- Home
- Speakers
- Thomas Brooks
- The Bulls Eye
Thomas Brooks
Thomas Brooks (1608 - 1680). English Puritan preacher and author born in Glastonbury, Somerset. Likely educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he entered ministry during the English Civil War, possibly serving as a chaplain in the Parliamentary navy. By 1648, he preached in London, becoming rector of St. Margaret’s, New Fish Street, in 1652, where he ministered through the Great Plague and Great Fire of 1666. A nonconformist, he was ejected in 1662 under the Act of Uniformity but continued preaching privately. Brooks wrote over a dozen works, including Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (1652) and The Mute Christian Under the Rod, blending practical theology with vivid illustrations. Known for his warm, accessible style, he influenced Puritan spirituality, emphasizing repentance and divine sovereignty. Married twice—first to Martha Burgess in 1640, with whom he had four sons, then to Patience Cartwright—he faced personal loss but remained steadfast. His sermons drew crowds, and his books, reprinted centuries later, shaped Reformed thought. Brooks’ legacy endures through digital archives and reprints for modern readers.
Download
Sermon Summary
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that genuine Christians live with the ultimate aim of glorifying God in all aspects of their lives. He explains that their actions, whether mundane or spiritual, are directed towards honoring God, making His glory their primary focus. Brooks highlights that even in the face of selfish desires, holy hearts strive to align their intentions with divine glory, echoing the sentiment that everything they do should be for the Lord. The preacher encourages believers to consistently seek God's glory in every action, reinforcing the idea that life and death both belong to the Lord.
Scriptures
The Bulls-Eye
"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." Romans 14:7-8. A genuine Christian ordinarily has holy aims and ends in his actings and undertakings. The glory of God is the mark—the bulls-eye which holy men have in their eyes. They live not to themselves—but they live to Him who lives forever. They live not to their own wills, lusts, greatness, and glory in this world—but they live to His glory, whose glory is dearer to them than their very lives. They make God's glory their ultimate end. The daily language of their souls is, "Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, Lord—but to Your name be all the glory!" "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do—do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 Holy hearts habitually eye the glory of Christ in all things. When they eat—they eat to His glory; when they drink—they drink to His glory; when they sleep—they sleep to His glory; when they buy—they buy for His glory; when they sell—they sell for His glory; when they give—they give for His glory; when they recreate themselves—they recreate for His glory; when they hear preaching—they hear for His glory; when they pray—they pray for His glory; when they fast—they fast for His glory; when they read Scripture—they read for His glory; when they come to the Lord's table—they come to His glory. In all secular and pious actions—holy hearts have a habitual eye to divine glory. Selfish and base ends and aims, will too often creep into the holiest hearts, but holy hearts sigh and groan under them; and it is the strong and earnest desires of their souls to be rid of them. But take a holy Christian in his ordinary, usual, and habitual course—and he will have holy aims and ends in all his actions and undertakings. "To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever! Amen." 1 Peter 4:11
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
Thomas Brooks (1608 - 1680). English Puritan preacher and author born in Glastonbury, Somerset. Likely educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he entered ministry during the English Civil War, possibly serving as a chaplain in the Parliamentary navy. By 1648, he preached in London, becoming rector of St. Margaret’s, New Fish Street, in 1652, where he ministered through the Great Plague and Great Fire of 1666. A nonconformist, he was ejected in 1662 under the Act of Uniformity but continued preaching privately. Brooks wrote over a dozen works, including Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (1652) and The Mute Christian Under the Rod, blending practical theology with vivid illustrations. Known for his warm, accessible style, he influenced Puritan spirituality, emphasizing repentance and divine sovereignty. Married twice—first to Martha Burgess in 1640, with whom he had four sons, then to Patience Cartwright—he faced personal loss but remained steadfast. His sermons drew crowds, and his books, reprinted centuries later, shaped Reformed thought. Brooks’ legacy endures through digital archives and reprints for modern readers.