A77608:50
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.
I shall briefly acquaint you with the Reasons that have moved poor me, unworthy I (who am the least of all Saints▪ who am not worthy to be reckoned among the Saints) to present this following Discourse to public view; and they are thes• that follow.
I shall briefly acquaint you with the Reasons that have moved poor me, unworthy I (who am the least of all Saints▪ who am not worthy to be reckoned among the Saints) to present this following Discourse to publick view; and they are thes• that follow.
First, To answer the desires, and gratify the earnest and pious requests of several precious souls, who long to have these things printed upon their hearts (by the1 hand of the Spirit) that are printed in this Book. God speaks aloud through the serious and affectionate desires of the Saints; and this hath made me willing to echo to their desires. If great mens desires are to be looked upon as commands, ⟨image 17⟩why should good mens desires be looked upon with a squint eye? Seneca (a Heathen) could say that (ipse aspectus boni viri delectat,) The very looks of a good man delight one. How much more then should the desires of a good man overcome one?
First, To answer the desires, and gratifie the earnest and pious requests of several precious souls, who long to have these things printed upon their hearts (by the1 hand of the Spirit) that are printed in this Book. God speaks aloud through the serious and affectionate desires of the Saints; and this hath made me willing to eccho to their desires. If great mens desires are to be looked upon as commands,