A77608:355
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.
Secondly, That Knowledge that accompanies Salvation, is transforming knowledge, it is metamorphosing knowledge, it is knowledge that transforms, that metamorphoses the soul. 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we with open face beholding 1the glory of the Lord, as in a glass, are ⟨p. 330⟩changed into the same image, from glory to glory. Divine light beating on the heart, warms it, and betters it; it transforms and changes it; it moulds and fashions it into the very likeness of Christ. The Naturalists observe, That the Pearl by the often beating of the Sun beams upon it, becomes radiant; so the often beating and shining of the Sun of Righteousness, with his divine beams upon the Saints, causes them to glister and shine in Holiness, Righteousness Heavenly-mindedness, Humbleness, &c. Divine light casts a general beauty and glory upon the soul, it transforms a man more and more into the glorious Image of Christ. Look as the Child receiveth from2 his Parents, Member for Member, Limb for Limb; or as the Paper from the Press receiveth Letter for Letter, the Wax from the Seal, Print for Print, or as the Face in the Glass answers to the face of the man, or as Indenture answers to Indenture; so the beams of Divine Light and Knowledge, shining into the soul, stamps the lively Image of Christ upon the soul, and makes it put on the Lord ⟨p. 331⟩Jesus, and resemble him to the life. Notional knowledge may make a man excellent at praising the glorious and worthy acts and virtues of Christ; but that transforming knowledge that accompanies salvation, will work a man divinely to imitate the glorious acts and virtues of Christ. 1 Pet. 2. 9. But ye are a chosen Generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, that ye should show forth the praises of him ([Greek or Hebrew], the virtues of him) who hath called you out of darkness, into his marvellous light. When God causes his Divine light, his marvellous light, to shine in upon the soul, then a Christian will ([Greek or Hebrew]) preach forth the virtues of Christ in an imitable practise; and till then a man under all other knowledge, will remain an incarnate Devil. When a beam of Divine Light shined from Heaven upon Paul, Ah how did it