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

This, this is the miserable man with a witness? •hat seeing mens lives are so short, they would wisely husband their precious time in minding nothing but necessary things! O that unnecessaries might be cut off. When I am about to undertake a business, let me ask my Soul this question: O my soul, is this a business of absolute necessity? hast thou not something of greater importance that is yet undone? We enter not into the Lists for honour, where it is no great matter, whether we conquer, or no; we persuade not men to busy themselves about toys, we are not so importunate about a thing of nothing. No Sirs, as unnecessary as you think these things we speak of ⟨p. 158⟩are, ere long you will say as much as we do, and more too; you'll shortly find, that it was as much as your life and happiness was worth that lay at stake. These are things we must mind you of, or else we hazard our souls; and they are things that you must mind also, or else you hazard yours. I want significant words enough, to express the weight and importance of these things. O that what is wanting of that nature, might be supplied with tears, groans and compassions. I am through mercy ashamed of my own heart, (O that I were more so) that I should speak of such serious matters so slightly. It is not now a time to jest, O my soul, when thou art to discourse with miserable men and women, which refuse their happiness, and dote upon their misery. Thou art now about a work that concerns souls, and their eternal state. Tell me dear friends, do you in sober sadness believe that you have immortal souls? do you indeed know that your souls are naturally enemies to God, and that if yo• be not reconciled to God, that you must be dealt with as enemies? do you really believe all this? do you believe what a dreadful thing it is to look such an enemy in the face when he shall sit in Judgement? Further, do you believe what it is to lie down in devouring flames, and to dwell with everlasting burnings? do you not think it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God; and if you do not, let me tell you, you are worse than mad; if you do believe all this, why, then let me ask you again, whether you conceive it unnecessary to use the utmost care and diligence to get acquainted with him: who can deliver you from ⟨p. 159⟩the wrath to come? O friends, I call you so, and I believe most of you love me dearly!