A77608:226
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.
Poor I, that am but of yesterday, have known some that have been so deeply plunged in the gulf of despair, that they would throw all the Spiritual Cordials that have been tendered to them against the walls; they were strong in reasoning against their own souls, and resolved against every thing that might be a comfort and support unto them; they have been much set against all Ordinances and Religious Services; they have cast off holy Duties themselves, and peremptorily refused to join with others in them; yea, they have out of a sense of sin and wrath, which hath lain hard upon them, refused the necessary comforts of this life, even to the overthrow of natural life: And yet out of this horrible Pit, this Hell upon Earth, hath God delivered their souls, and given them such manifestations of his grace and favour, that they would not exchange ⟨p. 179⟩them for a thousand worlds. O despairing souls, despairing souls, you see that others, whose conditions have been as bad, if not worse then yours, have obtained mercy, God hath turned their Hell into a Heaven, he hath remembered them in their low estate, he hath pacified their raging consciences, and quieted their distracted souls, he hath wiped all tears from their eyes, and he hath been a wellspring of life unto their hearts: Therefore be not discouraged, O despairing souls, but look up to the Mercy-seat, remember who is your Rest, and kick no more by despair, against the bowels of Divine love.
Poor I, that am but of yesterday, have known some that have been so deeply plunged in the gulf of despair, that they would throw all the Spiritual Cordials that have been tendered to them against the walls; they were strong in reasoning against their own souls, and resolved against every thing that might be a comfort and support unto them; they have been much set against all Ordinances and Religious Services; they have cast off holy Duties themselves, and peremptorily refused to joyn with others in them; yea, they have out of a sense of sin and wrath, which hath lain hard upon them, refused the necessary comforts of this life, even to the overthrow of natural life: And yet out of this horrible Pit, this Hell upon Earth, hath God delivered their souls, and given them such manifestations of his grace and favor, that they would not exchange ⟨p. 179⟩them for a thousand worlds. O despairing souls, despairing souls, you see that others, whose conditions have been as bad, if not worse then yours, have obtained mercy, God hath turned their Hell into a Heaven, he hath remembred them in their low estate, he hath pacified their raging consciences, and quieted their distracted souls, he hath wiped all tears from their eyes, and he hath been a wellspring of life unto their hearts: Therefore be not discouraged, O despairing souls, but look up to the Mercy-seat, remember who is your Rest, and kick no more by despair, against the bowels of Divine love.