Heaven on Earth (Puritan Paperbacks) Paperback – October 1, 1961

This particular e-book on assurance of salvation is excellent. Random quotes taken from this work include:
"...the weakest Christian is as much justified, as much pardoned, as much adopted, and as much united to Christ--as the strongest Christian. The weakest Christian has as much interest and propriety in Christ, as the highest and noblest Christian who breathes; though he cannot make so much advantage and improvement of his interest and propriety as the strong Christian, who has a greater degree of grace...A man may have true grace, and yet lack assurance...as the least grace, if true and sincere, is sufficient to salvation, so the sense of the least grace should be sufficient to your consolation...These two lovers, grace and assurance, are not by God so nearly joined together but that they may by sin on our side, and justice on God's, be put asunder...be much in believing, and make only the Scripture the judge of your condition; maintain the judgment of the word against the judgment of sense and feeling; and if upon a serious, sincere, and impartial comparing of your heart and the word together, of your ways and the word together, the word speaks you out to be sincere...Faith trades in invisible things, in eternal things. Its eye is always upwards, like the fish uranoscopos, which has but one eye, and yet looks continually up to heaven...Christ will be all in all--or he will be nothing at all."

From the previous reviews of the paperback version, I suggest that those who prefer to read it on the Kindle will equally profit from this entry.

The eminent Baptist minister of the 19th century Charles Spurgeon was well acquainted with the rich written legacy that the Puritans have left behind.Thomas Brooks was among his favorite Puritan authors.Here is a brief quote that should help illustrate why Brooks was so highly esteemed even by his peers in the ministry-p.52"That the certainty and infallibility of a Christian's assurance cannot be made known to any but his own heart." The blind man whose sight was restored by the Lord Jesus,when questioned by the Pharisee's as to the character of the one who restored his sight(they were insisting Jesus was a sinful man)he answered them-John 9:25 'Whether he be a sinner or no,I know not:one thing I know,that,whereas I was blind,now I see.' So it is with someone who is spiritually blind and now can see,he can be certain that his eyes have been opened.

Why does God sometimes withhold,for a time,assurance to some believers?- "...to reveal the strength of their graces" p.34"...a little grace will put a man upon those services that are costly and contrary to the old man." Another reason the author gives is that the one who has assurance withheld comes to be more fully convinced of the exceeding sinfulness of sin.-p.35"...no bitterness so bitter as sin,that keeps my soul from that sweet assurance."

One of the motives for believers to earnestly seek a well grounded assurance-"Satan labors to keep Christians from assurance because Satan knows that assurance is manna in a wilderness,...assurance is a salve for all sores,...a remedy against every malady,...assurance is a Christians anchor at sea."-Whether a Christian has assurance does not affect their true standing before God,but it can and will affect their comfort and their usefulness in this life.One part of having a well grounded Biblical assurance is honest self examination in the light of God's Holy Word.It is the pinnacle of danger to have an assurance that is false.One of the means of having a well grounded assurance-p.152"...It is the close walking Christian that shall be crowned with assurance,assurance is a choice part of a believers happiness,and therefore God will never give it out of a way of holiness."

Brooks gives ten advantages which accompany assurance-1."...it will give you a possession of heaven"-a believer can experience two heavens;heaven in this life and also in the life to come.A well grounded assurance will enable you to experience 'Heaven On Earth' in this present life.If I have confidence that God is with me(and that confidence is Biblically based)who(or what)can ultimately be against me? Nothing on earth or in heaven!! 2."Assurance will be a choice preservative to keep you from backsliding from God"-If you are diligent in making your calling and election sure,you will likely still stumble,but you will not ultimately fall into apostasy.

Thomas Brooks' 'Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices' is one of the best books on dealing with sin and temptation and 'Heaven On Earth' is absolutely one of the finest treatises on assurance of salvation ever published.Brooks writings are as important and relevant today as they were when first published more than three centuries ago.

Books still in print after 200-300 years might be worth checking out. I was introduced to Brooks through his book, "Precious Remedies..." and loved it. Best thing I've ever read on spiritual warfare, written a few centuries before the modern emphasis on the topic. This book is about assurance, in fact he uses that word to the point of annoyance. I might update to a modern context and say his topic is about confidence and security in Christ. This is a very good book. What I love about Brooks is his orderly way of thinking. Writers and preachers back then were very logical, orderly, and thorough. Like Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Brooks keeps a very good flow of thought going, asking and answering questions that may come up. This book is an encouragment to me,as Brooks basically says, "Lean on what the scriptures tell you about your relationship with Him and trust God." It is entitled "Heaven on Earth" as he feels when we walk closely with Him, heaven on earth is the experience. I wonder if Brooks coined the phrase for the English speaking world.

The pursuit of assurance in our earthly walk can provide for us heavenly blessings worthy of attaining. Brooks points out...it is a great thing to be saved and chosen by God....but to KNOW that with full assurance provides for us a "heaven on earth". This full assurance once obtained is a prize to cherish and be thankful for. This is the best book on assurance I have read and I would highly recommend it for anyone who has ever worried about his salvation.

This is my second trip into the world of Thomas Brooks. It will be in my library as I found it to be very enlightning. If I cannot rate a book worthy of my library, I cannot endorse it in a review. This one I can.

Good, good book. Definitely a good read for any Christian struggling with Assurance!!!

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