Keep your lives free from the love of money and be
content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So
we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6
Assurance of God's presence to help at all times
and circumstances, should raise us up above all base
and slavish fears of the power of men, of the harmings
of men, of the evil designs of men, etc. God being with
us, and for us, and on our side—we may boldly, safely,
and confidently, rest upon it—that He will freely, readily,
graciously, give all needful help, assistance, and support,
when we are in the greatest troubles, deepest distresses,
and most deadly dangers.
The Greek word "helper," according to the notation of
it, signifies one who is ready to run at the cry of another.
This notation implies a willing readiness, and a ready
willingness in God—to help and support His people when
they are in deep distress. You know the tender father,
the indulgent mother—they immediately run when they
hear the child cry, or see the child in any danger or
distress. Just so, when God sees His poor children in
any danger or distress, when He hears them complain
and cry out of their sufferings, their bonds, their
burdens, their oppressions, their dangers, etc., He
immediately runs to their relief and support!
Who is like Him in all the world—to help His
people in each and every direful circumstance?
When friends cannot help,
when power cannot help,
when human wisdom cannot help,
when riches cannot help,
when princes cannot help,
when governments cannot help;
yet then God can and will help His people
—when all human help fails!
"The Lord will judge His people and have compassion
on His servants when He sees their strength is gone and
no one is left," Deut. 32:36. When God's people are at
the very brink of ruin, then God will come in seasonably
to their help. Their extremity shall be His opportunity,
to support His people, and to judge their enemies. No
men, no devils, no power, no policy, can hinder God
from helping, aiding, assisting, and supporting of His
people in any needful circumstance!
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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.