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

So that from hence it appears, that God, and they, were never really acquainted; no wonder then that they do forsake God, and are forsaken of him. The building might look neatly, and the house seem to be strong; but because it was built upon the sands, it need not seem strange, if it fall when the winds rise, and the waves beat against it: but I say it, and say it again, the house that is built upon a rock will not, cannot fall: If a man be really united to God in Christ, and ⟨p. 163⟩the work of Grace throughly wrought upon him, it is impossible that God should forsake such a one. God can't but be true though man be false, he can't but value the satisfaction and intercession of his Son, he can't forget his own nature, Isa. 44.15, 16. Can a woman forget her sucking Child, that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands: thy walls are continually before me, &c. I do not say but that God may suspend the refreshing intimations of his love; nay, he may quite hide his face, and his dearest ones may look upon themselves as free among the dead, they may reckon themselves such as have no acquaintance with God, and yet for all this be exceeding dear to God; this is cleared by every days experience. Nay, I may say, I believe that there are very few of them which know what Gods presence, smiles, and love is, but know in some measure what it is to have his face hid, to walk in the dark, and see no light. It is no unusual thing of a Child of God to question his state, to fear whether all that he ever did were not in hypocrisy and formality; have not the best been made sometimes to question (especially upon some notable fall) whether, what they did formerly, did not proceed from mere common grace, or some less spiritual principle then the life of grace, and a divine nature within them. Were there ever any of the Sons of Adam, whom rich mercy hath plucked as Fire-brands out of the fire, to whom the Lord hath showed his marvellous kindness, and love in Christ, that hath kept their watch so exactly, that have walked so closely with God, so as never ⟨p. 164⟩to have the least frown from him? were their ever any that lived all their days under a constant lively sense of their interest in divine everlasting love?