[b]Heaven would be a very hell
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"Yet they say to God--Leave us alone! We have no
desire to know Your ways." Job 21:14
Heaven would be a very hell to an unholy heart.
If now--the presence of God in His servants, and the
presence of God in His ordinances--is such a hell to
unholy souls; ah, what a hell would the presence of
God in heaven be--to unholy hearts!
It is true, an unholy heart may desire heaven--as
it is a place of freedom from troubles, afflictions,
oppressions, vexations, etc., and as it is a place of
peace, rest, ease, safety, etc. But this is the least
and lowest part of heaven.
To desire heaven as it is . . .
a place of purity,
a place of grace,
a place of holiness,
a place of enjoying God, etc.
--is above the reach of an unholy heart.
The company of heaven are all holy,
the employments of heaven are all holy,
the enjoyments of heaven are all holy--
therefore heaven would be a most undesirable
thing to unholy hearts.
An unholy heart is no way desirous nor ambitious
of such a heaven . . .
as will rid him of his darling sins,
as will make him conformable to a holy God,
as will everlastingly divorce him from his precious lusts,
as will link him forever to those gracious souls whom
he has scorned, despised, and persecuted in this world.