A77608:94
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.
Sixthly, The Holy Ghost exhorts us to give all diligence to make our calling ⟨p. 18⟩and election sure, and presses us to look to the obtaining of a full assurance, therefore Believers may attain unto an assurance of their everlasting happiness and blessedness. Wherefore 1the rather Brethren (saith the Apostle) give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you shall never fall. The Greek word2 translated, give diligence, signifieth two things; 1. All possible haste and speed; 2. All manner of seriousness and intention in doing; make it your main business, your chiefest study, your greatest care, to make your calling and election sure, saith the Apostle; when this is done, your all is done, till this be done, there is nothing done: and to show the necessity, utility, excellency, and possibility of it, the Apostle puts a rather upon it, wherefore the rather give all3 diligence to make your calling and election sure; or as it is in the Original, firm, or stable; it is the one thing necessary, it is of an internal and eternal concernment, to make firm and sure work for your souls. Assurance is a jewel of that worth, a pearl of that price, that he that will have it, must ⟨p. 19⟩work and sweat, and weep and wait to obtain it; he must not only use diligence, but he must use all diligence; not only dig, but he must dig deep, before he can come to this golden Mine. Assurance is that white stone, that new name, that hidden Manna, that none can obtain, but such as labour for it as for life; Assurance is such precious gold, that a man must win it before he can wear it: win gold and wear gold is the language both of heaven & earth.
Sixthly, The Holy Ghost exhorts us to give all diligence to make our calling ⟨p. 18⟩and election sure, and presses us to looke to the obtaining of a full assurance, therefore Beleevers may attaine unto an assurance of their everlasting happinesse and blessednesse. Wherefore