("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—death does that in a moment, which no
graces or duties could do for a man all his lifetime! Death
frees a man from those diseases, corruptions, temptations,
etc., which no duties or graces could do.
Do not fear death. Do not say of death, what that wicked
prince said to the prophet, "Have you found me, O my enemy?"
But rather long for death, not to be rid of troubles—but that your
soul may be taken up to a more clear and full enjoyment of God.
In life, we often find . . .
our comforts to be rare,
our crosses to be frequent,
our pleasures to be momentary,
our pains to be permanent.
Believers, your dying-day is your best
day. Oh, then, be not afraid of death!
The Lord Jesus has, as it were, disarmed death, and
triumphed over death. He has taken away its sting, so
that it cannot sting us! We may play with it, and put
it into our bosoms, as we may a snake whose sting is
pulled out. Paul, upon this consideration, challenges
death, and out-braves death, and bids death do his
worst, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death,
is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:55-57
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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.