Heaven on Earth, Dedication 2 – Preface
TO All Saints, that hold to CHRIST the Head AND That walk according to the Lawes of the New Creature, Grace, Mercy, and Peace be multiplyed from God the Father, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt,
Beloved in our deareſt Lord,
YOu are thoſe Worthies of whom this world is not worthy;Heb. 11. 38. You are the Princes that prevail with God; You areGen. 32. 28: thoſe exellent ones in whomPſal. 16. 3. is all Chriſts delight; You are his glory.Iſa. 4. 5. You are his pickt, cull'd, prime Inſtruments which he will make uſe of to car…yonRev. 17. 14. & 19. 8. 14. Cant. 8. 6. Iſa. 49. 16. his beſt and greateſt Work againſt …is worſt and greateſt Enemies in theſe latter daies; You are a Seale upon Chriſts heart, you are engraven on the palms of his hand; Your names areExod. 28. 29. 2 Cor. 2. 3. 1 Joh. 2. 27. 1 Cor. 2. 10, 12, 15, 16. You will not with Pythagoras his Scholars magnifie the ipſe dixerit of the greateſt Clerks, neither will you beleeve with Anaxagoras, that Snow is black, nor yet wil you ſay as Antipater King of Macedonia did (when one preſented him with a book treating of happineſs) foreign, I have no leaſure; neither will you judge like thoſe that like nothing but the Manerva's of their owne brains. written upon his Breaſts, as the names of the Children of Iſrael were upon Aarons Breaſt-plate; You are the Epiſtle of Chriſt; You are the anointed of Chriſt; You have the ſpirit of diſcerning; You have the mind of Chriſt; You have the greateſt advantages, and the choyceſt privileges to enable you to trie Truth, to taſte Truth, to apply Truth, to defend Truth, to ſtrengthen Truth, to uphold Truth, and to improve Truth; and therefore to whom ſhould I dedicate this following Diſcourſe but to your ſelves? you have the next place to Chriſt in my heart; your good, your gain, your glory, your edification, your ſatiſfaction, your confirmation, your conſolation, your ſalvation, hath put me upon caſting in my little, little mite, into your treaſure.
Beloved You know that in the time of the Law God did as kindly accept of Goats haire, and Badgers skins, of Turtle Doves, and young Pigeons▪ they being the beſt things that ſome of his children had then to offer, as he did accept of Gold, Jewels, Silk, and Purple from other… I hope you will ſhew out the ſame God-like dispoſition towards me, in a kind accepting of what is offered in this Treatiſe to your wiſe and ſerious conſideration. I could wiſh it better for your ſakes; yet ſuch a… it is I do in all love and humility preſen… you with, deſiring the Lord to make it an internal and eternal advantage t… you.
I ſhall briefly acquaint you with the Reaſons that have moved poor me, unworthy I (who am the leaſt of all Saints▪ who am not worthy to be reckoned among the Saints) to preſent this following Diſcourſe to publick view; and they are theſ… that follow.
Firſt, To anſwer the deſires, and gratifie the earneſt and pious requeſts of ſeveral precious ſouls, who long to have theſe things printed upon their hearts (by theThe Philoſopher could ſay, that deſires are properly (foreign,) to what is neceſſary. hand of the Spirit) that are printed in this Book. God ſpeaks aloud through the ſerious and affectionate deſires of the Saints; and this hath made me willing to eccho to their deſires. If great mens deſires are to be looked upon as commands, why ſhould good mens deſires be looked upon with a ſquint eye? Seneca (a Heathen) could ſay that (ipſe aſpectus boni viri delectat,) The very looks of a good man delight one. How much more then ſhould the deſires of a good man overcome one?
Secondly, The good acceptance, the fair quarter that my Labors of the likeThem that are extant are ſold by the ſame man that ſels this, at the firſt ſhop in Popeshead-Alley next to Cornhill. nature have found among thoſe that fear the Lord (eſpecially that Treatiſe called Precious Remedies againſt Satans devices) hath incouraged me to preſent this to publick view, not doubting but that the Lord will bleſs it to the good of many, as I know he hath done the former. Which that he may, I ſhall not ceaſe to pray, thatRom. 15. 21. my weak ſervice may be accepted of thePhil. 1. 9, 10, 11 Saints, and that their love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all ſence, that they may approve things that are excellent; that they foreign Senſe,may be ſincere, and without offence til the day of Chriſt, Being filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, which are by Jeſus Chriſt unto the glory and praiſe of God.
Thirdly, It is exceeding uſeful to the Saints at all times, but eſpecially in changing times, in times wherein every one cals out, Watchman, what of the night, Watchman, what of the night? Iſa. 21. 11, 12.and the watchman anſwereth, the morning cometh, and alſo the night. AhJoel 3. 16. Hag. 26. Iſa. 23. 9. Iſa. 63. 2, 3. Chriſtians, the Lord is a ſhaking heaven and earth, he is a ſtaining the pride of all glory, he is a ſtaining his garments with the blood of his enemies; he is renting and tearing, he is burning and breaking, he is pulling up, and throwing down: Now inJerm. 45. 4, 5. the midſt of all theſe Concuſsions and Revolutions, thrice happy are thoſe ſouls that have gained a wel-grounded Aſſurance of▪ CaeleſtialHeb. 10. 34. things; ſuch ſouls will not faint, ſink, nor ſhrink in an hour of temptation,Rev. 3. 4. & 14. 4. ſuch ſouls will keep their garments pure and white, and will follow the Lamb whereſoever he goes. Aſſurance is a Beleevers Ark, where he ſits Noah-like quiet and ſtill in the midſt of all diſtractionsPſal. 23. 3, 4. and deſtructions, combuſtions and confuſions.Rev. 6. 12. ult. They are doubly miſerable that have neither Heaven nor Earth, temporals nor eternals made ſure to them in changing times.
The fourth ground of my preſenting this Treatiſe to publick view, is, that little welgrounded Aſſurance that is to be found among Chriſtians; moſt Chriſtians livingEvery unſettled Chriſtian is Magor miſſahib, a terror to himſelf, yea, his life is a very hel, fears and doubts are his chiefeſt companions, and ſo he judges himſelf unfit and unworthy to live, and yet he is afraid to die; and verily this is the ſad condition of moſt Chriſtians. between feares and hopes, and hanging as it were between Heaven and Hell: Sometimes they hope that their State is good, at othertimes they fear that their ſtate is bad; Now they hope that all is well, and that it ſhall go well with them for ever; anon they fear that they ſhal periſh by the hand of ſuch or ſuch a corruption, or by the prevalency of ſuch or ſuch a temptation; and ſo they are like a ſhip in a ſtorme, toſt here and there, &c. Now that theſe weak ſoules may be ſtrengthned, that theſe unſtable ſoules may be eſtabliſhed, that theſe diſconſolate ſouls may be comforted, &c. I have preſented this Tract to the world, not doubting but that if the Lord ſhall draw out their ſpirits to a ſerious peruſal of it, they ſhall find (through the bleſsing of Jehovah) that it will contribute very much to their attaining of a full Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſs and bleſſedneſs, as alſo to the keeping and maintaining of that ful and bleſſed Aſſurance; which that it may, I ſhal follow it with my prayers.
Fifthly, I have publiſhed this following Diſcourſ, remembring that my life isJam. 4. 14. Pſal 39. 12. but a vaniſhing vapor, and that the time of my ſojourning in this world will be but ſhort. Mans life is ſo ſhort, that Auſtine doubteth, whether to call it a dying life, or a living death. Mans life is but the ſhadow of ſmoke, the dream of a ſhadow. This preſent life is not (vita, ſed via ad vitam) Bernard.life, but a motion, a journey towards life; the life of a Chriſtian is rather (via then vita) a ſtep towards life, then life: Yet do I believe that that is not a death, but life, that joyns the dying man to Chriſt, and that is not a life, but death, that ſeparates the living man from Chriſt.
I know I ſhall not ſpeak long to Friends, Saints, or Sinners, therefore I was the more willing to take the opportunity of PreachingHeb. 11. 4. to you when I am dead; As Abel by his faith (he being dead) yet ſpeaketh: So this Treatiſe may ſpeak, and live, when I ſhall return to my long home, and fall aſleepEccleſ. 12. 5. Acts 7. 60. in the boſom of Chriſt. Chriſt his Prophets, and Apoſtles, though they are now in Heaven, yet by their Doctrines, Examples, and Writings, they ſtill Preach to the Saints on Earth. Ziſca deſired his skin might ſerve the Bohemians in their Wars, when his body could no more do it: O that poor I, that have been but a little ſerviceable to the Saints in my life, might by this, and my former weak Labors, be much ſerviceable to them after my death! Books may Preach, when the Author cannot, when the Author may not, when the Author dares not; yea, and which is more, when the Author i… not.
Sixthly, To teſtifie my cordial love and affection to all the true lovers of Chriſt,Phil. 4. 21. Col. 1. 4. 2 Theſ. 1. 3. Marcellinus a Heathen Hiſtorian, taxeth the Chriſtians of his time, for their diſſentions, biting and devouring one another, till they were even conſumed one of another; a ſad thing that a Heathen ſhould ſee ſuch miſcarriages among Chriſts followers. and to let them know, That they are all (though under different forms) precious in my eyes, and very near and dear unto my heart. I bleſs God I am, and I deſire more and more to be, one with every one that is one with Chriſt. I would fain have as free, as large, and as ſweet a heart towards Saints, as Chriſt hath. For a Wolf to worry a Lamb, is uſual; but for a Lamb to worry a Lamb, is unnatural: For Chriſts Lillies to be among Thorns, is ordinary; but for theſe Lillies to become Thorns, to tear and fetch blood of one another, is monſtrous and ſtrange. Ah Chriſtians, can Turks and Pagans agree? can Herod and Pilat agree? can Moab and Ammon agree? can Bears and Lyons, can Wolves and Tygers agree? yea, which is more, can a legion of Devils agree in one body, and ſhall not the Saints, whom one Heaven muſt hold at laſt, agree? Pancirollus Cap. 7. de G…mmis.tells us, That the moſt precious Pearl the Romans had, was called Unio. O, the union of the Saints is an unvaluable Pearl! The Heathen man by the light of Nature could ſay, That the thickeſt Wall of a City in Peace, and the ſafeſt Rampire in War, is Unity. Verily, all Saints are one in Chriſt, all Saints partake of the ſame Spirit, Promiſes, Graces, and Priviledges: All Saints are Fellow-Members, Fellow-Souldiers, Fellow-Travellers, Fellow▪ Heirs, Fellow-Sufferers, and Fellow-Citizens; and therefore, I cannot, I dare not, but love them all, and prize them all; and to evidence it, I have dedicated this Treatiſe to the ſervice of all their Souls.
Seventhly and laſtly, To fence and fortifie the Souls of real, ſerious Chriſtians, againſt thoſe Brain-ſick Notions, and thoſe Airy Speculations, and imaginary Revelations and Enthuſiastical fancies, &c. with which many are ſadly deluded and deceived, even to their eternal overthrow, I had almoſt ſaid.
Thus have I given you a brief accountI had not thought to have preſt into the Preſs, had I not been ſoundly preſt thereunto. of the Reaſons that have prevailed with me to publiſh this Treatiſe to the World, and to dedicate it to your ſelves. Let your hearts dwell on Truth, as the Bee doth upon the Flower; every Truth being a Flower of Paradiſe, that is more worth then a World.
Now the God of all Grace fill your Hearts and Souls with all the Fruits of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, that you may attain unto a full Aſſurance of your Everlaſting Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs; which that you may, is the ſincere, earneſt, and conſtant deſire of him, who is
Your Souls Servant, Thomas Brooks.
THE PREFACE touching the nature of Aſſurance.
TO be in a ſtate of true Grace, is to be miſerable no more; itPſal. 144. 15. Mal. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 16, 17. is to be happy for ever. A Soul in this ſtate, is a Soul near and dear to God; it is a Soul much beloved, and very highly valued of God; it is a Soul houſed in God; it is a Soul ſafe in everlaſting Arms;Deut. 33. 26, 27. 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. it is a Soul fully and eminently intereſted in all the higheſt and nobleſt Priviledges. The beingA man may be Gods, and yet not know it, his eſtate may be good, and yet he not ſee it. Epheſ. 1. 13. 1 John 5. 13. Gal 4. 6. in a ſtate of Grace makes a mans condition happy, ſafe, and ſure; but the ſeeing, the knowing of himſelf to be in ſuch a ſtate, is, that which renders his life ſweet and comfortable. The being in a ſtate of Grace will yeeld a man a Heaven hereafter, but the ſeeing of himſelf in this ſtate will yeeld him both a Heaven here, and a Heaven hereafter; it will render him doubly bleſt, bleſt in Heaven, and bleſt in his own Conſcience.
Now Aſſurance is a reflex act of a gracious Soul, whereby he clearly and evidently ſees himſelf in a gracious, bleſſed, and happy ſtate; it is a ſenſible feeling, and an experimental diſcerning of a mans being in a ſtate of Grace, and of his having a right to a Crown of Glory; and this riſes from the ſeeingA man cannot ſee the Sun, but by the light of the Sun. in himſelf, the ſpecial, peculiar, and diſtinguiſhing▪ Graces of Chriſt, in the light of the Spirit of Chriſt, or from the teſtimony and report of the Spirit of God, the Spirit bearing witneſs with his Spirit, thatRom. 8. 16, 17. he is a Son, and an Heir apparent to Glory.
It is one thing for me to haveIt is one thing to be an Heir, and another thing to know that one is an Heir; the childe in the Womb, or in the Arms, may be an Heir to a Crown, and yet underſtands it not. Grace, it is another thing for me to ſee my Grace; it is one thing for me to believe, and another thing for me to believe that I do believe; it is one thing for me to have Faith, and another thing for me to know that I have Faith: Now Aſſurance flows from a clear, certain, evident knowledge that I have Grace, and that I do believe, &c.
Now this Aſſurance is the beauty and top of a Chriſtians glory in this life; it is uſually attended with the ſtrongeſt joy, with the ſweeteſt comforts, and with the greateſt peace. It is a Pearl that moſt want, a Crown that few wear. His ſtate is ſafe and happy, whoſe Soul is adorned with Grace, though he ſees it not, though he knows it not.
Aſſurance is not of the eſſence of a Chriſtian; it is required to the bene eſſe, to the welbeing, to the comfortable and joyful Being of a Chriſtian, but it is not required to the eſſe, to the being of a Chriſtian. A man may be a true Believer, and yet would give all the World, were it in his power, to know that he is a Believer; to have Grace, and to be ſure that we have Grace, is glory upon the Throne, it is Heaven a this ſide Heaven. But more of theſe things you will finde in the following Diſcourſe, to which I refer you.