A77608:538
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 Perseverance that ⟨p. 519⟩accompanies Salvation, is, An abiding1 or continuing in the Word or Doctrine of Christ. John 15. 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. 1 John 2. 14. I have written unto you young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you. Vers. 24. Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning; if that which ye have heard from the beginning, shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 2 John vers. 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father, and the Son. None shall receive the end of2 their Faith, the Salvation of their Souls, but those that hold fast the Doctrine of Faith, soundly, sincerely, and entirely, to the end. John 8. 31. If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Disciples indeed. It is the End that crowns the action, as the Evening crowns the day, as the last act commends the whole Scene. It is not enough to begin well, except we end well; the beginning of Christians is ⟨p. 520⟩not so considerable as the end. Manasseh and Paul began ill, but ended well;3 Judas and Demas began well, but ended ill. It is not the knowledge of the Doctrine of Christ, nor the commending of the Word of Christ, but the abiding in Christs Word, the continuing in Christs Doctrine, that accompanies Life and Glory, and that will render a man happy at last. Such that with Hymeneus and Alexander, put away,4