Heaven Upon Earth, Title page – To the reader
Heaven upon Earth, OR Good News FOR Repenting Sinners; Being an account of the Remarkable Experiences and Evidences For eternal Life, of many Eminent Chriſtians in ſeveral Declarations made by them upon Solemn Occaſions. Diſplaying the exceeding Riches of the Free Grace and Love of God in ſupporting them under violent Temptations, and at length filling their Souls with Divine Conſolations. Approved of as very neceſſary for comforting poor doubting Believers.
By William Dyer, Min. of the Goſpel.
Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul, Pſalm 66.17.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas and Nath. Crouch Jun. at the Bell in the Poultrey, near Cheapſide, 1697.
TO THE READER
I Am very ſenſible that Diſcourſes of Converſion in this Age are much ſlighted and derided by ſome kind of men that make high pretences to Learning and Knowledge, who tell us that this talk of Converſion is ſitter for Pagans and Infidels to hear than Chriſtians and Proteſtants; But as ſome people ſpeak againſt Learning that have none themſelves, ſo ſuch Perſons may be thought to inveigh againſt Converſion, and the Spirit of God, becauſe they never experienced the effects of either of them in themſelves; For certainly;
I. It is not the taking on us the Profeſsion of Chriſtianity that can ſave our Souls, or make us happy forever. If to ceaſe to be Jews or Pagans and to put on the Chriſtian Profeſsion were ſufficient, then the Chriſtians of Sardis and Laodicea, who had a name to live, would never have been condemned by our bleſſed Lord, and threatned to be ſpewed out, Rev. 3.1,16. Are there not many that name the name of Jeſus Chriſt, that yet depart not from Iniquity, and profeſs they know God, but in works deny him, and will God receive theſe for True Converts, becauſe they are turned to the Chriſtian Religion.
II. It is not being Baptized into the Chriſtian Faith, nor being Waſhed in the Laver of Regeneration that can denominate a Man a real and ſincere Chriſtian. Many take the Preſs Money and wear the Livery of Chriſt, that yet never ſtand to their Colours nor follow their Leader; Ananias and Saphira, and Simon Magus were baptized as well as the reſt; How fondly then do many men miſtake, deceiving and being deceived, dreaming that the effectual Grace of God is neceſſarily joyned to the outward adminiſtration of Baptiſm, and that being Converted and Regenerated already when Baptized, they need no more: But if this were ſo, then all that were baptized in their Infancy muſt neceſſarily be ſaved, becauſe the promiſe of Pardon and Salvation is made to Converſion and Regeneration, and we need look no further to ſee our Names written in Heaven, but to ſearch the Regiſter and ſee whether we were baptized, and the Certificate of our Baptiſm will be the faireſt evidence for Heaven, and we need only to cry God mercy and be abſolved by the Miniſter at our Death, and we … inherit the Kingdom of God. But let me tell you from the living God that whatever benefits you receive by baptiſm, yet if when you come to years you be unholy, unclean, malicious, covetous, a ſcoffer, or the like, you cannot be ſaved except you be renewed again by repentance and a through and powerful change of your heart and life.
III. It is not Moral Righteouſneſs that will evidence us to be Chriſtians; we muſt exceed the Scribes and Phariſees; And though the bleſſed Apoſtle Paul before his Converſion ſays, that he was touching the Righteouſneſs of the Law blameleſs. Phil. 3. So that none could charge him with the leaſt immorality, and though the ſelf juſtifying Phariſee could ſay I am no Extortioner, Adulterer, Unjuſt, &c. Luke 18.11. yet this was not ſufficient; Thou muſt have ſomething more than all this to ſhew, or elſe God will not juſtifie thee. I condemn not Morality, but we are not to reſt there. Piety includes Morality, as Chriſtianity doth Humanity, and Grace includes Reaſon, but we muſt not divide the two Tables.
IV. External Conformity to the Rules of Piety is not enough to make us true Chriſtians; Many have a Form of Godlineſs without the Power; they may pray long, faſt often, hear gladly, and be very forward in the ſervice of God, though coſtly and expenſive, and yet be ſtrangers to Chriſtianity, and the divine Life; It will not be enough for them to plead at the great Day of Account that th… kept their Church, ſaid their Prayers, received the Sacrament conſtantly, gave Alms, or the like; For there is no outward ſervice but an Hypocrite may perform it, even to the giving all his goods to the poor and his body to be burned, 1 Cor. 13.3.
V. A Seeming Conformity to the will of God, occaſioned either by the reſtraint of humane Laws, Education, Afflictions or the like, can never give us aſſurance of eternal happineſs; 'Tis too common and eaſy, to miſtake Education for the Grace of God, but if this were true, who was a better man than Jehoaſh, who while his Ʋncle lived was very forward in Gods ſervice, and calls upon him to repair the houſe of the Lord, 2 Kings 12.2,7. yet there was nothing but good Education all this while, for when his good Tutor was taken out of the way, he appears to have been only chained up, and preſently falls to Idolatry; ſo in caſe of humane Laws and Afflictions, though men may ſeem very conformable while they are reſtrained by them, yet that being removed many throw of all and commit iniquity with groodineſs.
Having briefly declared what true Chriſtianity is not, I ſhall in ſhort diſcover what it is; Converſion or true Religion conſiſts in the thro' change both of the heart and life, by the Spirit of God, through the merits and Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt; Where this is in truth, it goes throughout all the powers, principles and practices of a man; His mind is changed, and the ſcales of his natural ignorance fall off, ſo that God and his glory weigh down all carnal and worldly Intereſts, and he is turned from darkneſs to light. He that thought formerly there was little hurt in ſin, now comes to ſee it to be the chief of evils; Heretofore he ſaw no form nor comelineſs in his holy Redeemer that he ſhould deſire him, but now he finds him to be the hid Treaſure, and the Pearl of price, for which he is willing to part with all to purchaſe it. Now God is all to him, and he values his favour and the light of his countenance above all the good that he formerly inquired after, and ſet his heart upon. Let the world now preſent her ſelf in all the glory of her Kingdoms, yet his Soul will prefer a naked, a crucified, a perſecuted Chriſt before her, and he will cry out, The Lord is my portion ſaith my ſoul: Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee; God is the ſtrength of my heart and my portion for ever.
He had rather be gracious than great, and had rather be the holieſt man upon Earth, than the moſt learned the moſt famous or the moſt proſperous.
His Joys are changed, he now rejoyceth in the ways of Gods Teſtimonies more than in all Riches; He delights in the Law of the Lord, of which he formerly had little Savour; He hath no ſuch joy as in the thoughts of Chriſt and fruition of his company forever.
His eares and fears are altered, he was once careful about the things of this life, but now his great ſolicitude is how to ſecure his Soul, and everlaſting concerns; He uſed to fear nothing ſo much as the loſs of his Eſtate, Reputation, Friends, or Pleaſures Nothing ſounded ſo terrible to him as pain, poverty or diſgrace; Now theſe are little to him in compariſon with the diſhonour and diſpleaſure of God; It pierces his heart to think of loſing Gods favour or of being parted from his bleſſed Saviour.
His love runs a new courſe and he (like the ancient Father) can ſcarce find words ſweet enough to expreſs his affections to his well beloved Jeſus, Let me ſee thee O Light of mine eyes; Come O thou joy of my Spirit. Let me behold thee O the gladneſs of my heart; Let me love thee O Light of my Soul; Appear unto me O my chief delight, my ſweet Comforter; O my God, my Life, & the whole glory of my Soul, Let me find thee, O Defire of my heart; Let me hold thee O Love of my Soul; Let me imbrace thee, and poſſeſs thee O heavenly Bridegroom.
His Sorrows have now a Vent by the veiw of his Sins, the ſight of a Crucified Chriſt which did ſcarce move him before how much doth … affect his heart; His hatred boils, his anger … againſt ſin, all the facultie and members of his Soul and Body that were formerly inſtruments of ſin are now become the holy Ʋtenſils of Chriſts living Temple.
That eye which was once wandring, wanton, haughty, and cavetous, is now imployed (as Marys) weeping over his ſins, in beholding God in his works, in reading his word, in ſearching for Objects of Charity and Mercy, and ſeeking all opportunities to do him ſervice.
That ear that was opened to Satan's call, and like a vitiated appetite, reliſhed nothing better than filthy or at leaſt ſrothy unprofitable diſcourſe and the laughter of Fools, is now beared to hear the ſweet voice of Jeſus, and is open to his Teachings; it now ſays, Speak Lord, for thy Servant heareth, and waits for his word as the rain, which is ſweeter to him than the honey and the hovey comb, or his appointed food.
That head which was filled with carnal contrivances and deſigns, is now imployed in matters of greater concern, and ſtudies how it may perform the will of God; His thoughts are now more intent about his duty than his gain, and his principal buſineſs is how be may pleaſe God and avoid Sin.
His heart which was full of pollution and defilement, is now become an Altar of divine Incenſe, where the fire of Celeſtial Love is continually burning, and from whence the dayly Sacrifice of Prayer and Praiſe, and the ſweet perfume of holy Deſires, Ejaculations and Soliloquies are conſtantly aſcending.
His mouth is become a well ſpring of Life, his tongue is as choice Silver, & his lips feed many; Now the Salt of heavenly Grace hath ſeaſoned his ſpeech and purged out all its corruption; Hath cleanſed it from its former filthy communication, flatery, boaſting, railing, lying, ſwearing, backbiting, which once iſſued out like flaſhes of infornal fire, from the Hell that was in his heart.
His throat that was once an open Sepulchre, now ſends forth the ſweet breath of Prayer and holy Diſcourſe, and the man ſpeaks in another Tongue, even the language of Canaan, and is never ſo well pleaſed as when talking of God Chriſt, and the glorious things of another world His …outh bringeth forth Wiſdom, and his tongue is become the Silver Trumpet of his Makers Praiſe and Glory.
To conlude, his Converſation is in Heaven, and the New Man takes a new courſe, in his life and practice; when God hath given him the new heart, and writ his Law in his mind, he forthwith walks in his Statutes, and keeps his Judgments, and though ſin, like a weariſome and unwelcome gueſt God knows, dwells in him, yet it hath no more dominion over him; He hath his fruit unto holineſe, and though he hath many a fall, yet the Law and Life of Jeſus is his Rule, and he hath an unfeigned reſpect to all Gods Commandments, and keepeth a good conſcience willing in all things to live honeſtly and without offence towards God and Men.
In ſuch a ſtate as this no doubt, were thoſe eminent Chriſtians who made the following ſolemn Declarations, of the gracious Experiences which they had of the exceeding love & favour of God to their Souls in ſupporting them under their doubts and difficulties, and afterwards confirming their minds in the good ways of the Lord. They had found the Lord to be merciful and full of goodneſs, compaſſion and truth, and therefore thought that they ought with their mouths to ſhew ſorth his Praiſe, both to ſtir up thers to joyn with them therein, and likewiſe to incourage poor, diſtreſſed, diſconſolate Chriſtians to put their truſt in the Almighty ſince if they perſevere ſincerely in ſeeking his face he will certainly at length diſcover himſelf unto them and fill their hearts with joy and gladneſs.
And it may be reaſonably hoped that theſe heavenly Experiences will be very effectual and conducive thereunto, ſince they conſiſt of ſuch variety of Tryals, Temptations and Exerciſes of Spirit, that we can ſcarce ſuppoſe but the moſt diſquieted deſpairing Soul way here meet with Caſes as dark and comfortleſs as his own, and and likewiſe find what a good end the Lord in his due time brought all the troubles of his afflicted Children unto; And for this purpoſe no doubt they were firſt Collected and Publiſhed ſome years ſince by divers Faithful and Pious Miniſters of the Goſpel, in and about London; and though they have omitted the Names of the Perſons becauſe no glorying ſhould appear therein, yet they were then known to be Chriſtians who had truly taſted & ſeen that the Lord was gracious; Now that the God of all Peace and Conſolation may give his bleſſing hereunto is the hearty and earneſt Prayer and deſire of him who is, A well wiſher to the Souls of Men.
W. D.