The Complete Works

of

Thomas Brooks

Edited, with Memoir,

by the rev. alexander balloch grosart

liverpool

VOL. VI.

containing:

london’s lamentations on the late fiery dispensation—the glorious day of the saints’ appearance—god’s delight in the progress of the upright—hypocrites detected—a believer’s last day is his best day—a heavenly cordial—the legacy of a dying mother and mrs bell’s experiences—indices, etc.

Edinburgh: James Nichol

london: james nisbet and co. dublin: g. herbert

m.dccc.lxvii.

Editorial Postscript

FOLLOWING the last of his larger treatises—‘London’s Lamentations’—there will be found in the present concluding volume certain minor writings of Brooks, of some of which the Editor had despaired securing copies—having searched in vain for most of them in all our great Libraries, and applied with similar result to innumerable book-lovers and booksellers. He has not anywhere chanced upon another copy besides his own of either the ‘Heavenly Cordial’ or of ‘The Legacy of a Dying Mother;’ while years since the learned editor of the ‘Depositions from the Castle of York, relating to Offences committed in the Northern Counties in the Seventeenth Century,’ for the Surtees Society—James Raine, Esq.,—with reference to the Funeral Sermon of Colonel Rainsborough, designated it ‘a very rare tract,’ and congratulated himself that by the kindness of a local Bibliopole he was ‘able to give a copy of the title.’1 Apart from the intrinsic worth of these excessively scarce, if not unique tractates, it is exceedingly satisfactory to the Editor that he has been enabled by lucky chances to present the entire writings of Brooks in this—like Sibbes’—first collective edition. As simple matter of fact, the Works given n these six volumes could not be purchased in the market in the original and early editions for as many pounds as the shillings they cost in this form: and it is ventured to indulge a hope that the accuracy of our reprint from a genuine and unmutilated text, the careful verification of the numerous Bible quotations and references, the annotation of names, &c., and the Glossary and marking of Shakesperean words—these sometimes explaining obscurities—will be accepted as additions to their value. The Editor may be permitted to notice the copious Indices. Ordinarily it is to be feared that labour spent on such work is ill appreciated, too many, as rare Thomas Fuller complained, regarding an index as ‘the bag and baggage of a book, of more use than honour, even to such who, seemingly slighting, secretly use it, if not for need, for speed of what they desire to find.’1 But he has so constructed these—incorporating the full ‘Tables’ of Brooks himself wherever prepared by him—as to render any preliminary essay here unnecessary, inasmuch as, well used, they will guide readily the reader of our Worthy to his wealth of fine thought, of priceless insight into the ‘mind of the Spirit’ and human nature, as well unrenewed as gracious, of definite doctrinal statement, ...