A77608:246
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 first Motive to provoke you to1 put out all your strength and might against bosom sins, that you are so apt to play withal, is, Seriously to consider, that this will be a strong, and choice Demonstration, and evidence2 of the Sincerity, and uprightness of your hearts. Psal. 18. 23. I was also upright ⟨p. 208⟩with him, and I kept my self from mine iniquity. I kept a strict and diligent watch upon that particular sin that I found my self most inclined unto. And this, says David, is a clear evidence to me of the uprightness of my heart with God. The truth is, there is no Hypocrite in the world, but doth dandle and dally with some3 bosom sin, or other: And though at times, and upon carnal accounts, they seem to be very zealous against this and that sin, yet at the very same time their hearts stand strongly and affectionately engaged to some bosom sin, as might be showed in Saul, Jehu, Judas, and Herod; therefore as ever you would have a sure Argument of your uprightness, trample upon your Delilahs. This very evidence of thy uprightness, may yield thee more comfort and refreshing in a day of trouble and darkness, then for the present thou dost apprehend, or hast Faith to believe. Some there be that can tell thee, that the joy of the Bridegroom, nor the joy of the Harvest, is not to be compared with that joy that arises in the soul, from the sense and evidence4 ⟨p. 209⟩of a mans own uprightness. Sincerity is the very queen of virtues, she holds the throne, and will be sure to keep it; yea, the very sight of it, in the soul, makes a man sit cheerful and thankful (Noah-like) in the midst of all tempests and storms. Look, as the playing with a bosom sin, speaks out Hypocrisy, so the mortifying of a bosom sin, speaks ou• Sincerity.