"Keep your lives free from the love of money and
be content with what you have, because God has
said—Never will I leave you; never will I forsake
you." Hebrews 13:5
The believing Hebrews had been plundered of all they
had in this world, Heb. 10:34, when the apostle gave
forth this royal command; and yet the apostle requires
them to be content. It is as much the duty of a Christian
to be content when he has nothing, as when all the world
smiles upon him.
Christians are soldiers, strangers, travelers, pilgrims;
and therefore it concerns them to make do with little things,
yes, with anything in this world.
Nature is content with a little, grace with less; though nothing
will satisfy those men's hearts, whose lusts are their masters.
The Israelites had no mirthful clothes, nor no new clothes
in their wilderness condition; but God made their old clothes
to be all clothes to them, and that was enough.
Jacob did not ask God for dainties or ornaments—but for food
and clothing. Gen. 28:20, "Then Jacob made a vow, saying,
If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey
I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear,
then shall the Lord be my 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.