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

If there be, they have fared better then Job did, they enjoyed more then ever Heman or David did. A Child of God may oft be in a sad state, but yet he is always in a safe state: the purpose of God stands firm. Though for a small moment he seem to forsake them, yet with everlasting mercies will he gather them? O Everlasting! That's a sweet word indeed in the Saints ear; he would not that one word should have been out of the Bible, left out of the promise, for a world, Isa. 54. If thou beest once truly acquainted with God, thy state is as safe, thy condition as sure as if thou wert already in Heaven. God may and will chastise his with rods, but his loving kindness he will never remove from them, his mercy endures for ever. All that God gives to his friends and acquaintance; that is spiritual, is like himself, Everlasting. God is not like short-spirited man, every moment changing, one day doting upon an object, and the next day hating it as much. An earthly Prince may one moment set his Favourite at his Table, and the next command that he should be hanged. But far be it from the unchangeable God, that he should do thus. As for the great ones of the world, it hath been counted by some, and those none of the weakest, no small piece of policy, to keep out of their knowledge: their favours are so dearly bought, their kindness so uncertain, their displeasure so dangerous, and yet so easily procured. But here it is far otherwise. It is God, and God alone that is an everlasting Friend, in whose presence ⟨p. 165⟩there is fullness of Joy, and Pleasure for ever more. O these everlasting things are great things! An everlasting friend, an everlasting inheritance, everlasting glory, everlasting joy, everlasting life, and everlasting death, they are matters of weight! O why should not our very Souls be over-poured with the very thoughts of such things! O this unbelief, this unbelief!

If there be, they have fared better then Job did, they enjoyed more then ever Heman or David did. A Child of God may oft be in a sad state, but yet he is always in a safe state: the purpose of God stands firm. Though for a small moment he seem to forsake them, yet with everlasting mercies will he gather them? O Everlasting! That's a sweet word indeed in the Saints ear; he would not that one word should have been out of the Bible, left out of the promise, for a world,