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

Eleventhly, He is a suitable friend. It is suitableness that sweetens Society. I can easily believe a poor Country Peasant can take as much content in the company of a poor man like himself, as in the Society of a Prince, an unlearned Country man is no way fit to convers with Courtiers, and States-men; the vastness of the distance would so much swallow his mind, and the unsuitableness of his Spirit to such company takes off that content which otherwise he might enjoy. But yet in Spirituals, though the distance between God and man beyond a possibility of our conception, and the disproportion infinite; yet the Soul of man being immediately from God, and Spiritual like God, and having a Divine new Nature infused into it by the Spirit in ⟨p. 132⟩Regeneration, it finds an infinite suitableness, pleasure and content in the enjoyment of Gods presence, and it is not sunk, but raised by an Union, converse and Society with it's maker. The truth of it is, did man but understand his own Original aright, he would think it infinitely below his noble Parentage to converse with, and have intimate delightful Society with any but God and those which bare the same relation to God with himself, or to bring poor strangers acquainted with him as well as themselves. There is not a match upon earth fit for the Soul of man to be matched to: but in that other Country there is a match indeed every way suitable; a Spirit for a Spirit, and everlasting God for an everlasting Soul; a precious Jesus for a precious Soul, a holy God for those which he hath made holy like himself, and that is none of the least of mans happiness, that notwithstanding that infinite distance that is Naturally between him and his God, yet that God should make in his Creature such Noble Dispositions, and such Divine Qualifications, that there should be the greatest suitableness in the World between God and the Soul, and the Soul and God; and they both take wonderful content in the enjoyment of one another. This is in part here, but completed in Glory. This we may find oft in Scripture expressed in the nearest Relations, and dearest Affections. Hence God is said to be a Father, and they his Children; a Husband, and they his Spouse. Now what greater suitableness can there be then between Father and Children, Husband and Wife? God is also said to delight in them, and they in him;

Eleventhly, He is a suitable friend. It is suitableness that sweetens Society. I can easily believe a poor Country Peasant can take as much content in the company of a poor man like himself, as in the Society of a Prince, an unlearned Country man is no way fit to convers with Courtiers, and States-men; the vastness of the distance would so much swallow his mind, and the unsuitableness of his Spirit to such company takes off that content which otherwise he might enjoy. But yet in Spirituals, though the distance between God and man beyond a possibility of our conception, and the disproportion infinite; yet the Soul of man being immediately from God, and Spiritual like God, and having a Divine new Nature infused into it by the Spirit in