A77608:420
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.
Thirdly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is, not only a1 turning from all sin, but it is also a turning unto God; it is not only a ceasing from doing evil, but it is also a learning to do well; it is not only a turning from darkness, but it is also a turning to light, as the Apostle speaks, Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes, and to ⟨p. 410⟩turn them from darkness to light, and 2from the power of Satan unto God: So in Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, &c. It is not enough for the man of iniquity to forsake his evil way, but he must also return unto the Lord; he must subject his heart to the power of Divine Grace, and his life to the Will and Word of God. As Negative goodness can never satisfy a gracious soul, so Negative goodness can never save a sinful soul. It is not enough that thou art not thus and thus bad, but thou must be thus and thus good, or thou art undone for ever. Ezek. 18. 21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Negative Righteousness and Holiness is no Righteousness no Holiness, in the account of God. It was not the Pharisees Negative Righteousness, nor3 his Comparative Goodness, that could prevent his being rejected of God, his being shut out of Heaven, his burning in Hell. It is not enough that the Tree ⟨p. 411⟩hears no ill fruit, but it must bring forth good fruit, else it must be cut down and cast into the fire; that Tree that is not for fruit is for the fire. Every 4tree that brings not forth good fruit (says Christ) is hewn down and cast into the fire. Men that content themselves with Negative Righteousness, shall find at last Heaven Gates bolted upon them with a double bolt. All that Negative Righteousness and Holiness can do, is to help a man to one of the best Chambers, and easiest Beds in Hell: That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, brings the heart and life, not only off from sin, but on to God; it makes a man not only cease from walking in the ways of death, but it makes him walk in the ways of life. They do no iniquity, they walk in his ways.