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 He comes, He will convict the world about sin."
John 16:8
The first work of the Spirit upon the soul,
is to make a man . . .
look upon sin as an enemy,
to deal with sin as an enemy,
to hate sin as an enemy,
to loathe sin as an enemy,
to fear sin as an enemy, and
to arm against sin as an enemy.
Of all the vile things in the world, sin is the
most defiling thing; it makes us red with
guilt and black with filth.
Inward corruptions grieve the gracious soul.
"Oh," says the gracious soul,
"that I were but rid of . . .
this proud heart,
this hard heart,
this unbelieving heart,
this unclean heart,
this froward heart,
this earthly heart of mine!"
The Christian has a universal willingness
to be rid of all sin. The enmity which grace
works in the heart, is against all sin:
profitable sins,
pleasurable sins,
disparaging sins,
disgracing sins,
small sins,
great sins.
A gracious heart had much rather, if it were put to his
choice, live without all sin—than to have allowance to
wallow in any sin. He had rather live without the least
sin—than to have liberty to live in the most flesh-pleasing
sin. It is certain that sin is more afflictive to a gracious
soul, than all the losses, crosses, troubles, and trials
that he meets with in the world.
True grace would not have one Canaanite left
in the holy land; he would have every Egyptian
drowned in the red sea of Christ's blood!
"I hate every false way." Psalm 139:24
Saving grace makes a man as willing to leave his lusts,
as a slave is willing to leave his chains,
or a prisoner his dungeon,
or a beggar his rags.
A sincere heart had much rather be rid of his sins
than of his sufferings; yes, of the least sins than
of the greatest sufferings.
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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.