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

If men would study the nature of things, and had but grateful minds, they might see cause sufficient to praise God from every creature in the world. It is not therefore because God hath no goodness or beauty in him, that men do no more earnestly desire acquaintance with him; but because their eyes are shut, or they look upon him through a wrong perspective. This is the first qualification of this Friend, which may command his acquaintance to you, that he is the most loving and good Friend.

Secondly, He is a most comfortable Friend. It is a vulgar, and yet a dangerous error, which the Devil would fain keep up the credit of, That a Religious life is a sad, melancholy, pensive life; and that upon our acquaintance with God, we must bid an everlasting farewell to joy, pleasure, and comforts. And is it true, that a Christians life is so uncomfortable a life? What then doth David mean to take his Harp so oft in his hand? What makes him so frequently to warble out those melodious Notes? How seldom is his Viol out of tune? Why is he so oft singing and rejoicing? Read the last Psalms at your leisure, and then tell me whether that be the language of a sad mournful melancholy man? Do you never hear him speak of God, his exceeding joy? Doth he not tell God plainly sometimes, that he can scarce relish any thing but that which comes from his Table? Nothing else can comfort him. Hence it is in Psal. 119.76, 77. that he puts up this earnest request to God; Let I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort. ⟨p. 73⟩As for his part he could take comfort in nothing below that, and that was it that the Lord had graciously promised to feed his servant with, as long as he lived; whereupon he urges God with his promise, According to thy word unto thy servant. And that none might think this to be only Gods common kindness that he means, he adds, Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live. Gods common mercies would not serve his turn. that was a Dish that the World fed upon as well as he; if he might not have these sweet dainties, peculiar, spiritual, fatherly mercies, he could not live, he should even pine away for hunger. Wherefore he saith a little after, That his soul did even faint for Gods salvation. And the soul that hath had a full meal here; O how is it raised? How doth it cry roast-meat,