"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 hearts of His people,
and betters the hearts of His people, and draws the
hearts of His people nearer and closer to Himself.
"It was good for me to be afflicted." Psalm 119:71
The saints gain by their crosses, troubles, and distresses.
Their graces are more raised,
their fellowship with God is more multiplied,
their comforts are more augmented,
their communion with God is more heightened.
The grand design of God in all the afflictions
which befall His people—is to bring them
nearer and closer to Himself.
When a great affliction arrests a sincere Christian,
he may murmur and struggle at first; but when
he considers it as sent from God, to bring him to
God, the King of glory—he willingly and readily
submits to the rod, and kisses the rod, saying,
"It was good for me to be afflicted!" Ps. 119:71
The power of God, the love of God, and the grace
of God—are most gloriously manifested by bringing
the hearts of His people nearer and closer to Himself
by all the troubles, distresses, and dangers which
attend them. In the winter season, all the sap of the
tree runs down to the root; just so—in the winter of
affliction, the soul runs out more and more to
God, and gets closer and nearer to God!
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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.