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

16. He is a necessary Friend. There is an absolute necessity of being acquainted with him. It's possible for a man that hath very few friends upon earth, to live as happily as he that hath many. Multitude of acquaintance, such as they are, may contribute much to a mans care and sorrow. And as for most friends, such as are commonly so called, it is better to have their room than their company. A man may live without the acquaintance of Nobles, he may be as free, cheerful, and rich without the knowledge of such as them. One may live holily, and die joyfully, and may be happy for ever, though he never saw the face of a Prince, though he was never at Court, though he lived and died a stranger to all worldly friends. One may be disowned ⟨p. 154⟩by his Father, hatred by his Mother, slighted by all his Relation, and have never a friend under the Sun that will own him, and yet for all that be in a state of truer felicity, then those that are daily attended with troops of visitors, whose gates are seldom shut, whose houses are never empty: but amongst all that comes, God never comes to them, as for his company they are strangers to it; this man I may write miserable for all his great and many friends. And him that hath the company of God in acquaintance with his Redeemer I'll call happy, though he have never a friend in the world besides. Multitude of friends seldom add much to our comforts, but always to our cares. A man may go to Hell for all his great acquaintance with men; but it's impossible, if we are greatly acquainted with God, to miss of Heaven. When men are unkind, if God be kind, it's well balanced; but if God frown, whose smiles can comfort? I may be happy, though I am very little in mans favour; but it's impossible to be happy without Gods favour. To be a stranger to God, is to be a stranger to peace, joy, Heaven. O it's sad being without God! If I should declare the Judgement of most in the world, at least if their practice may speak for them, they see very little need of acquaintance with God. They do not write, Must, upon the things of Religion. They must eat, they must drink, they must sleep, and if they want any of these things, they count themselves in a sad condition.

16. He is a necessary Friend. There is an absolute necessity of being acquainted with him. It's possible for a man that hath very few friends upon earth, to live as happily as he that hath many. Multitude of acquaintance, such as they are, may contribute much to a mans care and sorrow. And as for most friends, such as are commonly so called, it is better to have their room than their company. A man may live without the acquaintance of Nobles, he may be as free, chearful, and rich without the knowledge of such as them. One may live holily, and die joyfully, and may be happy for ever, though he never saw the face of a Prince, though he was never at Court, though he lived and died a stranger to all worldly friends. One may be disowned