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 persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the
Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's
wisdom, but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Mr. Dod was accustomed to say that "so much Greek and
Hebrew in a sermon—was so much fleshly ostentation
in a sermon!" When men come to pulpit-work, all plainness
must be used. Starched oratory may tickle the brain—but
it is plain doctrine . . .
which informs the judgment,
which convinces the conscience,
which bows the will, and
which wins the heart.
That sermon has most learning in it—which has most
plainness in it. And therefore a great scholar was
accustomed to say, "Lord, give me learning enough
that I may preach plain enough."
Silly, ignorant people are very apt to dote upon that most,
and admire that most—which they understand least! But
prudent Christians judge of ministers . . .
not by their throats—but by their hearts and lives;
not by their voices and tones—but by the plainness,
spiritualness, suitableness, and usefulness of their matter.
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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.