A77608:323
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.
First, A true Nathaniel in his constant course, labours in all duties and services to be approved and accepted of God; he is most studious and in dustrious to approve his heart to God in all that he puts his hand to. So David, Search me, O God, and know my 1heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting. So Peter 2approves his heart to Christ three several times together. Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; Lord thou knowest that I love thee; Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. ⟨p. 296⟩Thou knowest the sincerity and reality of my love, and therefore to thee I do appeal; to the same purpose the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 5. 9. Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. The Greek word that is here translated labour, is a3 very emphatical word, it signifies to labour, or endeavour with all earnestness and might, to endeavour with a high and holy ambition, to be accepted of God; judging it the greatest honour in the world, to be owned and accepted of the Lord. Ambitious men are not more diligent, earnest, studious, and laborious to get honour among men, then we are (saith the Apostle) to get acceptance with God. Ah but your most4 refined Hypocrites labour only to approve themselves to men in their Praying, Fasting, Talking, Hearing, Giving, &c. Let them have but mans eye to see them, and mans ear to hear them, and mans tongue to commend them, and mans hand to reward them, and they will sit down and bless themselves, saying it is enough; Ah, ha, so would we have it. They say of the Nightingale, that when she is solitary in ⟨p. 297⟩the Woods, she is careless of her note, but when she conceives that she hath any auditors, or is near houses, then she composes her self more quaintly and elegantly. Verily this is the frame and temper of the best of Hypocrites. O but a sincere Nathaniel