A77608:582
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.
First, The Spirit of Christ doth not witness by any outward voice, as God1 did from Heaven of Christ; nor by an Angel, as to the Virgin Mary; but by an inward, secret, glorious and unspeakable way, he bids Believers be of good cheer, their sins are forgiven2 them, as Christ said to the palsy man in the Gospel. And this truth is to be solemnly minded against those ⟨p. 566⟩poor deceived and deluded souls in3 these days, that would make the world believe, that they have had such and such glorious things made known by an outward audible voice from Heaven; It is much to be feared that they never found the inward, the sweet, the secret, the powerful testimony and report of the Spirit of Christ, that boast, and brag, and rest so much upon an outward testimony. In 1 King. 19. you read of a great strong wind that rent the 4Mountains, and brake in pieces the Rocks: but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the 5Lord was not in the fire; And after the fire 6there was a still small voice, and the Lord spake to Elijah in that still small voice. Ah Christians! the Spirit of the Lord makes not a noise, but he comes in a still small voice, as I may say, and makes a soft and secret report to the soul, that it is beloved, that it is pardoned, and that it shall be for ever glorified.
First, The Spirit of Christ doth not witnesse by any outward voice, as God1 did from Heaven of Christ; nor by an Angell, as to the Virgin Mary; but by an inward, secret, glorious and unspeakable way, he bids Beleevers be of good chear, their sins are forgiven