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

What do you mean that you are so unwilling to come to this place of joy? O, were you but possest of what I speak of, you would say what I say, you would never be weary of praising and serving him, you would never wish your self out of his presence, and think it not possible to be in more suitable society. Is it so, O my soul, what then doest ⟨p. 136⟩thou here? Make hast, O my soul, stay no longer here below, but know thy privilege, understand where thy comforts are.

What do you mean that you are so unwilling to come to this place of joy? O, were you but possest of what I speak of, you would say what I say, you would never be weary of praising and serving him, you would never wish your self out of his presence, and think it not possible to be in more suitable society. Is it so, O my soul, what then doest ⟨p. 136⟩thou here? Make hast, O my soul, stay no longer here below, but know thy priviledge, understand where thy comforts are.

Twelfthly, He is a wise Friend, All the men and women in the world have great, mighty affairs to manage; and they want Skill, Wisdom and Discretion for the right management of these things, they are woefully to seek as to their great business; they are wise to do evil, but in Spirituals; they become stupid, sottish fools, and as to the carrying on of their great work, they do it with the greatest imprudence in the world: and they will most certainly for ever undo themselves, except one that is wiser then themselves undertake to help them. All things go backward with them, and they labour in the very Fire whilst they act without God, and it is impossible it should be otherwise as long as there is such a disproportion between mans business, and his Spirit? Man is carnal, and his work is Spiritual. Would an ignorant poor Creature that is but one remove above a beast, be fit to manage the great matters of Government? How ridiculously would he behave himself in a Chair of State! how strangely would an unlearned man bungle, should he go about to open one of the profound Demonstrations of Mathematics! But a natural man is far more unskilful then any of these, as to the carrying on of that great Employment that he hath to look after, while he is on this side Eternity; his business is to serve his Maker, but what pitiful work doth he make of it? man is made for an everlasting State, he is sent into this world to provide for another; a Good, a happiness there is, which he is to look