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

Though the Lord be high, yet hath be respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knows afar off. That which (Seneca, Epist. 17.) the Moralist speaks of Wisdom may be said of God, Epist. 61. It is lawful to come to him without rich attire and great attendance, come naked and you shall be as kindly entertained, as if you did shine in cloth of gold, and were besparkled with Diamonds. He will not give freer access to the rich then the poor, neither doth he value a strong healthful person, before a sick and crazy one, a beautiful and well-trimmed gallant, before a cankered, old, deformed creature. Thus far Seneca and the Scripture speaks the same language. Neither Job's boils, nor Lazarus's sores made God keep ever the further off from them. I knew one all of a cleave with the small Pox, whom this friend came to visit, and in that condition, how many kisses, had that sweet creature from God? O it would do ones heart good to have such a friend? And this ⟨p. 100⟩is the next qualification of this Friend, which may commend him to thy acquaintance, be thou never so poor, never so vile and sinful in thy own eyes, such as thy self he hath made welcome; and upon his Word, wilt thou but come away speedily, thou shalt be welcome too.

Though the Lord be high, yet hath be respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knows afar off. That which (Seneca, Epist. 17.) the Moralist speaks of Wisdom may be said of God, Epist. 61. It is lawful to come to him without rich attire and great attendance, come naked and you shall be as kindly entertained, as if you did shine in cloth of gold, and were besparkled with Diamonds. He will not give freer access to the rich then the poor, neither doth he value a strong healthful person, before a sick and crazie one, a beautiful and well-trimm'd gallant, before a cankered, old, deformed creature. Thus far Seneca and the Scripture speaks the same language. Neither Job's boyls, nor Lazarus's sores made God keep ever the further off from them. I knew one all of a cleave with the small Pox, whom this friend came to visit, and in that condition, how many kisses, had that sweet creature from God? O it would do ones heart good to have such a friend? And this ⟨p. 100⟩is the next qualification of this Friend, which may commend him to thy acquaintance, be thou never so poor, never so vile and sinful in thy own eyes, such as thy self he hath made welcome; and upon his Word, wilt thou but come away speedily, thou shalt be welcome too.