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

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 Isa. 63.9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the Angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. It was not once or twice that God did so by them; but in all their afflictions, he was afflicted; which was not expressed in some cold formal words, such as these. Alas poor creatures, they are quite undone, their enemies are very barbarous, but he showed it in that most real demonstration, by saving of them by the Angel of his presence. A verbal kindness costs little, and helps little. But suppose his friends are carried Captive, are they not quite out of the reach of his help? No, his love, pity and power, will find them out in any place under Heaven; and if they be slaves, he will redeem them, though he gives ⟨p. 118⟩Kingdoms and Nations for their Ransom. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and when by hard usage they are grown so weak and feeble, that they can scarce go nor creep, why, he will carry them in his arms, and bare them. And thus he did of old; and his affections are rather greater then lesser now, then they were then. The mother can be weary of carrying a dirty screaming child; she thinks it less trouble to whip him, or to let him lie till he hath cried himself weary; she is loath to lug such a troublesome thing up and down all the day long. But yet such is the tenderness of this Father, that he carries his all the day long, though they be so heavy, so unquiet, so dirty. But of that presently. How oft do you read of strange pity in the book of the Judges; when they had by their own folly more then once brought themselves into calamity, how do his bowels yearn over them; and when any of his are groaning under any trials or temptation, what sending and running is there? how many Cordials are prepared for them?

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