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

4. And again, for that friendly working of love and affection in the soul towards God. Those that are in a state of acquaintance are supposed to comply with each other in kindness, and love, and good will, and affection. If then I can upon search into my self, find that God hath the highest room in my affections, that my heart is his, that his love is prevailing with me, above the ⟨p. 56⟩love of all things beside, and that I love those that are his beloved for his sake, then I have in me a sign of regal acquaintance with God; for love is the very quintessence of acquaintance: but if in the search into the workings of my mind I can find no such friendly compliance, but that God was still thwarting and crossing my designs, that I should find my self better content if there were no God, and that those workings of my mind that are about God are sower, harsh, and tearing upon my spirit, then it is to be feared, that I have no acquaintance with God.

And hast thou made an impartial inquiry into thy state? And how stand things between thy Soul and God? Art thou acquainted with him, or art thou not? Consider seriously O sinners, that this is one of the weightiest questions in the world; and if this question were but well resolved, it would put an end to a thousand other questions. He that can say of God and Christ, this is my beloved, and this is my friend, he need not very solicitously ask, what news? He hath heard good news from Heaven, which will easily balance all, come what will come, he need not much pass, as long as there stands that one Text in the Bible; That all shall work together for good to them that love God. He hath no cause to go a begging to the world, and to say, who will show me any good? As long as the Lord hath shined upon him with the light of his countenance. He need not complain, what shall I do: I have lost this or that dear friend; when he hath found him, who can make up all with one look, whom he can never lose. In a word, he need not ask, how shall I do to live? and ⟨p. 57⟩what shall I eat, and what shall I drink, and wherewithal shall I be clothed? So long as he knows that he hath a noble friend, who will ease him of all this care, and never see him want. Well then, hast thou answered this great question or not? Or wilt thou do by thy conscience, as Felix, put it off, and say, thou wilt hear of these matters, at some more convenient season; and I wonder when that more convenient season will be; and why not now, I pray? What season more fit then the present? I am sure God saith, Now is the acceptable time; and do you know better then he? What hast thou to do that is more necessary? Speak out I pray, is the following of thy pleasures? Is the serving of Satan? Is the damming of thy Soul, more necessary then the saving of it? Is the life and death of a Soul nothing? Are everlasting glory and misery small matters? Is the love or hatred of thy God so inconsiderable a thing? Awake O sinner, what meanest thou? Arise speedily, and look about thee man. Consider seriously as thou valuest thy Soul, what best becomes a sinner in thy condition: What answer shall I return to my Master? Are not these things worth the thinking of? Shall I say for all this, that thou art not at leisure to look after an interest in his favour, or any thing that rends to it?