Thomas Brooks on the New Birth...
There's something present within the writings of the Puritans that seems to always captivate and refresh me like no other Christian piece of literature can do. Along with the seemingly non-existent emphasis on the necessity of regeneration in our churches today comes the devastating result of a nominal Christianity which is worldly (in its true sense) in nature, and lacking in power. The Puritans were stalwarts of truth with regard to the necessity of understanding the new birth, and I personally found this quote encouraging. I pray that the many deluded and deceived "Christians" of our day would be reformed by the Spirit of God and come to an understanding of the importance of regeneration in the life of Christ's disciples. I pray this for my own heart as well.
"A man, be he old or young, learned or unlearned, high or low, rich or poor, knowing or ignorant, circumcised or uncircumsised,, under this form or that, a member of this church or that, let his disposition be never so high, and his conversation as to men never so blameless and harmless; yet, except this man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God....Except a man be first unmade, and new made up again; except he be of an old creature made a new creature, yea, a new creation of God, there is no seeing of the kingdom of God. The whole frame of man must be dissolved, and a new frame erected, else there is no heaven to be enjoyed. The kingdom of God is a divine kingdom, and there is no possession of it without a divine nature. A new head without a new heart, a new lip without a new life, will never bring a man to this kingdom of light. That man is for the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God is for that man, that hath got the kingdom of God within him. If the kingdom of grace do not enter into thee here, thou shalt never enter into the kingdom of glory hereafter. A new heart is for a new heaven, and a new heaven is for a new heart."
-Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity: The Necessity, Excelleny, Rarity, and Beauty of Holiness.
"A man, be he old or young, learned or unlearned, high or low, rich or poor, knowing or ignorant, circumcised or uncircumsised,, under this form or that, a member of this church or that, let his disposition be never so high, and his conversation as to men never so blameless and harmless; yet, except this man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God....Except a man be first unmade, and new made up again; except he be of an old creature made a new creature, yea, a new creation of God, there is no seeing of the kingdom of God. The whole frame of man must be dissolved, and a new frame erected, else there is no heaven to be enjoyed. The kingdom of God is a divine kingdom, and there is no possession of it without a divine nature. A new head without a new heart, a new lip without a new life, will never bring a man to this kingdom of light. That man is for the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God is for that man, that hath got the kingdom of God within him. If the kingdom of grace do not enter into thee here, thou shalt never enter into the kingdom of glory hereafter. A new heart is for a new heaven, and a new heaven is for a new heart."
-Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity: The Necessity, Excelleny, Rarity, and Beauty of Holiness.
posted by ReformedVictorious at 9:18 PM
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