A77608:381
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 object that Faith is exercised about, is the precious promises,1 which are a Christians Magna Charta. As every precious stone hath an egregious virtue in it, so hath every promise: The promises are a precious Book, every Leaf drops Myrrh and Mercy; and upon these precious promises, precious Faith looks and lives. From these Breasts Faith sucks comfort and sweetness. Psal. 119. 49, 50. Remember thy word (that is, thy promise) unto thy servant; upon which, thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me. So in Psalm 27. 13. I had fainted, unless I had believed, to see the goodness of the Lord, in the Land of the living. Heb. 11. 13. These all died in faith (or ⟨p. 370⟩according to faith) not having received the promises, but having seen them a far off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them (or as the Greek hath it,2 saluted them by Faith, they kissed the promises, and kissed Christ in the promises) and confessed that they were strangers, and pilgrims on the Earth. It would be an endless thing to show you, how the faith of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and other Saints, have been acted and exercised upon promises of Sanctification, upon promises of Justification, upon promises of Salvation, upon promises of Glorification, upon promises of Protection, upon promises for Direction, upon promises for Supportation, &c. Look as the Lamp lives upon the Oil, and the Child upon the Breasts, so doth Faith upon the promises. For the further advantage and comfort of your souls▪ in eyeing the promises, let me give you these two sweet hints.
The third object that Faith is exercised about, is the precious promises,1 which are a Christians Magna Charta. As every precious stone hath an gregious vertue in it, so hath every promise: The promises are a precious Book, every Leaf drops Myrrhe and Mercy; and upon these precious promises, precious Faith looks and lives. From these Brests Faith sucks comfort and sweetness.