Two heavens

(Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667)

Communion with Christ is that which will make you stand
fast, and triumph over all enemies, difficulties, dangers,
and deaths. Communion with Christ will make a man as
courageous and bold as a lion, yes, as a young lion
which is fearless of any creature.

Communion is a reciprocal exchange between Christ
and a gracious soul. Communion is Jacob's ladder,
where you have Christ sweetly descending down into
the soul—and the soul by divine influences sweetly
ascending up to Christ.

Communion with Christ is . . .
  a sword to defend you,
  a staff to support you,
  a balm to heal you,
  a cordial to strengthen you.

High communion with Christ will yield you two
heavens—a heaven upon earth, and a heaven
after death.

He enjoys nothing—who lacks communion with Christ.

He lacks nothing—who enjoys communion with Christ.

Therefore above all gettings, get communion with
Christ; and above all keepings, keep communion
with Christ. All other losses are not comparable to
the loss of communion with Christ. He who has lost
his communion, has lost his comfort, his strength,
his all, and it will not be long before the Philistines
capture him, and put out his eyes, and bind him
with fetters of brass, and make him grind in a
prison, as they did Samson, in Judges 16:20-21.