The Mute Christian, Under the Smarting Rod: With Sovereign Antidotes Against the Most Miserable Exigents: Or, a Christian with an Olive Leaf in His Mouth

by Thomas Brooks

To all afflicted and distressed, dissatisfied, disquieted and discomposed Christians throughout the world. But God, who is infinite in wisdom and matchless in goodness, hath ordered troubles, yea, many troubles to come trooping in upon us on every side. And yet, Christians, it is mercy, rich mercy that every affliction is not an execution; that every correction is not a damnation. The higher the waters rise, the nearer Noah's ark was lifted up to heaven; the more thy afflictions are increased, the more thy heart shall be raised heavenward.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1659

About the author

Little is known about Thomas Brooks as a man, other than can be ascertained from his many writings. Born, probably of well-to-do parents, in 1608, Brooks entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1625. He was licensed as a preacher of the gospel by 1640 at the latest. Before that date he seems to have spent a number of years at sea, probably as a chaplain with the fleet. After the Civil War, Brooks became minister at Thomas Apostle s, London, and was sufficiently renowned to be chosen as preacher before the House of Commons on 26 December, 1648. Three or four years later he moved to St Margaret s, Fish-street Hill, London, but encountered considerable opposition as he refused baptism and the Lord s Supper to those clearly unworthy of such privileges. The following years were filled with written as well as spoken ministry. In 1662 he fell victim to the notorious Act of Uniformity, but he appears to have remained in his parish and to have preached the Word as opportunity offered. Treatises continued to flow from his agile pen. In 1677 or 1678 he married for the second time, 'she spring-young, he winter-old'. Two years later he went home to his Lord.

Reviews

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

If there was a standard reading list for Christians, this book should be on it. If you’ve wrestling with suffering or even the problem of suffering, this book can take you a long way into building a powerful and transformative perspective.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Whilst Satan is tempting of thee, Christ in the court of glory is interceding for thee: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luk 22:31, 32). Satan would gladly have shaking of him up and down, as wheat is shaken in a fan. But Christ’s intercession frustrates Satan’s designed temptations. Whenever Satan stands at our elbow to tempt us, Christ stands at His Father’s to intercede for us: “…he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25).”
Amen!

Great book!

[Raul Apascaritei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puternică, incomodă pe alocuri, dar profund necesară în vreme de încercare. Nu este neapărat lectura pe care ți-o dorești când treci prin suferință, însă este cu siguranță cea de care ai nevoie atunci, chemând la smerenie și cercetare personală.

„De ce să se plângă omul cât trăiește? Fiecare să se plângă mai bine de păcatele lui!” (Plângerile 3:39, VDC)

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biblical guidance on suffering without complaining, based on Ps 39:9. Unfortunately, it's far longer than necessary, being verbose and repetitive.

I read the free ebook from Monergism.

Notes
A Sevenfold Silence
Stoical silence (being emotionally neutral, neither rejoicing in good nor mourning bad) is unbiblical (Isa 26:10-11; Rom 1:31).

Politic silence (being quiet to avoid negative attention from others) isn't the silence the Bible advocates.

Sullen silence is unbiblical, because we're to praise and justify God.

Despairing silence (seeing God frowning at you, feeling your conscience condemning you) isn't the silence the Bible advocates.

What doth a prudent, a gracious, a holy silence include?
Don't be outwardly silent but inwardly complaining (Lk 21:19; Isa 29:13; Mt 15:8-9).

Be humble; acquit God of all blame and injustice (Ps 51:4; 1 Cor 11:32; Ps 119:75, 137; 2 Sam 16:10).

Affliction can give you clearer sight of your sin, yourself, and God (Job 33:27-28; 40:4-5).

When you match your will to God's will, you'll have your will.

What a prudent, a holy silence under affliction doth not exclude
You may use lawful means to escape affliction (Mt 10:23; Acts 9:23-25; 12:5, 12; 2 Thess 3:1-2).

You may justly complain against those who afflict you (2 Tim 4:14; Acts 19:33; 2 Cor 11:24-25; Ex 2; Isa 37:14-21; Gen 49:23-24; Ps 69:19-28; 132:2-18).

Eight reasons why Christians must be mute and silent under their greatest afflictions
Follow Christ's example of suffering in silence (Isa 53:7; 1 Pet 2:21-23).

Having a complaining attitude is far worse than any affliction you may suffer.

Complaining against God will only bring more affliction (Jer 7:19; 1 Cor 10:22).

Follow examples of saints who have been silent when afflicted (Lev 10:3; 2 Sam 16:7-13; Job 1:21-22; Acts 21:12-15; Heb 12:1).

There's more evil in the least sin than in all the afflictions you could experience.

Twelve considerations to prevail with Christians to be mute and silent under the sharpest afflictions that they meet with in this world
Silence yourself by considering God's greatness, sovereignty, majesty, dignity (Jer 10:7; 5:22; Ps 46:8-10; Zeph 1:7; Heb 2:20; Ex 14:13-14).

There's a blessing in the worst things God brings on His people (Ps 25:10).

God commands you to be silent in all afflictions (Zech 2:13; Isa 41:1; Hab 2:20; Amos 5:13; Ps 4:4; 46:10; Ex 14:13; 2 Chr 20:17; Job 37:14).

The heinous and dangerous nature of murmuring
If you have God to honor, Christ to believe in, hearts to change, sins to be pardoned, souls to save, hell to escape, heaven to seek, then why spend precious time complaining?

God has given you Himself, heaven, salvation, sanctification, adoption (Eph 1:3-4), so you have no cause to complain.

Obj. 1. Did I but know that my afflictions were in love, I would be quiet, I would hold my peace
Pray more for God to deliver you from sinning when afflicted than to deliver you from the affliction itself.

Obj. 2. The Lord hath smitten me in my nearest and dearest comforts and contentments, and how then can I hold my peace?
You're not more loved by God and haven't done more for God than others, so you shouldn't expect to avoid affliction when others haven't.

God may send afflictions because you've idolized things.

You don't know what troubles you've avoided because God removed a good thing from your life.

Obj. 3. Oh! but my afflictions, my troubles, have been long upon me, and how can I hold my peace?
No matter how long your affliction has lasted, it likely hasn't lasted as long as your sin, which has been from your conception (Ps 51:5).

Your afflictions likely haven't lasted as long as many others'.

Obj. 4. I would be mute and silent under my afflictions, but they daily multiply and increase upon me, &c., how then can I be silent?
Your afflictions aren't as many as Christ endured.

Obj. 7. I would hold my peace, but my outward afflictions are attended with sore temptations, &c., how then can I be silent?
That you're tested doesn't mean God doesn't love you; He's tested many He loves (Eph 6:12; David, Job, Joshua, Peter, Paul, Christ).

Obj. 8. Oh! but God hath deserted me, he hath forsaken me, and hid his face from me, &c., how can I then be silent?
Sometimes you think God has forsaken you when He hasn't. Even when He has, consider that He's forsaken other believers (Ps 30:6-7; 77:4-6; 88:6; Job 23:8-9; Isa 8:17; Mic 7:7-8), and He never completely forsakes His people (Ps 9:4; 37:23-24; 63:8; Gen 49:23-24; 2 Cor 12:9; Deut 33:27).

Quest. But what are the reasons that God doth so delay and put off his people?
God afflicts so you'll have a greater experience of His power, grace, love, mercy (Jn 11:3-6).

God afflicts so you'll have a greater desire for Him and His help (Isa 26:8-9, 16).

God delays in relieving affliction so you'll better appreciate His mercy, deliverance.

God delays in relieving affliction so heaven will be sweeter.

Directions. What are the means that may help persons to be silent and quiet under their greatest afflictions, their sharpest trials?
Gain assurance of salvation (Rom 8:33-39).

Consider how you've profited from former afflictions (Ecc 7:14).

Destroy your sinful desires (pride, selfishness, etc.) because they add bitterness to good and bad things in life (Jas 4:1; Rom 8:13).

Be satisfied to simply enjoy God (Jn 14:8; Ps 17:15).

Remember you have better things through Christ than this world offers (Heb 11:3; Phil 3:7-8).

Be humble, recognizing you don't deserve anything good from God. Be content with essentials.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because this work is full of spiritual truth, it is timelessly valuable for Christian believers. It is both timeless and timely in its expositions and applications. I thoroughly recommend it, especially to those who - like me - oftentimes grow impatient when enrolled in the "school of affliction."

[David Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m recommending highly the unabridged version published by The Sovereign Grace Book Club, and also included in The Works of Thomas Brooks vol 1 from Banner of Truth.

[Deanna Alexander]

After reading "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, " I came across this book by the same powerful Puritan writer, Thomas Brooks. This book is NOT for the faint-hearted Christian, neither in the old language style presented, nor in its brutal, direct biblical truths presented, but is really a more advanced theological read. Fair warning here, if you are a Christian prone to murmuring and complaining, you will find this book heavy with electrifying stinging conviction, and Brooks does not sweeten his words or beat around the bush. Brooks clearly lays murmuring and complaining out as sin. Not only sin, but sin which breeds many other sins. It is, as the author describes, A God-provoking sin " which bears the image of Satan and most resembles Satan. Yet, a gracious, quiet spirit is of great esteem with God, and Brooks does a beautiful job in providing scripture references which encourage a quiet, silent spirit before the Lord. As Brooks points out, "The murmurer can taste no sweetness in his sweetest morsels. "

This book is a brutal reminder that, as Christians, we have the least cause to live in a murmuring spirit. Has God not given you a changed heart, a renewed nature and a sanctified soul? Has He not given His self to save you, and His Spirit to lead you?

Why must Christians be mute and silent under the greatest afflictions? To better hear and understand the voice of the rod, for "As the Word has a voice, and the Spirit a voice and conscience a voice, so the rod has a voice. "

Along with the author's strength of brutal conviction, you will also find comforting reassurances, such as the reminder that Brooks gives that our afflictions do not last longer than necessary, and that they come with a purpose, designed for your eternal good. There is also the assuring reminder that there can be no comparison between the afflictions that God has inflicted upon you and those that He COULD HAVE layed upon you. This reminder brought to mind for me the scripture verse from Psalm 103:10, a sobering reminder that God has not dealt with us according to what our sins deserve.

I also find it to be a comforting reminder that although the Lord may at times temporarily "hide His face from you, " for whatever reason during times of testing and teaching, yet His presence remains with you.

Overall, I give "The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod " a stellar five star review, but I would recommend this book along with the understanding that it is not a book for the faint-hearted Christian who would take easy offense at strong, brutal truth presented. If you are wanting a rich, deep theological read that carries brutality of force along with a nice blend of comforting scriptural truth, then this book is for you. Thomas Brooks is a bold, powerful Puritan writer, and if you can handle his brutality, then you will find this book to be the treasure trove of wisdom, for which it truly is.

[Tom James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on Psalm 39: 9 which says, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it ..." the author contends that the proper response to the afflictions that God sends is to remain silent--to accept that our trials come from God and to submit to them willingly, humbly, and quietly. While this is never easy to do, God knows what is best for us and will discipline us as He sees fit for His glory and for our benefit. Filled with wise words of comfort to prepare the Christian for the adversity that must inevitably come to all of us. Brooks' writing is saturated in Scripture along with anecdotes from the Church Fathers, from classical literature, and from history. His style, though quaint by modern standards, is nevertheless readable. Highly recommended.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is terrific, very profitable. This quote sets the stage -" it is the great duty & concernment of gracious souls to be mute & silent under the greatest afflictions, the saddest providences, & sharpest trials that they meet with in this world." The author, Thomas Brooks, deals with suffering in a way that modern Christians rarely do. He writes from the perspective of God's sovereignty, & writes as a man that was living at the time when life was hard & short for most. Suffering was normally understood to be the discipline of a loving God dealing with his children, shaping them into the image of Christ.

Short but meaty.

[Evandro Junior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente livro do sr. Books sobre como o cristão deve enfrentar as provações e tentações. Deus é magnificado nas nossas provações, e não convém reclamarmos durante o tempo que estamos sob a vara da disciplina ou do fogo purificador de Deus. A dor na vida de um crente não é sem propósito. Sr. Books é um médico da alma. Recomendo a todo cristão esse excelente livro do puritano congregacional Thomas Brooks.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent compiling of exhortations to humbly submit to the often misunderstood dealings of the God's smiting rod. References to the life of Job were very insightful, particular satan's goals in gaining a footing in our hearts. Satan seeks not to make us miserable in our afflictions but to entice us to question & murmur against God because of our miseries, even blaspheme His name. Brooks encourages us to expect lifelong interchange between sickness & health, weakness & strength, disgraces & honor & joys & sorrow. Helpful perspective & encouragement to press on when we get weary from the never ending daily battle with sin, the flesh & the devil.

[Aaron Beane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friend, Spurgeon’s title was right when he chose “smooth stones from ancient Brooks”. If you are suffering, afflicted by trials, questioning “why” God would ever allow you to suffer such. Then pick up this smooth stone and turn it over and over until your heart is at ease, resting in the truth of Gods sovereignty. He wounds you to heal you!

You do not have to go digging for treasure here, the ground on every page is scattered with jewels. Reading one paragraph, if believed, would encourage a days worth of meditation.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten out of five stars. If you're suffering and struggle with trusting the Lord because of it (looking at you Calvinists) because he's sovereign - this book is for you. Felt like a personal message from Jesus in my struggle.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the most expounded most rich most edifying convicting treaties I’ve come across from brothers of old.

I would say reading this book will aflame your heart and light your torch to set ablaze the forests of iniquity Satan sets before you.

[John Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, good words for those suffering.