- Home
- Speakers
- Thomas Brooks
- Do Not Fear Death
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 death for a believer is not to be feared but embraced as a transition to a greater joy and freedom from sin. He encourages believers to view death as the end of their struggles and the beginning of a fuller communion with God. Brooks reminds us that Jesus has conquered death, rendering it powerless and transforming it into a moment of ultimate gain for the faithful. He urges believers to celebrate their dying day as their best day, free from the burdens of life. Ultimately, death is portrayed as a disarmed foe, inviting believers to face it with confidence and hope.
Scriptures
Do Not Fear Death
("A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day") Death is not such as some would paint it. Never mourn immoderately at the death of any believer. Death is not the death of the man—but the death of his sin. Death is to them the greatest gain. Remember this—death does that in a moment, which no graces or duties could do for a man all his lifetime! Death frees a man from those diseases, corruptions, temptations, etc., which no duties or graces could do. Do not fear death. Do not say of death, what that wicked prince said to the prophet, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" But rather long for death, not to be rid of troubles—but that your soul may be taken up to a more clear and full enjoyment of God. In life, we often find . . . our comforts to be rare, our crosses to be frequent, our pleasures to be momentary, our pains to be permanent. Believers, your dying-day is your best day. Oh, then, be not afraid of death! The Lord Jesus has, as it were, disarmed death, and triumphed over death. He has taken away its sting, so that it cannot sting us! We may play with it, and put it into our bosoms, as we may a snake whose sting is pulled out. Paul, upon this consideration, challenges death, and out-braves death, and bids death do his worst, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:55-57
- 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.