‘God’ stamped and printed upon the soul – Thomas Brooks

‘God’ stamped and printed upon the soul – Thomas Brooks Christians! Your happiness on earth is your holiness; and in heaven your highest happiness will be your perfect holiness. Holiness differs nothing from happiness but in name. Holiness is happiness in the bud, and happiness is holiness at the full. Happiness is nothing but the […]

Zeuxis died laughing at the picture of an old woman – Thomas Brooks

Zeuxis died laughing at the picture of an old woman – Thomas Brooks As the life of man is very short, so it is very uncertain.Now healthy now sick! Alive this hour and dead the next! Death does not always give warning beforehand; sometimes he gives the mortal blow suddenly; he comes behind with his […]

Your unworthiness and unfitness – Thomas Brooks

Your unworthiness and unfitness – Thomas Brooks The apostle Paul tells you of some monstrous miscreants who were unrighteous, fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners; and yet these monsters of mankind, through the infinite goodness and free grace of God, are washed from the filth and guilt of their sins, and justified […]

Your spots and blots – Thomas Brooks

Your spots and blots – Thomas Brooks “The Lord our righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6“They are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. 14:5 Weak hearts are apt to sit down troubled and discouraged, when they look upon that body of sin which is in them, and those imperfections which attend their best services. They are […]

Your only hell – Thomas Brooks

Your only hell – Thomas Brooks All your crosses and losses shall be so tempered by a hand of heaven, as that they shall become wholesome medicines. They shall be steps to your future glory. All your present trials are your only hell; your heaven is to come. And therefore be contented in the midst […]

You take the goods – Thomas Brooks

You take the goods – Thomas Brooks “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2 The rattle without the breast, will not satisfy the child, the house without […]

You should follow in His steps – Thomas Brooks

You should follow in His steps – Thomas Brooks “He who says he abides in Him, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6 Christians are to set all Christ’s moral actions before them as a pattern for their imitation. In Christ’s life, a Christian may behold the picture or lineaments […]

You have been long a-gathering rust – Thomas Brooks

You have been long a-gathering rust – Thomas Brooks Oh! but my afflictions are greater than other men’s afflictions are! Oh! there is no affliction like my affliction! How can I not murmur? It may be your sins are greater than other men’s sins. If you have sinned against . . .more light,more love,more mercies,more […]

You have afflicted me – Thomas Brooks

You have afflicted me – Thomas Brooks “I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” Psalm 119:75 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word.” Psalm 119:67 God’s corrections are our instructions,His lashes are our lessons,His scourges are our schoolmasters,His chastisements are […]

You have a greater interest in me, than I have in myself – Thomas Brooks

You have a greater interest in me, than I have in myself – Thomas Brooks The godly man gives himself up to God. The secret language of the soul is this ‘Lord, here am I; do with me what You please, I give up myself to be at Your disposal.’ There was a good woman, […]

You are the one who has done this! – Thomas Brooks

You are the one who has done this! – Thomas Brooks “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9 In the words you may observe three things: 1. The person speaking, and that is, David. David a king, David a saint, David ‘a […]

You are not sick but dead! – Thomas Brooks

You are not sick but dead! – Thomas Brooks “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are […]

You are Mine! – Thomas Brooks

You are Mine! – Thomas Brooks “But now, this is what the Lord says He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1 “You are Mine for I have made you.You are Mine for […]

Yellow and white guts and garbage – Thomas Brooks

Yellow and white guts and garbage – Thomas Brooks “You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13 Riches are the great god of the world, and are rather a hindrance, than a help to heaven and happiness. Gold and silver, which are but the yellow and white guts and garbage of the earth, is […]

Would he not stab it with a thousand wounds? – Thomas Brooks

Would he not stab it with a thousand wounds? – Thomas Brooks Sin never appears so odious, as when we behold it in the red glass of Christ’s sufferings. Can we look upon sin as the occasion of all Christ’s sufferings; can we look upon sin as that which made Christ a curse, and which […]

Worshipers of the golden calf! – Thomas Brooks

Worshipers of the golden calf! – Thomas Brooks There is a great deal of worldliness, and earthly-mindedness, and covetousness among the professing Christians of our day. They are worshipers of the golden calf! O sirs! the world is all shadow and vanity. The world is like Jonah’s gourd a man may sit under its shadow […]

Worse than sodomy! – Thomas Brooks

Worse than sodomy! – Thomas Brooks “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town. I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” Matthew […]

Without holiness – Thomas Brooks

Without holiness – Thomas Brooks “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Heb. 12:14 To ‘see’ implies both vision and fruition. Without holiness, no man be he high or low, noble or ignoble, rich or poor, etc., shall ever come to a blessed acquaintance with God here, or to a glorious fruition and enjoyment […]

Without a rag on his back, or a penny in his purse! – Thomas Brooks

Without a rag on his back, or a penny in his purse! – Thomas Brooks “The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 Lazarus having God for his portion, when he died he went to heaven without a rag on his back, or a penny in his […]

Will you not trust Him for a crumb? – Thomas Brooks

Will you not trust Him for a crumb? – Thomas Brooks Believers should trust and lean upon God for lesser gifts. Has God given you a crown and will you not trust Him for a crumb? Has He given you a house which has “foundations, whose builder and maker is God?” Has He given you […]

Will He deny you a crust? – Thomas Brooks

Will He deny you a crust? – Thomas Brooks “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32. O Christian! all the attributes of God are so engaged for you, that you cannot lack; […]

Why should any living man complain – Thomas Brooks

Why should any living man complain – Thomas Brooks “Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?” Lamentations 3:39 Oh what a foolish, senseless, brutish, blockish thing it is, for a man, a mortal man, a sinful man, a man on this side hell to complain or murmur against a holy and […]

Why is my pain unending? – Thomas Brooks

Why is my pain unending? – Thomas Brooks “Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable?” Jeremiah 15:18 Though God has always reason for what He does yet He is not bound to show us the reasons of His doings. It is an evil and a dangerous thing to cavil at, or […]

Whores’ foreheads – Thomas Brooks

Whores’ foreheads – Thomas Brooks “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush!” Jeremiah 6:15 Most sinners in these days have brows of brass, and whores’ foreheads which cannot blush. They are so far from being ashamed of their sins, that […]

Whom God loves once – Thomas Brooks

Whom God loves once – Thomas Brooks “I have loved you with an everlasting love!” Jer. 31:3 O sirs! the covenant of grace is founded upon God’s everlasting love, upon God’s unchangeable love, upon God’s free love. John 13:1, “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” Whom […]

Who sees us? Who will know? – Thomas Brooks

Who sees us? Who will know? – Thomas Brooks Atheism reigns in the hearts and lives of sinners. The covetous make their gold their god.The drunkard and glutton make their bellies their god.The ambitious make honors their god.The voluptuous make pleasures their god.The religionists make pious duties their god.The moral make virtue their god. “The […]

Who can show us any good? – Thomas Brooks

Who can show us any good? – Thomas Brooks “Many are asking Who can show us any good?” Psalm 4:6 The Lord Jesus Christ is . . .the greatest good,a universal good,a matchless good,an incomparable good,an infinite good,an eternal good,the most suitable good for my poor soul.There is everything in Christ which suits the state, […]

Whining and whimpering? – Thomas Brooks

Whining and whimpering? – Thomas Brooks “My Beloved is mine, and I am His!” Song 2:16 “I know,” says the spouse, “that Jesus Christ is mine! I can with the greatest confidence and boldness affirm it. He is . . .my Head,my Husband,my Lord,my Redeemer,my Justifier,my Savior.And I am His!I am sure that I am […]

Where will all these men be within a hundred years? – Thomas Brooks

Where will all these men be within a hundred years? – Thomas Brooks Xerxes, when he viewed his almost innumerable army of men, fell a-weeping, saying, “Where will all these men be within a hundred years?” He wept to think that all that mighty army would be in their graves within a hundred years. Ah, […]

When we give the devil the kernel – Thomas Brooks

When we give the devil the kernel – Thomas Brooks “My son, give Me your heart.” Proverbs 23:26 “You have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Romans 6:17 Christian obedience is cordial and hearty. The believer knows that no obedience but hearty obedience, is acceptable to Christ. He knows […]

When Satan has sucked out all the marrow – Thomas Brooks

When Satan has sucked out all the marrow – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

When Munster lay sick – Thomas Brooks

When Munster lay sick – Thomas Brooks “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Revelation 3:19 “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives.” Heb. 12:6 All the afflictions which come upon the saints, are the fruits of divine love. When Munster lay sick, and his friends asked […]

When he was but a young serpent – Thomas Brooks

When he was but a young serpent – Thomas Brooks Satan is full of envy and enmity, and that makes him very studious to suit his snares and plots to the tempers, constitutions, desires, and callings of men that so he may make them as miserable as himself. Satan is a spirit of mighty abilities; […]

When He shows no anger! – Thomas Brooks

When He shows no anger! – Thomas Brooks “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives.” Heb. 12:6 There cannot be a greater evidence of God’s hatred and wrath than His refusing to correct men for their sinful courses and vanities! Where God refuses to correct there God resolves […]

When God takes away your carnals – Thomas Brooks

When God takes away your carnals – Thomas Brooks One support to bear up the hearts of the people of God under the recent fiery dispensation, is this That the Lord will certainly, one way or another, make up all their losses to them. Sometimes God makes up His people’s outward losses by giving them […]

When Brutus went to stab Julius Caesar – Thomas Brooks

When Brutus went to stab Julius Caesar – Thomas Brooks “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” Psalm 51:3 Sin most afflicts a gracious soul. The deer feeling within her the working of the serpent’s poison runs through the thorns and thickets, and runs over the green and pleasant pastures […]

When all human help fails! – Thomas Brooks

When all human help fails! – Thomas Brooks Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can […]

When Adam fell – Thomas Brooks

When Adam fell – Thomas Brooks Adam’s first estate was a state of perfect knowledge, wisdom and understanding. It was a perfect state of holiness, righteousness and happiness. There was nothing within him, but what was desirable and delectable; there was nothing without him, but what was amiable and commendable; nor was there anything around […]

Whatever weather pleases God pleases me! – Thomas Brooks

Whatever weather pleases God pleases me! – Thomas Brooks I have read of a gentleman, who, meeting with a shepherd in a misty morning, asked him what weather it would be? ‘It will be,’ said the shepherd, ‘that weather which pleases me.’ And being courteously requested to express his meaning, replied, ‘Sir, it shall be […]

What should move God to love us? – Thomas Brooks

What should move God to love us? – Thomas Brooks The free favor and love of God, the good will and pleasure of God is the true ground and cause of God’s bestowing of Himself as a portion upon His people. There was no cause, nor loveliness, nor desirableness in them which could move God […]

What more can any Christian desire? – Thomas Brooks

What more can any Christian desire? – Thomas Brooks There is enough in a suffering Christ to fill us and satisfy us to the full. He has the greatest worth and wealth in Him. Look, as the worth and value of many pieces of silver is to be found in one piece of gold; just […]

What is in the well, will be in the bucket – Thomas Brooks

What is in the well, will be in the bucket – Thomas Brooks “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36 There are many idle talkers. An idle word is a profuse or needless word, used rashly or […]

What He has done for my soul – Thomas Brooks

What He has done for my soul – Thomas Brooks “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.” Psalm 66:16 I will acquaint you with the soul blessings, with the soul favors, which God has crowned me with. I was darkness but He […]

What can be more just? – Thomas Brooks

What can be more just? – Thomas Brooks Remember this, that as Noah was drunk with his own wine, and as Goliath was beheaded by his own sword, and as the rose is destroyed by the canker that it breeds in itself, and as Agrippina was killed by Nero, to whom she gave breath; so […]

What a pitiful perishing portion is that! – Thomas Brooks

What a pitiful perishing portion is that! – Thomas Brooks “Men of the world, whose portion is in this life.” Psalm 17:14 Certainly, men . . .whose hearts are worldly,whose minds are worldly,whose spirits are worldly,whose desires are worldly,whose hopes are worldly,whose main ends are worldlyhave only the world for their portion; and what a […]

Well, Ladies and Gentlemen – Thomas Brooks

Well, Ladies and Gentlemen – Thomas Brooks “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 Well, Ladies and Gentlemen Do you think that it is good to be going to hell that it is good to be dwelling with everlasting burnings that it is good to be forever separated from the glorious presence […]

We may puff and blow our hearts out – Thomas Brooks

We may puff and blow our hearts out – Thomas Brooks “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.” I can be high or low, poor or rich, honorable or base, something or nothing, etc., only through Christ who strengthens me. Canticles 4:16, “Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may send […]

We have but added fuel to those burning coals! – Thomas Brooks

We have but added fuel to those burning coals! – Thomas Brooks “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 Oh! what trouble of mind,what horror of conscience,what distraction and vexation,what terror and torment,what weeping and wailing,what crying and roaring,what wringing of hands,what tearing of […]

We have actually outsinned thousands – Thomas Brooks

We have actually outsinned thousands – Thomas Brooks Sit down and wonder at the matchless love of God. Oh! what is in us that should cause the Lord to give such gifts to us as He has given? We were all equal in sin and misery; nay, doubtless, we have actually outsinned thousands, to whom […]

Wallowed in sin like swine in the mire – Thomas Brooks

Wallowed in sin like swine in the mire – Thomas Brooks The worst men are commonly best conceited of themselves. “There is a generation which is pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12 They were very bad and yet they had a great opinion of their own […]

Vincentius – Thomas Brooks

Vincentius – Thomas Brooks Vincentius, by his patience and constancy in suffering, angered his tormentors. Therefore they stripped him stark naked, whipped his body all over to a bloody gore, sprinkled salt and vinegar over all his wounds, set his feet on burning coals, then cast him naked into a loathsome dungeon, the pavement whereof […]

Vexing, defiling, dividing, ruining – Thomas Brooks

Vexing, defiling, dividing, ruining – Thomas Brooks “For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10 Earthly riches have cast down many, they have slain many. If poverty has slain her […]

Unholy ministers – Thomas Brooks

Unholy ministers – Thomas Brooks “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” 1 Timothy 4:16 Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life. Ministers must preach Christ as well in their life as in their doctrine. They must not be hot in the pulpit, and cold and careless in their lives. The lives of […]

Unfreeze the frozen graces – Thomas Brooks

Unfreeze the frozen graces – Thomas Brooks God loves to see the graces of His children in continual exercise. All the glory which God has from us in this life, is from the actings of our graces. Sleepy graces bring God no glory nor do us any good. There is little difference as to the […]

Uncovered and laid bare – Thomas Brooks

Uncovered and laid bare – Thomas Brooks Ah! how many Christians are there who would blush and be ashamed to walk in the streets, should but their infirmities, enormities, and wickednesses be written on their foreheads, or known to others! There are many sins which they have fallen into since conversion, which, should they be […]

Two infamous strumpets – Thomas Brooks

Two infamous strumpets – Thomas Brooks “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” Psalms 90:8 “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jer. 23:24 “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on […]

Two heavens – Thomas Brooks

Two heavens – Thomas Brooks Communion with God is that which will make you stand fast, and triumph over all enemies, difficulties, dangers, and deaths. Communion with God will make a man as courageous and bold as a lion, yes, as a young lion which is fearless of any creature. Communion is a reciprocal exchange […]

Two great things which Jesus Christ undertook – Thomas Brooks

Two great things which Jesus Christ undertook – Thomas Brooks Our Lord Jesus Christ, by once suffering, suffered for all the sins of the elect past, present, and to come. The infinite wrath of God the Father fell on Him, for all the sins of the chosen ones. The wrath of God was infinite wrath, […]

Turned into beasts, birds, stones, trees, or air – Thomas Brooks

Turned into beasts, birds, stones, trees, or air – Thomas Brooks “Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 Chaff and stubble cannot stand before that God, who is a consuming fire. Oh, how will the ungodly tremble and quake when the whole frame of heaven and earth shall break in pieces, and be set […]

True repentance – Thomas Brooks

True repentance – Thomas Brooks True repentance works a change in the whole man; in all the qualities of the INWARD man, and in all the actions of the OUTWARD man. The understanding is turned from darkness to light; the will from a sinful servility to a holy liberty; the affections from disorder into order; […]

True repentance – Thomas Brooks

True repentance – Thomas Brooks True repentance includes a sensibleness of sin’s sinfulness how opposite and contrary sin is to the blessed God.God is light, sin is darkness;God is life, sin is death;God is heaven, sin is hell;God is beauty, sin is deformity. Also true repentance includes a sensibleness of sin’s destructiveness; how sin cast […]

True hatred of sin – Thomas Brooks

True hatred of sin – Thomas Brooks To hate sin is not merely to refrain from sin, for so Balaam did. To hate sin is not merely to confess sin, for so Pharaoh and Judas did. To hate sin is not merely to be afraid to sin, for this may be where there is no […]

Troubled for sin – Thomas Brooks

Troubled for sin – Thomas Brooks A hypocrite may be troubled for sin—as it . . .blots his name, andwounds his conscience, andbrings a scourge, anddestroys his soul, andshuts him out of heaven, andthrows him to hell.But he is never troubled for sin, he never mourns for sin, he never hates sin because it is […]

Totes oculus – Thomas Brooks

Totes oculus – Thomas Brooks They say of the nightingale, that when she is solitary in the woods, she is careless of her melody; but when she perceives that she has any auditors, or is near houses then she composes herself more harmoniously and elegantly. Truly, this is the frame and temper of the best […]

Too big for troubles and afflictions – Thomas Brooks

Too big for troubles and afflictions – Thomas Brooks (“The Glorious Day of the Saints Appearance”) One way by which faith enables the soul to persevere against all discouragements, is by raising the soul to converse with soul-greatening objects, such as God and Christ, and those treasures, pleasures, and sweetnesses which are in the Lord […]

To think of hell – Thomas Brooks

To think of hell – Thomas Brooks “To think of hell,” says one, “preserves a man from falling into it!” Says another, “He who does but hear of hell is, without any further labor or study, taken off from sinful pleasures.” Surely men’s hearts are grown stupid, for how do most men run headlong to […]

To the moles and to the bats! – Thomas Brooks

To the moles and to the bats! – Thomas Brooks “In that day, a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats!” Isaiah 2:20 In the day when God shall exalt Himself in the souls […]

To sin and not to blush! – Thomas Brooks

To sin and not to blush! – Thomas Brooks Only those things which are sinful, are shameful. “Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never  again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 16:63 When the penitent soul […]

To fill heaven with hells – Thomas Brooks

To fill heaven with hells – Thomas Brooks “Man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!” Job 15:16 A wicked man is a sin-lover; he is a sin-maker, he lives in sin upon choice. All profane people . . .give up themselves to wickedness,wallow in all ungodliness,delight themselves in all manner […]

Time – Thomas Brooks

Time – Thomas Brooks There is nothing that puts a more serious frame into a man’s spirit than to know the worth of his time. Eternity, eternity depends upon your improvement of that time! The damned in hell may weep their eyes out of their heads but they can never weep sin out of their […]

Those who strike at God’s eyes – Thomas Brooks

Those who strike at God’s eyes – Thomas Brooks “Whoever touches you, touches the apple of His eye.” Zechariah 2:8 The apple (or pupil) of the eye is the tenderest piece of the tenderest part. The eye is kept most diligently, and strongly guarded by nature. A man can better bear a thump on the […]

Those who hunt after it are dogs! – Thomas Brooks

Those who hunt after it are dogs! – Thomas Brooks Though of all losses, the loss of the soul is the greatest, the saddest, the sorest, the heaviest, and the most intolerable, inconceivable, and irrecoverable loss yet a man bewitched with the world will run the hazard of losing his eternal soul, of damning it […]

Those who hunt after it are dogs – Thomas Brooks

Those who hunt after it are dogs – Thomas Brooks The Arabic proverb says, “That the world is a carcass, and those who hunt after it are dogs.” Ah, how many professors are there, who hunt more after earth than heaven; who hunt more after terrestrial than celestial things; who hunt more after nothingnesses and […]

Those treasures are mine! – Thomas Brooks

Those treasures are mine! – Thomas Brooks (“God’s Delight in the Progress of the Upright”) Faith enables us to walk in the ways of God, against all the discouragements which may befall us. Faith looks on God, and says with the psalmist, “This God is my God forever and ever! He shall be my guide […]

Those spots which a Christian finds in his own heart – Thomas Brooks

Those spots which a Christian finds in his own heart – Thomas Brooks “Purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:9 True faith purifies the heart from sin. Faith has two hands, one to lay hold on Christ, and another to sweep the heart, which is Christ’s house. Faith knows that Christ is of a dove-like […]

This perfect pattern – Thomas Brooks

This perfect pattern – Thomas Brooks “He who says he abides in Him, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6 Oh that this blessed Scripture might always lie warm upon our hearts. A Christian’s whole life should be nothing but a visible representation of Christ. It is not only our […]

This is the very knife that cut the throat of your child! – Thomas Brooks

This is the very knife that cut the throat of your child! – Thomas Brooks Suppose a man should come to his dinner table, and there should be a knife laid down, and it should be told him, “This is the very knife that cut the throat of your child!” If the man would use […]

This is not your resting-place – Thomas Brooks

This is not your resting-place – Thomas Brooks This life is full of trials, full of troubles, and full of changes. Sin within, and Satan and the world without, will keep a Christian from rest, until he comes to rest in the bosom of Christ. The life of a Christian is a race and what […]

This great doctor was so great a dunce – Thomas Brooks

This great doctor was so great a dunce – Thomas Brooks (“Touchstone of Sincerity”) Nicodemus was a man of great note, name, and fame among the pharisees, and he fasted, and prayed, and gave alms, and paid tithes, etc., and yet was a total stranger to the new birth. Regeneration was a paradox to him. […]

They will not believe it until they feel it! – Thomas Brooks

They will not believe it until they feel it! – Thomas Brooks “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” Luke 3:7 “Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Th. 1:10 1. The coming wrath is the greatest wrath. It is the greatest evil which can befall a soul. “Who knows the […]

They trample that matchless jewel – Thomas Brooks

They trample that matchless jewel – Thomas Brooks The soul is that spiritual and immortal substance, which is capable of union with God, and of communion with God, and of an eternal fruition of God. There are none but bear about with them, precious and immortal souls, which are more worth than ten thousand thousand […]

They shall never perish! – Thomas Brooks

They shall never perish! – Thomas Brooks “All that the Father gives Me, will come to Me.” John 6:37 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:39 The first fountain and […]

They run on another’s legs – Thomas Brooks

They run on another’s legs – Thomas Brooks (“The Glorious Day of the Saints Appearance”) “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I […]

They poured out a prayer – Thomas Brooks

They poured out a prayer – Thomas Brooks The greatest antidote against all the troubles of this life, is fervent prayer. “Lord, in trouble have they visited You; they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.” Isaiah 26:16 “They poured out a prayer.” Before, they would say a prayer but now, they […]

They play and fool away their precious time – Thomas Brooks

They play and fool away their precious time – Thomas Brooks Think on the brevity, shortness, and preciousness of time. Time is so precious a thing, that mountains of gold and rocks of pearl, cannot redeem one lost moment! Ah, what a precious commodity would time be in hell, where for one day to repent, […]

They pierce not, they cut not, they fly not – Thomas Brooks

They pierce not, they cut not, they fly not – Thomas Brooks “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 Cold prayers call for a denial. Be fervent, be warm, be importunate with God in all your closet duties and performances. Certainly, all those usual phrases of crying, wrestling, and striving […]

They heard, and were never the better – Thomas Brooks

They heard, and were never the better – Thomas Brooks “The word did not profit those who heard it, because it was not mixed with faith.” Hebrews 4:2 He does not speak here of unbelievers but of those who had faith in the soul but not in the exercise; and therefore the word did not […]

They chained and nailed their god Apollo to a post – Thomas Brooks

They chained and nailed their god Apollo to a post – Thomas Brooks “Moses said unto God If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here!” Exodus 33:15 Nothing would satisfy Moses, below the presence of God, because he knew that it would be better that they should never […]

They are not quite slain – Thomas Brooks

They are not quite slain – Thomas Brooks Though pride and envy have received their death’s wound at the soul’s first conversion yet they are not quite slain in a believer. The best of men are but men at the best, and there are still those bitter roots of pride, vain-glory, self-love, envy, etc., remaining […]

These harsh dispensations of God – Thomas Brooks

These harsh dispensations of God – Thomas Brooks “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 The godly are able to put a sweet, a loving, and a favorable construction upon the most sharp, […]

These Gergesites had rather lose Christ, than lose their porkers – Thomas Brooks

These Gergesites had rather lose Christ, than lose their porkers – Thomas Brooks “When they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.” Matthew 8:34 A man bewitched with the world will prefer the most base and contemptible things, before the Lord Jesus Christ. He will, with the Gergesenes, prefer his swine before […]

Then you will kiss it! – Thomas Brooks

Then you will kiss it! – Thomas Brooks “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Revelation 3:19 Christian! Always look on the rod of affliction, in conjunction with the hand which holds it. Thus Jesus did, “Shall I not drink the cup that My Father has given Me to drink?” Though the cup was […]

Then the scum appears! – Thomas Brooks

Then the scum appears! – Thomas Brooks Few Christians see themselves and understand themselves rightfully. By trials, God reveals much of a man’s sinful self to his pious self. When the fire is put under the pot then the scum appears; so when God tries a poor soul, Oh! how does . . .the scum […]

Then the mud appears – Thomas Brooks

Then the mud appears – Thomas Brooks God inflicts great and severe judgments upon men, and upon cities and countries that they may cease from sin, receive instruction, and reform and return to Him. God’s corrections should be our instructions,His lashes should be our lessons,His scourges should be our schoolmasters,His chastisements should be our admonishments. […]

Their dregs and dross – Thomas Brooks

Their dregs and dross – Thomas Brooks “Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of My people?” Jeremiah 9:7 By severe providences and fiery trials God designs the mortifying and purging away of His people’s sins. “This […]

The worth and preciousness of time – Thomas Brooks

The worth and preciousness of time – Thomas Brooks There is nothing which puts a more serious frame into a man’s heart, than to know the worth and preciousness of time. “Time,” says Bernard, “would be a good commodity in hell, and the selling of it most gainful; where, for one day, a man would […]

The worst and greatest tyrant in the world – Thomas Brooks

The worst and greatest tyrant in the world – Thomas Brooks “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” Titus 3:3. Sin is the worst and greatest tyrant in the world. Other tyrants […]

The worst & most infectious plague in the world – Thomas Brooks

The worst & most infectious plague in the world – Thomas Brooks “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 Keep at the greatest distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait which Satan holds forth to catch you! It is our […]

The world and Paul were well agreed – Thomas Brooks

The world and Paul were well agreed – Thomas Brooks “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Gal. 6:14 Paul scorned, despised, and rejected the world and the world scorned, despised, and rejected him. Paul […]

The world and I am well agreed – Thomas Brooks

The world and I am well agreed – Thomas Brooks Assurance will keep the heart from an inordinate running out after the world, and the glory thereof. Moses, having an assurance of the recompense of reward, and of God’s love and favor, could not be drawn by all the honors, pleasures, and treasures of Egypt. […]

The voice of mercy – Thomas Brooks

The voice of mercy – Thomas Brooks God’s mercies make a humble soul glad but not proud. A humble soul is lowest when his mercies are highest; he is least when he is greatest; he is lowest when he is highest; he is most poor when he is most rich. Nothing melts like mercy,nothing draws […]

The very soul of prayer – Thomas Brooks

The very soul of prayer – Thomas Brooks “My son, give Me your heart.” Proverbs 23:26 In all your closet-duties God looks first and most to your hearts. It is not a piece, it is not a corner of the heart, which will satisfy the Maker of the heart. The very soul of prayer lies […]

The very place in which the wicked shall lodge – Thomas Brooks

The very place in which the wicked shall lodge – Thomas Brooks “The wicked shall be turned into hell.” Psalm 9:17 That is, “The wicked shall certainly be turned into the nethermost hell!” Yes, they shall forcibly be turned into the lowest and darkest place in hell. God will, as it were, with both hands […]

The unsearchable riches of Christ! – Thomas Brooks

The unsearchable riches of Christ! – Thomas Brooks There is everything in Christ to encourage the greatest sinners to believe on Him, to rest and lean upon Him for all happiness and blessedness. Christ is . . .the greatest good,the choicest good,the chief good,the most suitable good,the most necessary good;a pure good,a real good,a total […]

The unsearchable riches of Christ! – Thomas Brooks

The unsearchable riches of Christ! – Thomas Brooks There is everything in Christ to encourage the greatest sinners to believe on Him, to rest and lean upon Him for all happiness and blessedness. Christ is . . .the greatest good,the choicest good,the chief good,the most suitable good,the most necessary gooda pure good,a real good,a total […]

The ungodly flatter themselves – Thomas Brooks

The ungodly flatter themselves – Thomas Brooks The ungodly flatter themselves that God is made up all of mercy, and believe that they shall go to heaven until they awake with everlasting flames about their ears as you may see in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God suddenly casts sinners to hell He suddenly […]

The true salamander’s skin! – Thomas Brooks

The true salamander’s skin! – Thomas Brooks “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sins.” 1 John 1:7 O you who truly fear the Lord, and who are united to Christ by faith, know for your everlasting comfort and support that Christ has secured you . . .from infernal fire,from everlasting fire,from […]

The true convert – Thomas Brooks

The true convert – Thomas Brooks The true convert prizes Christ above all. Ordinances are sweet but Christ is more sweet. Saints are precious but Christ is far more precious. Heaven is glorious but Christ is infinitely more glorious. The first thing that I would ask, if I might have it, says the believer is […]

The true Christian hates all sin – Thomas Brooks

The true Christian hates all sin – Thomas Brooks (“The Glorious Day of the Saints Appearance”) “I hate every wrong path.” Psalm 119:104 The original word signifies to hate with a deadly and irreconcilable hatred; to hate so as that nothing will satisfy but the destruction of the thing hated. The true Christian hates all […]

The trifling portions of this world – Thomas Brooks

The trifling portions of this world – Thomas Brooks God gives the trifling portions of this world to the vilest and worst of men; but His gold His Christ, Himself He gives only to His saints. Briers, which are for hogs, grow upon every hedge; but roses, which are for men, they only grow in […]

The trifles which God gives – Thomas Brooks

The trifles which God gives – Thomas Brooks The emperor Augustus, in his great feasts, gave trifles to some but gold to his favorites. Just so honors, riches and worldly pleasures are the trifles which God gives to the worst of men. God gives His gold His special love and grace only to His people.

The synagogue of incarnate devils! – Thomas Brooks

The synagogue of incarnate devils! – Thomas Brooks O sirs, this is and this must be for a lamentation, that there are so many ale-houses, and gaming-houses, and whore-houses, which are usually stuffed with vain people, yes, with the very worst of the worst of men. Certainly these houses are the very suburbs and seminaries […]

The sword of His pure, infinite, and incensed wrath – Thomas Brooks

The sword of His pure, infinite, and incensed wrath – Thomas Brooks To see God thrust the sword of His pure, infinite, and incensed wrath through the very heart of His dearest Son, notwithstanding all His supplications, prayers, tears, and strong cries is the highest manifestation of the Lord’s hatred and indignation of sin which […]

The sweetest joys are from the sourest tears – Thomas Brooks

The sweetest joys are from the sourest tears – Thomas Brooks Sin is a turning the back upon God and the face towards hell. Repentance is a turning the back upon sin and a setting the face towards God! True repentance is a sorrowing for sin because it is offensive to God. Peter was sorry […]

The sweetest and the most comforting word – Thomas Brooks

The sweetest and the most comforting word – Thomas Brooks The knowledge of a man’s property in God is the comfort of comforts. Property makes every comfort, a pleasurable comfort, a delightful comfort. When a man walks . . .in a fair meadow, and can write mine upon it,into a pleasant garden, and can write […]

The sweetener – Thomas Brooks

The sweetener – Thomas Brooks (“Hypocrites Detected, Anatomized, Impeached, Arraigned and Condemned” 1650) Communion with God is . . .the life of all your graces;the sweetener of all providences and mercies;the strengthener of your hearts and hands;the soul of your comforts;the crown of your souls. Nothing can compare with communion with Godto fence you against […]

The sweet nature of grace – Thomas Brooks

The sweet nature of grace – Thomas Brooks Dwell much upon the sweet nature of grace. Grace begets the greatest joy and sweetness in the hearts of men, that possibly can be. Grace is a panoply against all troubles and a paradise of all pleasures. Grace is compared to the sweetest things; to sweet spices, […]

The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory! – Thomas Brooks

The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory! – Thomas Brooks Christ can never rest satisfied until His gracious communion with His people here, issues in their perfect and glorious communion with Him in heaven. “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory.” […]

The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory – Thomas Brooks

The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory – Thomas Brooks “His mouth is most sweet, and He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.” Song 5:16 That is, His mouth is sweetnesses, and He is altogether desirablenesses, or He is wholly desirable. Alas! says the spouse, I lack words […]

The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory – Thomas Brooks

The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory – Thomas Brooks “And they were calling to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3 The more holy any are, the more deeply are they affected and captivated with the holiness of God. The holy […]

The sovereignty of God – Thomas Brooks

The sovereignty of God – Thomas Brooks The sovereignty of God is that golden scepter in His hand which He will make all bow to, either . . .by His word or by His works,by His mercies or by His judgments. This scepter must be kissed and submitted to, or else fire and sword, desolation […]

The shop, the farm, and the oxen – Thomas Brooks

The shop, the farm, and the oxen – Thomas Brooks Take heed of engaging yourselves in a crowd of worldly businesses. Many have so much to do on earth that they have no time to look up to heaven. As much earth puts out the fire, so much worldly business puts out the fire of […]

The sharpest dealings of God with you – Thomas Brooks

The sharpest dealings of God with you – Thomas Brooks “Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?” Lamentations 3:39 To move you to silence under your sorest and your sharpest trials, consider, that you have deserved greater and heavier afflictions than those you are under. Has God taken away one mercy? […]

The secret of being content – Thomas Brooks

The secret of being content – Thomas Brooks “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living […]

The secret of being content – Thomas Brooks

The secret of being content – Thomas Brooks A man needs very little of this world’s goods to carry him through his pilgrimage, until he comes to his home until he comes to heaven. A little will satisfy the demands of nature; though nothing will satisfy a man’s lusts! “I have learned to be content […]

The secret kissesThe secret kisses – Thomas Brooks

The secret kissesThe secret kisses – Thomas Brooks When a Christian is in a wilderness, which is a very solitary place, then God delights to speak friendly and comfortably to him: Hosea 2:14, “Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak friendly or comfortably to her,” or as the Hebrew […]

The Scriptures are sufficient – Thomas Brooks

The Scriptures are sufficient – Thomas Brooks “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Scriptures are sufficient . . .to inform the ignorant,to confute the erroneous,to reform the wicked, […]

The scholar’s knowledge – Thomas Brooks

The scholar’s knowledge – Thomas Brooks What is the scholar’s knowledge of the strength, riches, glories, and sweetness of far countries, obtained by maps and books compared to their knowledge, who daily see and enjoy those things? Truly, that knowledge which is only notional, speculative, and general; which is gathered out of books, discourses, and […]

The saints’ hell and the sinners’ heaven – Thomas Brooks

The saints’ hell and the sinners’ heaven – Thomas Brooks “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 This present life is the saints’ hell and the sinners’ heaven. The next life will be the saints’ heaven and the sinners’ hell. Here on earth wicked […]

The righteousness of sanctification – Thomas Brooks

The righteousness of sanctification – Thomas Brooks “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 The righteousness of sanctification, or imparted righteousness, lies in the Spirit’s infusing into the soul those holy principles, divine qualities, or supernatural graces, that the apostle mentions in Galatians 5:22-23. […]

The right way of mortifying of sin – Thomas Brooks

The right way of mortifying of sin – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

The richest man in the world – Thomas Brooks

The richest man in the world – Thomas Brooks “Having nothing and yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians 6:10 This is a riddle the world cannot understand. A holy man cannot be a poor man. A holy man is always the richest man. The riches of a Christian have no bottom. All a saint’s bags, […]

The regal gate – Thomas Brooks

The regal gate – Thomas Brooks “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 A man may always pray habitually; he may have his heart in a praying disposition in all estates and conditions, in prosperity and adversity, in health and sickness, in strength and weakness, in wealth and wants, in life and death. The Christian needs […]

The red sea of Christ’s blood – Thomas Brooks

The red sea of Christ’s blood – Thomas Brooks “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7 O Lord! when I look upon my manifold weaknesses and imperfections I am many times not only grieved, but also staggered! But when I […]

The pure in heart – Thomas Brooks

The pure in heart – Thomas Brooks “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 Dear hearts! As we truly say, that gold is pure gold, though much dross may hang about it; and as we truly say, that such and such an air is pure air, though at times […]

The prosperity of the wicked – Thomas Brooks

The prosperity of the wicked – Thomas Brooks “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They say, ‘How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?’ This is what the wicked are like […]

The prosperity of the wicked – Thomas Brooks

The prosperity of the wicked – Thomas Brooks Oh you who have God for your portion, do not envy, do not fret and vex, at the prosperity of the wicked; for even though they have more than their heart can wish, even though they live in pleasure and wallow in all carnal and sensual delights […]

The promises of God – Thomas Brooks

The promises of God – Thomas Brooks The promises of God are as so many rich mines, they are as so many choice flowers of paradise, they are the food, life, and strength of the soul. They are as a staff to support the soul, and they are as jewelry to adorn the soul, and […]

The presence of a loving God! – Thomas Brooks

The presence of a loving God! – Thomas Brooks “Since you were precious in My sight, and I have loved you.” Isaiah 43:4 God loves His people with a first love! 1 John 4:19 “We love Him because He first loved us.” By nature we were without God, and afar off from God; we were […]

The presence of a compassionate God! – Thomas Brooks

The presence of a compassionate God! – Thomas Brooks “His compassions never fail!” Lamentations 3:22 Each believer has the presence of . . .a God of mercy,a God of tenderness,a God of compassion. Mercy is as essential to God as light is to the sun, or as heat is to the fire. He delights in […]

The pouring forth of all His wrath – Thomas Brooks

The pouring forth of all His wrath – Thomas Brooks “I will sing of Your love and justice.” Psalm 101:1 Mercy is God’s Alpha justice is His Omega. When God’s mercy is despised then His justice takes the throne! God is like a prince, who first hangs out the white flag of mercy; if this […]

The plague of unsatisfiedness – Thomas Brooks

The plague of unsatisfiedness – Thomas Brooks “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of covetousness; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 Covetousness is . . .a very great and grievous sin;a mother-sin;a breeding sin;a sin which has all sin in its womb;a very vile […]

The outward dress and garb of religion – Thomas Brooks

The outward dress and garb of religion – Thomas Brooks “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law justice, mercy and faithfulness.” Matthew 23:23 Take heed of spending too much […]

The only happy man in the world! – Thomas Brooks

The only happy man in the world! – Thomas Brooks “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Ps. 144:15 All the happiness and blessedness of the people of God consists in this that God is their God, and that He is their portion, and that they are His inheritance! Oh, the heaped up […]

The only ground of God’s love – Thomas Brooks

The only ground of God’s love – Thomas Brooks The Lord Jesus Christ is a gift of free grace. Christ is the greatest, the sweetest, the choicest, the chief gift which God ever gave; and yet this gift is given by a hand of love. The only ground of God’s love is His love. The […]

The old man – Thomas Brooks

The old man – Thomas Brooks In every regenerate man, there are two men an old man and a new man; or if you please, flesh and spirit. Romans 7. The old man, the fleshly part, will incline the soul, and bias the soul, as well to sins against the gospel, as to sins against […]

The occasions and allurements of sin – Thomas Brooks

The occasions and allurements of sin – Thomas Brooks He who ventures upon the occasion of sin and then prays, “Lord, lead me not into temptation,” is like him who thrusts his finger into the fire, and then prays that it may not be burnt. He who will not fly from the occasions and allurements […]

The most powerful charm of Satan – Thomas Brooks

The most powerful charm of Satan – Thomas Brooks Honors, riches, and pleasures are the three deities, which all people adore, and to whom they continually sacrifice their best thoughts and energies. These, for their unparalleled vanity, may well be called “the vanity of vanities!” Honors, riches, and pleasures are but . . .a mere […]

The most golden Christians – Thomas Brooks

The most golden Christians – Thomas Brooks Under all fiery trials, God will make good that golden promise, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” Romans 8:28. Mark, the apostle does not say, we suppose, or we hope, or we conjecture but we know! We know that […]

The most glittering services – Thomas Brooks

The most glittering services – Thomas Brooks The most glittering services of unregenerate people are but dead works, because they proceed not from a principle of spiritual life, and they lead to death, Romans 6:23, and leave a sentence of death upon the soul, until it is washed off by the blood of the Lamb.

The mortifying of your darling sins – Thomas Brooks

The mortifying of your darling sins – Thomas Brooks Most professing Christians have not the right art of mortifying sin. All their attempts are to hide a lust, not to quench it. A great motive to provoke you to the mortifying of your darling sins, is solemnly to consider, that the conquest and effectual mortifying […]

The more vile Christ made Himself for us – Thomas Brooks

The more vile Christ made Himself for us – Thomas Brooks “Let the thoughts of a crucified Christ,” says one, “be never out of your mind, let them be food and drink unto you, let them be your sweetness and consolation, your honey and your desire, your reading and your meditation.” Ah! remember this,His wounds […]

The more Christ has suffered for us – Thomas Brooks

The more Christ has suffered for us – Thomas Brooks The more Christ has suffered for us the dearer Christ should be unto us. The greater and the bitterer Christ’s sufferings have been for us the greater and the sweeter should our love be to Him. O my friends! there is no love but a […]

The more a Christian is tempted – Thomas Brooks

The more a Christian is tempted – Thomas Brooks God had but one Son without corruption but He had none without temptation! By temptations the Lord will make His people more and more conformable to the image of His Son. Christ was much tempted He was often in the school of temptation; and the more […]

The Midas touch – Thomas Brooks

The Midas touch – Thomas Brooks Faith is the most useful grace. It is a Christian’s right eye, without which he cannot see for Christ; it is his right hand, without which he cannot do for Christ; it is his tongue, without which he cannot speak for Christ; it is his very vital spirits, without […]

The meritorious cause of all our sorrows and – Thomas Brooks

The meritorious cause of all our sorrows and – Thomas Brooks “Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:39-40 “I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against Him.” Micah […]

The Land of Cabul – Thomas Brooks

The Land of Cabul – Thomas Brooks “An incorruptible inheritance.” 1 Peter 1:4 All earthly inheritances are liable to corruption; they are true gardens of Adonis where we can gather nothing but trivial flowers, surrounded with many briars, thorns and thistles. Oh, the hands, the hearts, the thoughts, the lives which have been corrupted by […]

The Jews – Thomas Brooks

The Jews – Thomas Brooks “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” “Why? What crime has He committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” Mat. 27:22-23 “Him . . . you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and […]

The hypocrite’s only care – Thomas Brooks

The hypocrite’s only care – Thomas Brooks The hypocrite’s only care is to keep his outward life from defilement. But the sincere Christian’s care is mainly to keep his heart from defilement; for he very well knows, that if he can but keep his heart clean he shall with more ease keep his life clean. […]

The hypocrite’s hope – Thomas Brooks

The hypocrite’s hope – Thomas Brooks “For what hope do the godless have, when God cuts them off and takes away their life?” Job 27:8 “When the wicked die, their hopes all perish.” Prov. 11:7 That assurance is but presumption, which allows men . . .to play with sin,to be bold with sin,to make light […]

The hypocrite’s bane – Thomas Brooks

The hypocrite’s bane – Thomas Brooks (“Touchstone of Sincerity”) “The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 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 A […]

The humble man’s heart – Thomas Brooks

The humble man’s heart – Thomas Brooks “For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite […]

The hottest and the darkest place in hell – Thomas Brooks

The hottest and the darkest place in hell – Thomas Brooks “Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites, for you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.” Matthew 23:14 Hypocrites shall be double damned! The hottest and the darkest place in hell is reserved for […]

The honey and the sting! – Thomas Brooks

The honey and the sting! – Thomas Brooks “For He does not willingly (or as the Hebrew has it, ‘from His heart’) bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” Lamentations 3:33 Christians conclude that God’s heart was not in their afflictions, though His hand was. He takes no delight to afflict His children; […]

The hoary head – Thomas Brooks

The hoary head – Thomas Brooks “The hoary head is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31 A white head, accompanied with a holy heart, makes a man truly honorable. There are two glorious sights in the world: the one is, a young man walking in his […]

The highest heavens and the lowest hearts – Thomas Brooks

The highest heavens and the lowest hearts – Thomas Brooks “For this is what the high and lofty One says He who lives forever, whose name is holy I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and […]

The hell of hell – Thomas Brooks

The hell of hell – Thomas Brooks And as there are a diversity of torments in hell, so the torments of hell are everlasting. “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!” Mt. 25:41 The sentence which shall be passed upon them, is eternal. God […]

The heaviest burden in all the world! – Thomas Brooks

The heaviest burden in all the world! – Thomas Brooks “My sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.” Psalm 40:12 “For my sins have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.” Psalm […]

The happy exchange – Thomas Brooks

The happy exchange – Thomas Brooks I heartily wish that all who are concerned in this sad loss, were more taken up in minding the happy exchange which Mary has made, than with your present loss. She has exchanged:earth for heaven,a wilderness for a paradise,a prison for a palace,a house made with hands for one […]

The guts and garbage of the earth – Thomas Brooks

The guts and garbage of the earth – Thomas Brooks God is an incomparable portion. All the gold of Ophir, and all the silver of the Indies, which are but the guts and garbage of the earth, are nothing, yes, less than nothing, compared with God. God is a portion more precious than all those […]

The greatest thief – Thomas Brooks

The greatest thief – Thomas Brooks Sin is the greatest thief, the greatest robber in the world. It robbed the angels of all their glory. It robbed Adam of his paradise and felicity. Sin has robbed all mankind of five precious jewels, the least of which was more worth than heaven and earth. 1. Sin […]

The greatest evil in all the world – Thomas Brooks

The greatest evil in all the world – Thomas Brooks Sin is the greatest evil in all the world.Sin is the only thingwhich God abhors,which has brought Jesus Christ to the cross,which damns souls,which shuts heaven, andwhich has laid the foundations of hell. Oh, sin is the pricking thorn in my eye, the deadly arrow […]

The great work of the ministry – Thomas Brooks

The great work of the ministry – Thomas Brooks I have always looked upon the great work of the ministry to consist in two things: first, in making unholy men holy; and, secondly, in making those who are already holy to be more and more holy. First to beget holiness, and then to nurse up […]

The great master-scar of the soul – Thomas Brooks

The great master-scar of the soul – Thomas Brooks “I hate pride and arrogance!” Proverbs 8:13 Take heed of pride and haughtiness of spirit. Pride is the great master-scar of the soul; it will bud and blossom it cannot be hidden. Pride is the leprosy of the soul, which breaks forth in the very forehead! […]

The graces which are in Christians – Thomas Brooks

The graces which are in Christians – Thomas Brooks “As He is so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17 To be a holy person is to know a holy Christ, to be in love with a holy Christ, and to imitate the virtues of a holy Christ. “Indeed, we have all received grace […]

The golden link of love! – Thomas Brooks

The golden link of love! – Thomas Brooks It was the golden link of love that fastened Christ to the cross! Certainly the more Christ has suffered for us, the more dear Christ should be unto us. The more bitter His sufferings have been for us, the more sweet His love should be to us, […]

The gate of heaven! – Thomas Brooks

The gate of heaven! – Thomas Brooks The best and sweetest flowers of Paradise God gives to His people when they are upon their knees. Prayer is the gate of heaven, a key to let us into Paradise. God hears no more than the heart speaks; and if the heart be dumb God will certainly […]

The funeral of all your sorrows! – Thomas Brooks

The funeral of all your sorrows! – Thomas Brooks At death, you shall gain full freedom and liberty from all your enemies within and without namely, sin, Satan, and the world! Death will free you from the indwelling power of sin. In this present world, sin plays the tyrant; but in heaven there is no […]

The funeral – Thomas Brooks

The funeral – Thomas Brooks A Christian knows that death shall be the funeral of all . . .his sins,his sorrows,his afflictions,his temptations,his vexations,his oppressions,his persecutions. He knows that death shall be the resurrection of all . . .his hopes,his joys,his delights,his comforts,his contentments. He knows that death shall bring him to a more clear, […]

The fool’s bauble, the fool’s fiddle – Thomas Brooks

The fool’s bauble, the fool’s fiddle – Thomas Brooks “The wicked freely strut about, when what is vile is honored among men.” Psalm 12:8 “They love to indulge in evil pleasures.” 2 Peter 2:13. “Their souls delight in their abominations.” Isaiah 66:3 Proverbs 10:23, “A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct.” Evil conduct is the […]

The foolish Indians – Thomas Brooks

The foolish Indians – Thomas Brooks The foolish Indians preferred every toy and trifle, before their mines of gold. Just so, many foolish professors prefer the trifling vanities of this world, before the glorious treasures and endless pleasures which are at God’s right hand. Witness that high price which they set upon . . .the […]

The first step towards heaven – Thomas Brooks

The first step towards heaven – Thomas Brooks “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick.” Matthew 9:12 If you would be truly godly, then you must see how bad you are, how vile, how sinful, how wretched you are. No man begins to be good until he sees himself to […]

The eyes of the Lord – Thomas Brooks

The eyes of the Lord – Thomas Brooks “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 God is . . .all ear to hear,all hand to punish,all power to protect,all wisdom to direct,all goodness to […]

The eye of heaven – Thomas Brooks

The eye of heaven – Thomas Brooks “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13 Each believer has the presence of a WISE God, of an omniscient God. God fills all things, He encompasses all things, and He sustains all things and therefore He […]

The envy of devils – Thomas Brooks

The envy of devils – Thomas Brooks “For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.” Hebrews 2:16 Stand still, and admire and wonder at the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners that He should rather die for us, than the fallen angels! They were creatures of a more noble extract, and […]

The dumb sinner – Thomas Brooks

The dumb sinner – Thomas Brooks “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 The threefold promise annexed to the […]

The dregs of old age! – Thomas Brooks

The dregs of old age! – Thomas Brooks “Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!” Numbers 23:10 Many desire to repent when old age comes when . . .their wits are cracked,their souls distracted,their senses stupefied,their hearts astonished,their minds darkened, andtheir bodies diseased and distempered.Oh, then they […]

The dirty lane – Thomas Brooks

The dirty lane – Thomas Brooks “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21 Look upon your dying day as a gainful day. There is no gain compared to that which comes in by death. A Christian gets more by death, than he does by life. To be in Christ […]

The diamond in that ring! – Thomas Brooks

The diamond in that ring! – Thomas Brooks The whole Scripture is but one entire love-letter, all written in golden letters, dispatched from the Lord Christ to His beloved spouse on earth. In it, there is so much to be read of . . .the love of Christ,the heart of Christ,the kindness of Christ,the grace […]

The devil’s tennis-ball – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s tennis-ball – Thomas Brooks “Warn those who are idle.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Take heed of an idle and slothful spirit. An idle life and a holy heart are far asunder. By doing nothing men learn to do evil things. It is easy slipping out of an idle life into an evil and wicked […]

The devil’s tennis-ball – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s tennis-ball – Thomas Brooks “Warn those who are idle.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Take heed of an idle and slothful spirit. An idle life and a holy heart are far asunder. By doing nothing men learn to do evil things. It is easy slipping out of an idle life into an evil and wicked […]

The devil’s tennis-ball – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s tennis-ball – Thomas Brooks “We urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle!” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 The hour of idleness is the hour of temptation. An idle person is the devil’s tennis-ball tossed by him at his pleasure. Among the Egyptians idleness was a capital crime. Among the Lucans, he who lent money […]

The devil’s logic – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s logic – Thomas Brooks “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2 Certainly to argue from gospel mercy to sinful liberty, is the devil’s logic. The more a man lives […]

The devil’s logic – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s logic – Thomas Brooks “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1, 2 To argue from God’s mercy to sinful liberty is the devil’s logic and such logicians do ever walk as upon a mine of […]

The devil’s brat! – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s brat! – Thomas Brooks “That sin might become utterly sinful.” Romans 7:13 Paul, to set forth the formidable evil that is in sin, expresses it thus. He could find nothing more evil and odious to express sin by than itself. Sin is so great an evil, that it cannot have a worse epithet […]

The devil’s best customers! – Thomas Brooks

The devil’s best customers! – Thomas Brooks “God will surely judge people who are immoral.” Heb. 13:4 If men will not judge them, God Himself will, and give them a portion of misery answerable to their transgression. Sometimes He judges them in this life by pouring forth of His wrath upon their bodies, souls, consciences, […]

The cowardice of the minister – Thomas Brooks

The cowardice of the minister – Thomas Brooks “Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” Acts 20:26-27 The cowardice of the minister is cruelty; if he fears the faces of men, he […]

The covenant of grace – Thomas Brooks

The covenant of grace – Thomas Brooks “He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. Will He not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?” 2 Samuel 23:5 All mankind would have been eternally lost had God not, of His own free grace and mercy, […]

The covenant of grace – Thomas Brooks

The covenant of grace – Thomas Brooks “I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear Me, so that they will never turn away from Me.” Jeremiah 32:40 The covenant of grace is that agreement which God has made with sinful […]

The constant cry of the rod – Thomas Brooks

The constant cry of the rod – Thomas Brooks One lesson that you are to learn by the rod of affliction, is to get more weaned and more mortified affections to all worldly comforts, contentments, and enjoyments. A man never comes to experience so much of . . .the emptiness,the nothingness,the uselessness,the vanity,the mutability,the impotency,the […]

The common inn of all mankind – Thomas Brooks

The common inn of all mankind – Thomas Brooks “None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death.” Ecclesiastes 8:8 Death is the common inn of all mankind. Death knows no difference between robes and rags, between prince and peasant. “All flesh is grass.” The flesh of princes, nobles, counselors, generals, […]

The cockatrice must be crushed – Thomas Brooks

The cockatrice must be crushed – Thomas Brooks “Lust having conceived, brings forth sin.” James 1:15 First, sin has its conception which is its delight; and then sin has its birth which is its action; and then sin has its growth which is its custom; and then sin has its end which is its damnation! […]

The choicest, sweetest, wisest, strongest Christian – Thomas Brooks

The choicest, sweetest, wisest, strongest Christian – Thomas Brooks Remember that it is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, which makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee which gathers honey but her abiding for a time […]

The choicest saints – Thomas Brooks

The choicest saints – Thomas Brooks Such is the universal corruption of human nature, that the souls of the best, of the purest, and of the holiest men in the world do from day to day, yes, from moment to moment, contract some filth and uncleanness. The choicest saints can never acquit themselves from sins […]

The chief – Thomas Brooks

The chief – Thomas Brooks “My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand.” Song of Songs 5:10 Christ is the chief good.All good is in the chief good. Christ is all things to Christians. He is . . .bread to feed them,a fountain to refresh them,a physician to heal them,a rock to […]

The bulls-eye – Thomas Brooks

The bulls-eye – Thomas Brooks “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:7-8. A genuine Christian ordinarily […]

The bridge which leads to the paradise of God – Thomas Brooks

The bridge which leads to the paradise of God – Thomas Brooks If God is a believer’s portion, then never let a believer be afraid to die, or unwilling to die. Let those be afraid to die who have only this world for their portion here, and hell for their portion hereafter. But let not […]

The book of life – Thomas Brooks

The book of life – Thomas Brooks “And another book was opened, which is the book of life.” Revelation 20:12 The names of the elect are written in the book of life. They do not obtain salvation by chance, but were elected of God to eternal life and happiness before the foundation of the world. […]

The bond of iniquity – Thomas Brooks

The bond of iniquity – Thomas Brooks “I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” Acts 8:23 If you would arm and fence yourselves against sin, then look upon sin as the soul’s bonds. Iniquity is a chain, a bond. Now, bonds and chains gall the body, […]

The best way to be preserved from falling into hell – Thomas Brooks

The best way to be preserved from falling into hell – Thomas Brooks “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!” Matthew 25:41 The sinner’s delight here is momentary; that which torments hereafter is perpetual. The best way to be preserved from falling into hell, […]

The best way to be holy – Thomas Brooks

The best way to be holy – Thomas Brooks “Turn to the Lord with weeping and with mourning.” Joel 2:12 The best way to be holy is to accuse, indict, arraign, and condemn yourself for your unholiness. Greatly lament and mourn over your own unholiness, over your own wickedness. The first step to holiness, is […]

The best of saints are sinners – Thomas Brooks

The best of saints are sinners – Thomas Brooks A child of God may slip into a sin as a sheep may slip into the mire. But he does not, and cannot wallow in sin as the swine wallows in the mire. The best of saints are sinners, though the worst and weakest of saints […]

The best means to mortify sin – Thomas Brooks

The best means to mortify sin – Thomas Brooks “Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5 While a darling sin lives and keeps the throne in the heart, grace and holiness will be kept exceeding weak and low. But when […]

The best armor against evil lusts – Thomas Brooks

The best armor against evil lusts – Thomas Brooks “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 David hides the word in his heart as a treasure that he might not lose it; and as a rule that he might not transgress against it. The law […]

The bent of the needle – Thomas Brooks

The bent of the needle – Thomas Brooks “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.” 1 John 3:6 A trade, a course of sin is inconsistent with a state of grace. The best saints have sadly miscarried as to particular […]

The beauty and glory of a Christian – Thomas Brooks

The beauty and glory of a Christian – Thomas Brooks Holiness will render you most beautiful and amiable. As holiness is the beauty of God, and the beauty of angels so it is the beauty and glory of a Christian also. Holiness casts such a beauty upon man, as makes him very amiable and desirable. […]

The baits which these men bite at – Thomas Brooks

The baits which these men bite at – Thomas Brooks There are three things in a holy heart, which strongly incline it to persevere when all outward encouragements fail. The first is a forcible principle divine love.The second is a mighty aid the Spirit of God.The third is a high aim the glory of God. […]

That wise and skillful physician – Thomas Brooks

That wise and skillful physician – Thomas Brooks God’s wisdom so tempers and orders all afflictions, crosses, and losses as to make them work kindly and sweetly for our good. God is that wise and skillful physician, who can turn . . .poison into cordials,diseases into remedies,crosses into crowns, andthe greatest losses into the greatest […]

That white devil! – Thomas Brooks

That white devil! – Thomas Brooks While the disciples were healing diseases and casting out demons, the proud white devil was a-stirring in their own souls; as is evident by that gentle rebuke which our Savior gives them in Luke 10:20, “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you.” There is no pious duty which […]

That rich and royal robe – Thomas Brooks

That rich and royal robe – Thomas Brooks “I desire to be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Phil. 3:9 Paul would not be found in a legal […]

That immortal bird! – Thomas Brooks

That immortal bird! – Thomas Brooks As the mercy of God is infinite towards the elect so the justice of God is infinite towards the reprobate in hell. The reprobate shall have . . .punishment without pity,misery without mercy,sorrow without support,crying without compassion,mischief without measure,and torment without end! All men in misery comfort themselves with […]

That golden devil – Thomas Brooks

That golden devil – Thomas Brooks “Covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5 Judas’ life was as fair and as free from spots and blots as the lives of any of the apostles; no scandalous sin was to be found upon him. But that golden devil ‘covetousness’ was his sin and his everlasting ruin. His apostleship, […]

That dead man or dead woman – Thomas Brooks

That dead man or dead woman – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) “When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge!” Prov. 14:32 We should lament over that dead man or dead woman . . .whom hell harbors,whom the devil devours,whom divine justice […]

Tears have tongues – Thomas Brooks

Tears have tongues – Thomas Brooks “The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.” Psalm 6:8 Tears are not mutes. Tears have a voice. Tears have tongues. Tears can speak. There is no prayer compared to those which secret tears make in the ears of God. Tears make the most forcible entry into the […]

Tears have a voice – Thomas Brooks

Tears have a voice – Thomas Brooks “The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. “Psalm 6:8 Sometimes a penitent man’s eyes will in some way tell what his tongue can in no way utter. Many times the penitent is better at weeping, than he is at speaking. Tears have a voice, and are […]

Tears have a voice – Thomas Brooks

Tears have a voice – Thomas Brooks “The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.” Psalm 6:8 Tears have a voice. God has an eye as well upon a man’s tears as upon his prayers. Penitent tears are divine ambassadors, which never return from the throne of grace without answers of grace. Peter said […]

Take heed of the witch – Thomas Brooks

Take heed of the witch – Thomas Brooks “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now I tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things.” Philippians […]

Sweetened with three ingredients – Thomas Brooks

Sweetened with three ingredients – Thomas Brooks “The cup which My Father has given Me shall I not drink it?” John 18:11 Never did bridegroom go with more cheerfulness to be married to his bride than our Lord Jesus went to His cross! Though the cup which the Father put into Christ’s hand was bitter, […]

Sweeten all your bitters – Thomas Brooks

Sweeten all your bitters – Thomas Brooks “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. When a man’s heart is once sanctified, then all things are sanctified to him. O sirs! this is so great and so […]

Sweet poisons! – Thomas Brooks

Sweet poisons! – Thomas Brooks “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:9 Satan presents the world in such a dress, and in such a garb, as to ensnare the soul, and to win the affection of the soul. He represents the world to them in […]

Sweet honey out of the bitterest herbs – Thomas Brooks

Sweet honey out of the bitterest herbs – Thomas Brooks “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 Consider that all your afflictions, troubles, and trials shall work for your good. Why then should you fret, […]

Suffering times – Thomas Brooks

Suffering times – Thomas Brooks “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!” Matthew 5:11-12. Suffering times are times wherein the Lord is pleased to give His people some sense of […]

Such lessons! – Thomas Brooks

Such lessons! – Thomas Brooks “Blessed is the man You chasten, O Lord, the man You teach from Your law.” Psalm 94:12 All the chastening in the world, without divine teaching, will never make a man blessed. That man who finds correction attended with instruction, and lashing with lessoning is a happy man. If God, […]

Such guilty, filthy, and polluted souls! – Thomas Brooks

Such guilty, filthy, and polluted souls! – Thomas Brooks “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the […]

Such gnats as these – Thomas Brooks

Such gnats as these – Thomas Brooks “Oh cleanse me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12 An unsound heart may mourn for great sins which make great wounds in his conscience and credit, and which leave a great blot upon his name, or that waste or rot his body, or destroy his estate, or which expose […]

Such a wretch you would have been! – Thomas Brooks

Such a wretch you would have been! – Thomas Brooks “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 There are but few upon whom God bestows His saving love. Tell me, are not the gifts which Christ has given you rare gifts? What would you have been […]

Such a smoke in the soul – Thomas Brooks

Such a smoke in the soul – Thomas Brooks A man may have true grace and yet lack assurance, and this may arise from that smoke and clouds, those fears and doubts which corruption raises in the soul. Just so, that the soul cannot see those excellent graces which otherwise might be discerned. Though there […]

Such a friend – Thomas Brooks

Such a friend – Thomas Brooks “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 Such a friend is Christ. He is so a friend to every one of His people as if He were a friend to none besides. Christ is . . .an omnipotent friend;an omniscient friend;an omnipresent friend;an indeficient […]

Strangers and pilgrims – Thomas Brooks

Strangers and pilgrims – Thomas Brooks “To God’s elect, strangers in the world,” 1 Peter 1:1 This world is a wilderness, and believers, as pilgrims and strangers, must pass through it to their heavenly Canaan. “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” […]

Stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel! – Thomas Brooks

Stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel! – Thomas Brooks “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!” Isaiah 6:3 Certainly there is nothing which renders God so formidable and dreadful to unholy people as His holiness does. “Leave this way, get off this path and stop confronting us with the Holy One of […]

Stone him to death! – Thomas Brooks

Stone him to death! – Thomas Brooks “If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other gods (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or […]

Splendida peccata – Thomas Brooks

Splendida peccata – Thomas Brooks O sirs, all our pious works and services must be wrought . . .from God,for God,in God, andaccording to Godor else they will be but splendida peccata splendid sins!

Spit out the sweet morsels of sin – Thomas Brooks

Spit out the sweet morsels of sin – Thomas Brooks “When He comes, He will convict the world about sin.” John 16:8 A man never comes . . .to see his sins, norto be sick of his sins, norto loathe his sins, norto arraign his sins, norto condemn his sins, norto judge himself for his […]

Spiritual vomit – Thomas Brooks

Spiritual vomit – Thomas Brooks “He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13 True penitential confession is joined with reformation. That confession of sin which carries forgiveness of sin with it, is attended with serious desires, and earnest endeavors of reformation. Confession of sin […]

Soul-satisfying – Thomas Brooks

Soul-satisfying – Thomas Brooks The riches of Christ are soul-satisfying riches. Oh those riches of grace and goodness that are in Christ how do they satisfy the souls of sinners! A pardon does not more satisfy a condemned man,nor bread the hungry man,nor drink the thirsty man,nor clothes the naked man,nor health the sick man,than […]

Soul-purifying – Thomas Brooks

Soul-purifying – Thomas Brooks “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3 True hope is soul-purifying. It runs out into holiness. He who has the purest and strongest hopes of being saved, is most studious and laborious to be sanctified. Now hope purifies the heart […]

Soul-mollifying – Thomas Brooks

Soul-mollifying – Thomas Brooks Saving faith is soul-softening, it is soul-mollifying. Peter believes soundly and weeps bitterly. Mary Magdalene believes much and weeps much. Faith sets . . .a wounded Christ,a bruised Christ,a despised Christ,a pierced Christ,a bleeding Christbefore the soul, and this makes the soul sit down and weep bitterly: “They will look on […]

Soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems & machinations! – Thomas Brooks

Soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems & machinations! – Thomas Brooks “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 Christ,the Scripture,your own hearts,and Satan’s devices,are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these, […]

Some Delilah – Thomas Brooks

Some Delilah – Thomas Brooks God cures David of adultery, by killing his endeared child. There is some Delilah some darling, some beloved sin or other that a Christian’s calling, condition, constitution, or temptations leads him to play with, and to hug in his own bosom. As in a plot of ground that lies untilled, […]

Soldiers, strangers, travelers, pilgrims – Thomas Brooks

Soldiers, strangers, travelers, pilgrims – Thomas Brooks “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 The believing Hebrews had been plundered of all they had in this world, Heb. 10:34, when […]

Soberly, righteously, and godly – Thomas Brooks

Soberly, righteously, and godly – Thomas Brooks (“Touchstone of Sincerity”) “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:12 These words contain the sum of a Christian’s duty. To live soberly toward ourselves, righteously toward our neighbors, and godly toward God is true […]

So foul a hag – Thomas Brooks

So foul a hag – Thomas Brooks There are very many who lie in wait to deceive, corrupt, and poison your minds with God-dishonoring, Christ-denying, conscience-wasting, and soul-damning opinions, principles, and blasphemies. I have read of one who boasted and gloried in this, that he had spent thirty years in corrupting and poisoning of youth. […]

So exceeding angry with himself – Thomas Brooks

So exceeding angry with himself – Thomas Brooks “Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them Away with you!” Isaiah 30:22 The true penitent is not so exceeding angry with himself for anything as he […]

So blind, so deaf, so dumb, so lame, so dead – Thomas Brooks

So blind, so deaf, so dumb, so lame, so dead – Thomas Brooks The holy Christian is the greatest miracle. He can tell you that he was so blind but now God has given him eyes to see sin to be the greatest evil; and Christ to be the choicest good. He can tell you […]

Sitting at the table with King Jesus – Thomas Brooks

Sitting at the table with King Jesus – Thomas Brooks “While the King was at His table, my perfume spread its fragrance.” Song of Songs 1:12 That is, let Jesus Christ be but present with us, and then our graces, which are compared to perfume, will send forth its fragrance. Sitting at the table with […]

Sinning is worse than suffering – Thomas Brooks

Sinning is worse than suffering – Thomas Brooks Sinning is worse than suffering; for by men’s sins God is dishonored but by their sufferings God is glorified. Oh, that the Christian reader would seriously consider of these things: There is nothing that the great God hates but sin.There is nothing that God has revealed His […]

Sin shall not have dominion over you – Thomas Brooks

Sin shall not have dominion over you – Thomas Brooks “Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14 What does the dominion of sin import, and wherein does it consist? Sin is in dominion, when it has the universal and sovereign command of the […]

Sin in a saint – Thomas Brooks

Sin in a saint – Thomas Brooks It is one thing for a man to sin, it is another thing for a man to allow himself in sin. It is one thing for a godly man to step into a sin, and it is another thing to keep the road of sin. A real saint […]

Sin and they would never part – Thomas Brooks

Sin and they would never part – Thomas Brooks Carnal men, in times of sickness and distress, or in times of horror and terror of conscience, or when death, the king of terrors, knocks at their doors, or when they see hell gaping to devour them, and God as a solemn judge standing ready to […]

Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? – Thomas Brooks

Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? – Thomas Brooks “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the […]

Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? – Thomas Brooks

Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? – Thomas Brooks “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the […]

Should God chain up Satan – Thomas Brooks

Should God chain up Satan – Thomas Brooks “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Mt. 15:19 Man has an evil root within him. Were there no devil to tempt him, nor any wicked men to entice him, yet that cursed sinful nature which is in […]

Sheep or swine? – Thomas Brooks

Sheep or swine? – Thomas Brooks It is possible for Christians to fall into the same sins of which they have formerly repented by the secret, subtle, and strong workings of sin in their hearts. And no wonder, for though their repentance is ever so sincere and sound  yet their graces are but weak, and […]

She hugs her young ones to death – Thomas Brooks

She hugs her young ones to death – Thomas Brooks “Withhold not correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die. You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell.” Proverbs 23:13-14 God uses the rod to prevent further folly, mischief, and misery. […]

Sell their souls to Satan – Thomas Brooks

Sell their souls to Satan – Thomas Brooks “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 We laugh at little children to see them part with rich jewels for silly trifles; and […]

Secret prayer – Thomas Brooks

Secret prayer – Thomas Brooks “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 A Christian can as well . . .hear without ears, andlive without food, andfight without hands, andwalk without feetas he is able to live without secret prayer. Secret prayer is the life of our lives, the soul, the sweet, the […]

Secret meals make fat bodies – Thomas Brooks

Secret meals make fat bodies – Thomas Brooks Secret duties are the most soul-enriching duties. Look! as secret meals make fat bodies so secret duties make fat souls. And as secret trades brings in great earthly riches, so secret prayers makes many rich in spiritual blessings and in heavenly riches. Private prayer is that secret […]

Saving repentance – Thomas Brooks

Saving repentance – Thomas Brooks Saving repentance includes contrition or grief of heart for sins committed. Now this is sometimes calledgodly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7:10;a contrite spirit, Isaiah 66:2;a broken and contrite heart, Psalm 51:17;the afflicting of our souls, Lev. 16:29;the humbling of the heart, 2 Chron. 7:14, Lam. 3:20;a mourning, Zech. 12:10;a weeping, Mark […]

Saving faith – Thomas Brooks

Saving faith – Thomas Brooks Saving faith puts the soul upon grieving for sin, upon combating with sin, upon weeping over sin, upon trembling at the occasions of sin, upon resisting temptations that lead to sin, upon fighting it out to the death with sin, Zech. 12:10. Saving faith puts a man upon walking with […]

Satan’s grand design – Thomas Brooks

Satan’s grand design – Thomas Brooks Satan’s grand design is not to keep men from going the round of holy duties but to hinder the exercise of grace. All other exercises without the exercise of grace will do a Christian no good. The more grace is exercised the more corruptions will be weakened and mortified. […]

Satan’s apes – Thomas Brooks

Satan’s apes – Thomas Brooks Pride sets itself against the honor, being, and sovereignty of God. Other sins strike at the word of God, the people of God, and the creatures of God but pride strikes directly at the very being of God. He bears a special hatred against pride. It was pride which turned […]

Satan promises the best – Thomas Brooks

Satan promises the best – Thomas Brooks Satan promises the best but pays with the worst! He promises honor and pays with disgrace! He promises pleasure and pays with pain! He promises profit and pays with loss! He promises life and pays with death! But God pays as he promises, all His payments are made […]

Righteousness exalts a nation – Thomas Brooks

Righteousness exalts a nation – Thomas Brooks “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34 It is not valor in war but righteousness;it is not policy in government but righteousness;it is not wittiness of invention but righteousness;it is not civility in behavior but righteousness;it is not antiquity of laws […]

Riches, prosperity, and worldly glory – Thomas Brooks

Riches, prosperity, and worldly glory – Thomas Brooks “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Matthew 19:24 “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has […]

Rich in spiritual experiences – Thomas Brooks

Rich in spiritual experiences – Thomas Brooks The mature Christian is rich in spiritual experiences. Oh! the experiences that he has . . .of the ways of God,of the workings of God,of the word of God,of the love of God! Oh! the divine stories that old Christians can tell . . .of the power of […]

Rich Felix had no leisure to hear poor Paul – Thomas Brooks

Rich Felix had no leisure to hear poor Paul – Thomas Brooks “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” Proverbs 23:4-5 The only […]

Remember you are but mortal! – Thomas Brooks

Remember you are but mortal! – Thomas Brooks “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man’s life is but a breath!” Psalm 39:5. Ah! Can you seriously consider of the brevity of man’s life and trifle away your time, the offers of grace, […]

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven! – Thomas Brooks

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven! – Thomas Brooks “And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire!” Revelation 20:15 “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven!” Luke 10:20 It is matter of the greatest joy in the world, for a […]

Redeemed – Thomas Brooks

Redeemed – Thomas Brooks “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers.” 1 Pet. 1:18 Christ redeems us from all sin and from all the consequences of sin. He endured the […]

Rattles and baubles – Thomas Brooks

Rattles and baubles – Thomas Brooks Weak Christians are usually much concerned and taken up with the poor base things of this world. They are much in carking and caring for them, and in pursuing and hunting greedily after them. All which does clearly evidence that their graces are very weak, and their corruptions very […]

Rather be Satan’s bond-slaves – Thomas Brooks

Rather be Satan’s bond-slaves – Thomas Brooks Most shall continue obstinate and impenitent in their ungodly courses and practices, as men resolved rather to go to hell than to heaven, and to be forever unhappy rather than they will be holy, Isaiah 43:10, 12, and 44:8. Woe, woe to them forever, who had rather be […]

Pursue after holiness – Thomas Brooks

Pursue after holiness – Thomas Brooks “Pursue . . . holiness without it no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 O sirs, shall the ambitious person pursue after his honors, and the voluptuous person after his pleasures, and the worldling pursue after his gain, and the wanton pursue after his harlots, and the drunkard […]

Precious promises – Thomas Brooks

Precious promises – Thomas Brooks There are many precious promises of God’s . . . defending His church,hearing the cries of His people, arising for their relief and support. These precious promises are grounded upon all the glorious attributes of God, namely, His power, love, wisdom, goodness, and all-sufficiency, etc., all which are engaged in […]

Preach forth the virtues of Christ – Thomas Brooks

Preach forth the virtues of Christ – Thomas Brooks “For you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness (or virtues) of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter […]

Pray without ceasing – Thomas Brooks

Pray without ceasing – Thomas Brooks “Persistent in prayer.” Romans 12:12 The Greek is a metaphor taken from hunting dogs, which never give up the chase until they have got their prey. A Christian must not only pray but hold on in prayer, until he has got the heavenly prize. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians […]

Pleasure, delight, contentment and satisfaction in God – Thomas Brooks

Pleasure, delight, contentment and satisfaction in God – Thomas Brooks There are no people under heaven, who take any real pleasure, delight, contentment and satisfaction in God but those who are genuinely holy. “How is your Beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your Beloved better than others, that you charge us […]

Perpetual fuel to the flames of hell! – Thomas Brooks

Perpetual fuel to the flames of hell! – Thomas Brooks Our earthly fire destroys and consumes whatever is cast into it. It turns all combustibles into ashes. But the fire of hell is not of that nature. The fire of hell consumes nothing which is cast into it. It rages but it does not consume […]

Peccatum est Deicidium – Thomas Brooks

Peccatum est Deicidium – Thomas Brooks “The deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 Sin . . .has its original from a deceitful subtle serpent,is the ground of all the deceit in the world,is the great deceiver of souls. Sin . . .debases the soul of man,defiles and pollutes the soul of man,renders the soul most unlike […]

Paulinus Nolanus – Thomas Brooks

Paulinus Nolanus – Thomas Brooks Paulinus Nolanus, when his city was taken from him, prayed thus, “Lord! let me not be troubled at the loss of my gold, silver, honor for You are all, and much more than all these unto me!” Christian! In the absence of all your sweetest enjoyments, Christ will be all […]

Pardoning mercy – Thomas Brooks

Pardoning mercy – Thomas Brooks “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him.” Psalm 32:1-2 A pardoned soul must be a very blessed soul. Ah, souls! of all mercies, pardoning mercy is the most necessary mercy. I may go […]

Pambus wept when he saw a harlot – Thomas Brooks

Pambus wept when he saw a harlot – Thomas Brooks What labor and pains worldlings take to obtain the vain things of this life to obtain the poor things of this world, which are but shadows and dreams, and mere nothings! Oh! how should this stir and provoke Christians to be up and doing, to […]

Painted holiness – Thomas Brooks

Painted holiness – Thomas Brooks “Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.” Matthew 23:14 Who had a greater name for holiness, and who made a greater show of holiness, and who did more despise and insult […]

Painted and gilded over – Thomas Brooks

Painted and gilded over – Thomas Brooks “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 Satan knows that if he would present sin in its own nature and dress, the soul would rather fly from it than yield to it; and therefore he presents […]

Out of pious duties! – Thomas Brooks

Out of pious duties! – Thomas Brooks Ah, how lively, how warm, how enlarged, how holy, how humble, how heavenly, how spiritual, how serious, how zealous, how pious, how gracious are many in pious duties; but ah! how dead, how cold, how straitened, how unholy, how proud, how worldly, how carnal, how slight, and how […]

Our safety and security – Thomas Brooks

Our safety and security – Thomas Brooks “Though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:24 The Hebrew particle notes a continued act of God. God has still His everlasting arms under His people, so that they shall never totally nor finally fall. The word signifies to […]

Our present sufferings – Thomas Brooks

Our present sufferings – Thomas Brooks Such is the splendor, the brightness, the glory, the happiness, and blessedness which is reserved for the saints in heaven that had I all the tongues of men on earth, and all the excellencies of the angels in heaven yet I would not be able to conceive, nor to […]

Other men’s sins – Thomas Brooks

Other men’s sins – Thomas Brooks By other men’s sins, a holy man is put in mind of the badness of his own heart. Bernard makes mention of an old man, who, when he saw any man sin, lamented and wept for him; and being asked why he grieved so, for other men’s sins, answered, […]

Oramuzes’ happiness egg – Thomas Brooks

Oramuzes’ happiness egg – Thomas Brooks “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who is not contented with a little, will never be satisfied with much. Money of itself, cannot satisfy any desire of nature.If a man is hungry, money cannot feed him;if […]

Optimum maximum – Thomas Brooks

Optimum maximum – Thomas Brooks (“Hypocrites Detected, Anatomized, Impeached, Arraigned and Condemned” 1650) God is optimum maximum the best, and the greatest. God is . . .all ear to hear,all hand to punish,all power to protect,all wisdom to direct,all goodness to relieve,all grace to pardon,the horn of plenty,the ocean of beauty,without the least spot of […]

Optimum maximum – Thomas Brooks

Optimum maximum – Thomas Brooks Christians serve a wonderful Master. They serve Him who is . . .all ear to hear them,all hand to uphold them,all power to protect them,all wisdom to direct them,all goodness to relieve them,all mercy to pardon them. They serve that God who is optimum maximum the best and greatest. God […]

One unmortified lust! – Thomas Brooks

One unmortified lust! – Thomas Brooks It is not your strongest resolutions or purposes, without the grace of the Spirit, which can overmaster a lust. A soul-sore will continue to run though we resolve and say it shall not. It was the blood of the sacrifice, and the oil, which cleansed the leper in the […]

One sin never goes alone – Thomas Brooks

One sin never goes alone – Thomas Brooks Little sins make way for greater sins. Cain’s anger is seconded with murder. Ahab’s covetousness is attended with bloody cruelty. Jeroboam’s rebellion is attended with idolatry. Judas’ thievery is attended with treason. One sin commonly disposes the heart to another sin. Yielding to lesser sins, draws the […]

One sin allowed, wallowed and tumbled in – Thomas Brooks

One sin allowed, wallowed and tumbled in – Thomas Brooks To turn from some sins but not from all, is gross hypocrisy. One sin stripped the fallen angels of all their glory! One sin stripped our first parents of all their dignity and excellency! One fly in the box of precious ointment spoils the whole […]

One sigh and groan – Thomas Brooks

One sigh and groan – Thomas Brooks Some may think that they lack the ability to pour out their souls before the Lord in secret. I answer, You cannot pray; but can you not sigh? can you not groan? There may be the Spirit of adoption in sighs and groans, as well as in vocal […]

One puddle, if we wallow in it – Thomas Brooks

One puddle, if we wallow in it – Thomas Brooks One sin stripped the fallen angels of all their glory.One sin stripped our first parents of all their dignity and excellency.One fly in the box of precious ointment spoils the whole box.One thief may rob a man of all his treasure.One disease may deprive a […]

One infinite perfection – Thomas Brooks

One infinite perfection – Thomas Brooks “Every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” Psalm 39:5 Man at his best state is such a great piece of vanity, that he stands in need of a thousand thousand things; he needs . . .the air to breathe in,the earth to bear him,fire to warm him,clothes […]

One dead fly – Thomas Brooks

One dead fly – Thomas Brooks No hypocrite is totally divorced from the love and liking of every known sin. There is still some secret lust, which as a sweet morsel he rolls under his tongue, and will not spit it out. Every hypocrite lives under the dominion and reign of one base lust or […]

One continued web of wickedness – Thomas Brooks

One continued web of wickedness – Thomas Brooks “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 That is, they do not allow themselves in the practice of any iniquity. Gracious souls […]

Oh stand and wonder! – Thomas Brooks

Oh stand and wonder! – Thomas Brooks “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1 It is an infinite condescension in God, to honor us with the title of sons, and therefore we should never think of it, nor ever […]

Oh stand and wonder! – Thomas Brooks

Oh stand and wonder! – Thomas Brooks “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1 O sirs! what matter of admiration is this that the great and glorious God, who has many millions of glorious angels attending Him that He should […]

Oh remember – Thomas Brooks

Oh remember – Thomas Brooks Oh remember that at such a time you went into your prayer closets with hard hearts, and dry eyes; but before you came out of your closets, ah, how sweetly, how graciously, how powerfully were you melted, and humbled before the Lord! Oh remember how that at another time you […]

Oh how sweet is! – Thomas Brooks

Oh how sweet is! – Thomas Brooks “Better the little that the righteous have, than the wealth of many wicked.” Psalm 37:16 The righteous man’s mite, is better than the wicked man’s millions. The righteous man has his little, from the special love and favor of God. Lazarus’ scraps, crusts and rags are better and […]

Oh dash these brats of Babylon in pieces! – Thomas Brooks

Oh dash these brats of Babylon in pieces! – Thomas Brooks “Cleanse me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12 The Christian’s greatest and hottest conflicts, are against those inward pollutions, and secret sins, which are only obvious to the eye of God and their own souls. The hypocrite combats with those sins which are obvious to […]

O friends! remember this once for all – Thomas Brooks

O friends! remember this once for all – Thomas Brooks “Cleanse me from my hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12“I hate vain thoughts.” Psalm 119:113 A gracious soul conflicts most with heart-sins, and is most affected with spiritual sins, and laments and mourns most over secret sins invisible sins sins which lie most hidden and remote from […]

Nothing will grow where gold grows – Thomas Brooks

Nothing will grow where gold grows – Thomas Brooks “Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.” Matthew 8:34 Many prefer the world before Christ; yes, the worst of the world before the best of Christ! The Gergesenes preferred their swine […]

Not one unholy one among them all! – Thomas Brooks

Not one unholy one among them all! – Thomas Brooks “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 O, do not deceive your own souls! Holiness is of absolute necessity; without it you shall never see the Lord! There are many thousand thousands now in heaven butnot one unholy one among them all! […]

Not all the powers of hell – Thomas Brooks

Not all the powers of hell – Thomas Brooks The covenant of grace is founded . . .upon God’s free love,upon God’s everlasting love,upon God’s special and peculiar love,upon God’s unchangeable love so that God can as soon cease to be, as He can cease to love those whom He has taken into covenant with Himself, […]

No sin, no sinner, no devil! – Thomas Brooks

No sin, no sinner, no devil! – Thomas Brooks “An undefiled inheritance.” 1 Peter 1:4 There are few earthly inheritances but some defilement or other sticks close to them. Many times they are gotten by fraud, oppression, violence, injustice, etc. And as they are often wickedly gotten so they are as often wickedly kept! The […]

No one can snatch them out of My hand – Thomas Brooks

No one can snatch them out of My hand – Thomas Brooks “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10 “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is […]

No mind has imagined – Thomas Brooks

No mind has imagined – Thomas Brooks Surely there is no believer but who finds that sometimes sin interrupts his joy, and sometimes Satan disturbs his joy, and sometimes afflictions eclipse his joy. Sometimes the cares of the world, and sometimes the snares of the world, and sometimes the fears of the world mar his […]

No hand but a divine hand – Thomas Brooks

No hand but a divine hand – Thomas Brooks “God makes my heart soft.” Job 23:16 Sorrow for sin is one part of true repentance. A sincere mourning is a deep mourning; it springs from serious and deep apprehensions of the great anger and deep displeasure of God, and of the woeful nature, demerit, burden, […]

No dirty dogs shall ever trample upon that golden pavement – Thomas Brooks

No dirty dogs shall ever trample upon that golden pavement – Thomas Brooks Throughout the Scriptures, unholy people are branded, to their everlasting contempt with the worst appellations. They are the most dangerous, and the most harmful beings in the world, and therefore are emblemized . . .by lions for they are cruel, Psalm 22:21;by […]

No cause to murmur or complain – Thomas Brooks

No cause to murmur or complain – Thomas Brooks One lesson that you are to learn under the afflictive rod of God, is to humbly to kiss the rod, and patiently and quietly to lie under the rod, until the Lord shall either give you a gracious, or a glorious, deliverance from it. What is […]

Nibbling at Satan’s golden baits! – Thomas Brooks

Nibbling at Satan’s golden baits! – Thomas Brooks “. . . the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 Sin is of a very deceitful and bewitching nature. It will kiss the soul, and look enticing to the soul, and yet betray the soul forever. It will with Delilah smile upon us that it may betray us […]

Never will I leave you – Thomas Brooks

Never will I leave you – Thomas Brooks “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 These Hebrew Christians had been plundered of all they had (Hebrews 10:34). Though they had […]

Neither the devil nor his imps – Thomas Brooks

Neither the devil nor his imps – Thomas Brooks “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for […]

Neither Christ nor heaven can be hyperbolized! – Thomas Brooks

Neither Christ nor heaven can be hyperbolized! – Thomas Brooks What are all . . .the silks of Persia,the spices of Egypt,the gold of Ophir, andthe treasures of both Indies compared to the glory of heaven? “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who […]

Names which the Holy Spirit has given them – Thomas Brooks

Names which the Holy Spirit has given them – Thomas Brooks Always look upon wicked men, under those names and notions which the Scripture describes them, such as:lions for their fierceness,bears for their cruelty,dragons for their hideousness,dogs for their filthiness,wolves for their subtleness,scorpions,vipers,thorns,briars,thistles,brambles,stubble,dirt,chaff,dust,dross,smoke,scum. You may know well enough what is within them, by the apt […]

My times – Thomas Brooks

My times – Thomas Brooks “My times are in Your hands,” says David, Psalm 31:15. Not only the times of his sorrows but also the times of his comforts;not only the times of his miseries but also the times of his mercies;not only the times of his dangers but also the times of his duties,were […]

My Friend – Thomas Brooks

My Friend – Thomas Brooks Christ is a universal Friend. He is an omnipotent Friend, an almighty Friend.He is an omniscient Friend.He is an omnipresent Friend.He is an unfailing Friend.He is an independent Friend.He is an unchangeable Friend.He is a watchful Friend.He is a tender and compassionate Friend.He is a close and faithful Friend. “His […]

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod -Part 4 – Thomas Brooks

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod -Part 4 – Thomas Brooks “Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod” or, “The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes” by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London. “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9 Objection 8. Oh! But God has […]

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod -Part 3 – Thomas Brooks

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod -Part 3 – Thomas Brooks “Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod” or, “The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes” by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London. “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9 I shall now address myself to […]

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod -Part 2 – Thomas Brooks

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod -Part 2 – Thomas Brooks “Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod” or, “The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes” by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London. “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9 IV. WHY must Christians be mute […]

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod – Part 1 – Thomas Brooks

Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod – Part 1 – Thomas Brooks “Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod” or, “The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes” by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London. “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!” Psalm 39:9 (A Christian with an Olive […]

Murder all his hearers at once! – Thomas Brooks

Murder all his hearers at once! – Thomas Brooks “The leaders of the people have led them down the path of destruction.” Isaiah 9:16 Take heed of settling yourselves under an unholy minister  of one whose life gives the lie to his doctrine. An unholy preacher is the greatest destroyer of the souls of men! […]

Mourning for sin and holy joy – Thomas Brooks

Mourning for sin and holy joy – Thomas Brooks “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” 2 Corinthians 6:10 Godly sorrow is the parent of holy joy; a godly man’s mourning time is his most joyful time. Tears are the breeders of spiritual joy. A holy man’s heart is usually fullest of joy when his eyes are […]

Most of hell in their souls – Thomas Brooks

Most of hell in their souls – Thomas Brooks That those who have . . .most of hell in their mouths, andmost of hell in their hearts, andmost of hell in their lives shouldhave most of hell in their souls at last, is but justice.

More ugly and horrid than the devil himself! – Thomas Brooks

More ugly and horrid than the devil himself! – Thomas Brooks What bosom sin is there so sweet or profitable that is worth a-burning in hell for, or worth a-shutting out of heaven for? Surely none! This a gracious soul seriously weighs, and accordingly he sets himself against the toad in his bosom against his […]

More suitable to swine! – Thomas Brooks

More suitable to swine! – Thomas Brooks There is no earthly portion which can suit an immortal soul; he is a fool upon record who said, “Soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry,” Luke 12:18-20. If the man had the soul of […]

More comforts, sweetness, and pleasantness – Thomas Brooks

More comforts, sweetness, and pleasantness – Thomas Brooks A holy life affords the greatest ground of rejoicing. There is no pleasure nor felicity compared to that which flows from the ways of sanctity. The sweetest roses, the strongest comforts, and the greatest pleasantness is to be found in the ways of holiness. Oh the joy, […]

Mixed or unmixed? – Thomas Brooks

Mixed or unmixed? – Thomas Brooks “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 Light expels darkness, it never mixes nor mingles with it. God is a pure and an unmixed light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. Light is the most unmixed substance; it will never […]

Misery here and hell hereafter – Thomas Brooks

Misery here and hell hereafter – Thomas Brooks (“Hypocrites Detected, Anatomized, Impeached, Arraigned and Condemned” 1650) “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Col. 3:5. You must be the death of your sins or they will be the death of your […]

Merrily on in the way to hell – Thomas Brooks

Merrily on in the way to hell – Thomas Brooks “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 Certainly there is a hell, a place of torment provided and prepared for all wicked and ungodly people. Ah, how many are there that rejoice to do evil, and […]

Meditate, practice, pray – Thomas Brooks

Meditate, practice, pray – Thomas Brooks You must meditate and dwell upon what you read; otherwise your pains and mine will be lost. The more any man is in the contemplation of truth, the more deep and firm impression is made upon his heart by truth. Heavenly meditation brings out the sweetness that is in […]

Matchless and incomparable riches of free grace – Thomas Brooks

Matchless and incomparable riches of free grace – Thomas Brooks God will have all blessings and happiness to flow from His free grace: (1.) that the worst of sinners may have strong grounds for hope and comfort; (2.) for the praise of His own glory; (3.) that vain man may not boast; (4.) that our […]

Many divine miracles – Thomas Brooks

Many divine miracles – Thomas Brooks “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 In every saved person, there are many divinemiracles; there is . . .a dead man restored to life,a dumb man restored to speech,a […]

Many are the afflictions of the righteous – Thomas Brooks

Many are the afflictions of the righteous – Thomas Brooks The choicest saints are “born to troubles as the sparks fly upwards”, Job 5:7. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Psalm 34:19. God, who is infinite in wisdom and matchless in goodness, has ordered troubles, yes, many troubles to come trooping in upon us […]

Man is not born with heavenly light in his heart – Thomas Brooks

Man is not born with heavenly light in his heart – Thomas Brooks “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 God gives spiritual light, […]

Make a football of Pharaoh’s crown! – Thomas Brooks

Make a football of Pharaoh’s crown! – Thomas Brooks “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. For he considered reproach for the sake of the Messiah to […]

Lord, You know – Thomas Brooks

Lord, You know – Thomas Brooks The true child of God is able to say, “Lord, You know, that though I have had many and great failings yet there are no beloved sins, no bosom sins, no darling sins, which are chargeable upon me! Lord, You know . . . 1. That there is no […]

Look upon death – Thomas Brooks

Look upon death – Thomas Brooks Look upon death as that which is best. “Better is the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1 “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” Philippians 1:23 The Greek is very significant “far, far the better!” A saint’s dying […]

Look to your walking – Thomas Brooks

Look to your walking – Thomas Brooks “The Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 If ever you would be spiritually rich, look to your walking. It is not the knowing soul, nor the talking soul but the close-walking soul, the obediential […]

Loathsome thoughts – Thomas Brooks

Loathsome thoughts – Thomas Brooks “You will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.” Ezekiel 20:43 True repentance includes a loathing and abhorring of sin, and of ourselves for sin. The sincere penitent loathes his sins, and […]

 Living by faith – Thomas Brooks 

Living by faith – Thomas Brooks “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 Living by faith brings the soul to sit down satisfied in the naked enjoyments of God. Living by faith dries up the springs of . . .pride,self-love,impatience,murmuring,unbelief, andthe carnal delights of this world. Living by faith presents to the […]

Let me have Jesus! – Thomas Brooks

Let me have Jesus! – Thomas Brooks “Christ is all that matters!” Colossians 3:11 So says the saved soul: “Why do you tell me of this and that outward comfort, when I cannot see the face of Him whom my soul loves? Why, honor is not my Christ; riches are not my Christ; the favor […]

Let Christ be hanged! – Thomas Brooks

Let Christ be hanged! – Thomas Brooks Men bewitched with the world will prefer a Barabbas before a Jesus. They will with Judas betray Christ, and with Pilate condemn Christ, and with the Scribes and Pharisees they will cry out, “Crucify him! crucify him! Away with this Jesus! Away with this Jesus! Let Barabbas live […]

Less than the least – Thomas Brooks

Less than the least – Thomas Brooks “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints.” Ephesians 3:8 “Less than the least of all saints,” is a double diminutive, and signifies lesser than the least, if lesser might be. Here you have the greatest apostle descending down to the lowest step of humility. […]

Led by the Spirit – Thomas Brooks

Led by the Spirit – Thomas Brooks “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14 The Holy Spirit leads . . .from sin,from wrath,from the curse,to God,to Christ,to the promises,to glory!

Lay your hand upon your mouth, and be silent – Thomas Brooks

Lay your hand upon your mouth, and be silent – Thomas Brooks “Be silent before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”  Psalm 37:7 I charge you, O my soul, not to mutter, nor to murmur. I command you, O my soul, to be silent under the afflicting hand of God. Peace, O my soul! […]

Kisses – Thomas Brooks

Kisses – Thomas Brooks “Oh, that He would kiss me with the kisses of His mouth! For Your love is more delightful than wine.” Song 1:2 Not with a kiss but with the kisses of His mouth. A soul once kissed by Christ, can never have enough of the kisses of Christ; His lips drop […]

Keep your heart with all diligence – Thomas Brooks

Keep your heart with all diligence – Thomas Brooks “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 God’s eye is mainly upon the heart. The heart is the fountain, the root, the store-house, the great wheel which sets all a-going; so therefore, above all keepings, keep […]

Keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Christ – Thomas Brooks

Keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Christ – Thomas Brooks Has Jesus Christ suffered such great and grievous things for you? Oh then, in all your fears, doubts, and conflicts with enemies, within or without fly to the sufferings of Christ as your city of refuge! In every temptation let us look up to […]

Joseph saw God in the room! – Thomas Brooks

Joseph saw God in the room! – Thomas Brooks “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:9 The harboring of any known sin, either in heart or life, is a high contempt of the all-seeing eye of God of the omnipresence of God. It is well […]

It would make him pull his hat over his eyes! – Thomas Brooks

It would make him pull his hat over his eyes! – Thomas Brooks All Christians have their secret sins. Secret not only from other men but from himself! It is but natural for every man to err, and then to be ignorant of his errors. Every man’s sins are beyond his understanding. There is not […]

It will suck sweetness out of every flower – Thomas Brooks

It will suck sweetness out of every flower – Thomas Brooks Faith is the key which unlocks paradise, and lets in a flood of joy into the soul. Faith is an appropriating grace, it appropriates all to itself; it looks upon God, and says with the psalmist, “This God is my God forever and ever,” […]

It was the golden link of love! – Thomas Brooks

It was the golden link of love! – Thomas Brooks “May you have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.” Ephesians 3:18-19 Oh, such was Christ’s transcendent love that man’s extreme misery could not abate it. The deploredness […]

It was good for me to be afflicted! – Thomas Brooks

It was good for me to be afflicted! – Thomas Brooks “It was good for me to be afflicted!” Psalm 119:71 A gracious soul secretly concludes as stars shine brightest in the night, so God will make my soul shine and glisten like gold, while I am in this furnace and when I come out […]

It was a good question – Thomas Brooks

It was a good question – Thomas Brooks It was a good question, which the young man proposed, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25. I know I shall be eternally happy or eternally miserable; eternally blessed or eternally cursed; eternally saved or eternally damned! “Oh! what shall I do to inherit […]

It pierces and winds itself into every corner and chink – Thomas Brooks

It pierces and winds itself into every corner and chink – Thomas Brooks SIN is of a penetrating nature. It pierces and winds itself into every corner and chink into our thoughts, words, and works. It will wind itself . . .into our understandings to darken them, andinto our judgments to pervert them, andinto our […]

It mightily alters and changes a man – Thomas Brooks

It mightily alters and changes a man – Thomas Brooks “Thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.” Romans 6:17 Certainly, gospel-obedience is a grace of much worth, and of great force upon the whole man; for when […]

It is but a little sin! – Thomas Brooks

It is but a little sin! – Thomas Brooks “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 “Ah!” says Satan, “It is but a little sin a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc. You may commit it without any danger to […]

It is better to go to heaven alone – Thomas Brooks

It is better to go to heaven alone – Thomas Brooks Those who walk with the many shall perish with the many.Those who do as the many, shall before long suffer with the many.Those who live as the many, must die with the many, and go to hell with the many. The way to hell […]

Inward and spiritual duties of religion – Thomas Brooks

Inward and spiritual duties of religion – Thomas Brooks Christians who have but small measures of grace and holiness; and hypocrites and formalists who have not the least measure of true grace and holiness these are most commonly exercised and busied about the external duties and services of religion; but very seldom, very rare, shall […]

Inseparable companions – Thomas Brooks

Inseparable companions – Thomas Brooks “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7 Sin and punishment are inseparable companions. “When the time comes for Me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” Exodus 32:34 “I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with […]

In the beams of this heavenly light – Thomas Brooks

In the beams of this heavenly light – Thomas Brooks “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and I am the worst of them.” 1 Timothy 1:15 Divine and heavenly knowledge brings a man near to God; it gives a man the clearest and fullest sight of God; and the nearer any man […]

Ignorant people – Thomas Brooks

Ignorant people – Thomas Brooks The Catholic Church says that ignorance is the mother of devotion. But the Scripture says that it is the mother of destruction. ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’ Hosea 4:6 ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures.’ Matthew 22:29 Ignorance is the mother of […]

Ignorance is the mother of destruction – Thomas Brooks

Ignorance is the mother of destruction – Thomas Brooks “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6 The Chaldee renders it, they are besotted and so fitted for destruction. The Papists teach that ignorance is the mother of devotion; but this text tells us that ignorance is the mother of destruction.

 If you would live gloriously – Thomas Brooks 

If you would live gloriously – Thomas Brooks (“The Glorious Day of the Saints Appearance”) Professors look far too much upon the tempting world, when she smiles and holds forth her beautiful breasts! If you would live gloriously, look away from the tempting world: it is a plague and a snare! Look away from it […]

If you attempt to enthrone the creature! – Thomas Brooks

If you attempt to enthrone the creature! – Thomas Brooks O Christian! God has removed one of your sweetest mercies, comforts, or enjoyments! It may be you have over-loved them, and over-prized them, and over-much delighted yourself in them. It may be they have often had your heart when they should have had but your […]

If you are not as wicked as others – Thomas Brooks

If you are not as wicked as others – Thomas Brooks “By the grace of God I am what I am!” 1 Corin. 15:10 Whatever evil you behold in other men’s practices, realize that you have the same evil in your own nature. There is the seed of all sins, of the vilest and worst […]

If this does not humble you – Thomas Brooks

If this does not humble you – Thomas Brooks Dwell much upon the greatness of God’s mercy and goodness to you. Nothing humbles and breaks the heart, like God’s mercy and love. In Luke 7, the Lord Jesus shows mercy to that notorious sinner, and then she falls down at His feet, and loves much […]

If this cockatrice be not crushed in the egg! – Thomas Brooks

If this cockatrice be not crushed in the egg! – Thomas Brooks There is infinitely more evil in the least sin than there is in the greatest miseries and afflictions that can possibly come upon you! Yes, there is more evil in the least sin than there is in all the troubles that ever come […]

 If our afflictions are so sanctified – Thomas Brooks

If our afflictions are so sanctified – Thomas Brooks If our afflictions are so sanctified as that they draw out our soul . . .to love the Lord more, andto fear the Lord more, andto please the Lord more, andto cleave to the Lord more, andto wait on the Lord more, andto walk with the […]

If a Christian could have his choice – Thomas Brooks

If a Christian could have his choice – Thomas Brooks If a Christian could have his choice, he would be . . .the most humble,the most holy,the most heavenly,the most mortified,the most patient,the most contented,the most thankful,the most fruitful,the most active,the most zealous, andthe most self-denying Christian in the world. If he could have his […]

I, even I – Thomas Brooks

I, even I – Thomas Brooks “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I,” is a passionate and emphatic expression.“I, even I,” whom you have offended,“I, even I,” whom you have provoked,“I, even I,” whose glorious name you […]

I would trample upon my mother – Thomas Brooks

I would trample upon my mother – Thomas Brooks “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26 Surely they do not truly love Christ who love anything more than Christ. […]

I will not, not, not, not, not – Thomas Brooks

I will not, not, not, not, not – Thomas Brooks “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 There are five negatives in the Greek, “I will not, not, not, not, […]

I will be with him in trouble – Thomas Brooks

I will be with him in trouble – Thomas Brooks “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.” Psalm 91:15 Oh, the precious presence of God with a man, will sweeten every fiery dispensation, and take off much of the bitterness and dreadfulness of it. In […]

I was that soldier who murdered You! – Thomas Brooks

I was that soldier who murdered You! – Thomas Brooks “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 Our sins were the cause of Christ’s sufferings! It was our transgressions which gave Christ […]

I meditate on it all day long – Thomas Brooks

I meditate on it all day long – Thomas Brooks “Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Psalm 119:97 We are to meditate upon blessed truths that we read in Scripture, such as . . . the holiness, greatness, and graciousness of God; the person, natures, offices, excellencies, beauties, […]

I have seen your tears – Thomas Brooks

I have seen your tears – Thomas Brooks “This is what the Lord says  Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” 2 Kings 20:1 The tears of God’s people have such a kind of omnipotency in them, that God Himself cannot  withstand them. “I […]

 I have found a ransom! – Thomas Brooks 

I have found a ransom! – Thomas Brooks “Deliver him from going down into the pit, for I have found a ransom!” Job 33:24 “I have found a ransom, or an atonement, a cover for man’s sin. Angels and men could never have found a ransom; but by My deep, infinite, and unsearchable wisdom,” says […]

I hate vain thoughts – Thomas Brooks

I hate vain thoughts – Thomas Brooks “I hate vain thoughts.” Psalm 119:113 The heart of a holy man rises against secret sins, against such as lie furthest off from the eye of man. What is more secret than vain thoughts? And yet against these, the heart of a holy man rises. Hezekiah humbled himself […]

I cried – Thomas Brooks

I cried – Thomas Brooks The child has got many a kiss, and many a hug by crying. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.” Psalm 18:6 Prayer is the only means […]

I bequeath my pastor’s soul to the devil – Thomas Brooks

I bequeath my pastor’s soul to the devil – Thomas Brooks “Covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5 Covetousness is explicit idolatry.Covetousness is the darling sin of our nation. This leprosy has infected all sorts and ranks of men. Covetousness being idolatry, and the root of all evil, is highly provoking to God. Whatever a man […]

I am with you – Thomas Brooks

I am with you – Thomas Brooks “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Is. 41:10 Oh! this special, this favorable presence of the Lord with His people, […]

I am undone – Thomas Brooks

I am undone – Thomas Brooks Isaiah sees the glory of the Lord in a vision, and this makes him cry out, “Woe is me, for I am undone . . . for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” Isaiah 6:5 “I am undone.” The Hebrew is, “I am cut off,” I […]

I am not the man that I was! – Thomas Brooks

I am not the man that I was! – Thomas Brooks All true holiness is the immediate fruit of genuine union with Christ. Christ is made not only wisdom, righteousness, and redemption but He is also made sanctification to us, 1 Cor. 1:30. He who is in Christ is a new creature. He has . […]

I am about to desecrate My sanctuary – Thomas Brooks

I am about to desecrate My sanctuary – Thomas Brooks “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate My sanctuary the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection.” Ezekiel 24:21 Many are much in and for church ordinances and activities, whose hearts […]

Humble souls – Thomas Brooks

Humble souls – Thomas Brooks None on earth are so near to God, and so high in their communion with God as humble souls. And as they have the clearest visions of God, so God gives them the fullest sight and knowledge of their own sinfulness and nothingness. “I have heard of you by the […]

However harsh His hand may be – Thomas Brooks

However harsh His hand may be – Thomas Brooks (“A Heavenly Cordial” 1665) None of God’s afflictions upon His people ever make any change or alteration of God’s affections towards His people. However harsh His hand may be against them  yet His love, His heart, His favor, His affections are still one and the same […]

How to conquer the world! – Thomas Brooks

How to conquer the world! – Thomas Brooks Perhaps the world the smiling world or the frowning world, the tempting world or the persecuting world lies as a heavy stone or burden upon your heart, as it does upon the hearts of thousands in these days; (witness their attempting anything to get the favors, honors […]

How so? – Thomas Brooks

How so? – Thomas Brooks All mankind would have been eternally lost, had God not, of His own free grace and mercy, made a covenant of grace with poor sinners. “They will be My people, and I will be their God.” Jeremiah 32:38 This is a comprehensive promise, for God to be our God it […]

How do you know that? – Thomas Brooks

How do you know that? – Thomas Brooks A sincere willingness to part with every sin, and to mortify every sin is a sure sign of saving grace. When a man is sincerely willing to leave every sin, and to indulge himself in none, no, not even his darling sin it is a most certain […]

Horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and astonishing impudency! – Thomas Brooks

Horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and astonishing impudency! – Thomas Brooks “He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13 The true penitent would have God to forgive him, not only some of his sins but all his sins; and therefore it is but just and […]

Honeyed poison – Thomas Brooks

Honeyed poison – Thomas Brooks O Sirs! in the grave it is all the same to one who has had all, and to another who has had none. What folly is it to lay up goods for many years, when we cannot lay up one day for the enjoyment of our goods! Christ, who never […]

Holy, holy, holy – Thomas Brooks

Holy, holy, holy – Thomas Brooks “Who is like You, glorious in holiness?” Exodus 15:11 God is . . .infinitely holy,transcendently holy,superlatively holy,constantly holy,unchangeably holy,exemplary holy,gloriously holy. All the holiness that is in the best and choicest Christians is but a mixed holiness, a weak and imperfect holiness. Their unholiness is always more than their […]

Holy joy and godly sorrow – Thomas Brooks

Holy joy and godly sorrow – Thomas Brooks Holy joy and godly sorrow are in no way inconsistent. Yes, a godly man’s eyes are always fullest of tears when his heart is fullest of holy joy. A man may go joying and mourning to his grave, yes, to heaven, at the same time. Grace always […]

Holy hatred – Thomas Brooks 

Holy hatred – Thomas Brooks “Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:104 There is in every penitent a sincere hatred of sin, a universal hatred of sin. True hatred is universal it is to the whole kind. He who hates sin because it is sin, hates every sin, […]

Holy hatred – Thomas Brooks

Holy hatred – Thomas Brooks “I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:104 Where there is real holiness, there is a holy hatred, detestation, and indignation against all ungodliness and wickedness. A holy man knows that all sin strikes . . .at the holiness of God,at the glory of God,at the nature of God,at the being […]

His window in all our hearts – Thomas Brooks

His window in all our hearts – Thomas Brooks “Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?” Job 31:4 The eye of God had so strong an influence upon Job’s heart and life, that it wrought him up to a very high pitch of holiness. The scholar writes most exactly while his […]

His treasured possession – Thomas Brooks

His treasured possession – Thomas Brooks “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6 God makes . . .many rich, andmany great, andmany honorable, andmany […]

His tender mercies – Thomas Brooks

His tender mercies – Thomas Brooks “His tender mercies.” Psalm 145:9 “The multitude of His mercies.” Psalm 106:45 It is God’s free mercy which every day keeps hell and my soul asunder. It is God’s free mercy which daily pardons my sins. It is God’s free mercy which supplies all my inward and outward needs. […]

His school of instruction – Thomas Brooks

His school of instruction – Thomas Brooks “The rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.” Proverbs 10:13 The rod is to make the child sensible of his folly and vanity. So it is here: God takes up the rod, but it is to make His people sensible of their folly and […]

His purse is always full – Thomas Brooks

His purse is always full – Thomas Brooks The riches of Christ are inexhaustible. Christ can never be drawn dry. Earthly riches are true gardens of Adonis, where we can gather nothing but trivial flowers surrounded with many briars, etc. Men rake together worldly riches as children do snow which the next shower washes away, […]

His people’s scars and warts – Thomas Brooks

His people’s scars and warts – Thomas Brooks When Caesar was painted, he put his finger upon his scar, his wart. God puts His fingers upon all His people’s scars and warts upon all their weaknesses and infirmities, that nothing can be seen but what’s fair and lovely. “You are all fair, my love; there […]

His hand is always in his purse – Thomas Brooks

His hand is always in his purse – Thomas Brooks There is a difference between Christ’s giving and the world’s giving. The world gives but they give more rarely. But Christ gives, and He gives frequently. He is every day, every hour, yes, every moment, a-giving of royal favors to His people. “Here is peace […]

His dreadful threatenings! – Thomas Brooks

His dreadful threatenings! – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

His angelic robes – Thomas Brooks

His angelic robes – Thomas Brooks A hidden enemy is far worse than an open enemy. The devil has put his angelic robes upon many of his chief agents, that they may the more easily and the more effectually deceive and delude the souls of men. Ah! what multitudes are there, that to some bleary […]

Hell’s greatest enrichers! – Thomas Brooks

Hell’s greatest enrichers! – Thomas Brooks “The prophets who lead my people astray.” Micah 3:5 Satan labors by false teachers, who are his emissaries to deceive, delude, and forever undo the precious souls of men! They seduce them, and carry them out of the right way into by-paths and blind thickets of error and wickedness […]

Hell would be the place of greatest pleasure – Thomas Brooks

Hell would be the place of greatest pleasure – Thomas Brooks “They delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil.” Proverbs 2:14 Unsanctified people . . .take pleasure in unrighteousness,rejoice to do evil,make a sport of sin,delight to dishonor God,damn their own immortal souls. Holiness only debars men from the sinful joys, […]

Heaven’s key! – Thomas Brooks

Heaven’s key! – Thomas Brooks “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 It was […]

Heaven would be a very hell – Thomas Brooks

Heaven would be a very hell – Thomas Brooks “Yet they say to God Leave us alone! We have no desire to know Your ways.” Job 21:14 Heaven would be a very hell to an unholy heart. If now the presence of God in His servants, and the presence of God in His ordinances is […]

Head, hand, heart, lip, and life – Thomas Brooks

Head, hand, heart, lip, and life – Thomas Brooks True holiness is diffusive. It extends, diffuses, and spreads itself all over the whole person . . .the head and the heart;the lip and the life;the inside and the outside.The understanding is nourished on holiness,the mind is adorned with holiness,the will is bowed to holiness, andall […]

He would be double damned – Thomas Brooks

He would be double damned – Thomas Brooks “Then I beg you send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Luke 16:27-28 Dives knew that if his brethren were damned that he would be double damned, […]

He who has deserved a hanging – Thomas Brooks

He who has deserved a hanging – Thomas Brooks “Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?” Lamentations 3:39 He who has deserved a hanging has no reason to charge the judge with cruelty if he escapes with a whipping! And we who have deserved a damning have no reason to charge […]

He who can truly say this, is a God – Thomas Brooks

He who can truly say this, is a God – Thomas Brooks “The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 God is every believer’s portion. Riches are not every believer’s portion but God is every believer’s portion. Liberty and freedom are not every believer’s portion but God […]

He was still a-pointing at the toads in their bosoms – Thomas Brooks

He was still a-pointing at the toads in their bosoms – Thomas Brooks How shall we find out that particular sin, for which God corrects us for which He has brought the rod upon us? Seriously observe what that sin is, which your soul would have spared above all, which your soul is most unwilling […]

He strives to make all as miserable and unhappy as himself – Thomas Brooks

He strives to make all as miserable and unhappy as himself – Thomas Brooks Satan knows that assurance is the Christian’s . . .manna in a wilderness,water out of a rock,a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He knows that assurance is . . .a salve for all sores,a medicine for […]

He overcomes the Almighty! – Thomas Brooks

He overcomes the Almighty! – Thomas Brooks “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Genesis 32:28 Oh the power of private prayer! It has a kind of omnipotence in it; it takes God captive; it holds Him as a prisoner; it […]

He never lacks an apple for an Eve – Thomas Brooks

He never lacks an apple for an Eve – Thomas Brooks It is ten thousand times a greater judgment and affliction to be given to a fretful spirit, a froward spirit, a muttering spirit under an affliction than it is to be afflicted. This is both the devil’s sin, and the devil’s punishment. God is […]

He must deny himself – Thomas Brooks

He must deny himself – Thomas Brooks “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” Mark 8:34 He must deny sinful self, which takes in a man’s lusts. He must deny natural self, which takes in a man’s arts, parts, gifts, and reason. He must […]

He may murmur and struggle at first – Thomas Brooks

He may murmur and struggle at first – Thomas Brooks “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word.” Psalm 119:67 Affliction is a fire to purge out our dross, and to make our graces shine. Affliction is the remedy which cures all our spiritual diseases. By afflictions, God humbles the […]

He loves those who are most unlovely – Thomas Brooks

He loves those who are most unlovely – Thomas Brooks Ah! sinners, the greatness of your sins does but set off the freeness and riches of Christ’s grace, and the immensity of His love! This makes heaven and earth to ring of his praise, that He loves those who are most unlovely, that he shows […]

He lived poor and died poor – Thomas Brooks

He lived poor and died poor – Thomas Brooks “Jesus replied Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20 Jesus does not say, Kings have palaces but I have none. Nor He does say that rich men have houses […]

He left heaven for us – Thomas Brooks

He left heaven for us – Thomas Brooks “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 Let the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, work us into a gracious willingness to embrace sufferings for His sake, and cheerfully and resolutely to take up […]

He leaps into a sea of wrath! – Thomas Brooks

He leaps into a sea of wrath! – Thomas Brooks Christ went through heaven and hell, life and death, sorrow and suffering, misery and cruelty and all to bring us to glory! And shall we not prize Him? When in a storm, the nobles of Xerxes had to lighten the ship to preserve their king’s […]

He is the blessed soul! – Thomas Brooks

He is the blessed soul! – Thomas Brooks “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Matthew 5:6 He who sees an absolute necessity of the righteousness of Christ to justify him, and to enable him to stand boldly before the throne of God; he who sees his own righteousness to be but as […]

He hides the hook! – Thomas Brooks

He hides the hook! – Thomas Brooks “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 Satan has his several devices to deceive, entangle, and undo the souls of men. Satan has . . .snares for the wise, and snares for the simple;snares for hypocrites, […]

He has the worst names – Thomas Brooks

He has the worst names – Thomas Brooks We may read much of Satan’s nature and disposition by the diverse names and epithets that are given him in the Scripture. Sometimes he is called Behemoth, whereby the greatness and brutishness of the devil is figured (Job 40:15). Those evil spirits are sometimes called accusers, for […]

He has no reason to complain! – Thomas Brooks

He has no reason to complain! – Thomas Brooks The least drop of grace,the least smile from Christ’s face,the least kiss of His mouth,the least embrace of His arm,the least hint of His favoris worth more than ten thousand worlds! That Christian cannot be poor who is rich in grace. That Christian cannot be miserable […]

He has no memory – Thomas Brooks

He has no memory – Thomas Brooks “I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:34. “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12. “Their sins and iniquities will […]

He has become the worst of creatures – Thomas Brooks

He has become the worst of creatures – Thomas Brooks Man before his fall was the best of creatures but since his fall he has become the worst of creatures. He who was once the image of God, the glory of Paradise, the world’s master, and the Lord’s darling has now become . . .an […]

He has all comforts at His disposal – Thomas Brooks

He has all comforts at His disposal – Thomas Brooks “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 God is the God of all sorts and degrees of comfort. He has […]

He has a mint constantly going in hell – Thomas Brooks

He has a mint constantly going in hell – Thomas Brooks Christians should be mute and silent under their afflictions, because hereby they shall cross and frustrate Satan’s great design and expectation. In all the afflictions he brought upon Job, Satan’s design was not so much to make Job a beggar as it was to […]

He gives kingdoms, crowns, thrones! – Thomas Brooks

He gives kingdoms, crowns, thrones! – Thomas Brooks “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:12 The more any man does or suffers for Christ here the more glory he shall have hereafter. It was the saying of an […]

He fills all, and yet remains full – Thomas Brooks

He fills all, and yet remains full – Thomas Brooks “It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.” Col. 1:19The sun has not the less light for filling the world with light. A fountain has not the less for filling the lesser vessels. There is in Christ the fullness of a fountain. […]

He draws out the core – Thomas Brooks

He draws out the core – Thomas Brooks Afflictions are the Lord’s drawing-plasters, by which He draws out the core of pride, earthliness, self-love, covetousness, etc. Pride was one of man’s first sins, and is still the root and source of all other sins. Now, to prevent it, God many times chastens man with pain, […]

He drank it up every drop! – Thomas Brooks

He drank it up every drop! – Thomas Brooks “Who can comprehend the power of Your wrath?” Psalm 90:11 Jesus Christ comprehends it, for He underwent it! His whole life was made up of suffering. From His birth to His death, from His cradle to the cross, from the womb to the tomb, He was […]

He dares spit in the very face of God Himself! – Thomas Brooks

He dares spit in the very face of God Himself! – Thomas Brooks Many, when they feel the rod to smart ah, how they do fret and fume! Isaiah 8:21, ‘Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and […]

He bruises His spices – Thomas Brooks

He bruises His spices – Thomas Brooks “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10 Grace always thrives most when saints are under the rod. When Christians are under the rod, then their graces do not only bud, but blossom and bring forth fruit, as Aaron’s rod did. […]

He awoke with everlasting flames about his ears! – Thomas Brooks

He awoke with everlasting flames about his ears! – Thomas Brooks Earthly riches commonly load the soul with a multitude of cares, fears, griefs, and vexations which mightily disturb the soul, distract the soul; yes, often rack, torture, and torment the soul. Earthly riches, for the most part, do a world of mischief and hurt […]

Having nothing, yet possessing everything – Thomas Brooks

Having nothing, yet possessing everything – Thomas Brooks True grace will enable a soul to sit down satisfied and contented with the naked enjoyments of Christ. The enjoyment of Christ without honor will satisfy the soul. The enjoyment of Christ without riches, the enjoyment of Christ without pleasures, and without the smiles of creatures will […]

Have you seen the One my heart loves? – Thomas Brooks

Have you seen the One my heart loves? – Thomas Brooks “All night long on my bed I looked for the One my heart loves; I looked for Him but did not find Him.” Song of Songs 3:1 “Have you seen the One my heart loves?” Song of Songs 3:3 “I opened for my lover, […]

Hangmen – Thomas Brooks

Hangmen – Thomas Brooks As for worldly riches, the godly have always despised them, and preferred a contemplative life above them! The prophet calls them “thick clay,” which will sooner break the back, than lighten the heart. Worldly riches cannot better the soul, they cannot enrich the soul. Ah! how many threadbare souls are to […]

Halifax nuts – Thomas Brooks

Halifax nuts – Thomas Brooks A man may be visibly holy who is not inwardly holy. A man may have an outward dress of holiness upon him who has not the spirit and vitality of holiness in him. They say of Halifax nuts, that they are all shells with no kernels. Just so, there are […]

Guilt or grief is all you shall gain – Thomas Brooks

Guilt or grief is all you shall gain – Thomas Brooks “Do not be misled Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 As he who walks in the sun will be tanned, and he who touches pitch will be defiled; so he who associates himself with the wicked will be tainted and polluted. Guilt […]

Growth in grace – Thomas Brooks

Growth in grace – Thomas Brooks Commonly the Christian’s spiritual growth in grace, is carried on by such divine methods, and in such ways as might seem to deaden grace, and weaken it rather than any ways to augment and increase it. We know that winter is as necessary to bring on harvest, as the […]

Greek and Hebrew – Thomas Brooks

Greek and Hebrew – Thomas Brooks A holy minister aims at the glory of God in all that he does. He labors to hide and conceal all his human excellencies, which may in any way tend to obscure, eclipse, or darken the glory of God. “My message and my preaching were not with wise and […]

Great is your reward in heaven! – Thomas Brooks

Great is your reward in heaven! – Thomas Brooks “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:12 Though God does not reward men simply for their works, namely, for the merit of them yet He rewards according to their […]

Grace, grace! – Thomas Brooks

Grace, grace! – Thomas Brooks “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:29 God does not look for any goodness or merit in the creature to draw His love but He will justify, pardon, and save for His name’s sake. All the motives which move God to show mercy are in His […]

Golden fools – Thomas Brooks

Golden fools – Thomas Brooks And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry!” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for […]

God’s spy in the heart – Thomas Brooks

God’s spy in the heart – Thomas Brooks Conscience is God’s spy in the heart. ‘Conscience,’ says Philo, ‘is the little tribunal of the soul. Conscience is a thousand witnesses, for or against a man. Conscience is a court of record, and whatever it sees it writes down; and conscience is always as quick in […]

God’s preacher in the heart – Thomas Brooks

God’s preacher in the heart – Thomas Brooks “They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” Romans 2:14-15 Conscience is God’s preacher in the heart. In the great day of judgment, the book of every man’s […]

God’s preacher in the heart – Thomas Brooks

God’s preacher in the heart – Thomas Brooks “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” Acts 24:16 Conscience is God’s preacher in the heart. Conscience is a thousand witnesses for or against a man. Those who dally and tamper with this sin or that sin, develop a guilty   which […]

God’s love-letter – Thomas Brooks

God’s love-letter – Thomas Brooks The Scripture is God’s love-letter to men. Here the lamb may wade and here the elephant may swim! The blessed Scriptures are of infinite worth and value! Here you may find . . . a remedy for every disease, balm for every wound, a plaster for every sore, milk for […]

God’s gracious presence and assistance – Thomas Brooks

God’s gracious presence and assistance – Thomas Brooks “Lo, I am with you always,” Matthew 28:20 This is a promise of God’s gracious presence and assistance. Lo, I am with you, to own you!Lo, I am with you, to counsel and direct you!Lo, I am with you, to cheer and comfort you!Lo, I am with […]

God’s eye – Thomas Brooks

God’s eye – Thomas Brooks “Lord! all my desire is before You; and my groaning is not hidden from You.” Psalm 38:9 We cannot get into any blind hole, or dark corner, or secret place but the Lord has an eye there, the Lord will keep us company there. There is not the darkest, dirtiest […]

God’s bag and bottle – Thomas Brooks

God’s bag and bottle – Thomas Brooks “My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and You sew up my iniquity.” Job 14:17 “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” Psalm 56:8 God counted all those weary steps […]

God would not rub so hard – Thomas Brooks

God would not rub so hard – Thomas Brooks “I will turn My hand against you and will burn away your dross completely; I will remove all your impurities.” Isaiah 1:25 Afflictions cleanse and purge away the dross, the filth, and the scum of the Christian. All the harm the fire did to the three […]

God takes away the creature – Thomas Brooks

God takes away the creature – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) Diogenes noted the folly of the men of his time that they undervalued the best things but overvalued the worst things. Ah, that this were not the sin and shame of professors in these days! God sometimes strips His people […]

God so loved the world – Thomas Brooks

God so loved the world – Thomas Brooks “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son.” John 3:16. Oh! what kind of love is this, for God to give . . .His Son not His servant;His begotten Son not His adopted Son;His only Son and not one son of many. We see […]

God judges His people – Thomas Brooks

God judges His people – Thomas Brooks God judges His people by their sincerity and the general bent and frame of their hearts and not by what they are under some pangs of passion, or in an hour of temptation. His eye is more upon His people’s inward disposition, than it is upon their outward […]

God has an iron memory – Thomas Brooks

God has an iron memory – Thomas Brooks “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds, I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.” Hebrews 10:16-17 The meaning […]

God eyes them – Thomas Brooks

God eyes them – Thomas Brooks Though our private desires are ever so confused, though our private requests are ever so broken, and though our private groanings are ever so hidden from men, yet God eyes them, records them, and puts them upon the file of heaven, and will one day crown them with glorious […]

Glued to their lusts – Thomas Brooks

Glued to their lusts – Thomas Brooks Sinners’ hearts are so glued to their lusts, that they will rather part with their nearest, dearest, and choicest enjoyments than part with their sins! Yes, they will rather part with God, Christ, and all the glory of heaven than they will part with some darling lust. “When […]

Get out of My sight! – Thomas Brooks

Get out of My sight! – Thomas Brooks Many now-a-days say there is no hell. Multitudes think that all that is spoken of hell in Scripture is false and mythical. They will not believe that there is a hell until they come to feel themselves in hell until they find everlasting flames about their ears […]

Genuine assurance – Thomas Brooks

Genuine assurance – Thomas Brooks Genuine holiness will yield you a heaven hereafter; but genuine assurance will yield you a heaven here. He who has holiness and knows it, shall have two heavens a heaven of joy, comfort, peace, contentment, and assurance here and a heaven of happiness and blessedness hereafter. Genuine assurance will be […]

Fully, completely and perfectly – Thomas Brooks

Fully, completely and perfectly – Thomas Brooks “I will be their God, and they will be My people. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Heb. 8:10, 12 God will pardon the sins of His people fully, completely and perfectly. Neither the . . .many kinds of sins,nor many […]

Fuel to your lusts, and quenchers of your graces – Thomas Brooks

Fuel to your lusts, and quenchers of your graces – Thomas Brooks By severe providences and fiery trials God designs the preventing of sin. Prudent physicians sometimes give harsh medicines to prevent diseases; and so does the Physician of souls. Sharp trials preserve the saints from spiritual putrefying, and from spiritual rotting. Wealth lays men […]

From burning to burning! – Thomas Brooks

From burning to burning! – Thomas Brooks The Spirit of God, in Scripture, by metaphors of all sorts of things which are dreadful unto sense sets forth the condition of the damned, and the torments which He has reserved for them in the life to come. Hell’s punishments do infinitely exceed all other punishments, that […]

From belly to cards or dice – Thomas Brooks

From belly to cards or dice – Thomas Brooks “Those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.” Luke 7:25 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.” Luke 16:19 “The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where […]

Four things which God cannot do – Thomas Brooks

Four things which God cannot do – Thomas Brooks “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity.” Hab. 1:13 There are four things which God cannot do: (1.) He cannot lie.(2.) He cannot die.(3.) He cannot deny Himself.(4.) He cannot look with a favorable eye upon iniquity.He is a […]

For toys and trifles – Thomas Brooks

For toys and trifles – Thomas Brooks If they deserve a hanging, who feast their slaves, and starve their wives; who make provision for their enemies but none for their friend; how will you escape hanging in hell, who make provision for everything, yes, for all your lusts but make no provision for your immortal […]

For the toys and trifles of this world – Thomas Brooks

For the toys and trifles of this world – Thomas Brooks Natural fools make the most stupid and injurious exchanges. They will exchange a pearl for a pin; things of greatest worth and value for a feather, a ribbon, a toy, a trifle. The foolish Indians prefer every toy and trifle above their mines of […]

Fool away their souls – Thomas Brooks

Fool away their souls – Thomas Brooks Christ made a very fair offer to the young man in the Gospel, “Go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven,” Matthew 19:21.Here Christ offers . . .heavenly treasures for earthly treasures,unmixed treasures for mixed treasures,perfect treasures […]

Flee from the occasions of sin! – Thomas Brooks

Flee from the occasions of sin! – Thomas Brooks Whatever has the least appearance of evil, shun it, as you would do a serpent in your way, or poison in your food. To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation,’ is as to thrust your finger into […]

First place in your thoughts – Thomas Brooks

First place in your thoughts – Thomas Brooks Friends, these things must have first place in your thoughts: 1. Your sins to humble you and abase you before God. 2. God’s free and rich and sovereign grace to soften and melt you down into submission to His holy will. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ to […]

Fetch out the dirt and spots – Thomas Brooks

Fetch out the dirt and spots – Thomas Brooks “I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.” Isaiah 1:25 By severe providences and by fiery trials, God designs the growth of His people in grace. Usually the graces of the saints thrive best when […]

Feast the slave, and starve the wife? – Thomas Brooks

Feast the slave, and starve the wife? – Thomas Brooks Make it more and more your chief work to make plentiful provisions for the eternal welfare of your souls. Your souls are more worth than ten thousand worlds. All is well if your soul is well. If that is safe, all is safe. If that […]

Father knows best! – Thomas Brooks

Father knows best! – Thomas Brooks “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10. What God, our Father wills, is best. When He wills sickness, sickness is better than health.When He wills weakness, weakness is […]

Far greater worth – Thomas Brooks

Far greater worth – Thomas Brooks One grain of grace is of far greater worth, than all the gold of Ophir and all the silver of the Indies which are but the guts and garbage of the earth. The gleanings, the smallest gatherings of the riches of Christ, are far better, more excellent, more satisfying, […]

Faith realizes eternal realities – Thomas Brooks

Faith realizes eternal realities – Thomas Brooks Faith should set and fix upon that glory, blessedness, and life, which God has laid up for those who love Him. The things of eternity are the greatest things, they are the most excellent things. They are most excellent in their natures, in their causes, in their operations, […]

Fair professors who are foul sinners – Thomas Brooks

Fair professors who are foul sinners – Thomas Brooks There are many fair professors who are foul sinners who have much of God on their lips when they have nothing but sin and hell in their hearts and lives. These men’s lives shame their profession. Such professors . . .live in a course of sin,make […]

Failings and infirmities – Thomas Brooks

Failings and infirmities – Thomas Brooks God will never cast off His people for their failings and infirmities. First, It is the glory of a man to pass by infirmities, Proverbs 19:11. Oh how much more, then, must it be the glory of God to pass by the infirmities of His people! Secondly, Saints are […]

Fading glory! – Thomas Brooks

Fading glory! – Thomas Brooks “An inheritance which does not fade away.” 1 Peter 1:4 This is a metaphor taken from flowers. The beauty of flowers, and the sweetness of flowers wither in a moment, and are quickly gone. And then they are good for nothing but to be cast upon the ash-heap! So it […]

Everything on this side hell is mercy – Thomas Brooks

Everything on this side hell is mercy – Thomas Brooks Oh! labor every day to be more humble and more low and little in your own eyes. ‘Who am I,’ says the humble soul ‘but that God should cross me in this mercy, and take away that mercy, and pass a sentence of death upon […]

Every twig has a voice! – Thomas Brooks

Every twig has a voice! – Thomas Brooks “The voice of the Lord calls out to the city (and it is wise to fear Your name,) “Pay attention to the rod and the One who ordained it.” Micah 6:9 Christians should hear the rod, and kiss the rod, and sit mute and silent under God’s […]

Eternal safety, security and felicity – Thomas Brooks

Eternal safety, security and felicity – Thomas Brooks As long as Jesus Christ has all power to defend His people, and all wisdom and knowledge to guide and govern His people, and all dominion to curb the enemies of His people we may soundly conclude of their eternal safety, security and felicity.

Envy – Thomas Brooks

Envy – Thomas Brooks It is the justice of envy to torment the envious. Therefore, shun it as you would poison in your food, or a serpent in the way. A man were better off having a serpent tumbling up and down in his bowels, than to have envy gnawing in his soul. Envy is […]

Enthralled with the doll or the rattle – Thomas Brooks

Enthralled with the doll or the rattle – Thomas Brooks “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. […]

Enemies! – Thomas Brooks

Enemies! – Thomas Brooks One of the first works of the Spirit is to make a man to look upon all his sins as enemies; yes, as his greatest enemies, and to deal with his sins as enemies, and to hate and loathe them as enemies, and to fear them as enemies, and to arm […]

El-Shaddai – Thomas Brooks

El-Shaddai – Thomas Brooks “I am God Almighty” Genesis 35:11 In Hebrew, it is “I am El-Shaddai.” El-Shaddai signifies omnipotenceand sufficiency. God is . . .an all-sufficient good,a self-sufficient good,an independent good,an absolute good,an original good,a universal good,the only satisfactory good, a suitable good to our souls!

Earthly crowns are like tennis-balls – Thomas Brooks

Earthly crowns are like tennis-balls – Thomas Brooks 1 Peter 5:4 “You will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away,” as the garlands faded, with which the conquerors at games, races, and combats were crowned which were made of herbs, leaves, and flowers. A crown imports perpetuity, plenty, dignity.A crown is the […]

Dust and ashes – Thomas Brooks

Dust and ashes – Thomas Brooks Gen. 18:27, “And Abraham answered and said, Behold, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.” Here you have the father of the faithful, the greatest believer in the world, accounting himself dust and ashes. Solemnly think that you are dust […]

Drones and ciphers – Thomas Brooks

Drones and ciphers – Thomas Brooks Does the bee gather honey for itself?Does the sheep yield wool for itself? “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:4-5 Every Christian is bound to […]

Dress modestly – Thomas Brooks

Dress modestly – Thomas Brooks “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” 1 Tim. 2:9-10 One says, “If women adorn themselves so as to provoke men to lust […]

Dolls and rattles – Thomas Brooks

Dolls and rattles – Thomas Brooks The thoughts and hearts of weak Christians are more taken up with the good things they have from Christ than with Christ Himself. Oh, their graces, their comforts, their enlargements, their meltings, and their warmings, are the things which most absorb them. Their thoughts and hearts are so exercised […]

Do not judge a minister . . . – Thomas Brooks

Do not judge a minister . . . – Thomas Brooks “Consider carefully what you hear.” Mark 4:24 It is sad to see how many preachers in our days, make it their business to enrich men’s heads with high, empty, airy notions; instead of enriching their souls with saving truths. Fix yourself under that man’s […]

Do not fear death – Thomas Brooks

Do not fear death – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) Death is not such as some would paint it. Never mourn immoderately at the death of any believer. Death is not the death of the man but the death of his sin. Death is to them the greatest gain. Remember this […]

Do not be overawed – Thomas Brooks

Do not be overawed – Thomas Brooks “This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them […]

Divinely covetous – Thomas Brooks

Divinely covetous – Thomas Brooks He who is truly holy will be still a-reaching and stretching himself out after higher degrees of holiness. Yes, a man who is truly holy can never be holy enough; he sets no bounds nor limits to his holiness; the perfection of holiness is the mark that he has in […]

Divine leaven – Thomas Brooks

Divine leaven – Thomas Brooks The principle of regeneration, and seed of grace, which God lays into the soul of every penitent person at first conversion is a universal principle, a principle which spreads itself over all the faculties of the soul. In regeneration there is infused the habits or principles of all grace, which […]

Divine knowledge – Thomas Brooks

Divine knowledge – Thomas Brooks “The discerning heart seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 15:14 Saving knowledge is always attended with holy endeavors, and with heavenly desires, thirstings, and pantings after a further knowledge of God, after clearer visions of God. The Hebrew word that is here rendered “seeks” signifies an earnest and diligent seeking; to seek as […]

Distasteful temptations – Thomas Brooks

Distasteful temptations – Thomas Brooks No man is the less loved by God, because he is tempted. Those whom God loves best are usually tempted most. Witness David, Job, Joshua, Peter, Paul, yes, Christ Himself  who, as He was beloved above all others, so He was tempted above all others! He was tempted to question […]

Diseases, aches, sicknesses, pains – Thomas Brooks

Diseases, aches, sicknesses, pains – Thomas Brooks Diseases, aches, sicknesses, pains they are all the daughters of sin, and he who is not sensible of them as the births and products of sin, does but add to his sin, and provokes the Lord to add to his sufferings. Is. 26:9-11 No man shall ever be […]

Dirt, handsomely fashioned – Thomas Brooks

Dirt, handsomely fashioned – Thomas Brooks “All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19. Our bodies are but dirt, handsomely fashioned. We derive our […]

Dirt handsomely fashioned – Thomas Brooks

Dirt handsomely fashioned – Thomas Brooks “The Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground.” Genesis 2:7 Our bodies are but dirt handsomely fashioned. We derive our pedigree from the dust, and are akin to clay. Such as have most pampered their bodies have been the greatest enemies to their own […]

Different measures and degrees of holiness – Thomas Brooks

Different measures and degrees of holiness – Thomas Brooks All saints are not alike holy. Some are more holy, and others are less holy; in some saints the springs of holiness runs low, in others the springs of holiness rise very high. Holiness thrives not alike in all saints. God never distributes holiness alike to […]

Devour me, devour me! – Thomas Brooks

Devour me, devour me! – Thomas Brooks Assurance will sweeten the thoughts of death and all the aches, pains, weaknesses, sicknesses, and diseases which are the forerunners of death; yes, it will make a man look and long for death. Nazianzen said to the king of terrors, “Devour me, devour me! Death cures all diseases, […]

Devils in their homes! – Thomas Brooks

Devils in their homes! – Thomas Brooks A true Christian will endeavor to obey God in relative duties. He will not only hear, and pray, and read, and meditate, and fast, and mourn but he will labor to be godly in domestic relationships. Remember this forever everyone is that in reality, which he is at […]

Despair – Thomas Brooks

Despair – Thomas Brooks Continual imprisonment in hell, arises from man’s not being able to pay the price. The wicked go to hell as their prison, because they can never pay their debts. The damned must bear the wrath of God to all eternity, because they can never satisfy the justice of God for sin. […]

Death puts an end to all changes – Thomas Brooks

Death puts an end to all changes – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) A believer’s last day is his best day! Death puts an end to all changes. What is the whole life of a man but a life of changes? Here on earth, you often change . . .your joy […]

Death is a change of enjoyments – Thomas Brooks

Death is a change of enjoyments – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) A believer’s last day is his best day! Death is a change of enjoyments. Death is a change of our more dark and obscure enjoyment of God for a more clear and sweet enjoyment of God. The best believer […]

Death is a change of company – Thomas Brooks

Death is a change of company – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) A believer’s last day is his best day! Death is a change of company. In this world, the godliest man must live with the wicked, and converse with the wicked, etc.; and this is a part of their misery; […]

Death brings the soul to a state of eternal rest – Thomas Brooks

Death brings the soul to a state of eternal rest – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” Why? “They will rest from their labor.” A believer’s last day is his best day! Death brings the soul to a state of eternal […]

Dance and dine with the devil – Thomas Brooks

Dance and dine with the devil – Thomas Brooks “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 Sin is but a bitter sweet. That seeming sweet which is in sin will quickly vanish; and lasting shame, sorrow, horror, and terror will come in the […]

Cut off one head – Thomas Brooks

Cut off one head – Thomas Brooks We may say of sin as some say of cats, that they have many lives. Just so kill sin once and it will live again, kill it again and it will live again, etc. Sin oftentimes is like that monster Hydra cut off one head and many will […]

 Crocodile sinners – Thomas Brooks 

Crocodile sinners – Thomas Brooks The unbeliever never leaves his sin till sin first leaves him. Did not death put a stop to his sin he would never cease from sin. This may be illustrated by a similitude thus  a company of gamesters resolve to play all night; their candle, accidentally or unexpectedly, goes out, […]

Could every damned sinner weep a whole ocean! – Thomas Brooks

Could every damned sinner weep a whole ocean! – Thomas Brooks “They will be tormented day and night forever and ever!” Revelation 20:10 Our earthly fires may be quenched and extinguished. The hottest flames, the greatest conflagrations have been quenched and extinguished by water. Fires on our hearths and in our chimneys often die and […]

Contentment in every condition – Thomas Brooks

Contentment in every condition – Thomas Brooks “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in […]

Contentedly ignorant – Thomas Brooks

Contentedly ignorant – Thomas Brooks Curiosity is one of the most dangerous engines, which the devil uses to undo souls with. When Satan observes that men do in good earnest set themselves to the obtaining of knowledge, then he strives to turn them to vain inquiries and curious speculations; so that he may keep them […]

Contentedly ignorant – Thomas Brooks

Contentedly ignorant – Thomas Brooks “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 Take heed of curiosity, and of spending too much of your precious time in searching into those dark, concealed, mysterious, and hidden truths and things of God […]

Conformity to Christ in heart and life – Thomas Brooks

Conformity to Christ in heart and life – Thomas Brooks A more full conformity to Christ in heart and life, will make your lives a very heaven. As all good orators endeavor to be like Demosthenes so all good Christians should endeavor to be like Jesus Christ; for therein lies their glory and perfection.

Conflicts against sin – Thomas Brooks

Conflicts against sin – Thomas Brooks “I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:104. The Hebrew signifies to hate with a deadly and irreconcilable hatred. A Christian conflicts against sin universally the least as well as the greatest; the most profitable and the most pleasing sin, as well as against those which are less pleasing and […]

 Common grace – Thomas Brooks 

Common grace – Thomas Brooks Common grace never works a man thus to fear sin but renewing grace does. Common convictions carry the soul out to look more on the evil which follows sin, rather than on the evil which is in sin. And hence it comes to pass, that souls under common convictions are […]

Christ’s love-letter – Thomas Brooks

Christ’s love-letter – Thomas Brooks The whole of Scripture is but one entire love-letter, dispatched from the Lord Christ to His beloved spouse. Caecilia, a Roman maiden of noble parentage, always carried the New Testament with her, that she might still be a-reading in Christ’s love-letter, and behold the sweet workings of His love and […]

Christ’s Love for us – Thomas Brooks

Christ’s Love for us – Thomas Brooks Let us stand still, and admire and wonder at the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners; that Christ should rather die for us, than for the angels. They were creatures of a more noble extract, and in all probability might have brought greater revenues of glory to […]

Christ, by His death – Thomas Brooks

Christ, by His death – Thomas Brooks “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24 Certainly the whole punishment of body and soul which was due unto us Christ our Redeemer suffered. Our blessed Savior bore all the sins of the elect. He suffered the whole punishment which was […]

Can a worm ward off the blow of the Almighty? – Thomas Brooks

Can a worm ward off the blow of the Almighty? – Thomas Brooks It is fruitless and futile to strive, to contest or contend with God. No man has ever got anything, by muttering or murmuring under the hand of God except it has been more frowns, blows, and wounds. Those who will not lie […]

But woe and alas! – Thomas Brooks

But woe and alas! – Thomas Brooks Suppose, say some, that a man were to endure the torments of hell as many years, and no more, as there are . . . sands on the sea-shore, drops of water in the sea, stars in heaven, leaves on the trees, blades of grass on the ground; […]

But the truth is – Thomas Brooks

But the truth is – Thomas Brooks Many there are, who are accounted . . .deep scholars,great linguists,profound philosophers,good grammarians,excellent mathematicians,sharp logicians,cunning politicians,fine rhetoricians,sweet musicians, etc. But the truth is, he is the best grammarian who has learned to speak the truth from his heart; and he is the best astronomer who has his thoughts […]

But as flea-bitings – Thomas Brooks

But as flea-bitings – Thomas Brooks “Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.” Isaiah 30:33 Alas! the brick-kilns of […]

But a flea-bite! – Thomas Brooks

But a flea-bite! – Thomas Brooks Christian! Your present afflictions are not great if compared with the afflictions and torments of many of the damned, who when they were in this world, never sinned at so high a rate as you have done! There are many now in hell, who never sinned against such clear […]

Broke her heart all in pieces – Thomas Brooks

Broke her heart all in pieces – Thomas Brooks The more a man apprehends of the love of God, and of the love of Christ the more that person will grieve and mourn that he has offended, provoked, and grieved such a Father, and such a Son. The more clear and certain evidences a man […]

Books may preach – Thomas Brooks

Books may preach – Thomas Brooks Books may preach . . .when the author cannot,when the author may not,when the author dares not,yes, and which is more, when the author is not.

Blessed are those who mourn – Thomas Brooks

Blessed are those who mourn – Thomas Brooks “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn;” that is such as who mourn for sin with an exceeding great mourning. “Blessed are those who mourn;” that is those who mourn for sin with a funeral sorrow, as […]

Blessed are the poor in spirit – Thomas Brooks

Blessed are the poor in spirit – Thomas Brooks “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit;” that is the broken and humble in heart, who has no high thoughts or conceits of himself but is lowly in his own eyes, like […]

Birds’ nests – Thomas Brooks

Birds’ nests – Thomas Brooks Saving faith will make a man set his feet, where other men sets their hearts. Faith looks with an eye of scorn and disdain upon the things of this world. “What,” says faith, “are earthly treasures, compared to the treasures of heaven? What are stones compared to silver; dross compared […]

Big-bellied mercies – Thomas Brooks

Big-bellied mercies – Thomas Brooks “He has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.” 2 Peter 1:4 The promises are a precious book; every leaf drops myrrh and mercy. The promises are golden vessels, which are laden with the choicest jewels which heaven can afford, or the soul can desire. All our spiritual, temporal, […]

Better than a golden head – Thomas Brooks

Better than a golden head – Thomas Brooks “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 A pure heart is better than a golden head. A heart full of holy affections is infinitely beyond a head full of curious notions. There is no jewel like that of holiness. He who […]

Below the ox and the donkey – Thomas Brooks

Below the ox and the donkey – Thomas Brooks “The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feeding-trough, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:3 Ignorance is the source of all sin, the very well-spring from which all wickedness does issue. Ignorance . . . enslaves a soul […]

Because you ate the loaves – Thomas Brooks

Because you ate the loaves – Thomas Brooks “Unto you therefore who believe, He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7 Christ is only precious to those who believe. As Christ is the Father’s chief jewel, so He is your choicest jewel, is He not? Yes! The true Christian prizes Christ . . .above all duties,above all […]

Beautiful abominations – Thomas Brooks

Beautiful abominations – Thomas Brooks Let a man’s profession be ever so glorious, let him be ever so abundant in the performance of duties, let his desires after this and that holy thing be ever so strong yet if his ends and aims are wrong, all his pretensions and performances are but beautiful abominations. Did […]

Be strong and courageous – Thomas Brooks

Be strong and courageous – Thomas Brooks God is glorious in power, and wonderful in counsel, and infinite in mercy, and admirable in goodness, and rich in grace, and unsearchable in understanding. “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous.” Joshua 1:5-6 When God puts His people upon weighty services, He […]

Away with it! – Thomas Brooks

Away with it! – Thomas Brooks A humble person overlooks his own righteousness, and lives upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. The apostle Paul overlooks his own righteousness, and lives wholly upon the righteousness of Christ: “I desire to be found in him,” says he, “not having a righteousness of my own.” Away with […]

Ask what you will, O Christian – Thomas Brooks

Ask what you will, O Christian – Thomas Brooks “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2 If the Lord should say to a gracious Christian, “Ask what you will, O Christian and it shall be granted to you.” The answer would be: “Lord, rid me of my sins! Lord, […]

As long as a Christian continues sinning – Thomas Brooks

As long as a Christian continues sinning – Thomas Brooks Godly sorrow is a lasting sorrow, it is a durable sorrow. As long as a Christian continues sinning, he cannot but continue mourning. Repentance is a grace, and must have its daily operation as well as other graces. Certainly a true penitent can no more […]

Apt to hang and rest upon creature props

Apt to hang and rest upon creature props – Thomas Brooks (“A Believer’s Last Day, His Best Day”) God sometimes strips His people of their dearest mercies, that He may win them to a more complete and full dependence upon His blessed self. Man is a creature apt to hang and rest upon creature props. […]

 And will you murmur? – Thomas Brooks 

And will you murmur? – Thomas Brooks Is not Christ your treasure? Is not heaven your inheritance and will you murmur? Have you not much in hand, and more in hope? Have you not much in possession, but much more reserved in heaven and will you murmur? Has not God given you. . .a changed […]

An outlet and an inlet – Thomas Brooks

An outlet and an inlet – Thomas Brooks “Death has been swallowed up in victory!” 1 Corinthians 15:54 DEATH is an outlet and an inlet to a holy man.Death is an eternal outlet . . .to all sins,to all sorrows,to all shame,to all sufferings,to all afflictions,to all temptations,to all oppressions,to all confusions, andto all vexations. […]

An ocean of sweetness without one drop of bitterness – Thomas Brooks

An ocean of sweetness without one drop of bitterness – Thomas Brooks “The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 God is a pure and unmixed portion.God is an unmixed good He has nothing in Him but goodness.He is an ocean of sweetness without one drop of […]

An inlet to three dreadful things – Thomas Brooks

An inlet to three dreadful things – Thomas Brooks (“A Heavenly Cordial” 1665) Death is dreadful to the unbelieving sinner, for it puts an everlasting end to all his temporal . . .mercies,comforts,contentments,and enjoyments. Death will put an everlasting end to all his pleasures of sin. Now the sinner shall never more have one merry […]

An ignorant, profane, and soul-flattering clergy – Thomas Brooks

An ignorant, profane, and soul-flattering clergy – Thomas Brooks A preacher’s life should be a commentary upon his doctrine; his practice should be the counterpart of his sermons. Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life. An ignorant, profane, and soul-flattering clergy, are the greatest pest, plague, affliction and judgment, which can befall […]

An everlasting portion – Thomas Brooks

An everlasting portion – Thomas Brooks “The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 A Christian may be stripped of anything but his God; he may be stripped of his estate, his friends, his relations, his liberty, his life but he can never be stripped of his […]

An ever-present help in trouble – Thomas Brooks

An ever-present help in trouble – Thomas Brooks “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you […]

An epitome of all vanity – Thomas Brooks

An epitome of all vanity – Thomas Brooks “Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” Psalm 39:5 By Adam’s fall, man has become a pile of dust, a puff of wind; a dream; a shadow; a puff of smoke; a poor silly flea, a worm, a debased soul, a curious nothing. Yes, […]

An earthly-minded man – Thomas Brooks

An earthly-minded man – Thomas Brooks Then He told them a parable: A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my […]

An atheist at home – Thomas Brooks

An atheist at home – Thomas Brooks He who puts on a religious demeanor abroad to gain himself a great name among men, and at the same time lives like an atheist at home, shall at the last be unmasked by God, and presented before all the world for a most detestable hypocrite.

Thomas Brooks : An angel on the outside and a devil within – Thomas Brooks

Thomas Brooks : An angel on the outside and a devil within – Thomas Brooks “Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish; but inside you are filthy full of greed and self-indulgence!” Matthew 23:25 A hypocrite’s outside never corresponds with his inside.A hypocrite’s outside is one thing […]

An angel on the outside and a devil within – Thomas Brooks

An angel on the outside and a devil within – Thomas Brooks “Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish; but inside you are filthy full of greed and self-indulgence!” Matthew 23:25 A hypocrite’s outside never corresponds with his inside.A hypocrite’s outside is one thing and his inside […]

All your former troubles and afflictions – Thomas Brooks

All your former troubles and afflictions – Thomas Brooks “In the day of adversity, consider.” Eccles. 7:14 If you would be quiet and silent under your present troubles and trials, then dwell much upon the benefit, the profit, the advantage that has redounded to your souls by all your former troubles and afflictions. Oh! consider, […]

All worldly grandeur – Thomas Brooks

All worldly grandeur – Thomas Brooks Riches and honors and titles, and all worldly grandeur won’t go with us beyond the grave. Death, as a porter, stands at the gate, and strips men of all their worldly wealth and glory!

All to save you from wrath to come! – Thomas Brooks

All to save you from wrath to come! – Thomas Brooks Christians, spend your days in admiring the transcendent love of Christ in undergoing hellish punishments in your stead! Oh pray, pray hard that you “may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of that love of Christ, […]

All the whole volume of perfections – Thomas Brooks

All the whole volume of perfections – Thomas Brooks “Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 The true Christian seeks God as his choicest and chief […]

All the sins of the saints – Thomas Brooks

All the sins of the saints – Thomas Brooks “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, andall the temptations, andall the desertions, andall the oppressions, andall the oppositions, andall the persecutionswhich befall a godly […]

All the links of the golden chain of salvation – Thomas Brooks

All the links of the golden chain of salvation – Thomas Brooks All the links of the golden chain of salvation are made up of free grace! The people of God are . . .freely loved, Deut. 7:6-8;freely chosen, John 15:16-19, Eph. 1:4;freely accepted, Eph. 1:6;freely adopted, Eph. 1:5, Gal. 4:5-6;freely reconciled, 2 Cor. 5:18-20;freely […]

All the hell that you shall ever have! – Thomas Brooks

All the hell that you shall ever have! – Thomas Brooks Consider Christian, that all your . . .trials and troubles,calamities and miseries,crosses and losses,which you meet with in this world is all the hell that you shall ever have! Here and now you have your hell. Hereafter you shall have your heaven! This is […]

All the afflictions, troubles, and trials – Thomas Brooks

All the afflictions, troubles, and trials – Thomas Brooks “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.” Micah 6:9 It is God who appoints the rod, and ordains it to do what service He pleases. It is God who has an active hand, in all the afflictions which come upon His people. “Heed the […]

All the afflictions, troubles and evils – Thomas Brooks

All the afflictions, troubles and evils – Thomas Brooks As the apothecary makes one poison to drive out another poison so can God make the poison of afflictions, to drive out the poison of sin. All the afflictions, troubles and evils which befall the people of God, work together for their good; for God uses […]

All tears of godly sorrow drop from the eye of faith – Thomas Brooks

All tears of godly sorrow drop from the eye of faith – Thomas Brooks “They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced and shall mourn.” Zechariah 12:10 All godly sorrow is the fruit and effect of evangelical faith. Godly sorrow flows from faith as the stream from the fountain, the branch from the root, […]

All shadow and vanity – Thomas Brooks

All shadow and vanity – Thomas Brooks “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” Ecclessiastes 1:2 In all the ages of the world, this testimony of Solomon holds good. The things of this world are not only vain; but vanity in the abstract. They are excessive vanity; vanity of vanities; […]

All honey would harm us – Thomas Brooks

All honey would harm us – Thomas Brooks “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 Their mourning shall last but until morning. God will turn . . .their winter’s night into a summer’s day,their sighing into singing,their grief into gladness,their mourning into music,their bitter into sweet,their wilderness into […]

All belly-gods shall at last be found in the belly of hell! – Thomas Brooks

All belly-gods shall at last be found in the belly of hell! – Thomas Brooks “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach.” Philippians 3:18-19 Intemperance robs men of everlasting happiness and blessedness. It shuts them out from all the glory of heaven, and tumbles them down to the lowest hell, as you may […]

Ah, sirs! – Thomas Brooks

Ah, sirs! – Thomas Brooks Ah, sirs! It may be that there are but a few weeks, nay, a few days, nay, perhaps but a few hours between your souls and eternity, between your souls and everlasting burnings, between your souls and a devouring fire, between your souls and damnation! Will you not then pray […]

Ah! were Christians more humble – Thomas Brooks

Ah! were Christians more humble – Thomas Brooks Labor to be clothed with humility. Humility makes a man . . .peaceable among brethren,fruitful in well-doing,cheerful in suffering, andconstant in holy walking. Humility fits for the highest services we owe to Christ, and yet will not neglect the lowest service to the lowest saint. Humility can […]

Thomas Brooks : Afflictions – Thomas Brooks

Thomas Brooks : Afflictions – Thomas Brooks All the afflictions which attend the people of God, are such as shall turn to their profit and glorious advantage. Afflictions discover that filthiness and vileness in sin, which the soul has never yet seen. Afflictions contribute to the mortifying and purging away of their sins. Afflictions are […]

A worm, a gnat, a fly, a hair, a seed of a raison, a skin of a grape – Thomas Brooks

A worm, a gnat, a fly, a hair, a seed of a raison, a skin of a grape – Thomas Brooks “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1 Who can sum up the many possible deaths which are still lurking in his own body; […]

A world-conquering grace, a world-overcoming grace – Thomas Brooks 

A world-conquering grace, a world-overcoming grace – Thomas Brooks “For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory which overcomes the world, even our faith.” John 5:4 True faith is a world-conquering grace, it is a world-overcoming grace. Faith overcomes the frowning world, the fawning world, the tempting world, and […]

A work of absolute necessity – Thomas Brooks

A work of absolute necessity – Thomas Brooks Private prayer is a work of absolute necessity,for the bringing of the heart into a holy frame,for the keeping of the heart in a holy frame,for the discovery of sin,for the preventing of sin,for the embittering of sin,for the weakening of sin,for the purging away of sin,for […]

A wolf turned into a man! – Thomas Brooks

A wolf turned into a man! – Thomas Brooks The myth tells of Lycaon being turned into a wolf; but when a worldling is made holy, there is a wolf turned into a man! Yes, a devil is turned into a saint! Therefore the Holy Spirit, speaking of Zaccheus, who had long been bewitched by […]

A wolf that eats up all – Thomas Brooks

A wolf that eats up all – Thomas Brooks Sin is a devouring, a consuming element. Sin is a fire which devours and consumes all; it turned Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes; it has destroyed the Chaldean, Persian, and Grecian kingdoms, and will at last destroy the Roman kingdom also. Sin is a wolf that […]

A whore’s forehead – Thomas Brooks

A whore’s forehead – Thomas Brooks “You have a whore’s forehead, you refuse to be ashamed!” Jeremiah 3:3 “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all! They do not even know how to blush!” Jeremiah 6:15 They had sinned away shame, instead of being ashamed of sin. Continuance in […]

A very little worm – Thomas Brooks

A very little worm – Thomas Brooks A well-grounded assurance is always attended with humility. David, under assurance, cries out, “I am a worm and no man!” The Hebrew word which is here rendered worm, signifies a very little worm, which a man can hardly see or perceive. Psalm 22:6. Abraham, under assurance, cries out, […]

A tumor and swelling in the mind – Thomas Brooks

A tumor and swelling in the mind – Thomas Brooks “The Lord Almighty has done it to destroy your pride and show his contempt for all human greatness.” Isaiah 23:9 Pride is the original and root of most of those notorious vices that are to be found among men. Of all sins, pride is most […]

A transforming knowledge – Thomas Brooks

A transforming knowledge – Thomas Brooks “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 Saving knowledge is a transforming knowledge, which metamorphoses the soul. Divine light beating on the heart, warms it and betters it; transforms and changes it; moulds […]

A threefold repetition of this worm – Thomas Brooks

A threefold repetition of this worm – Thomas Brooks Certainly, hell-fire is neither tolerable nor terminable. The extremity and eternity of hellish torments is set forth by the worm which never dies. Christ makes a threefold repetition of this worm in Mark 9:44, 46, and 48“Their worm does not die and the fire is not […]

A thread-bare soul – Thomas Brooks

A thread-bare soul – Thomas Brooks Take hold of all opportunities to enrich your souls with spiritual riches. Men will easily, readily, greedily, and unweariedly grasp all opportunities wherein they may get earthly riches; and why should not you be as diligent in taking hold of all opportunities to enrich your precious souls? Is not […]

A tender heart, a soft hand, an iron memory – Thomas Brooks

A tender heart, a soft hand, an iron memory – Thomas Brooks (“Words of counsel to a dear dying friend”) Look upon your dying day as your reaping day. Now you shall reap the fruit of . . .all the prayers that you have ever made, andof all the tears that you have ever shed, […]

A tender heart, a soft hand, an iron memory – Thomas Brooks

A tender heart, a soft hand, an iron memory – Thomas Brooks Look upon your dying day as your reaping day. Now you shall reap the fruit of . . .all the prayers that ever you have made, andof all the tears that ever you have shed, andof all the sighs and groans that ever […]

A sweet interpretation – Thomas Brooks

A sweet interpretation – Thomas Brooks (“The Glorious Day of the Saints Appearance”) Love will enable the soul to persevere in the ways of godliness against all discouragements, by putting a blessed interpretation, and a heavenly construction upon all the afflictions, sorrows, and discouragements which an upright heart can meet with in the ways of […]

A strong tower – Thomas Brooks

A strong tower – Thomas Brooks “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 God is . . .so strong a tower that no cannon can pierce it,so high a tower that no ladder can scale it,so deep a tower that no subverter can […]

A soul given up to sin – Thomas Brooks

A soul given up to sin – Thomas Brooks It is the greatest judgment in the world to be left to sin. O unhappy man when God leaves you to yourself, and does not resist you in your sins! Woe, woe to him at whose sins God winks at. When God lets the way to […]

A smooth silken way to hell – Thomas Brooks

A smooth silken way to hell – Thomas Brooks In duty, Mary had learned the holy art of living above duty; in the business of acceptance with God, and justification before God, and reconciliation to God, and salvation by God; she knew no duty but Jesus. She was as happy in denying religious self as […]

A sinner never looks so sweetly – Thomas Brooks

A sinner never looks so sweetly – Thomas Brooks “She stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.” Luke 7:38 A sinner never looks so sweetly, as when […]

A silver vein of sanctity – Thomas Brooks

A silver vein of sanctity – Thomas Brooks “In that day shall there be upon the bridles of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness unto the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 14:20-21 Here is holiness written upon the bridles of the horses they ride on, and […]

A shadow, a ship, a bubble, a bird, a dream, an arrow – Thomas Brooks

A shadow, a ship, a bubble, a bird, a dream, an arrow – Thomas Brooks “Don’t weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!” Proverbs 23:4-5 All earthly portions are very uncertain; now they are and shortly they are not! […]

A self-loather – Thomas Brooks

A self-loather – Thomas Brooks True repentance is a daily turning of the soul further and further from sin and a daily turning of the soul nearer and nearer to God. True repentance includes . . .a true sense of sin,a deep sorrow for sin,a hearty loathing of sin, anda holy shame and blushing for […]

A secret virtue and power – Thomas Brooks

A secret virtue and power – Thomas Brooks When a man finds such a secret virtue and power running through his closet-duties as wounds and weakens his beloved corruption, as breaks the strength and the power of his special sin, as sets his heart more fully, resolutely, and constantly against his darling lust, as stirs […]

A sea of grace or but a drop of grace – Thomas Brooks

A sea of grace or but a drop of grace – Thomas Brooks “Those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:30 God’s love is equal to all His saints, whether they are rich or poor, high or low, slave or free; […]

 A sea of blood, wrath, sin, sorrow, misery – Thomas Brooks 

A sea of blood, wrath, sin, sorrow, misery – Thomas Brooks Ah, what a sea of blood, of wrath, of sin, of sorrow and misery did the Lord Jesus wade through for your eternal good! Christ did not plead, “This cross is too heavy for Me to bear; this wrath is too great for Me […]

A sanctified memory – Thomas Brooks

A sanctified memory – Thomas Brooks “How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! if I should count them, they are more in number than the sand when I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:17-18 The psalmist had very frequent, high, precious, and honorable […]

A sad story of a woman named Bochna – Thomas Brooks

A sad story of a woman named Bochna – Thomas Brooks I have read a sad story of a woman named Bochna, who had but two sons in all the world. One day, when she was walking with the one son by the river, she heard the other cry out, and hastening to him, she […]

A precious commodity in hell – Thomas Brooks

A precious commodity in hell – Thomas Brooks Most men spend the greatest part of their time on things that are that are of little or no value; as Domitian, the Roman emperor, who spent his time in catching of flies. Make a speedy and a thorough improvement of all opportunities of grace and mercy. […]

A precious book – Thomas Brooks

A precious book – Thomas Brooks As every precious gem-stone has a rich virtue in it, so has every promise. The promises are a precious book, every leaf drops myrrh and mercy; and upon these precious promises, precious faith looks and lives. From these breasts, faith sucks comfort and sweetness. Psalm 119:49-50, “Remember Your word […]

A poor, despised, contemptible thing – Thomas Brooks

A poor, despised, contemptible thing – Thomas Brooks Most professors live as if there were no heaven, or else as if heaven were not worth a seeking, worth a desiring; as if heaven were a poor, despised, contemptible thing. But ah, Christians! be much in desiring and longing to get into that glorious city, where […]

A new heart and a new spirit – Thomas Brooks

A new heart and a new spirit – Thomas Brooks “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe […]

A never-fading glory – Thomas Brooks

A never-fading glory – Thomas Brooks “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:4 The glory which Christ gives, is a never-fading glory. When a man has been in heaven as many millions of years as there are stars in heaven his glory shall be as […]

A most sovereign antidote – Thomas Brooks

A most sovereign antidote – Thomas Brooks God is with His people to counsel them in all doubtful and difficult cases, and to defend and secure them against all their enemies and opposers. God’s presence is infinitely better than the presence of all outward comforts. A sound sincere Christian can . . . never have […]

 A mixed condition – Thomas Brooks 

A mixed condition – Thomas Brooks The condition of God’s people in this life is a mixed condition. In this life they have . . .their rejoicing times and their mourning times,their laughing times and their weeping times,their singing times and their sorrowing times, etc. It is true, in heaven there is . . .all […]

A misery beyond all expression! – Thomas Brooks

A misery beyond all expression! – Thomas Brooks “Then He will say to those on His left Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!” Matthew 25:41 This solemn sentence breathes out nothing but fire and brimstone, terror and horror, dread and woe! The last […]

A mine of rich treasures! – Thomas Brooks

A mine of rich treasures! – Thomas Brooks (“A Heavenly Cordial” 1665) “He has given us his very great and precious promises.” 2 Peter 1:4 Oh how should saints then treasure up those precious promises, which assure their preservation, protection, maintenance, deliverance, comfort, and everlasting happiness! The promises are a mine of rich treasures! They […]

A man too big for temptations to conquer! – Thomas Brooks

A man too big for temptations to conquer! – Thomas Brooks Communion with God is . . .the life of your graces,the sweetener of all ordinances, providences, and mercies,the strengthener of your hearts and hands,the soul of your comforts, andthe crown of your souls. Communion with God makes the bitter things sweet; and massive things […]

A man of new principles – Thomas Brooks

A man of new principles – Thomas Brooks “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 A new creature has . . .a new judgment,a new will,new affections,new thoughts,new company,new choices,new laws,new ways,new works, etc.A new creature is […]

 A kind of omnipotency in it – Thomas Brooks 

A kind of omnipotency in it – Thomas Brooks Faith is an appropriating grace. Faith looks upon God, and says with David, “This God is my God forever and ever, and He shall be my guide unto the death.” Faith looks upon Christ, and says with the spouse, “I am my beloved’s, and His desire […]

A jewel worth more than heaven! – Thomas Brooks

A jewel worth more than heaven! – Thomas Brooks (“Hypocrites Detected, Anatomized, Impeached, Arraigned and Condemned” 1650) “Above all else, guard your heart!” Proverbs 4:23 Oh guard your eyes that they behold no vanity! Watch your hands that they touch not the golden wedge! But, above all, guard your souls! The soul is a jewel […]

A jewel of more worth than a world – Thomas Brooks

A jewel of more worth than a world – Thomas Brooks (“Hypocrites Detected, Anatomized, Impeached, Arraigned and Condemned” 1650) Time is a jewel more of worth than a world. Time is not yours to dispose of as you please; it is a glorious talent which men must be accountable for, as well as any other […]

A jewel more worth than a world! – Thomas Brooks

A jewel more worth than a world! – Thomas Brooks “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16 Time is a jewel more worth than a world! Time is not yours to dispose of as you please; it is a glorious talent that men must be accountable for, as well as any other […]

A house without light! – Thomas Brooks

A house without light! – Thomas Brooks “Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30 Our earthly fire, when it burns it shines, it casts a light. It has light as well as heat in it. But the fire of hell burns  but it does not […]

A house of fools! – Thomas Brooks

A house of fools! – Thomas Brooks “The heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 7:4 A fool prefers toys and trifles above things of greatest worth. Just so, wicked and ungodly men prefer their lusts before the Lord. Upon choice, they prefer the honors, the riches and glory of the world […]

A house full of gold – Thomas Brooks

A house full of gold – Thomas Brooks Prosperity has been a stumbling-block, at which millions have stumbled and fallen, and broke the neck of their souls forever! Ah, the secret fretting, vexing, and gnawing that daily, yes hourly, attends those men’s souls whose hands are full of worldly goods! It is a heavy plague […]

A hound, a hawk, a horse, a harlot – Thomas Brooks

A hound, a hawk, a horse, a harlot – Thomas Brooks Every man on earth whose heart is void and empty of grace sets a higher value and price upon his lusts, or upon his relations, or upon his honors, or riches, or pleasures, or upon this or that worldly enjoyment than he does upon […]

A holy heart – Thomas Brooks

A holy heart – Thomas Brooks “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 A holy heart is always attended with a holy life. All holy habits must be brought forth into holy acts. All gracious habits must be attended with gracious motions, gracious operations, […]

A heavy burden – Thomas Brooks

A heavy burden – Thomas Brooks Riches are a heavy burden, and often a hindrance to heaven, and happiness. All the felicity of this world is MIXED. Our light is mixed with darkness, our joy with sorrow, our pleasures with pain, our honor with dishonor, our riches with wants. If our minds are spiritual, clear […]

A heaven unto me! – Thomas Brooks

A heaven unto me! – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

A heaven here and a heaven hereafter – Thomas Brooks

A heaven here and a heaven hereafter – Thomas Brooks 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. […]

A greater honor – Thomas Brooks

A greater honor – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

A great nothing – Thomas Brooks

A great nothing – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

A great degree of holiness – Thomas Brooks

A great degree of holiness – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

A golden Christian – Thomas Brooks

A golden Christian – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

A fool to his schoolmaster – Thomas Brooks

A fool to his schoolmaster – Thomas Brooks 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, […]

A flower which does not grow in nature’s garden! – Thomas Brooks

A flower which does not grow in nature’s garden! – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

A faithful minister – Thomas Brooks

A faithful minister – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

A dumb devil – Thomas Brooks

A dumb devil – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

A drop in a bucket – Thomas Brooks

A drop in a bucket – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

A devil in an angel’s garb! – Thomas Brooks

A devil in an angel’s garb! – Thomas Brooks “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 devil in an angel’s dress – Thomas Brooks

A devil in an angel’s dress – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

A detestable, stinking weed – Thomas Brooks

A detestable, stinking weed – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

 A cooler hell – Thomas Brooks 

A cooler hell – Thomas Brooks “God, I thank You that I’m not like other peoplegreedy, 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 […]

A commentary upon Christ’s life – Thomas Brooks

A commentary upon Christ’s life – Thomas Brooks “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 Christians are distinguished from all others, by their lives and by their examples. Be exemplary to those among whom you live. Precepts may […]

A cleaner way to hell – Thomas Brooks

A cleaner way to hell – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

A Christian’s graces – Thomas Brooks

A Christian’s graces – Thomas Brooks “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., […]

A bubble, a shadow, a dream! – Thomas Brooks

A bubble, a shadow, a dream! – Thomas Brooks “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 […]

A beautiful harlot sitting in her chariot-Thomas Brooks

A beautiful harlot sitting in her chariot – Thomas Brooks 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 […]

God’s tools and instruments – Thomas Brooks

God’s tools and instruments – Thomas Brooks 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 […]