A77608:99
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.
Eighthly, It was the principal end of Christs institution of the Sacrament of the Supper, that he might assure them of his love, and that he might seal up to them the forgiveness1 of their sins, the acceptation of their persons, and the salvation of their souls. The nature of a Seal is to make things sure and firm among2 men; So the Supper of the Lord is ⟨p. 24⟩Christs Broad-seal; it is Christs Privy Seal, whereby he seals and assures his people, that they are happy here, that they shall be more happy hereafter, that they are everlastingly beloved of God, that his heart is set upon them, that their names are written in the3 Book of life, That there is laid up for them a crown of righteousness, and that nothing shall be able to separate them from him▪ who is their light, their life, their4 crown, their all in all. In this Sacrament Christ comes forth, and shows his love, his heart, his bowels, his blood, that his children may no longer say, Doth the Lord Jesus love us? doth he delight in us, &c? but that they may say with the Spouse, I am my beloveds, 5and his desire is towards me. Many precious Christians there are, that have lain long under fears6 and doubts, sighing and mourning, and that have run from Minister to Minister, and from one duty to another, &c. and yet could never be persuaded of the love of Christ to their poor souls, but still their fears and doubts have followed them, till they have waited upon the Lord in this glorious ⟨p. 25⟩Ordinance, by which the Lord hath assured them of the remission of their sins, and the salvation of their souls. In this Ordinance God hath given7