Banner of Truth 2007 -- Session #5

NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT IS IN GREAT NEED OF EDITING, BUT AT THE MOMENT I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DO SO. I HOPE IT CAN GIVE SOME OF THE FLAVOR OF WHAT THE SESSION WAS LIKE, BUT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT SEEMS WRONG IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF MY TYPING ABILITY RATHER THAN THE SPEAKERS ORTHODOXY.

Jonathan Watson -- “When Disaster Strikes: Lessons from Thomas Brooks”

A disaster of historic scale. 100000's of dead in London in 1660's plague. Victims were left in houses and doors nailed shut. Nurses hired to provide for their needs, and guards posted to keep them in. All to no effect. Large numbers of people died and the disease spread. A huge exodus became of the cities population, perhaps as many as 100000. Ironically many of the medical doctors and clergy left. Poor were prohibited from leaving. People tried everything they could think of to try to stop it. By the end of July 1665 more than 1000 Londoners were dying each week.

It was in the midst of this very disaster that Thomas Brooks ministered the gospel to the people of London. He was one of the 2000 ministers of the c of e who was ejected from his pulpit because of non-conformity. He chose to remain in in his parish and proclaim gospel. He remained there when the plague came. He did not leave the sheep in the hour of their greatest danger.

What is it that allows you to stay at your post? For books it was the strong sense of his call, love of Christ for sinner, the desperate need to those dying souls around him and the strong knowledge of the sovereignty of God.

Out of this he published several books. These books written in adversity have brought and continue to bring blessing even today.

Much was written to real flesh and blood people. People who had suffered from the plague and the loses from that time. Gives a great insight into puritan pastoral theology.

Brooks clearly regarded the receivers of his letters as believers. Believers who share a common experience of suffering. Clearly Brooks and his fellow puritans saw no inconsistence in possession of real faith and experiencing suffering, sickness and even death. In all that the lord still loves them.

there is a great art in not only hearing the voice of affliction, but also in understanding its voice. The encouragement he gave was for people to look and see the hand of God in the plague. He wanted them to see the hands of providence in this disaster. He wanted them to see that all afflictions that God lays on his people are his rod. It is their highest and greatest concern to hear the rod and learn the lessons God would have them learn from them.

He develops this in various ways. In showing how afflictions are like a rod he points out how parents choose what rod they will correct with not the children. So also God chooses the rod with which he will exercise his people.

That means we should never look at the rod apart from the one who wields it. Look to Christ and his affliction. But in the hands of the father that rod was one of love. The one he loves he chastens.

Perhaps the best statement is a call to acknowledge Gods sovereignty over the rod. All of it is under his control to increase, decrees, change or whatever else.

1. God is the author of all diseases in the world and he sends and calls them off at his pleasure.

2. It is a great point of faith to believe that all diseases are limited by God in terms of times and places. Plagues were in Egypt except for Goshen.

3. It is a great point of faith to believe that all diseases are limited in terms of persons.

4. ...that all disease are limited by God in the degrees in which they will rise.

5. . . . That all diseases are limited by God in terms of their continuance.

Must see that afflictions, all afflictions are under control of the sovereign God.

Modern historians sneer at the views of puritans concerning plague as a judgment of God upon the wickedness of the nation especially the act of conformity and the pastors who suffered because of it. But for brooks the rod is more than punishment, sometimes afflictions sent for trial but in no way because of sin. An example of this would be Job. Sometimes afflictions for trial, sometimes for instruction, sometimes for wrath.

Why then does God take up rod upon his children? He gave seven reasons and not all of them are punishment. Many are for training, instruction, build good that is there, to help open understanding, and make fit for service to God. Think of 2 Corinthians 1 when the sufferings that are comforted by God we are made able to comfort others. Could not do without suffering.

So how should we respond to the rod? Three areas of response:
1. Ask, "why the rod?" seek to know what the message of the rod is. That means asking God why the rod. This is not to satisfy curiosity, but comfort conscience. Brooks gives 12 ways that are found in his works.

2. Repent if rod because of sin. Deeply judge yourselves and humble repent of the sin that brought the rod upon you.

3. Cleave and cling close to God under the rod. Draw close to God to experience the riches and glory of God. This is the response of faith.

In summary we should fear the hand that wields the rod more than the rod itself. We should fear him with a fear of reverence. God is the refuge of his people. He is with them everywhere and always. We have his presence with us.

Finally, prepare for death. Have a readiness to die. Every pain, disease, sore is a warning to people to prepare to die. We die but once, so we need to prepare for it.