A77608:109
Heaven on Earth
Heaven on earth or a serious discourse touching a well-grounded assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessedness. Discovering the nature of assurance, the possibility of attaining it, the causes, springs, and degrees of it, with the resolution of several weighty questions. By Thomas Brooks, preacher of the Gospel at Margarets Fishstreet-Hill.Heaven on earth or a serious discourse touching a wel-grounded assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessedness. Discovering the nature of assurance, the possibility of attaining it, the causes, springs, and degrees of it, with the resolution of several weighty questions. By Thomas Brooks, preacher of the Gospel at Margarets Fishstreet-Hill.
London: printed by R.I. for John Hancock, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As first, for the exercise of their grace; a gracious soul would always be upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan, he would always be in his Fathers arms, and under his Fathers smiles, he would always be in the Sun-shine of divine favour, he would always have the heavens open, that1 he might always see his Christ and his Crown, he would, with Peter, be always upon the Mount, he is loath ⟨p. 36⟩to walk through the valley of darkness, through the valley of Baca. As2 the King of Sodom said once to Abraham, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thy self. So gracious souls are apt to say, Give me joy, give me peace, give me Assurance, and do you take trials, afflictions, and temptations, to your selves. But pray what use would there be of the Stars, if the Sun did always shine? why none; why no more use would there be of your graces, if Assurance should be always continued; therefore the Lord for the exercise of his children's faith, hope, patience, &c. is pleased (at least for a time) to deny them Assurance, though they seek it by earnest prayer, and with a flood of penitent tears.
As first, for the exercise of their grace; a gracious soule would alwayes be upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan, he would alwayes bee in his Fathers arms, and under his Fathers smiles, hee would alwayes bee in the Sun-shine of divine favour, hee would alwayes have the heavens open, that1 he might alwayes see his Christ and his Crowne, he would, with Peter, bee alwayes upon the Mount, hee is loath ⟨p. 36⟩to walke through the valley of darknesse, through the valley of Baca. As2 the King of Sodome said once to Abraham, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thy selfe. So gracious soules are apt to say, Give mee joy, give me peace, give me Assurance, and doe you take trials, afflictions, and temptations, to your selves. But pray what use would there be of the Starres, if the Sunne did alwayes shine? why none; why no more use would there bee of your graces, if Assurance should be alwayes continued; therefore the Lord for the exercise of his childrens faith, hope, patience, &c. is pleased (at least for a time) to deny them Assurance, though they seek it by earnest prayer, and with a flood of penitent tears.