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

to have men on this side, and that side, bowing and cringing; and is this such a business? Is it worth the while to keep such a stir about that which a wise man may want, and a fool have? (Anton.) Will those Names, that Grandeur and state, those high Titles, render you more acceptable to God? will they procure you a freer access into the presence of that great King? will those great words scare death? will he say when he comes to your house, this is a person of quality, I must not be so bold as to come near him? will your honour procure you a protection from the arrests of this Serjeant? Where is the Honourable Personage, the Gentleman, Knight, Lord, King, or Monarch, that hath lived a thousand years: (Lucian) Are the worms afraid to gnaw thy heart? Will thy flesh never putrefy? Will your Servants, or your Master either honour you in Hell? And is this all that you keep so much a stir for, that can do you no good in the grave, or in another world? Can ⟨p. 125⟩that be better worth then Heaven, then God? O that we might but know what it is, that great thing is, which is preferred before Christ and everlasting glory? Again, I ask what is it that the Grandees of the world do so much idolize? Is it to be called Wise, Great, and Noble? But what if the wise God call such a one a fool? (Epict.) What if he know neither himself, nor his God, nor his interest? Hath he much greater reason to boast then a feather that some body will say it is heavy; or dung, that the Swine saith it is sweet. (Juven.) What profit is it for a man to be made great for betraying his Country, and flattering a Tyrant, who yesterday was the son of a Stage-Player, and to morrow shall be shorter by the head? What good will it do a beggar that is ready to be starved, to be told that he is a Prince, a brave fellow, worth some thousands by the year? But would yon know which is the ready way to true honour? I tell you, it consists not in the favour of them that must die like themselves, and before that few years be over, must stand but upon even ground with the meanest; it consists not in the sorry acclamations of them which measure a mans worth by his estate, and their dependence upon him; it consists not in the praise of them whose commendations some wise men have counted a discredit. But he hath showed thee, O man, what is truly honourable;

to have men on this side, and that side, bowing and cringing; and is this such a business? Is it worth the while to keep such a stir about that which a wise man may want, and a fool have? (Anton.) Will those Names, that Grandeur and state, those high Titles, render you more acceptable to God? will they procure you a freer access into the presence of that great King? will those great words scare death? will he say when he comes to your house, this is a person of quality, I must not be so bold as to come near him? will your honour procure you a protection from the arrests of this Serjeant? Where is the Honourable Personage, the Gentleman, Knight, Lord, King, or Monarch, that hath lived a thousand years: (Lucian) Are the worms affraid to gnaw thy heart? Will thy flesh never putrisie? Will your Servants, or your Master either honour you in Hell? And is this all that you keep so much a stir for, that can do you no good in the grave, or in another world? Can