A77608:181
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.
And as Christ in hearing times, when his people are a hearing the Word of Life, does lift up the light of his countenance upon them; so when they are a receiving the Bread of Life, he makes known his love to them, and their interest in him, in this feast of fat1 things, the Master of the Feast, the Lord Jesus comes in the midst of his guests, saying, Peace be here. Here the beams of his glory do so shine, as that they cause the hearts of his Children to burn within them, and as scatters all that thick darkness and clouds that are gathered about them. When ⟨p. 119⟩Saints are in this Wine Cellar, Christs Banner over them is Love. When they are in this Canaan, then he feeds them with Milk and Honey. When they are in this Paradise, then they shall taste of Angels Food. When they are at this Gate of Heaven, then they shall see Christ at the right hand of the Father. When they are before this Mercy Seat, then they shall see the Bowels of Mercy, rolling towards them. In this Ordinance they see that, and taste that, and feel that of Christ, that they are not able to declare and manifest to others: In this Ordinance Saints shall see the truth of their graces, and feel the increase of their graces, and rejoice in the clearness of their evidences: In this Ordinance Christ will seal up the Promises, and seal up the Covenant, and seal up his Love, and seal up their pardon sensibly to their souls. Many precious souls there be, that have found Christ in this Ordinance, when they could not find him in other Ordinances, though they have sought him sorrowingly: Many a cold soul hath been warmed in this Ordinance, and many ⟨p. 120⟩a hungry soul hath been fed with2 Manna in this Ordinance, and many a thirsty soul hath been refreshed with Wine upon the Lees in this Ordinance, and many a dull soul hath been quickened in this Ordinance, (* I do not say, That ever a dead soul hath been in livened in this Ordinance, this being an Ordinance appointed by Christ, not to beget Spiritual Life where there was none, but to increase it where the Spirit hath formerly begun it.) In this Ordinance, weak hands, and feeble knees have been strengthened, and fainting hearts have been comforted, and questioning souls have been resolved, and staggering souls have been settled, and falling souls have been supported.