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

I again answer, To a very good account every way. Try but this trade with the wise Merchant▪ & you shall soon feel the benefit of it. (Bolton) Conceive to thy self mountains of Gold, and rocks of Diamonds? ⟨p. 112⟩[…] ⟨p. 113⟩[…] ⟨p. 114⟩monds; & to this a vast unmeasurable tract of ground, land of inheritance, the most fertile soil in the world, bringing in such a burden every year that shall trouble the owner to reap it; imagine his Pasture as great as his Arable, & all clothed with thousands of Cattle, small and great, and none of them barren neither; suppose his Barns and Store-houses could never be emptied, and his Presses should burst out every year with new Wine. Again, let the Merchant store his Cellars with the most pure Oil, and furnish him with such rich Spices as the Queen of Sheba brought to Solomon; suppose he were provided with all the exquisite Rarities that the Air, Sea, or Earth can afford, yet for all this he were a beggar, in comparison of one that hath God for his Friend: Such a one possesseth him that possesseth all things. Well then, be persuaded at last to be wise. I remember the Moralist (Sen. Epist. 6.) brings in one acting like a wise man, and a good proficient in Philosophy, who begins to be a friend to himself. And this is that that I am pleading with you for. If I came to rob you of all hopes of happiness, and to give away all that you have or expect, and to turn Mendicants; if I came to persuade you to espouse a beggarly interest, and to march your self so as that you should be sure to be undone, I should not wonder, if after I had spoke much, I should prevail but little. But when it is such a Cause that I am pleading, when it is for your own unspeakable advantage, when it is riches, true riches that I would have you look after, an estate that I would have you mind, which may be had for the looking after, have I not cause to admire what need a man should have to use so many words? Had you money to spare, and could I tell you of a brave purchase ⟨p. 115⟩that you might have an excellent pennyworth, I am persuaded I should not be very unwelcome. Could I tell you of a vast Estate that you might have, upon the matter, for accepting or looking after, I believe I need not spend ten years in earnest begging and entreating you to look after such a thing.