A77608:192
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 third Caution is this, Many of1 the precious Sons and Daughters of Zion, have had, and may have so much comfort and sweetness, so much life and heat, so much reviving and quickening, so much marrow and fatness in ⟨p. 133⟩this Ordinance, as may clearly evidence the special presence of God with their spirits; and as they would not exchange for all the world, and yet would give a world (were it in their power) for those strong comforts and full assurance, that others enjoy in this Ordinance: In this Ordinance2 Christ looks upon one, and kisses another; he gives a nod to one, and his hand to another: Some in this Ordinance shall have but sips of mercy, others shall have large draughts of mercy; some in this Ordinance shall see but the back parts of Christ, others shall see him face to face; to one he gives silver, to another he gives gold, to one he gives but a glass of3 consolation, to another he gives flagons of consolation; some shall have4 but drops, others shall swim in the Ocean; some shall have a large harvest, others shall have but a few gleanings, and yet they, if rightly valued, are more worth then a world. The Sun of Righteousness is a free Agent, and he will work and shine forth as he pleases, and when he pleases, and on whom he pleases; and who art thou, ⟨p. 134⟩that darest say to Christ, why doest thou so? Ah Christians, you may not, you must not say, we have not met with Christ in the Sacrament, because we have not met with joy and assurance in the Sacrament; for you may enjoy very much of Christ in that Ordinance, and yet not so much as may boil up to full assurance, and make you go a way singing, My beloved is 5mine, and I am his. We may enjoy the warmth and heat of the Sun, when we cannot see the Sun; so souls may enjoy much of Christ (by holy influences) in the Sacrament, when they cannot see Christ in the Sacrament.