A77608:446
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.
Ah but Hypocrites and Temporaries,1 are but passionate, transient, and inconstant in their Obedience; they talk of Obedience, they commend Obedience, and now and then in a fit, they step in the way of Obedience, but they do not walk in a way of Obedience, they are only constant in inconstancy, Job, chap. 27. vers. 10. Will the Hypocrite delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God? Or as the Hebrew hath it, Will2 he in every time call upon God? will he call upon God in time of prosperity, and in time of adversity; in time of health, and in time of sickness; in time of strength, and in time of weakness; in time of honour, and in time of disgrace; in time of liberty, and in time of durance, &c? The answer to be given in, is, He will not always, he will not in every time call upon God. As a lame Horse, when he is heated, will go well enough, but when he cools, he halts down-right; even so an Hypocrite, though for a time, he ⟨p. 443⟩may go on fairly in a Religious way, yet when he hath attained his ends, he will halt down-right, and be able to3 go no further. The Abbot, in Melancton, lived strictly, and walked demurely, and looked humbly, so long as he was but a Monk; but when by his seeming extraordinary sanctity he got to be made Abbot, he grew intolerably proud and insolent; and being asked the reason of it, confessed, That his former carriage, and lowly looks, was but to see if he could find the Keys of the Abbey. Ah! many unsound hearts there be, that will put on the Cloak of Religion, and speak like Angels, and look like Saints, to find the Keys of Preferment, and when they have found them, none prove more proud, base, and vain, then they. Ah! but that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is constant and durable: A Christian in his course goes strait on Heaven-wards. The two milch Kine, 1 Sam. 6. 12. took the strait way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the high-way, laughing as they went, and turned not aside to the right-hand, or to the left: So gracious Souls go strait