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
His Sonship; He was tempted to the worst idolatry, even
to worship the devil himself; to the greatest infidelity, to
distrust His Father's providence, and to use unlawful
means for necessary supplies; and to self-murder,
'Cast yourself down!' etc.
God had but one Son without corruption—but
He had none without temptation!
Those who were once glorious on earth, and are now
triumphing in heaven—have been severely tempted
and assaulted by Satan. It is as natural and common
for the choicest saints to be tempted—as it is for the
sun to shine, the bird to fly, the fire to burn. The
eagle complains not of her wings, nor the peacock
of her train of feathers, nor the nightingale of her
voice—because these are natural to them. No more
should saints of their temptations, because they
are natural to them.
"Our whole life is nothing but a temptation!"
The best men have been the worst tempted!
Temptations which are resisted and bewailed,
will never hurt you, nor harm you.
Distasteful temptations seldom or never prevail.
So long as the soul distastes them and the will
remains firmly averse against them—they can
do no hurt. So long as the language of the soul
is, 'Get behind me, Satan!' the soul is safe.
It is not Satan tempting—but my assenting;
it is not his enticing—but my yielding;
which undoes me!
Temptations may be troubles to my mind—but they
are not sins upon my soul—while I am in arms against
them. If your heart trembles and your flesh quakes
when Satan tempts—your condition is safe enough. If
Satan's temptations are your greatest afflictions—his
temptations shall never conquer you nor harm you!
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Thomas Brooks (1608 - 1680)
Much of what is known about Thomas Brooks has been ascertained from his writings. Born, likely to well-to-do parents, in 1608, Brooks entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1625, where he was preceded by such men as Thomas Hooker, John Cotton, and Thomas Shepard. He was licensed as a preacher of the Gospel by 1640. Before that date, he appears to have spent a number of years at sea, probably as a chaplain with the fleet.After the conclusion of the First English Civil War, Thomas Brooks became minister at Thomas Apostle's, London, and was sufficiently renowned to be chosen as preacher before the House of Commons on December 26, 1648. His sermon was afterwards published under the title, 'God's Delight in the Progress of the Upright', the text being Psalm 44:18: 'Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from Thy way'. Three or four years afterwards, he transferred to St. Margaret's, Fish-street Hill, London. In 1662, he fell victim to the notorious Act of Uniformity, but he appears to have remained in his parish and to have preached as opportunity arose. Treatises continued to flow from his pen.[3]
Thomas Brooks was a nonconformist preacher. Born into a Puritan family, he was sent to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He soon became an advocate of the Congregational way and served as a chaplain in the Civil War. In 1648 he accepted the rectory of St. Margaret's, New Fish Street, London, but only after making his Congregational principles clear to the vestry.
On several occasions he preached before Parliament. He was ejected in 1660 and remained in London as a Nonconformist preacher. Government spies reported that he preached at Tower Wharf and in Moorfields. During the Great Plague and Great Fire he worked in London, and in 1672 was granted a license to preach in Lime Street. He wrote over a dozen books, most of which are devotional in character. He was buried in Bunhill Fields.