A77608:157
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.
First, That God does manifest his1 love only to some, at their first conversion, not to all: Though he dearly loves every penitent soul, yet he does not manifest his love, at first conversion, to every penitent soul. God is a ⟨p. 86⟩free Agent to work where he will, and when he will, and to reveal his love, how he will, and when he will, and to whom he will. It is one thing for2 God to work a work of Grace upon the soul, and another thing for God to show the soul that work. God oftentimes works Grace in a silent and secret way, and takes sometimes five, sometimes ten, sometimes fifteen, sometimes twenty years, yea, sometimes more, before he will make a clear and satisfying report of his own work upon the soul. Though our Graces be our best Jewels, yet they are sometimes, at first conversion, so weak and imperfect, that we are not able to see their lustre. The being of Grace, makes our estates safe and sure, the seeing of Grace, makes our lives sweet and comfortable.
First, That God does manifest his1 love onely to some, at their first conversion, not to all: Though he dearly loves every penitent soul, yet he does not manifest his love, at first conversion, to every penitent soul. God is a ⟨p. 86⟩free Agent to work where he will, and when he will, and to reveal his love, how he will, and when he will, and to whom he will. It is one thing for2 God to work a work of Grace upon the soul, and another thing for God to shew the soul that work. God oftentimes works Grace in a silent and secret way, and takes sometimes five, sometimes ten, sometimes fifteen, sometimes twenty years, yea, sometimes more, before he will make a clear and satisfying report of his own work upon the soul. Though our Graces be our best Jewels, yet they are sometimes, at first conversion, so weak and imperfect, that we are not able to see their lustre. The being of Grace, makes our estates safe and sure, the seeing of Grace, makes our lives sweet and comfortable.