They say of the nightingale, that when she is solitary in
the woods, she is careless of her melody; but when she
perceives that she has any auditors, or is near houses—then
she composes herself more harmoniously and elegantly.
Truly, this is the frame and temper of the best of hypocrites.
Oh! but a sincere Christian labors in all places, and in all
times, to approve himself to God. He labors as much to
approve himself to God in a forest, where no eye sees him
—as he does when the eyes of thousands are fixed upon him.
The sun would shine bright, though all men were asleep at
high noon, and no eyes open to see the glory of his beams.
Just so, a sincere heart will shine, he will labor to do good;
though all the world should shut their eyes; yet he will eye
his work, and eye his God. He knows that God is totes
oculus—all eye, and therefore he cares not though others
have never an eye to observe him, to applaud him. Let God
but secretly whisper to him in the ear, and say, "Well done,
good and faithful servant!" and it is enough to his soul,
enough to satisfy him, enough to cheer him, and enough
to encourage him in the ways and the work of his 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.