A77608:265
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.
sometimes you doubt, whether ⟨p. 233⟩that you are a thorough Christian, and1 not an Agrippa, an almost-Christian, an half-Christian, as most Professors are; sometimes you doubt of your Sonship, and that leads you to doubt of your Heirship; sometimes you doubt of your acquaintance with God, and that leads you to doubt of your access to God, and acceptance with God; sometimes you doubt of your union with God, and those doubts lead you to doubt of the truth of your communion with God, &c. The truth is, your whole life is a life of doubting, and so it will be, till you reach to a well-grounded assurance. Though the two Disciples had Christ for their companion, yet their hearts were full of fears and doubts, whilst their eyes were held, that they should not know him, Luke 24. 14, 15, &c. Till a Christians eyes be open to see his assurance, his heart will be full of doubts and perplexities. Though2 Mary Magdalen was very near to Christ, yet she stands sighing, mourning, and complaining, that they had stolen away her Lord, because she did not see him. Christians, though you may ⟨p. 234⟩be very near and dear to Christ, yet till you come to see your assurance, you will spend your days in doubting, mourning, and complaining. The sum of all, is this, As you would be rid of your burden of cares, your burden of fears, and your burden of doubts, get a well-grounded assurance of your happiness and blessedness; but if you are in love with your burdens, then neglect but the making of your Calling and Election sure, and you shall certainly make sure your burdens; they shall rise with you, and walk with you, and lie down with you, till they make your lives a Hell.
sometimes you doubt, whether ⟨p. 233⟩that you are a thorow Christian, and1 not an Agrippa, an almost-Christian, an half-Christian, as most Professors are; sometimes you doubt of your Sonship, and that leads you to doubt of your Heirship; sometimes you doubt of your acquaintance with God, and that leads you to doubt of your access to God, and acceptance with God; sometimes you doubt of your union with God, and those doubts lead you to doubt of the truth of your communion with God, &c. The truth is, your whole life is a life of doubting, and so it will be, till you reach to a wel-grounded assurance. Though the two Disciples had Christ for their companion, yet their hearts were full of fears and doubts, whilest their eyes were held, that they should not know him,