A77608:36
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.
Fourthly, Be exemplary to those1 among whom you walk, and over whom you command: Bonus dux, bonus comes, a good Leader makes a good Follower; Praecepta aocent, exempla movent, Precepts may instruct, but examples do persuade. Verily Gentlemen, your examples will have a very great influence upon those that are under you. It is natural to Inferiors to mind more what their Superiors do, then what they say; therefore you had need be Angelical in your walkings, and actings; you are lights upon a Hill, you are Sea-marks, and therefore every eye will be upon you. Those that can find no ears to hear what you say, will find many eyes to see what you do. Scripture and Experience do abundantly evidence, that good mens examples have done a world of good in the world; and verily, the evil examples of great men (especially) are very dangerous. Charles the fifth was wont to say, That as the Eclipse of the Sun is a token of great commotions; so the errors and evils of great men, bring with them great perturbations and evils to the places and persons where ⟨image 12⟩they live. O therefore be exemplary in lip and life, in word and work, that others seeing your good works, may glorify 2your Father which is in Heaven. O look that your lives be as a Commentary upon Christs life. (Tace lingua, loquere vita) Talk not of a good life, but let thy life speak, said the Philosopher. Alexander willed that the Grecians and the Barbarians should no longer be distinguished by their Garments, but by their Manners; so should Christians be distinguished from all others by their lives, and by their examples. 2 Sam. 23. 3. The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me, he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord. An excellent Lord is always better then an excellent Law; let your Laws be never so good, if the Law▪ makers are bad, all will come to nothing. The peoples eyes are much3 upon that Scripture, Have any of the Rulers believed on him? &c. Abraham was an example of Righteousness in Chaldea, Lot was just in Sodom, Daniel was an example of Holiness in Babylon, Job was an example of Uprightness in the Land of Huss, which was a Land