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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 delivers a sobering sermon titled 'The Hell of Hell,' emphasizing the eternal nature of the torments faced by the damned. He illustrates that the suffering in hell is not only diverse and grievous but, most importantly, everlasting, which adds to the horror of their plight. Brooks uses vivid imagery to convey that even the thought of a potential end to suffering would provide some comfort, but the reality of eternal punishment is a source of unending despair. He contrasts the fate of the reprobate with the salvation offered through Christ, urging listeners to exalt the Savior who rescues them from such eternal wrath.
The Hell of Hell
And as there are a diversity of torments in hell, so the torments of hell are everlasting. "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!" Mt. 25:41 The sentence which shall be passed upon them, is eternal. God Himself, who damns them, is eternal. The prison and chains which hold them, are eternal. The worm which gnaws them, is eternal. The fire which torments them, is eternal. Grievous is the torment of the damned—for the bitterness of the punishments. It is more grievous—for the diversity of the punishments. But it is most grievous—for the eternity of the punishments! If, after so many millions of years as there are drops in the ocean, there might be a deliverance out of hell—this would yield a little ease, a little comfort to the damned. Oh, but this word Eternity! Eternity! Eternity! this word Everlasting! Everlasting! Everlasting! this word Forever! Forever! Forever! will even break the hearts of the damned in ten thousand pieces! Suppose that the whole world were turned into a mountain of sand, and that a little bird should come once every thousand years and carry away from that heap, one grain of sand. What an infinite number of years would be spent before this great mountain of sand would be fetched away! Just so—if a man should lie in everlasting burnings so long a time as this, and then have an end of his woe—it would give some ease, some hope, and some comfort to him. But when that immortal bird shall have carried away this great mountain of sand—a thousand times over and over—alas, alas, sinful man shall be as far from the end of his anguish and torment as ever he was! He shall be no nearer coming out of hell, than he was the very first moment that he entered into hell! Suppose, say others, that a man were to endure the torments of hell as many years—as there are . . . sands on the sea-shore, drops of water in the sea, stars in the heavens, leaves on the trees, blades of grass on the ground —yet he would comfort himself with this poor thought, "Well, there will come a day when my misery and torment shall certainly have an end." But woe and alas! this word, "Forever! Forever! Forever!" will fill the hearts of the damned with the greatest . . . horror and terror, anger and rage, bewilderment and astonishment! If the fire of hell were terminable, it might be tolerable. But being endless, it must needs be easeless, and remediless. The eternity of hell—is the hell of hell. The damned shall live as long in hell—as long as God Himself shall live in heaven! "The reprobate shall have . . . punishment without pity; misery without mercy, sorrow without support, crying without compassion, mischief without measure, and torment without end!" “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 All the pains, torments, curse, and wrath which were due to the elect—fell on Christ, until divine justice was fully satisfied. "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thes. 5:9. Oh, exalt that Christ! Oh, extol that Savior, who has saved you from that eternal wrath!
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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.