There is nothing which puts a more serious frame
into a man's heart, than to know the worth and
preciousness of time.
"Time," says Bernard, "would be a good commodity
in hell, and the selling of it most gainful; where, for
one day, a man would give ten thousand worlds if
he had them."
One called his friends, "Thieves!" because they
stole time from him.
Certainly time is infinitely precious, in regard of what
depends upon it. What can there be of more worth,
and weight, and importance—than eternity?
Eternity is the heaven of heaven—and the hell of hell.
Without eternity, heaven would not be so desirable—
nor hell be so formidable.
Eternity depends upon time. Time is the prologue to
eternity. The great weight of eternity—hangs upon
the small wire of time. Upon the spending of our time,
depends either the bliss or the bane of body and soul
to all eternity! Now is our seed-time, eternity is the
harvest. Whatever seed we now sow, whether of sin
or grace—it comes up in eternity!
Now is our market-time, in which, if we are wise merchants,
we may make a happy exchange of earth—for heaven; of a
valley of tears—for a paradise of delights.
Though time itself does not last—yet whatever is
everlasting, depends upon time.
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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.