A77608:241
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 ninth Impediment that keeps1 Christians from Assurance, is, An immoderate love of the World; their thoughts and hearts are so busied about getting the World, and keeping the World, that they neither seek Assurance as they should, nor prize Assurance as they should, nor lament the want of Assurance as they should, nor study the worth and excellency of Assurance as they should; and therefore it is no wonder, that such are without Assurance. As it is very hard2 for a rich man to enter into Heaven, so it is very hard for a worldly Christian3 to get Assurance of Heaven. The thick clay of this world doth so affect him, and take him, so satisfy him, and sink him, that he is not able to pursue after Assurance, with that life and love, with that fervency and frequency, as those must do that will obtain it. It is said, Gen. 13. 2. That Abraham was very rich in Cattle, in Silver, and in Gold; according to the Hebrew [Greek or Hebrew] Abraham was very heavy, ⟨p. 202⟩to show (saith one) that riches are a heavy burden, and a hinderance many times to a Christians comfort, and confidence, to his happiness and assurance. Solomon got more hurt by his4 wealth, then he got good by his wisdom; such a fire rise out of his worldly enjoyments, as did even consume and burn up his choicest spirits, and his noblest virtues; under all his Royal Robes, he had but a thread-bare soul. Sicily, saith one, is so full of sweet5 flowers, that dogs cannot hunt there, the sent of the sweet flowers diverteth their smell: And ah what doth all6 the sweet delights and contents of this world, but make men lose the sent of Heaven, but divert men from hunting after Assurance, and from running after Christ, in the sweetness of his ointments.