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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 that to be a holy person is to know, love, and imitate Christ, as reflected in 1 John 4:17. He explains that the graces found in Christians are a reflection of the graces in Christ, highlighting that while they may differ in degree, they are fundamentally the same. Brooks encourages believers to cultivate these graces, as they are the marks of a holy heart, and to strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, as stated in 1 John 2:6. The sermon calls Christians to recognize their identity in Christ and to embody His virtues in their daily lives.
The Graces Which Are in Christians
"As He is—so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17 To be a holy person is to know a holy Christ, to be in love with a holy Christ, and to imitate the virtues of a holy Christ. "Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness." John 1:16 There is no grace in Christ—which is not in some degree formed in a holy heart, and therefore the work of grace and holiness is called a forming of Christ in the soul, Gal. 4:19. Holy hearts have the very prints, stamps, and impressions of the graces of Jesus Christ upon them! The graces which are in Christians correspond to the graces which are in Jesus—in truth and reality, though not in degree and quantity. It is the height of a Christian's glory to tread in the virtuous steps of his dearest Lord. The Christian labors to resemble Christ in all things, especially in those holy virtues which were most shining in the heart and life of Christ. "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6
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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.