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

First, He is the most loving and kind friend. Poor ignorant Creatures that are strangers to him, they talk at a mad rate concerning him: those that know him not will be speaking bad, and thinking worse of him; but, O did they but know what God is to them that are acquainted with him, had they bur conversed with him themselves, did they but see what entertainment he gives, had they but been in his company, and experienced what some have experienced, had they but beheld how affectionately he embraces them which come to him; they would quickly say that it was a false report, and wicked scandal, that the Devil and the World, which know not God, had raised of him, they would soon cry out, that they would not for a world but that they had been at his house, and that they have cause to bless God for the day that ever they knew such and such who brought them acquainted with such a friend; they will never while they live, for the future, believe any thing that is spoken against God or Christ, let who will speak it. Is this the God they had such hard thoughts of? Is the kindness that they did so slight? Is this the friend that they were so loath to come to? And thus an ingenious soul will even be ashamed that it should ever harbour such low thoughts of him, whom now to their comfort they have found beyond apprehension kind. Believe it Sirs, you can't conceive what a friend you shall have of God, would you bus be persuaded to enter into Covenant with him, to be his, wholly his; I tell you money, that did ⟨p. 66⟩sometimes think, and do as you do now, this is, set light by Christ and hate God, and saw no loveliness in him, are now quite of another mind, they would not for ten thousand worlds quit their interest in him. O who dare say that he is a hard master? Who that knows him, will say he is an unkind friend? O what do poor creatures ail that they do entertain such harsh, sower thoughts of God? What, do you think there is nothing in that Scripture, Psal. 31.19. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee! Doth the Psalmist speak too largely? Doth he say more then he and others could prove? Ask him, and he will tell you in vers. 21. that he blesseth God these were things he could speak to, from his own personal experience, and many thousands as well as he, to whom the Lord hath showed his marvellous kindness;

First, He is the most loving and kind friend. Poor ignorant Creatures that are strangers to him, they talk at a mad rate concerning him: those that know him not will be speaking bad, and thinking worse of him; but, O did they but know what God is to them that are acquainted with him, had they bur conversed with him themselves, did they but see what entertainement he gives, had they but been in his company, and experienced what some have experienced, had they but beheld how affectionately he imbraces them which come to him; they would quickly say that it was a false report, and wicked scandal, that the Devil and the World, which know not God, had raised of him, they would soon cry out, that they would not for a world but that they had been at his house, and that they have cause to bless God for the day that ever they knew such and such who brought them acquainted with such a friend; they will never while they live, for the future, believe any thing that is spoken against God or Christ, let who will speak it. Is this the God they had such hard thoughts of? Is the kindness that they did so slight? Is this the friend that they were so loath to come to? And thus an ingenious soul will even be ashamed that it should ever harbour such low thoughts of him, whom now to their comfort they have found beyond apprehension kind. Believe it Sirs, you can't conceive what a friend you shall have of God, would you bus be perswaded to enter into Covenant with him, to be his, wholly his; I tell you mony, that did