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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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Thomas Brooks emphasizes that a believer's last day is their best day, marking death as a transformative experience that leads to a clearer and more complete enjoyment of God. He explains that while believers may experience glimpses of God's glory on earth, their understanding is often clouded and imperfect. In heaven, however, believers will enjoy a constant and perfect communion with God, free from the burdens and complaints of earthly life. Brooks encourages believers to look forward to this glorious change, where they will be fully satisfied in God's presence, and reminds them that the best is yet to come.
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Death Is a Change of Enjoyments
("A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day") A believer's last day is his best day! Death is a change of enjoyments. Death is a change of our more dark and obscure enjoyment of God—for a more clear and sweet enjoyment of God. The best believer in this world, who enjoys most of God, and the visions of His glory—still he does not enjoy God clearly; but he is much in the dark. We are weak, and able to take in little of God. We have but dark apprehensions of God. Witness our tears, sighs, groans, and complaints, because we go forward and backward. God hides Himself that we cannot see Him. Ask those who live highest in the enjoyment of God, "What is your greatest burden?" They will tell you, "This is our greatest burden, that our apprehensions of God are no more clear, that we cannot see Him whom our souls do dearly love, face to face." Oh—but now in heaven saints shall have a clear vision of God! There are no clouds or mists in heaven! Death is a change of our imperfect and incomplete enjoyments of God, for a more complete and perfect enjoyment of Him. It is an excellent expression that Augustine has: "The glorious things of heaven are . . . so many—that they exceed number; so precious—that they exceed estimation; so great—that they exceed measure!" Bernard says, "For Christ to be with Paul was the greatest security—but for Paul to be with Christ was the chief happiness!" There are no complaints in heaven, because there are no needs. Oh, when death shall give the fatal stroke, there shall be an exchange . . . of earth—for heaven; of imperfect enjoyments—for perfect enjoyments of God! Then the soul shall be swallowed up with a full enjoyment of God; no corner of the soul shall be left empty—but all shall be filled up with the fullness of God. Here in this present world, the saints receive grace; but in heaven they shall receive glory. God keeps the best wine until last; the best of God, Christ, and heaven —is beyond this present world. Here we have but some sips, some tastes of God; the fullness is reserved for the glorious state. He who sees most of God here on earth, sees but His back parts; His face is a jewel of that splendor and glory, which no eye can behold but a glorified eye. The best of Christians are able to take in but little of God; their hearts are like the widow's vessel, which could receive but a little oil. Sin, the world, and creatures take up so much room in the best hearts—that God gives out Himself little by little, as parents give sweets to their children. But in heaven God will communicate Himself fully at once to the soul! Grace shall then be swallowed up in glory! Death is a change of a more inconstant and transient enjoyment of God—for a more constant and permanent enjoyment of God. Here on earth, the saints' enjoyment of God is inconstant. One day they enjoy God, and another day the soul sits and complains in anguish of spirit. But in heaven there shall no clouds arise between the Lord and a believing heart. God will not one day smile, and another day frown; one day take a soul in His arms, and another day lay that soul at His feet. In heaven there are nothing but kisses and embraces, nothing but a perpetual enjoyment of God! When once God takes the soul unto Himself, all tears shall then be wiped away. There are angels and archangels in heaven. Yes, but they do not make heaven; Christ is the most sparkling diamond in the ring of glory! It is heaven and happiness enough to see Christ, and to be forever with Christ. Now, oh what a glorious change is this! Methinks these things should make us long for our dying-day, and account this present life but a lingering death. "And so we will be with the Lord forever! Therefore encourage each other with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
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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.