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

I wish there were not something too like this sometimes in the thoughts of Gods people too; but let me only leave that one Scripture with the first sort, Psal, 94.9, &c. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that teacheth men knowledge, shall not he know. The Lord ⟨p. 147⟩knoweth, &c. As for the desponding Christian that begins to think God is out of the reach of his Prayers, let me ask thee, O thou of little Faith, when did God ever absent himself from his in a time of need: When was he quite out of the hearing of their cry? I know indeed he may hide himself, yet then he is near them also, to try their love, and hear their voice, for God loves to hear his Children cry; (earthly Parents may correct their Children for crying, but God chastiseth his Children usually for their silence.) When he seems furthest off, he is but behind the Curtain, he is there where he with pleasure sees how earnestly his Children look up and down for him: and then when they are ready to sit down weeping, as if they had lost their Father; when they think they are quite forgot, and their enemies begin to triumph, and to ask, where now is your God? Then he lets both friends and foes know that he is near. And what say you to all this, you that as yet are strangers to God? Have you gotten such a friend as he is, that will always be at your elbow, that can and will come to help you (when other friends are far enough off,) whether man will or no? have you got such a friend? If not, why then will you not now accept of his acquaintance, who will be such a friend to all that love him? No good man is without the company of God, he walks with God, he talk with God, he cats with God, he drinks with Gods and is entertained by him, and he sleeps in hi• Arms. God is with him in his Shop, in th• Rode, at Home and Abroad, and who can mi•• carry that hath so helpful a companion alway• with him? When thy burdens are too heavy ⟨p. 148⟩do but complain, and he will either take them off thy back, or put under his own shoulders, and help thee to go away lightly with them; he will assist thee in six troubles, and in seven he will give thee help.