity_1662
It is fascinating reading, and shows clearly how the state can and has, as we know from both history and other parts of the world presently, take control of the Church. We have not yet lived during such a time of this in our own countries and for those in such countries right now, as always, the Lord sustains and upholds those who are His and they will not compromise Him or their faith in Him. He is after all Almighty God.
“To whom will you liken Me and make Me equal?” Is 46:5
Hi Steph,
Of course it was during Charles II reign and around this time when John Bunyan was imprisoned and he conceived and wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress. As you say:-
Andy yes,
it was at that time that John Bunyan was arrested and sent to Jail in 1661 first for 3months then extended to 12 years, because he refused to compromise and stop preaching. He wrote the Pilgrim’s Progress in two parts, the first one which was published in London in 1678 and the second in 1684. It is thought that he began the work in his first time in prison and went on to probably finished it during his second incarceration. His story is a fascinating one – if I may very briefly? Wikipedia says: “His prosecutor, Mr. Justice Wingate, was not inclined to incarcerate Bunyan, but his stark refusal of “If you release me today, I will preach tomorrow” left Wingate with no choice.”
In 1666, he was released again and then again sent back to Jail for preaching. Then in 1672, when Charles II issued the Declaration of Religious Indulgence, Bunyan was one of the first men to receive a license to preach. 3 years later, in March 1675, he was again incarcerated for preaching (as Charles II withdrew the Declaration of Religious Indulgence),and 6 months later, he was released, never to be imprisoned again due to his popularity. He caught a common cold and died in 1688.
The true church had been through so much from before and during the reign of Henry the 8th, but God always prevailed and brought His children through whether they died for this loyalty or not and many have died as you well know.
Two things that strike me whilst reading so much of this History is: one, that man was utterly revolting and fickle then in his unregenerate state and is still utterly revolting and fickle today. Great fear abounded in soft whispers behind hands and spies were everywhere – no one could often trust another.(the closest thing I can think of nearer our time is during the Nazi regime) But through it all, there were men and women whom God had hand-picked, to carry His Life in them and out to others and forward to the next generation. It is truly miraculous and leaves me very humbled that someone from back there may have been praying for the future generations within their families all over the UK to be born of God one day. God is indeed gracious with us.
Secondly, that bringing it all back to Romans 8:28, to all intents and purposes, the outside world would view his life as a failure because of what happened to him, yet God has gotten so much glory out of this man’s life and writings – even still today and beyond, and I am utterly convinced that Bunyan’s own life was a life of closeness and humility before the Lord as a direct result of him having completely surrendered both himself as a man nd his life to the Lord, for Him to help Himself to without any reserve.
Bless you