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

but for all that, I do not desire you should take my word, nor the word of any man living in a thing that concerns Eternity; but take his word who cannot lye, Psal. 8.18. Riches and honour are with me; yea durable riches and righteousness. vers. 19. My fruits is better then gold; yea, then fine gold; and my revenue then choice silver. The Wise man tells us, That wealth makes many friends, Prov. 19. 4,6. And that many will entreat the favour of the Prince; and that every one is a Friend to him that gives gifts. If this might be in Spirituals, I should not fear, but that I should prevail with all my hearers to seek the friendship of God; if their real interest did weigh with them, if true riches and wealth could win their affections, if the most substantial good things might signify any thing, if solid reasons might bias them, I should not fear going away without them. But, alas, alas, how little power have all these things with the sensual world? What are men and women turned to? What sots & brutes are they in the concerns of their souls, & the affairs of that other world? Men run up & down hunting after good things, and have taken a false seat, they hope to catch that at last which they will feed upon, & satisfy themselves with. I tell thee, O man, who askest, who will show us▪ any good? Here, here it is; riches thou meanest: well then, let it be so; & if I do not prove that what I offer thee from my great Master, to be a thousand times more worth thy seeking then gold or silver, & better coin then that which bore Caesar's ⟨p. 112⟩stamp upon it, then say you were cheated. Thou tellest over thy moneys very fast methinks, but are you sure all that is Gold which doth so glister? Is all that currant Silver? Will it go in another Country? Is it not possible, but that you may be mistaken. Here, here is the Gold that is tried, it will go any where; here is one that will give you, will you but desire earnestly his acquaintance, such treasure that will not perish, such silver that hath no tin, such gold which hath no dross, such true riches that can't be taken away from you. Ask that Saint which looks so merrily, that lives so bravely, how he got his estate, and how he came to be so rich all of a sudden; he will soon tell you how, and where his treasure lies, and yet not fear being robbed.

but for all that, I do not desire you should take my word, nor the word of any man living in a thing that concerns Eternity; but take his word who cannot lye, Psal. 8.18. Riches and honour are with me; yea durable riches and righteousness. vers. 19. My fruits is better then gold; yea, then fine gold; and my revenue then choice silver. The Wise man tells us, That wealth makes many friends,