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

Something of this I have taken notice of, in my conversing with dying men. I remember, once more particularly, being by a poor Creature that was just a going into another world, one of his old friends looked in to see him, at the sight of which person he gnashed his teeth, and could not endure him in the room, but cry out, this was he that brought me to this, I may thank him, or I had not been in so sad a condition upon a death-bed. But this by the by. Open enemies are better then such friends. I say again, do not expect to have God such a friend. God loves his too well to let them undo themselves; he knows the worth of Souls; and pities them that would part with their souls for a trifle, and therefore he tells men plainly, that ⟨p. 150⟩which may be really prejudicial to the health of their Souls; he can't but let them know what is food, and what is poison: what else is the meaning of those vehement expostulations? Why doth he send so many messengers one after another? To what purpose else doth he tender such promises, such encouragement? Be it known therefore unto thee O man, if thou understandest the worth of thy own Soul, and wouldest have that Soul of thine to do well for ever, and wouldest have a friend for thy Soul, that there is but one such a friend to be found in the whole world, and that is God. O hast thou no regard at all for thy precious and immortal Soul? Dost thou never think of that excellent thing within thee? Dost thou not care though thy Soul starve, be naked and miserable for ever? Is it nothing to thee, that thy Soul hath not so much as a shelter to hide it self under, when a dreadful storm shall rise, and death shall turn it our of his old Tenement? Dost thou not believe that it must have a being somewhere for ever, and that either in everlasting glory or eternal burnings? and are these small matters with you? What will you for all this take no care in the world about these grand affairs? Had a special friend committed but a Dog to thee to take care of, you would have thought your self engaged in gratitude and honour, to have suited your care of him, to your respect to the person from whom you had him. (Epict.) But dost thou not know, O man, that thy God hath committed a Soul to thy care, & hath told thee what thou shalt do to preserve the life and health of this thy soul, that it may be in good plight when he shall call for it.

Something of this I have taken notice of, in my conversing with dying men. I remember, once more particularly, being by a poor Creature that was just a going into another world, one of his old friends looked in to see him, at the sight of which person he gnashed his teeth, and could not indure him in the room, but cry out, this was he that brought me to this, I may thank him, or I had not been in so sad a condition upon a death-bed. But this by the by. Open enemies are better then such friends. I say again, do not expect to have God such a friend. God loves his too well to let them undo themselves; he knows the worth of Souls; and pitties them that would part with their souls for a trifle, and therefore he tells men plainly, that