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

20. But because man is so wedded to the world, and dotes upon his lust, that all the arguments that we can use, are most commonly unsuccessful, I shall add one more upon this sort of motives drawn from the qualifications of him whom I would fain have you acquainted with, and that shall take in all that can be said on this head, and that is this; Consider that he is altogether lovely, he is made up of love, goodness, and all excellencies; and whatsoever pleasure, delight and content you find in the Creature, it is transcendently in him, he is the chiefest of ten thousands: ask of them that by Faith have seen him, inquire of the Spouse in the Canticles, and ask her what is her beloved, more then another beloved? what there is in God and Christ more then in the world, and she will almost wonder, that any one that is rational should ask so foolish a question; she thinks you might with as much judgment and reason have asked, what there is in Heaven, more desirable then in Hell? What is there is in ease more then in torments? in Gold and Jewels, more then in dross; in a living, healthful, beautiful Creature, more then in a stinking rotten carcass? Did you but see his face, you would soon think there were something in ⟨p. 175⟩him more then in another; could you but see his eye, your heart would be in a flame: did you but understand what it is to be brought into his banqueting-house, you would say that they are neither fools nor mad-men, that can find in their hearts to scorn the beauties and glories of this world in comparison of one look or smile from God; and believe that his love was better then wine, to be preferred infinitely before the greatest worldly pleasures, and think that the Virgins had reason enough to love him, Cant. 1.4. How high doth the Church run in his commendations? How doth she endeavour to set him out to the life, that every one may admire his excellencies, and be taken with his beauties as well as her self; neither doth she fear to lose him by this, nor indeed is unwilling that others should fall in love with him as well as she, Cant. 5.9, 10. &c. She begins first with his face it is white and ruddy, the most exact beauty, so that she must be blind that is not taken with him, and so she goes on as well as she can to set him out;