"For this is what the high and lofty One says—He who
lives forever, whose name is holy—I live in a high and
holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly
in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive
the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15
The highest heavens and the lowest hearts, are the
habitation of God's glorious presence. He who would in
good earnest enjoy the gracious presence of God with him
in his great troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly
dangers, he must keep humble, and walk humbly with
his God. God will keep house with none but humble souls.
There are none who feel so great a need of the divine
presence as humble souls.
There are none who so prize the divine presence as
humble souls.
There are none who so love the divine presence, and who
are so enamored with the divine presence as humble souls.
There are none who so thirst and long for much of the
divine presence as humble souls.
There are none who so lament and bewail the loss of
the divine presence as humble souls.
There are none who make such a singular and thorough
improvement of the divine presence as humble souls.
Therefore, it is no wonder that of all the men in the world,
God singles out the humble Christian, to make his heart
the habitation where His honor delights to dwell.
He who is little in his own account, is great in God's
esteem, and shall be sure to enjoy most of His presence.
God can dwell, God will dwell with none but those who
are lowly in heart; and therefore as ever you would enjoy
the special presence of God with you in your greatest
troubles and deepest distresses—be sure that you walk
humbly with your God. Many may talk much of God,
and many may profess much of God, and many may
boast much of God; but he only enjoys much of God
who makes conscience of walking humbly with 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.