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

O what shall I do? How shall I persuade you? What Arguments will prevail? O thou great and mighty God, give men and women but a spiritual understanding of these things, make them deeply apprehensive of their excellency and reality, and then I should soon have them with thankfulness complying with these tenders which thou commandest me to make unto them. O when shall it once be! How long shall the Devil and an unbelieving heart undo so many millions? How long shall Satan triumph over souls, and cheat them thus miserably of their All? O pity, pity dear Lord, ⟨p. 117⟩the besotted foolish world, and give me more compassion to souls, that I may with incomparably greater earnestness and tenderness plead thy cause with them, and resolve to give them no rest, till I have persuaded some of them in good earnest, to look after the great and weighty affairs of Eternity, and the making sure of this Friend.

O what shall I do? How shall I perswade you? What Arguments will prevail? O thou great and mighty God, give men and women but a spiritual understanding of these things, make them deeply apprehensive of their excellency and reality, and then I should soon have them with thankfulness complying with these tenders which thou commandest me to make unto them. O when shall it once be! How long shall the Devil and an unbelieving heart undo so many millions? How long shall Satan triumph over souls, and cheat them thus miserably of their All? O pity, pity dear Lord, ⟨p. 117⟩the besotted foolish world, and give me more compassion to souls, that I may with incomparably greater earnestness and tenderness plead thy cause with them, and resolve to give them no rest, till I have perswaded some of them in good earnest, to look after the great and weighty affairs of Eternity, and the making sure of this Friend.

Eighthly, He is a sympathizing Friend. It goes to his heart (with Reverence be it spoken) when any injuries are done to any of his; when his friends are wronged, it touches him to the quick: He is as tender of them, as of the apple of his eye. Again, He that despiseth you, despiseth me. Never was tender — hearted Mother more pitiful over her only Child, then God is to them which love him; never was any friend so much concerned for another as God for his. What else mean those high expressions of pity in