A77608:556
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.
A sixth property of that Hope that accompanies Salvation, is this, It is Soul-purifying Hope, it puts a Christian upon purifying himself, as Christ is pure, 1 John 3. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as Christ is pure. Divine hope runs1 out into holiness; he that hath the purest and strongest hopes of being saved, is most studious and laborious to be sanctified. The Greek word ([Greek or Hebrew]) that is rendered purifieth, is a Metaphor ⟨p. 540⟩taken, either from the Ceremonial purifications in time of the Law, or else from Goldsmiths purifying Metals from their Dross; and it notes thus much to us, That those that have hopes to reign with Christ in glory, that have set their hearts upon that pure and blissful State, that Paradise, that holy and spiritual State of Bliss that is made up of singleness and purity, they will purify both their insides, and their outsides, both body and soul, that they may answer to that excellent Copy that Christ hath set before them; knowing, that none shall enjoy Everlasting Glory, but those that labour after perfect purity.
A sixth property of that Hope that accompanies Salvation, is this, It is Soul-purifying Hope, it puts a Christian upon purifying himself, as Christ is pure, 1 John 3. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as Christ is pure. Divine hope runs1 out into holiness; he that hath the purest and strongest hopes of being saved, is most studious and laborious to be sanctified. The Greek word (〈non-Latin alphabet〉) that is rendred purifieth, is a Metaphor ⟨p. 540⟩taken, either from the Ceremonial purifications in time of the Law, or else from Goldsmiths purifying Metals from their Dross; and it notes thus much to us, That those that have hopes to reign with Christ in glory, that have set their hearts upon that pure and blissful State, that Paradise, that holy and spiritual State of Bliss that is made up of singleness and purity, they will purifie both their insides, and their outsides, both body and soul, that they may answer to that excellent Copy that Christ hath set before them; knowing, that none shall enjoy Everlasting Glory, but those that labor after perfect purity.