A77608:92
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, real Love to the Saints is another spring of Assurance, and this ⟨p. 16⟩spring is a never failing spring; this spring is in the weakest, as well as in the strongest Saints. Joh. 3. 14. We know 1that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren; he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. The Apostle doth not say, we think, we hope, &c. that we are translated from death to life; but we know that we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren: Love to the brethren, is not the cause of our passing from death to life, that is, from a natural state, to a spiritual state; from hell to heaven, but an evidence thereof. I confess it is very sad to consider how this precious stream of love is even dried up in many. It was wont to be a Proverb, (Homo homini Deus) One man is a God to another: But now it may be truly said, (Homo homini Daemon) One man is a2 Devil to another. He that wants love to his brethren, wants one of the sweetest springs from whence Assurance flows. A greater hell I would not wish any man, then to live, and not to love the beloved of God.
Again, real Love to the Saints is another spring of Assurance, and this ⟨p. 16⟩spring is a never failing spring; this spring is in the weakest, as wel as in the strongest Saints. Joh. 3. 14. Wee know 1that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren; hee that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. The Apostle doth not say, we thinke, we hope, &c. that we are translated from death to life; but we know that we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren: Love to the brethren, is not the cause of our passing from death to life, that is, from a natural state, to a spiritual state; from hell to heaven, but an evidence thereof. I confesse it is very sad to consider how this precious stream of love is even dried up in many. It was wont to be a Proverb, (Homo homini Deus) One man is a God to another: But now it may bee truly said, (Homo homini Daemon) One man is a