A77608:306
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 third Means to gain assurance,1 is, To be kind to the Spirit, hear his voice, follow his counsel, live up to his Laws: The Spirit is the great Revealer of the Fathers secrets; he lies in the bosom of the Father; he knows every name that is written in the Book of Life; he is best acquainted with the inward workings of the heart of God, towards poor sinners;2 he is the great Comforter, and the only Sealer up of souls to the day of Redemption. If you set him a mourning3 by your wilful sinnings, that alone can glad you, by whom will you be gladded. Verily, Christians, when you turn your back upon the Spirit, ⟨p. 278⟩he will not turn his face upon your souls; your vexing of the Spirit will4 be but the disquieting of your selves. Look as all lights cannot make up the want of the light of the Sun, so all Creatures cannot make up the want of the testimony of the Spirit. Let me speak to you, as God once spake to his people in that of Exod. 23. 20, 21,5 22, 23. Behold, (says God) I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in thy way, and to bring thee into the place, which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will 6not pardon your transgressions; for my name is in him, &•. So I say, Behold, the Spirit of the Lord, that is, your guide and guard, he also is only able to make a soul satisfying report of the love and favour of the Father to you; therefore as ever you would have assurance, beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for if you do by wilful transgressions, he will neither comfort you, nor counsel you; he will neither be a sealing, nor a witnessing spirit unto you; nay, he will raise storms and tempests in your souls; he will present to you the Father