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

who brought Paul alive to this ⟨p. 144⟩shore when the ship in which he went was wracked? Was it not this Friend, that I am now speaking of? I might be large in reciting the miraculous preservations which God hath vouchsafed to his, which is a manifest token of his presence; when none can come near, besides, he will not be far off. In the greatest extremities, which none durst own them, then God reckons it time for him to show himself. It was not for nothing that the Psalmist could speak so cheerfully when others were quaking, Psal. 64.12. &c. What was it that bore up his spirits, when there were such dreadful Commotions? What refuge hath he to shelter himself under in time of such Calamity? In what doth his strength lie, that he is so confident? Whence doth he expect a supply, that he holds it out so bravely, when his enemies are so numerous, and his Friends so scarce? Why, David hath his invisible Friends, as well as visible enemies. Ask him, and he will tell you, That God is his refuge and strength, and he is his confidence, and he will come in when he hath the greatest need; he will be a very present help in trouble. And that is the reason that David will not fear, though the storm were far greater then ever yet he was in, though the earth were removed, and the mountains were cast into the midst of the Sea; though the foundations of the earth were shaken, though the Sea should roar and threaten the earth with another deluge, he can sleep as securely as a person little concerned; and this he can speak, not only for himself, but for the whole city of God; God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. The Saint ⟨p. 145⟩hath a Friend that will bare him company in all places, in all dangers, and in his company he need not be afraid. Let the least child that God hath, give but one cry, and he will soon awake. It can't but be so from the spirituality of his nature, the immensity of his being, and the infiniteness of his love. It was Orthodox Divinity and Doctrine that Are. Epictetus l. 2. c. 14. preached (though but a Heathen) when he said, That the first lesson that became a wise man to learn, was, that there was a God, and then, that nothing in the world could be concealed from him, and that he knew not only our outward actions, but our most secret workings, our closest curtain businesses; and not only so, but even our thoughts, projects and principles: