A believer's last day is his best day

Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College, introduced on ChristianityHistory.net an excerpt from a funeral sermon by Thomas Brooks titled "A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day," which "sets death in its true perspective."

Here's the excerpt, which has some minor changes compared to the Banner of Truth print edition of volume 6 of the "Works of Thomas Brooks":

Death is a believer's coronation day and marriage day. (page 399)

Death is a change of our imperfect and incomplete enjoyments of God, for a more complete and perfect enjoyment of him. As no believer has a clear sight of God here, so no believer has a full and perfect sight of God here. In Job 26:14, how little a portion is heard of him—speaking of God—and of that is heard, ah how little a portion is understood! It is an excellent expression that Augustine has: "The glorious things of heaven are so many—that they exceed number; so precious—that they exceed estimation; so great—that they exceed measure!" Bernard says, "For Christ to be with Paul was the greatest security—but for Paul to be with Christ was the chief happiness!" … (page 397. The Augustine and Bernard quotes are taken from note 1 on the same page.)

When death shall give the fatal stroke, there shall be an exchange of earth—for heaven; of imperfect enjoyments—for perfect enjoyments of God; then the soul shall be swallowed up with a full enjoyment of God; no corner of the soul shall be left empty—but all shall be filled up with the fullness of God. Here in this present world, they receive grace—but in heaven they shall receive glory. God keeps the best wine until last; the best of God, Christ, and heaven—is beyond this present world. Here we have but some sips, some tastes of God; fullness is reserved for the glorious state. He who sees most of God here on earth, sees but his back parts; his face is a jewel of that splendor and glory, which no eye can behold but a glorified eye. (page 397)

The best of Christians are able to take in but little of God; their hearts are like the widow's vessel, which could receive but a little oil. Sin, the world, and creatures do take up so much room in the best hearts, that God gives out himself little by little, as parents give sweets to their children. But in heaven God will communicate himself fully at once to the soul! Grace shall then be swallowed up of glory! … (page 397)

Death is another Moses: it delivers believers out of bondage, and from making bricks in Egypt. It is a day or year of jubilee to a gracious spirit—the year wherein he goes out free from all those cruel taskmasters which it had long groaned under … . Death is a believer's coronation-day, it is his marriage-day. It is a rest from sin, a rest from sorrow, a rest from afflictions and temptations, etc. Death to a believer is an entrance into Abraham's bosom, into paradise, into the "New Jerusalem," into the joy of his Lord … . (page 399-400)

Christians! what is your whole life—but a day to fit for the hour of death? What is your great business in this world—but to prepare and fit for the eternal world? It was a sad speech of Caesar Borgia, who being on his deathbed said, "When I lived, I provided for everything but death! Now I must die, and am unprovided to die." Ah, Christians! you have need every day to pray with Moses, "Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom," Psalm 90:12 … . (page 405)

See that Christ be your Lord and Master, … and then your dying-day shall be to you as the day of harvest to the farmer, as the day of deliverance to the prisoner, as the day of coronation to the king, and as the day of marriage to the bride. Your dying-day shall be a day of triumph and exaltation, a day of freedom and consolation, a day of rest and satisfaction! (page 407)

ChristianHistory.net editorial note: The text of Thomas Brooks' sermon is readily available online here. In the six-volume Works of Thomas Brooks, published by Banner of Truth Trust, the sermon appears in volume 6 (pages 339-408). You can learn more about the English Puritans and the American Puritans by visiting our archives.

CrossCore note: The sermon "A Believer's Last Day is His Best Day" may be found on pages 394 through 408 in volume 6 of the "Works of Thomas Brooks." Text in the excerpt may, as noted in parentheses above, be found on volume 6 pages 397, 399, 400, 405, and 407.

For more information about Thomas Brooks (1608-1680), visit here.