Smooth Stones Taken from Ancient Brooks is Charles Spurgeon's first published book, though it is not his original material. He collated, edited, and published words of wisdom from Puritan pastor Thomas Brooks, thus the clever title referencing "Ancient Brooks."

This book is more or less a compendium of Puritan Proverbs. Short, pithy statement lay out Biblical truths (from simple to profound) in elegant ways. Any reader of Spurgeon can see Brooks' influence upon the Prince of Preachers. Brooks' favorite topics include the graces of spiritual discipline, humility, prayer, eternal security, holy living, and the supremacy of Christ.

I recommend reading this book slowly and methodically. Read a page or two a day, pondering the lovely insights of this Puritan powerhouse. My only critique of Spurgeon's job as editor (am I allowed to critique Spurgeon?) is that I would love for the book to either be collated by topic or to have a topical index in the back. As it were, I noted the category of some of my favorites so I can find them easily in the future.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Brooks in no particular order:

"Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing at all. Though his coat was once divided, yet he will never suffer his crown to be divided" (67).

"Riches, though well got, are yet but like to manna: those that gathered less had no want, and those that gathered more found it but a trouble and annoyance to them" (44).

"There is no way to avoid perishing by Christ's iron rod, but by kissing his golden sceptre" (25).

"Tears are a kind of silent prayers, which, though they say nothing, yet obtain pardon; and though they plead not a man's cause, yet they obtain mercy at the hands of God" (154).

"God makes afflictions to be but inlets to the soul's more sweet and full enjoyment of his blessed self" (150).

"The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words; their tongues may persuade, but their lives command" (143). ( )