A77608:122
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.
A fifth reason why God denies Assurance to his children, is, that when they have it, they may the more highly prize it, the more carefully keep it, the more wisely improve it, and the more affectionately and effectually bless God for it; none sets such a price upon light, as he that hath lain long in a Dungeon of darkness:1 So none sets such a price upon Assurance, as those children of light ⟨p. 43⟩that have walked most in spiritual darkness. Ah! how sweet was the2 light to Jonah that had been in the belly of hell; so is Assurance to those that (through slavish fears, and unbelief) have made their beds in hell, as the Psalmist speaks. Gold that is3 far fetched, and dearly bought, is4 most highly esteemed; so that Assurance that costs the soul most pains and patience, most waiting and weeping, most striving, and wrestling, is most highly valued, and most wisely improved. As by the want of temporals, God teaches his people the better to prize them, and improve them when they enjoy them; so by the want of spirituals, God teaches his people the better to prize them, and improve them, when they enjoy them.5 Ah, how sweet was Canaan to those that had been long in a wilderness. How precious was the gold and earrings to Israel, that had been long in Egypt, and the gifts and Jewels to the Jews that had been long in Babylon? so is Assurance to those precious souls6 that have been long without it, but at last come to enjoy it. After the Trojans ⟨p. 44⟩had been wandering a long time in the Mediterranean Sea, as soon as they espied land, they cried out with exulting joy, Italy, Italy; so when poor souls shall come to enjoy Assurance, who have been long tossed up and down in a sea of sorrow and trouble, how will they with joy cry out, Assurance, Assurance, Assurance.