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

He hath of late been acquainted with a Friend that hath given him that which makes him esteem himself more worth then if he were possessest of ten times more then ever Alexander or Caesars was. A Friend of Cyrus in Xenophon being asked where his Treasure was, which made him to think so highly of himself? his answer was, Where Cyrus his Friend was. A Christian may with much better reason and cheerfulness, if asked, where his Riches and Estate lies, answer, Where God his Friend is. Ask the poorest of them that are acquainted with God, the weakest of all his Children, what they will sell their portion for, and what you shall give them for to resign up all their interest in God, to quit their claim to this inheritance: Would they not all be of Pauls mind, and even scorn the motion, and count the glory of a thousand worlds but as dung and dross in comparison of the excellency of the ⟨p. 113⟩knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord, Phil. 3.8. Nay, hear what one says that was far less acquainted with God then any of them which I have been speaking of, when he talks of such a kind of bargain as this. (Epict.) Offer me a Kingdom, and you offer me to my loss. For, saith the same Author in another place, A good man may look up to Heaven, as the seat of his Friend, and not fear want. Inquire of David what portion God gave him? and he will soon answer you, A goodly portion indeed; and that he gave him no less then himself, and that the lines are fallen to him in pleasant places, and that he hath a goodly heritage, Psal. 16, and therefore he counts himself richer then if he had all his Enemies in chains, and their Royalties at his disposal; he takes himself to be a far happier man then if he were absolute Monarch of the Universe, and were to give Laws to the inferior World; he reckons himself now as well to pass and better too then Adam, when he was sole Landlord of the World. It was true spoken of some body, I do well remember who. He that hath rich Friends, must not look upon himself as poor. O then that you would be indeed friends to your selves, and have respect to your own real interests! And what, will not this mighty and powerful Argument, which weighs as much as a thousand others, prevail? And do you still say, what profit will there be in serving the Lord, and what advantage shall I get if I be acquainted with him? To what account will it return?