The same author relates a story out of Benedictus Rhexanus* of an ungodly fellow, who on a certain night could not sleep, who, upon the serious consideration of death and eternity, and the damned lying in hell, could not be at rest, but eternity did still run in his mind ; fain would he have shaken off the thoughts thereof, as gnawing worms ; therefore he followed sports, and pastimes, and merry-meetings, and sought out companions like himself, and sat oftentimes so long at his cups, that he laid bis conscience asleep, and so seemed to take some rest; but when he was awakened, his conscience flew in his face, and would still be a-suggesting sad thoughts of eternity to him. Of all things in the world he could not bear it, to be kept awake in the night ; but so it happened that being sick, he was kept awake one night, and could not sleep at all, whereupon these thoughts rise in him: * What, is it so tedious then to be kept from sleep one night, and to lie a few hours in the dark ? Oh what is it then to be kept in torments and everlasting darkness ! I am here in my own house upon a soft bed in the dark, kept from sleep but one night; but to lie in flames and endless misery, how dreadful must that needs be !' These and such like meditations were the happy means of this young man's con- version.
I have read a notable story of one Theodoras,^ a Christian young man in Egypt, who, when there was a great deal of feasting, mirth, and music in his father's house, withdrew himself from all the company, and being got alone, he thus thought with himself, * Here is content and delight enough for the flesh, I may have what I desire, but how long will this last ? this will not hold out long; then falling down upon his knees before the Lord in secret, he said, 0 Lord, my heart is open unto thee, I indeed know not what to ask, but only this : Lord, let me not die eternally ; O Lord, thou knowest I love thee, 0 let me live eternally to praise thee.'
If there be any way or means on earth to bring us upon our knees before God in secret, it is the serious and solemn thoughts of eternity. Oh that the fear of eternity might fall upon all your souls ! Oh that you would all seriously consider, that after a short time is expired, you must' all enter upon an eternal estate ! Oh consider that eternity is an infi- nite, endless, bottomless gulf, which no line can fathom, no time can reach, no age can extend to, no tongue can express. It is a dura- tion always present, a being always in being; it is unum perpetuum hodie, one perpetual day, which shall never see light.* O sirs ! this is, and must be for a lamentation, viz., that eternity is a thing that most men never think of, or else very slenderly ; a snatch and away, as dogs are said to lap and away at the river Nilus. But as ever you would
* Drex[eliu8] de eternit. consid. 8. * Ibid con. 6.
' Clarke, as before, pp. 52, 62.— G. * Qu. ' night ' ?— Ed.
Mat. VI. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 299
have your hearts chained to your closets and to closet duties, as the men of Tyrus chained their god Apollo to a post, that they might be sure of him; then seriously and frequently ponder upon eternity, and with those forty valiant martyrs, be still a ciying out w aidiorrjg, u aidioTrig, O eternity, eternity !' ^
Mr Wood,2 after some holy discourse, fell a-musing, and cried out before all present, for near half a quarter of an hour together, ' For ever, for ever, for ever,' Austin's prayer was, ' Hack me, hew me, burn me here, but spare me hereafter, spare me hereafter.' Certainly, if Chris- tians would but spare one quarter of an hour every day in the solemn thoughts of eternity, it would make them more in love with closet- prayer than ever, yea, it would make them more fearful of omitting closet-prayer than ever, and more careful and conscientious in the dis- charge of all closet-duties than ever.
And thus, according to my weak measure, I have given out all that at present the Lord hath graciously given in to my poor soul, concern- ing this most necessary, most glorious, and most useful point of points, viz., closet-prayer. I shall, by assisting grace, follow this poor piece with my prayers, that it may be so blessed from on high, as that it may work mightily to the internal and eternal welfare, both of reader, hearer, and writer.
• Probably the Mr "Wood whose funeral sermon was the first form of ' Apples of Gold.' See Vol. I., in loc—O.
* Heaven on Earth,' originally published in 1654, passed into a ''second edition, cor- rected and enlarged,' in 1667. It is from the latter, collated with the former, our text is taken. The title-page will be found below.* Another bears the date of 1864 ; and ever since this hats been one of the most prized of Brooks's hooka. The quaint ' Licence' by Caryl, for publication, is subjoined.f
A Serious Discourse touching a
Of Men's Everlasting Soppiness and Blessedness.
Discovering the Nature of Assurance, the possibi- lity of Attaining it, the Causes, Springs, and Degrees of it ; with the Resolution of severall weighty Questions.
By Thomas Brooks, Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets Fishstreet-Hill.
The Second Edition Corrected and Enlarged.
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all Riches of the full Assurance of under- standing, Col. 2. 2.
Qui fidei subb sensum in corde habet, hie scit Christum Jesum in se esse. Ambros. 2 ad Corinth c. 13. 5.
LONDON; Printed by M S. for John Hancock,
and are to be sold at the first shop in Popes-
head Alley, in Cornhill. 1667.
t The greatest thing that we can desire — next to the glory of God — is our own salva- tion ; and the sweetest thing we can desire, is the assurance of our salvation. In this life we cannot get higher, than to be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed. 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. That this project may be published, and by a blessing from th© third heaven prospered, the book is licensed by Joseph Caeyl.'
The ninth of the first month, commonly called March, 1653.
* The Tenerable and learned expositor of the book of Job. He died 1678. — G.
To the Right Honourable the Generals of the Fleets of the Common- wealth of England, and to those gallant worthies, my touch ho- noured friends, who with the noble generals have deeply jeoparded their lives unto many deaths upon the seas, out of love to their country's good, and out of respect to the interest of Christ, and the faithful people of this commonwealth, such honour and happiness as is promised to all that love and honour the Lord Jeaus.