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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.
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Sermon Summary
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the immeasurable and transcendent love of Christ, which remains unwavering despite humanity's extreme misery and rebellion. He marvels at the paradox of Christ's incarnation and suffering, illustrating how the Creator became a creature and endured immense wrath for the sake of fallen man. Brooks highlights that this divine love is not only vast and deep but also the very reason Christ willingly faced the cross. He calls believers to continually admire and be captivated by this extraordinary love that surpasses all understanding. Ultimately, Brooks encourages a life spent in awe of Christ's love, which is the golden link that binds us to Him.
Scriptures
It Was the Golden Link of Love!
"May you have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." Ephesians 3:18-19 Oh, such was Christ's transcendent love—that man's extreme misery could not abate it. The deploredness of man's condition did but heighten the holy flame of Christ's love. It is as high as heaven, who can reach it? It is as low as hell, who can understand it? Heaven, with all its glory, could not contain Him. Neither could all hell's torments make Him refrain! Such was His perfect matchless love to fallen and miserable man. That Christ's love should extend to the ungodly, to sinners, to enemies who were in rebellion against Him; yes, not only so—but that He should hug them in His arms, lodge them in His bosom—is the highest degree of love! It is astonishing . . . that Christ should come from the eternal bosom of His Father—to a region of sorrow and death; that God—should be manifested in the flesh; that the Creator—should be made a creature; that He who was clothed with glory—should be wrapped with rags of flesh; that He who filled heaven—should be cradled in a feeding trough; that the God of strength—should be weary; that the Judge of all men—should be condemned; that the God of life—should be put to death. That He would do all this for man, for fallen man, for miserable man, for worthless man—is beyond all conception! The sharp sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, from the cradle to the cross, does above all other things, speak out the transcendent love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners. That wrath, that great wrath, that fierce wrath, that pure wrath, that infinite wrath, that matchless wrath of an angry God—which was so terribly impressed upon the soul of Christ—all this wrath He patiently underwent, that sinners might be saved, and that "He might bring many sons unto glory." Oh wonder at the greatness of His love—which made our dear Lord Jesus lay down His life—to save us from hell, and to bring us to heaven! Oh unspeakable love! It was the golden link of love, which alone fastened Christ to the cross, and made Him die freely for us! Christ's love is beyond all measure, for . . . time did not begin it, and time shall never end it; place does not bound it; sin does not exceed it; tongues cannot express it; minds cannot conceive it. Well may we spend all our days in admiring and adoring of Christ's wonderful love—and be always ravished with the thoughts of it. "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it." Ephes. 3:19
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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.