A77608:179
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.
Fifthly, Hearing and receiving Reas. 5 times are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to cause his face to shine upon his people; when they are a hearing the Word of Life, and a1 breaking the Bread of Life, then God comes in upon them, and declares to them that love that is better then life, Acts 10. 44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. As Peter was2 speaking, the Holy Ghost (that is, the graces of the Holy Ghost, viz. the joy, the comfort, the love, the peace, &c. of the Holy Ghost) fell upon them. So in that Gal. 3. 2. This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? By the Spirit here, Calvin and Bullinger, and other Expositors, do understand the joy, the peace, the ⟨p. 117⟩assurance that is wrought in the heart,3 by the hearing of Faith, that is, by the Doctrine of the Gospel; for in these words of the Apostle, hearing is put for the thing heard, and Faith for the Doctrine of the Gospel, because the Gospel is the ordinary means of working Faith: Faith comes by hearing, saith the Apostle. So in that 1 Thes. 1. 5, 6.4 For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. In these words you have a Divine Power attending Pauls Ministry, a power convincing, enlightening, humbling, raising, delighting, reforming, renouncing, and transforming of them that heard him. Also you have the sweet and blessed testimony of the Spirit attending his Ministry, and assuring those of their Effectual Calling and Election, upon whom the Word came in power, and raising up their spirits to joy in the midst of sorrow. Ah you precious Sons and Daughters