A77608:91
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.
Again, a good conscience is another spring of assurance, 2 Cor. 1. 12.1 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly 2to you wards. So in that 1 Joh. 3. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. A good conscience hath sure confidence; he that hath it, sits, Noah-like, in the midst of all combustions and distractions, sincerity, and serenity, uprightness and boldness; a good conscience, and a good confidence go together. ⟨p. 15⟩What the probationer Disciple said to our Saviour in that Mat. 8. 19. Master, I will follow thee whithersoever 3thou goest; that a good conscience says to the believing soul, I will follow thee from duty to duty, from ordinance to ordinance; I will stand by thee, I will strengthen thee, I will uphold thee, I will be a comfort to thee in life, and a friend to thee in death; though all should leave thee, yet I will never forsake thee: A good conscience will look through the blackest clouds, and see a smiling God. Look as an evil conscience is attended with the greatest fears and doubts; so a good conscience is attended with the4 greatest clearness and sweetness; And as there is no hell in this world to an evil conscience, so there is no heaven in this world to a good conscience; He that hath a good conscience, hath one of the choicest springs of Assurance. And it will not be long before God will whisper such a man in the ear, and say unto him, Son be of good 5cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.