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

have not these been Expostulations of the mighty God with his Rebellious Creatures? and yet how do they stand it out all this while, as if God were like to get so much by their acquaintance? Return, O foolish Sinner, if thou makest any thing of Salvation and Damnation, if thou valuest everlasting glory, if thou thinkest the commands, threatenings, and promises of the Almighty to be minded, come away and make no delay. O why wilt thou go on thus madly to undo thy self? come away poor Soul, for all this it is not yet quite too late, thy glass is not yet quite run, thy Soul is not yet fully fixed in its unchangeable state. Once more I make such an offer to thee, as I am sure none but a mad man will refuse; such an offer as none of the Kings and Lords of the world can make. The great and mighty Monarch of Heaven tenders thee an Alliance ⟨p. 170⟩with himself; he sees how far thou art spent, how poor and low thou hast brought thy self by a dangerous and long war against thy maker; he foresees what a condition thou wilt be in after a few more merry hours, except thou repent and turn. Wherefore in compassion to thy precious soul he hath commanded us to follow thee, and not to let thee be at quiet till thou hast given us a promise, that thou wilt return and humble thy self to thy God; and what, shall we still lose our labour! shall all this come to nothing! O prodigy of unkindness! O wonder of patience! thou hast slighted the friendship of thy God, thou hast set light by Christ, and undervalued Heaven and Eternity for ten, twenty, thirty years already, and yet the Lord send us once more in his name to ask you whether you are willing to have God for your Friend; God hath not yet said, Cut him down, bind him hand and soot, and cast him into that lake that burns for ever. Bring those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before my face. God hath not yet spake that dreadful word, Depart. O what is it thou stayest for? What is it that makes this business to hang so long? What Lover is it that doth so long hold back thy heart? What is the matter that we can no more speedily and effectually manage this great affair? What is it that thou dost prefer before God? What is it that thou thinkest more worthy of thy warmest love then Christ? What is that great thing that thou stickest not to venture thy soul for?

have not these been Expostulations of the mighty God with his Rebellious Creatures? and yet how do they stand it out all this while, as if God were like to get so much by their acquaintance? Return, O foolish Sinner, if thou makest any thing of Salvation and Damnation, if thou valuest everlasting glory, if thou thinkest the commands, threatnings, and promises of the Almighty to be minded, come away and make no delay. O why wilt thou go on thus madly to undo thy self? come away poor Soul, for all this it is not yet quite too late, thy glass is not yet quite run, thy Soul is not yet fully fixed in its unchangeable state. Once more I make such an offer to thee, as I am sure none but a mad man will refuse; such an offer as none of the Kings and Lords of the world can make. The great and mighty Monarch of Heaven tenders thee an Alliance