"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies
to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we
die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we
belong to the Lord." Romans 14:7-8.
A genuine Christian ordinarily has holy aims and ends in his
actings and undertakings. The glory of God is the mark—the
bulls-eye which holy men have in their eyes. They live not
to themselves—but they live to Him who lives forever. They
live not to their own wills, lusts, greatness, and glory in this
world—but they live to His glory, whose glory is dearer to
them than their very lives. They make God's glory their
ultimate end. The daily language of their souls is, "Not
unto us, Lord, not unto us, Lord—but to Your name be all
the glory!"
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do—do
it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
Holy hearts habitually eye the glory of Christ in all things.
When they eat—they eat to His glory;
when they drink—they drink to His glory;
when they sleep—they sleep to His glory;
when they buy—they buy for His glory;
when they sell—they sell for His glory;
when they give—they give for His glory;
when they recreate themselves—they recreate for His glory;
when they hear preaching—they hear for His glory;
when they pray—they pray for His glory;
when they fast—they fast for His glory;
when they read Scripture—they read for His glory;
when they come to the Lord's table—they come to His glory.
In all secular and pious actions—holy hearts have a
habitual eye to divine glory. Selfish and base ends
and aims, will too often creep into the holiest hearts,
but holy hearts sigh and groan under them; and it is
the strong and earnest desires of their souls to be rid
of them. But take a holy Christian in his ordinary, usual,
and habitual course—and he will have holy aims and
ends in all his actions and undertakings.
"To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever!
Amen." 1 Peter 4:11
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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.