A77608:239
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.
Well doubting souls, remember this, God will give Assurance in one Ordinance, when he will deny it in another, that you may seek his face in all. God loves as well, that you should wait on him, as that you should wrestle with him. He that will not give God the honour of attending him, in every duty, in every Ordinance, may long enough complain of the want of Assurance, before God will give him the white stone, and the new name, that none knows but he that hath it. Many of the precious Sons of Zion have found God giving Assurance in one Ordinance, others have found him giving Assurance in another Ordinance. God speaks peace to some in such and such services, and comfort to others in such and such duties: Therefore as you would have Assurance, O doubting souls, seek the Lord in every way and service▪ wherein he is pleased to make known his glory and goodness. In hearing Christ opens ⟨p. 199⟩his Box of Ointments to some, and in praying and breaking of Bread he lets his sweet myrrh fall upon the hearts of others. Some have seen the glory of the Lord in the Sanctuary, that have been clouded in their Closets; others have heard a sweet still voice in their Closets, that have sate long trembling in the Sanctuary. Remember1 doubting souls, Moab and Ammon were banished the Sanctuary to the Tenth Generation, for a mere omission, because they met not Gods Israel in the Wilderness with Bread and Water. And I verily believe, that God doth banish (as I may say) many from his favourable presence, (as Absalom did David) for their sinful omissions, for their non-attendance upon him in all his ways. Therefore, if2 ever you would have Assurance, seek the Lord, not only while he may be found, but also in every gracious dispensation where he may be found; Then shall the joy of the Lord be your strength, and his glory shall rest upon you. The days of your mourning shall be ended, and you shall lye down in peace, and none shall make you afraid. I would ⟨p. 200⟩earnestly desire you, O doubting souls, seriously to consider, That all the ways of Christ, are ways of pleasantness (as Solomon speaks,) not only this3