"An undefiled inheritance." 1 Peter 1:4
There are few earthly inheritances—but some defilement
or other sticks close to them. Many times they are gotten
by fraud, oppression, violence, injustice, etc. And as they
are often wickedly gotten—so they are as often wickedly
kept!
The heavenly inheritance is the only undefiled inheritance.
No sin, no sinner, no devil—can enter to defile or pollute
the heavenly inheritance, the incorruptible crown. The Greek
word signifies a precious stone, which though it be ever so
much soiled—yet it cannot be blemished nor defiled. Yes, the
oftener you cast it into the fire and take it out—the more
clear, bright, and shining it is!
No unclean thing shall enter into heaven to defile this crown,
this inheritance! The serpent got into the earthly paradise,
and defiled Adam's crown—yes, he robbed him of his crown!
But the subtle serpent can never enter into the heavenly
paradise!
"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does
what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names
are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelation 21:27
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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.