Tuesday Night Service - The Great Ejection

·1 hr 3 min·5 clips

In 1662, 2,000 Puritan pastors were ejected from their churches in one day for refusing to conform.

The episode begins with the host introducing the Great Ejection, a key event in Puritan history where 2,000 ministers were ejected in August 1662 for refusing to conform to the Church of England's ordinances, led by King Charles II and Edward Hyde. The host explains that this was not just about the Book of Prayer but an attack on biblical Christianity, as the Church of England hated the Puritans' transformative preaching. Ejected pastors lost their churches, homes, and some their lives, facing persecution and being hounded. Many fled to Holland or America, spreading the gospel. The host notes that for 25 years, true preaching was lost, leading to a downward spiral in the church, as later commented by J.C. Ryle. The host then transitions to sharing from Thomas Brooks's farewell sermon, given during the Great Ejection. Brooks's sermon includes 29 parting legacies, of which the host selects 15 to discuss. These legacies cover themes such as securing one's interest in Christ, making scripture the foundation, carrying soul perseverance, and focusing on avoiding sin over suffering. The host elaborates on each point, often relating them to modern issues like church compromises during the COVID-19 pandemic and personal struggles with feelings and integrity. Examples include Brooks's advice to labor for a healing spirit and avoid division among believers. The host also references other figures like George Whitfield and Francis Schaeffer to illustrate the lasting impact of the ejection. The episode concludes with the host summarizing the importance of these legacies for contemporary Christian living.

As heard by us

Brooks's farewell sermon becomes a warning about foundation, pressure, and what a church carries out.

This episode frames Thomas Brooks's farewell sermon against the larger upheaval of the Great Ejection, when around 2,000 Puritan pastors were ejected in August 1662 under the Clarendon Code.

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Why you'd press play

You get a Puritan farewell sermon set against the Great Ejection, with pressure in every line.

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