A77608:232
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.
The fifth Impediment to Assurance1 is, their grieving and vexing the Spirit of grace, by not hearkening to his voice,2 by refusing his counsel, by stopping the ear, by throwing water upon that fire he kindles in their souls, and by attributing that to the Spirit, that is to be attributed to mens own passions, ⟨p. 188⟩and distempers, and to the Prince of3 darkness, and his associates. By these and such like ways, they sad that precious Spirit that alone can glad them; they set him a mourning, that alone can set them a rejoicing; they set him a grieving, that alone can set them a singing; and therefore it is, that they sigh it out with Jeremiah, Lam. 1. 16. Behold, he that should comfort our souls, stands afar off. Ah doubting souls, if ever you would have Assurance, you must observe the motions of the Spirit, and give up your selves to his guidance, you must live by his Laws, and tread in his steps, you must live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, you must let him be chief in your souls. This is the way to have him to be a sealing Spirit, a witnessing Spirit, and an assuring Spirit to your hearts. Believe it souls, if this be not done, you will be far off from quietness and settlement. The word that in4 1 John 3. 19. is rendered assure, signifies to persuade, to note to us, that our hearts are very froward, and peevish, and apt to wrangle, and raise objections against God, against Christ, against ⟨p. 189⟩the Scripture, against our own and others experiences, and against the sweet hints and joyings of the Spirit; and this they will do, especially when we omit what the Spirit persuades us to; (omissions raises fears, and doubts, and makes work for Hell, or for the Spirit and Physician of souls,) or else, when we do that which the Spirit dissuades us from. If you be kind and obedient to the Spirit, it will not be long night with your souls, but if you rebel and vex him, he will make your