"He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever
confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13
The true penitent would have God to forgive him, not only
some of his sins—but all his sins; and therefore it is but just
and equal that he should turn from all his sins. The plaster
must be as broad as the sore. It argues horrid hypocrisy,
damnable folly, and astonishing impudency—for a man
to beg the pardon for those very sins that he is resolved
never to forsake! Look! He who has not repented of all known
sin, he has not yet sincerely repented of any known sin, nor
as yet experienced the sweetness of forgiveness of sin.
Of all fools, there is none compared to him who is importunate
with God to forgive those sins which he is resolved beforehand
to commit! What prince, in his wits, will pardon the treasons of
a person who is resolved to continue a traitor? Or what judge
will forgive thievery of a person who is decidedly determined
to continue as a thief? Such as continue in the practice of those
very sins, which they beg God to pardon—shall certainly go
without their pardon!
Pardon of sin is for that man, and that man is for pardon of
sin—who is as truly willing to forsake his sins as he is to receive
the pardon of his sins. Who would not look upon that man as a
madman—who would earnestly beg his pardon, and yet continue
to steal purses, and murder people before the eyes of the judge?
The pardoned soul is the repenting soul—and the repenting
soul is the pardoned soul! He who begs pardon of sin—yet is
resolved not to turn from sin—shall find no more pardon than
devils or damned spirits do! Look! as one sin unforgiven will
as certainly undo a man as a thousand—just so, one sin
unforsaken will us certainly undo and damn a man as a
thousand! The true penitent is as willing to turn from all
his sins—as he is willing that God should pardon all his sins!
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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.