Heaven on Earth: Assurance in the Christian Life (Thomas Brooks)

Description

The subject of assurance is one of the most important elements in Christian experience. Heaven on Earth exposes that there is no higher privilege than to be a child of God and to know it, for assurance brings joy to worship and prayer, and provides strength and boldness to our witness. Correspondingly, failure and weakness in all these areas can often be traced back to a lack of assurance, or even false assurance. This work of Thomas Brooks, first published in 1654, deals with all of these aspects of assurance in a way that is both biblical and pastoral. Brooks 'scatters stars with both his hands' wrote C.H. Spurgeon. His teaching is clear, thorough and greatly needed in the present spiritual climate. Brooks both explains what true assurance is and guides the reader in how it may be fully experienced.

Endorsements

‘All saints shall enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth; some saints enjoy a heaven while they are here on earth. That saints might enjoy two heavens is the project of this book.’ — JOSEPH CARYL

Table of Contents

Epistle to the Saints 9

Preface: The Nature of Assurance 14

CHAPTER I: PROOFS THAT BELIEVERS MAY IN THIS LIFE ATTAIN UNTO A WELL-GROUNDED ASSURANCE OF THEIR EVERLASTING HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS 16

The basis of assurance 16

The purpose of Scripture is to help believers to obtain assurance 16

Many believers have obtained assurance 18

God has promised assurance to his people 20

The springs of assurance are in the saints 21

The Spirit of God exhorts to assurance 24

Means to be used to obtain assurance 26

The Lord's Supper as related to assurance 27

The relation of assurance to rejoicing in the Lord 28

The clarity of Scripture on the differences between the righteous and the wicked 29

Assurance is not for Arminians 30

CHAPTER II: WEIGHTY PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING ASSURANCE 33

Seven reasons why God denies assurance for a time to some believers 33

Words used in Scripture to express assurance 38

True believers are saved even though they lack assurance 40

Six reasons why some do not attain assurance 41

God requires some believers to wait long for assurance 47

Assurance may be possessed and subsequently lost 49

Assurance is a personal matter 52

Nine special seasons when assurance is enjoyed:

1. At conversion 53

2. Before engaging in hard or dangerous service 58

3. During times of waiting 63

4. During times of suffering 65

5. During "hearing and receiving" times 73

6. During times of personal afflictions 82

7. During seasons of prayer 84

8. Before conflicts with Satan 90

9. After conflicts with Satan 90

CHAPTER III: HINDRANCES AND IMPEDIMENTS THATKEEP POOR SOULS FROM ASSURANCE; WITH THE MEANS AND HELPS TO REMOVE THOSE IMPEDIMENTS AND HINDRANCES 92

The despairing of obtaining mercy 92

The disputing about things too high for our thoughts 103

The lack of self-examination 105

The entertaining of mistaken views about God's work of grace 107

The grieving of the Holy Spirit by the believer 108

The judging of spiritual matters by mere feelings 109

The indulging of laziness and carelessness 110

The neglect of duties 112

The love of the world 114

The cherishing of secret sins 116

CHAPTER IV: MOTIVES TO PROVOKE CHRISTIANS TO BE RESTLESS TILL THEY HAVE OBTAINED A WELLGROUNDED ASSURANCE OF THEIR ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS 126

Eleven motives why Christians should earnestlyseek after a well-grounded assurance:

1. Many have been lost who thought they were saved 126

2. The world is full of deceivers 127

3. Assurance delivers from the burden of cares, fears, and doubts 129

4. Satan labors to keep Christians from assurance 130

5. A well-grounded assurance is of great value to a believer 132

6. Worldlings labor hard to secure the things of this life; saints should show equal ardour for better things 134

7. Assurance renders burdens light 135

8. God urges Christians to get assurance 136

9. Christians are seriously injured by the lack of assurance 137

10. Ten advantages which accompany assurance: 139

1) It produces heaven on earth 139

2) It sweetens life's changes 139

3) It keeps the heart from desiring the world 140

4) It assists communion with God 141

5) It preserves from backsliding 142

6) It produces holy boldness 142

7) It prepares a man for death 143

8) It makes mercies taste like mercies 145

9) It gives vigor in Christian service 145

10) Leads to the soul's enjoyment of Christ 146

11. A well-grounded assurance will keep a Christian from being deceived by counterfeits 148

CHAPTER V: WAYS AND MEANS OF GAINING A WELL-GROUNDED ASSURANCE 150

1. Be active in exercising grace 150

2. Assurance is obtained by obedience 151

3. Follow diligently the instructions of the Holy Spirit 152

4. Be diligent in attendance upon ordinances 154

5. Pay particular attention to the scope of God's promises of mercy 154

6. Six matters in which Christ's true followers are distinguished from all others 161

7. Seek to grow in grace 171

8. Seek assurance when the soul is in its best frames 172

9. Ascertain whether you have the things that accompany salvation; notably Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Obedience, Love, Prayer, Perseverance, and Hope 173

The things that accompany salvation: KNOWLEDGE.

It is operative 177

It is transforming 178

It is experimental 180

It is heart-affecting 183

It is world-despising 185

It is soul-humbling 187

It is appropriating 189

Knowledge has attendant graces 191

The things that accompany salvation: FAITH.

The objects of Faith: 194

1. The Person of Christ 195

2. The righteousness of Christ 195

3. The promises of God 198

4. The future glory 200

The properties of Faith: 201

1. It promotes vitality 202

2. It grows 204

3. It belittles the glories of the world 206

4. It purifies the heart 207

5. It melts the soul 210

6. It overcomes the world 212

Strong Faith and Weak Faith 213

The things that accompany salvation: REPENTANCE.

Repentance: its properties: 216

1. It effects a change in every part of a man 216

2. It is a turning from all sin 217

3. It is a turning to God 218

4. It strikes particularly at the sins to which a man was formerly most prone 220

5. It is comprehensive in its scope 221

6. It has appropriate attendants 224

7. It is a continued act 224

The things that accompany salvation: OBEDIENCE.

1. It is hearty 226

2. It seeks to perform all God’s will 227

3. It flows from faith 229

4. It is ready, free, willing, and cheerful 231

5. It is resolute 233

6. Its aim is the divine glory 234

7. It is constant 234

8. It is passive as well as active 236

The things that accompany salvation: LOVE.

The qualities of Love: 237

1. It is superlative 237

2. It is obedient 238

3. It is sincere 239

4. It is vehement 241

5. It is permanent 241

6. It is bounding 242

7. It cannot be hidden 244

8. It delights to see the divine image in fellow-believers 248

9. It enables the soul to receive Christ’s rebukes 252

10. It laments over dishes done to Christ 253

11. It keeps the heart for Christ alone 254

12. It delights in secret communion with Christ 255

13. It longs for the full assurance of Christ's love 256

14. It enables the believer to commit his all to Christ 257

The things that accompany salvation: PRAYER.

The requisites of prayer as a form of divine worship 258

Prayer betters the whole man 265

Eight differences between the prayers of the godly and those of the ungodly 266

The things that accompany salvation: PERSEVERANCE.

The properties of Perseverance: 272

1. Perseverance appertains to a holy profession 272

2. It applies to holy and spiritual principles 272

3. It is an abiding in the doctrine of Christ 273

4. It is a continuance in gracious actions 274

The things that accompany salvation: HOPE.

The nature of Hope 275

Hope expects and waits patiently for promised good 276

The properties of Hope: 279

1. It raises the heart to live above 280

2. It strengthens the soul against afflictions and temptations 280

3. It makes the soul lively and active 281

4. It gives the believer great quietness 282

5. It causes the soul to wait patiently for delayed mercy 283

6. It purifies the soul 284

7. It never dies 285

CHAPTER VI: THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TRUE AND A COUNTERFEIT ASSURANCE, BETWEEN SOUND ASSURANCE AND PRESUMPTION 288

A well-grounded assurance bears these following marks:

1. It is attended by a deep admiration of God's love and favor in Christ 288

2. It causes the soul ever to seek a fuller enjoyment of God and Christ 289

3. It is usually strongly assaulted by Satan 289

4. It makes a believer bold 291

5. It makes a believer seek the happiness of other men 292

6. It strengthens a believer against all sin 293

7. It is attended by love, humility, and joy 295

8. It springs from the witness of the Holy Spirit 297

The characteristics of the Holy Spirit's witness:

1. It is inward and secret 298

2. It is gained in holy ways 299

3. It is clear, full, and satisfying 299

4. It is not operative in all believers 300

5. It is a sure testimony 301

6. It is always accompanied by the testimony of our own spirit 302

7. It is always according to Scripture 302

8. It is holy 303

9. It is only bestowed on renewed hearts 304

CHAPTER VI: ANSWERS TO SEVERAL SPECIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT ASSURANCE 306

Nine methods whereby assurance may be strengthened and maintained 306

Six methods whereby souls which have lost assurance may be kept from fainting 311

Five methods whereby souls which have lost assurance may recover it 315

Conclusion 317

Product Details

Title: Heaven on Earth: Assurance in the Christian Life

Author: Thomas Brooks

Publisher: Banner of Truth

Pages: 320

Binding: Paperback

Size: 18.1 x 12.0 x 1.9 cm

ISBN: 9781800402966