A77608:329
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.
In their affliction they 1will seek me early (saith God;) they w•ll then seek to be rid of their affliction, but not to be rid of their sins, that hath brought down the affliction upon them. Like the patient that would fain be rid of his pain and torment, under which he groans, but cares not to be rid of those evil habits that hath brought the pain and torment2 upon them. Psal. 78. 34, 35, 36, 37. When he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned, and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the High God their Redeemer: Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth; and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him; neither were they steadfast in his Covenant. In these words3 you see plainly, that these people are very early and earnest in seeking God, to take off his hand, to remove the judgement that were upon them; but not that God would cure them of ⟨p. 305⟩those sins that provoked him to draw his sword, and to make it drunk with their blood; for notwithstanding the sad slaughters that Divine Justice had made among them, they did but flatter, and lie, and play the Hypocrites with God; they would fain be rid of their sufferings, but did not care to be rid of their sins. Ah but a gracious soul cries out, Lord do but take away my sins, and it will satisfy me, and cheer me, though thou shouldst never take off thy▪ heavy hand. A true Nathaniel sighs it out under his greatest affliction, as that good man did (A me, me salus Domine.) Deliver me, O Lord, from that evil man my self. No burden to the burden of sin, Lord, says the believing soul, deliver me but from my inward burden, and lay upon me what outward burden thou pleasest.
In their affliction they 1will seek me early (saith God;) they wll then seek to be rid of their affliction, but not to be rid of their sins, that hath brought down the affliction upon them. Like the patient that would fain be rid of his pain and torment, under which he groans, but cares not to be rid of those evil habits that hath brought the pain and torment