A77608:267
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.
Some say of the Crystal, that it hath such a virtue in it, that the very touching of it quickens other stones, and puts a lustre and beauty upon them. Assurance is that Heavenly Crystal that quickens souls, and that casts a beauty and a glory upon souls; and this makes the Devil mad. ⟨p. 237⟩Satan knows that assurance is Manna in a Wilderness, it is water out of a Rock, it is a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night: He knows that assurance is Salve for all sores, and Physic for all diseases, and a Remedy against every malady: He knows that assurance is a Christians Anchor at Sea, and his Shield upon Land; and that it is a Staff to support him, and a Sword to defend him, and a Pavilion to hide him, and a Cordial to cheer him. And therefore it is, that he labours, both as a Lion, and as a Serpent, to keep poor souls from a well-grounded assurance. This Son of the Morning is fallen from the top of Glory, to the bottom of misery; and therefore he strives to make all as miserable and unhappy as himself.
Some say of the Crystal, that it hath such a vertue in it, that the very touching of it quickens other stones, and puts a lustre and beautie upon them. Assurance is that Heavenly Crystal that quickens souls, and that casts a beautie and a glory upon souls; and this makes the Devil mad. ⟨p. 237⟩Satan knows that assurance is Manna in a Wilderness, it is water out of a Rock, it is a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night: He knows that assurance is Salve for all sores, and Physick for all diseases, and a Remedy against every malady: He knows that assurance is a Christians Anker at Sea, and his Shield upon Land; and that it is a Staff to support him, and a Sword to defend him, and a Pavillion to hide him, and a Cordial to cheer him. And therefore it is, that he labors, both as a Lion, and as a Serpent, to keep poor souls from a wel-grounded assurance. This Son of the Morning is faln from the top of Glory, to the bottom of misery; and therefore he strives to make all as miserable and unhappy as himself.