Though a little quaint and archaic, I have just slogged through one of Thomas Brook’s book, “Mute Christian under the smarting Rod” or “The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes”. Thomas Brooks was an English non-conformist Puritan preacher of the 1600’s.
Spurgeon was said to have been a great fan of Brooks teaching.
It is a book dedicated to all “Afflicted, distressed, dissatisfied, disturbed, Christians throughout the world.”
Brooks has great proficiency with Scripture. He explains the purpose of affliction and suffering in a believer’s life.
This read is a feast of biblical encouragement for the weary.
This book radiates with spiritual life on adversities that are particularly challenging and comforting.
I highly recommend this Puritan classic for anyone journeying through trials.
He begins with a lengthy letter to the “choicest saints born to troubles” (Job 5:7), giving the reasons for writing this piece.
“Afflictions are a golden key by which the Lord opens the rich treasure of his word to his people's souls.”
He writes from his experiences through trials.
He explains what he means by the seven-fold “silences”, Stoical, Politic, Foolish, Sullen, Forced, Despairing, and Prudent.
Thinking of afflictions as God’s love-tokens was a foreign statement as well as thinking of them as love-letters.
So why is Brooks suggesting, Christians be mute and silent under the afflictions? Here are a few reasons:
>To better hear and understand the voice of the rod.
>To be different and distinguish themselves from the world, who usually fret or murmur, curse when they are under the afflicting hand of God.
>To be conformable to Christ their head, who was silent under his trials.
>Because it is fruitless, it is futile to strive, to contest or contend with God.
“Consider first, the greatness, sovereignty, majesty, and dignity of God—and let that move you to silence,” Jer. 10:7; 5:22.
He spends a good time exploring MURMURING.
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A FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THIS BOOK:
“The sweetest comforts of this life, they are but like treasures of snow; now do but take a handful of snow, and crush it in your hands, and it will melt away presently; but if you let it lie upon the ground, it will continue for some time. And so it is with the contentments of this world; if you grasp them in your hands and lay them too near your hearts, they will quickly melt and vanish away; but if you will not hold them too fast in your hands, nor lay them too close to your hearts, they will abide the longer with you.”
“The longer you have been afflicted—the more in spiritual experiences you have been enriched.” 2 Cor. 1:5
By the time you finish this book, you shall have a clearer sight of sins, and a fuller sight of God during calamities.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
The choicest saints are "born to troubles as the sparks
fly upwards" Job 5:7
"Many are the afflictions of the
righteous." Psalm 34:19.
"God, who is infinite in wisdom
and matchless in goodness, has ordered troubles, yes,
many troubles to come trooping in upon us on every
side. Our crosses seldom come single; they usually
come treading one upon the heels of another; they
are like April showers, no sooner is one over but
another comes. And yet, Christians, it is mercy, it is
rich mercy, that every affliction is not an execution,
that every correction is not a damnation."
~Thomas Brooks
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