There lived at Tilbury, in Essex, a gentleman who was a long time under such an eminent degree of despair, that he rejected all comfort that was tendered to him by any hand, and would not suffer any to pray with him; nay, he sent to the ministers and Christians that lived near him, and desired them, that as they would not wish to increase his torments in hell, they would cease praying for him. He would not suffer any religious service to be performed in his family, though formerly himself was much in the use of them; yet God gave him at last such inward refreshings, and by degrees filled him with such abundance of heavenly comforts, as he told all that came to him that it was impossible for any tongue to utter, or heart to imagine, that did not feel them. At last God gave him "the new name, and the white stone, that none knows but he that hath it," Rev. 2. 17. He lived about three quarters of a year, enjoying heaven upon earth, and then breathed out his last in the bosom of Christ. [Thomas Brooks--Heaven on Earth]
For further excerpts from this book see #889
#990
#991 @Reformers Corner
Labels: Thomas Brooks
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