A77608:598
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.
Fourthly, If you would strengthen and maintain your Assurance, then look that your hearts are more taken up with Christ, then with your Graces. Though Grace be a glorious Creature,1 yet it is but a Creature; therefore let Grace have your eye, but be sure that Christ have your heart. Christ will not allow your very Graces to be corrivals with him. He that minds his Graces more then Christ, or that sets his Graces upon the Throne with Christ, will quickly find what it is to lose the face and favour of Christ. Your Grace are but Christs Servants and Handmaids, you may look upon them, but you must not match with them.2 It is a reproach to Christ, that those that have married the Master, should ⟨p. 583⟩at the same time match with the Servant. The Queen may look upon her glistering Courtiers, but she must live upon the King; the Wife may take pleasure in her lovely Babes, but she must live upon her Husband, and be most observant of her Husband: So gracious souls may look upon their Graces, but they must live upon King Jesus; they may take pleasure in their Graces, but they must live upon Christ, and be most observant of Christ. This is the way to keep Christ and Assurance, and he that walks contrary to this rule, will soon find the loss of both. Christ will be Alexander or Nemo, he will be all in all, or he will be nothing at all. Though his Coat3 was once divided, yet he will never suffer his Crown to be divided. His4 glory he will give to none.
Fourthly, If you would strengthen and maintain your Assurance, then look that your hearts are more taken up with Christ, then with your Graces. Though Grace be a glorious Creature,1 yet it is but a Creature; therefore let Grace have your eye, but be sure that Christ have your heart. Christ will not allow your very Graces to be corrivals with him. He that mindes his Graces more then Christ, or that sets his Graces upon the Throne with Christ, will quickly finde what it is to lose the face and favor of Christ. Your Grace are but Christs Servants and Handmaids, you may look upon them, but you must not match with them.