Heaven upon earth, or, The best friend in the worst of times. Delivered in…

So that when we have made enquiry, there will remain very few of those that are really acquainted with God, it concerns us then to be very diligent in enquiry, what is our case, how we stand toward God.

Secondly, I shall be the more earnest in pressing you upon a diligent search into what acquaintance you have gotten with God; because, I know that those that have least acquaintance with God, are most apt to neglect this enquiry. It may be a tender soul that hath been much with God, will be ready upon the first hint to enter into the secrets of its own heart, to look over his evidences, to call to mind, when have I drawn nigh to God? When have I conversed with God? When have I communion with God? Hath my life been a walking with God? Have I dwelt with God, and made my abode with him? Thus the soul that makes high account of its acquaintance with God, will be trying and examining it self; and it may be upon its more a wakened signs of its sometimes departing from God, or feeling some present strangeness, it will be apt to conclude of it self, surely I am none of those precious ones, whose life is a converse with God. But the common generation of the world, Oh how hardly will they be brought to ask themselves this question, whether they are of the acquaintance of God or no! How often have they been urged with a great and vehement affection upon trial, how their souls stand towards God? and hitherto they have neglected it. Many are so inconsiderate as to think what is spoken is nothing to them: they come and sit in the Congregation, ⟨p. 50⟩but their hearts are out of reach, out of the shot of the Word; so they go away, and the word to them is, as if it had not been. Many are so light, and vain, and frothy in their spirits, as that the streams will almost as soon return to their fountain, as they will be persuaded to turn in and enquire into their own souls. In all naturally there is an averseness to come to the light, that their works and hearts may be manifested. If I should come to you one by one, and beseech you with the greatest earnestness, wherewith I were able, when you go from the congregation to take opportunity to go in secret, and enter upon trial with your hearts, and ask your selves throughly this question, and let them not alone till you have a clear determinate answer, whether you are in a state of acquaintance with God; I fear you would go, one to his pleasures, another to this vanity, and another to his covetousness, and almost all of you neglect this work of so great concernment.