A77608:537
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.
To persevere in holy and heavenly Principles, is, To persevere in Believing, in Repenting, in Mourning, in Hoping; It is to persevere in Love, in Fear, in Humility, in Patience, in Self-denial, &c. Now it is this perseverance1 in holy and gracious Principles that accompanies Salvation, that leads to Salvation. No grace, no, not the most sparkling and shining grace, can bring a man to Heaven of it self, without ⟨p. 518⟩Perseverance; not Faith, which is the Champion of Grace, if it faint and fail; not Love, which is the Nurse of Grace, if it decline and wax cold; not Humility, which is the adorner & beautifier of Grace, if it continue not to the end; not Obedience, not Repentance, not Patience, nor no other Grace, except they have their perfect work. It is Perseverance in Grace that crowns every Grace, and every gracious Soul with a crown of glory at last. Revel. 2. 10. Be thou faithful to the death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Such as2 only believe for a time, and repent for a time, and love for a time, and repent for a time, and love for a time, and rejoice for a time, and hope for a time, &c. But do not persevere and hold out, will be doubly miserable in the day of vengeance. Perseverance is the accomplishment of every Grace, without it, he that fights cannot hope to overcome; and he that for the present doth overcome, cannot look for the Crown, unless he still perseveres and goes on conquering, and to conquer, till he finds all his enemies slain before him.
To persevere in holy and heavenly Principles, is, To persevere in Believing, in Repenting, in Mourning, in Hoping; It is to persevere in Love, in Fear, in Humility, in Patience, in Self-denial, &c. Now it is this perseverance1 in holy and gracious Principles that accompaines Salvation, that leads to Salvation. No grace, no, not the most sparkling and shining grace, can bring a man to Heaven of it self, without ⟨p. 518⟩