The knowledge of a man's property in God is the comfort
of comforts. Property makes every comfort, a pleasurable
comfort, a delightful comfort. When a man walks . . .
in a fair meadow, and can write mine upon it,
into a pleasant garden, and can write mine upon it,
into a fruitful field, and can write mine upon it,
into a stately habitation, and can write mine upon it,
into a rich treasury, and can write mine upon it—
Oh, how does it please him!
How does it delight him!
How does it joy and rejoice him!
Of all words, the word mine is the sweetest and the
most comforting word. Ah! when a man can look upon
God, and write 'Mine!' when he can look upon God, and
say, 'This God is my God forever and ever!' when he can
look upon God, and say, 'This God is my portion!' when he
can look upon God, and say with Thomas, "My Lord and
my God!"—how will all the springs of joy rise in his soul!
Oh, who can but rejoice to be owner of that God who fills
heaven and earth with His fullness? Who can but rejoice
to have Him for his portion—in having of whom, he has
all things—in having of whom he can lack nothing?
The serious thoughts of our property in God will add much
sweet to all our sweets! Yes, it will make every bitter, sweet.
When a man seriously thinks . . .
it is my God who cheers me with His presence,
it is my God who supports me with His power,
it is my God who guides me by His counsel,
it is my God who supplies me with His goodness,
it is my God who blesses all my blessings to me;
it is my God who afflicts me in love,
it is my God who has broken me in my estate,
it is my God who has sorely visited His child,
it is my God who has passed this sentence of death upon a friend,
it is my God who has thus cast me down—
how do these thoughts cheer up the spirit of a man, and
make every bitter, sweet; and every burden, light unto him.
O Christians! A clear sight of your property in God is . . .
a pearl of great price,
your paradise,
manna in a wilderness,
water out of a rock,
a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night,
Jacob's ladder,
a salve for every sore,
a cure for every disease,
a remedy against every malady,
an anchor at sea, and a shield on shore,
a star to guide you,
a staff to support you,
a sword to defend you,
a pavilion to hide you,
a fire to warm you,
a banquet to refresh you,
a city of refuge to secure you,
a cordial to cheer you!
What more could you desire?
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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.