A77608:161
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 they may not faint nor Reas. 1 falter in his service, but go through it1 resolutely and bravely, in the face of all difficulties and oppositions. When God put Joshua upon that hard service of leading and governing his people Israel, he assures him of his love, and of his presence: Fear not, be of good courage, I am with thee. And this makes him hold on, and hold out in the service of the Lord bravely and resolutely, in the face of all discouragements. Choose you whom you will serve, whether your fathers gods, or the gods of the ⟨p. 92⟩Amorites; but as for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord. So when the Lord put Paul upon such service that2 occasioned bonds and afflictions to abide him in every City, he gives him a taste of Heaven before hand, and lifts up the light of his countenance upon him; and this makes him resolute and bold in the work of the Lord. Now Paul will not consult with flesh and blood; 3now it is not reproaches, nor stripes, nor prisons, nor whips, nor perils, nor deaths, that can make him look back, having put his hand to the Lords plough. O, the beamings forth of Divine Love upon his soul filled him with that courage and resolution, that with Shammah (one of Davids worthies) he stands and defends the field,4 when others fall, and fly, and quit the field.
First, That they may not faint nor Reas. 1 faulter in his service, but go thorow it1 resolutely and bravely, in the face of all difficulties and oppositions. When God put Joshua upon that hard service of leading and governing his people Israel, he assures him of his love, and of his presence: Fear not, be of good courage, I am with thee. And this makes him hold on, and hold out in the service of the Lord bravely and resolutely, in the face of all discouragements. Chuse you whom you will serve, whether your fathers gods, or the gods of the ⟨p. 92⟩