"And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Consider that all your afflictions, troubles, and trials
shall work for your good. Why then should you fret,
fling, fume—considering God intends you good in all?
The bee sucks sweet honey out of the bitterest
herbs; so God will by afflictions teach His children to
suck sweet knowledge, sweet obedience, and sweet
experiences, sweet humility—out of all the bitter
afflictions and trials He exercises them with.
That scouring and rubbing, which frets others, shall
make them shine the brighter; and that weight which
keeps others crushed, shall but make them, like the
palm tree, grow better and higher; and that hammer
which knocks others all into pieces, shall but knock
them the nearer to Christ, the corner stone.
Stars shine brightest in the darkest night;
torches give the best light when beaten;
grapes yield most wine when most pressed;
spices smell sweetest when pounded;
vines are the better for bleeding;
gold looks the brighter for scouring;
juniper smells sweetest in the fire;
chamomile, the more you tread it the more you spread it;
the salamander lives best in the fire;
the Jews were best, when most afflicted.
Afflictions are the saints' best benefactors to heavenly
affections. Where afflictions hang heaviest—corruptions
hang loosest. And grace that is hidden in nature, as sweet
water in rose leaves, is then most fragrant when the fire
of affliction is put under to distill it out. Grace shines the
brighter for scouring, and is most glorious when it is most
clouded.
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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.