“As a writer, Brooks scatters stars with both his hands: he hath dust of gold; in his storehouse are all manner of precious stones.”

So wrote C. H. Spurgeon, who counted Thomas Brooks among his favorite Puritan authors. Brooks’ popularity lies both in his subjects—practical truths central to the Christian life—and in the manner of his presentation. He is direct, urgent, fervent, full of scripture, and able to choose words which make his sentences stick in one’s mind.

Smooth Stones Taken from Ancient Brooks is a collection of sentences and quaint sayings from this renowned Puritan. Gathered by Spurgeon from the six-volume set of Brooks’ Works, it remains an excellent introduction to both the man and his writing.