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

what do you come to me; for you have refused to have me for your God; go cry to your gods, and let them deliver you. Thus he seems to turn away his face; yea, for all that, see how soon he forgets his displeasure, Ephraim is his Child, his dear Child, and he can't but pity him; and how shall I give thee up, O Ephraim, &c. how hardly is God brought so much as to chastise his Children; he never corrects them, but when there is an absolute need of it; ask the Church under the rod, and she can't but say as much, Lam. 3.32, 33. For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of men. He calls judgment his work, his strange work: and when he doth correct his stubborn Children, how doth he many times give them a lash and a kiss, a frown, and a smile? O what would have become of the holiest men living, if God should upon every provocation have broke with them. If God should mark iniquities, O who should stand? Which of the fallen Sons of Adam hath not abused his high kindness? and yet for all that, how is his Patience and goodness exercised towards them; well might the Psalmist make that the burden of one of his songs, O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works towards the children of men; & that of another, For his mercy endureth for ever. What created being could have born the thousandth part of that from any hand that God doth every day from his dearest children? What peevishness, and unfriendly quarrelling, ⟨p. 122⟩what murmuring and repining, doth he bear, even from them for whom he hath done such great things? How strangely do they carry themselves! how seldom and complemental in their visits of him! how cold and formal in their addresses to him! how frequently are they conversing with his basest enemies! How much treachery and underhand-dealing doth he find in them! yet for all this, how great are his kindnesses, and how open are his arms, upon their acknowledgement, to receive them again! Little do we think what unkindness the Lord overlooks; and indeed except we knew what it was to be infinite in holiness, could we any way conceive how infinite his Patience is, Psal. 106▪ 43, 44. Many times did he deliver them: but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquities.