A77608:455
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.
And verily, they shall not be long without good gifts from Christ, that love Christ more then his gifts. Vespasian commanded a liberal reward should be given to a woman that came, and professed, That she was in love with him; and when his Steward asked him, What item he should put to it in his Book of Accounts; the Emperor answered, Vespasiano adamato, Item to ⟨p. 453⟩her that loved Vespasian. Ah Christians, shall Vespasian an Heathen Prince reward her liberally that loved his person, and will not the Lord Jesus much more reward them with his choicest gifts, that love him more then his gifts? Surely, Christ will not be worse then a Heathen, he will not act below a Heathen. He shall never be a loser that loves Christ for that Spiritual sweetness, and loveliness that is in Christ, Christ will not live long in that mans debt.
Fourthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is a vehement Love, an ardent Love; it is a spark of heavenly fire, and it puts all the affections into a holy flame. Can. 1. 7. Tell me, O thou, whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest? &c. This amiable, amorous, Pathetical Compellation, O thou1 whom my soul loveth, speaks the Spouses love to be hot and burning towards Christ. So in Isa. 26. 8, 9. The desire of our souls is towards thee, and to the remembrance of thy name. With my 2soul have I desired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me, will I seek thee early. This affectionate, this passionate ⟨p. 454⟩form of Speech, With my soul have I desired thee, and that, with my spirit within me, will I seek thee, does elegantly set forth the vehement, and ardent love of the Church to Christ; so doth that pathetical exclamation of the Church, Stay me with flagons, comfort