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

the other he looks upon Heaven, God and Eternity, as the greatest realities, and most worthy of his highest valuation, and the things of this world as flying shadows, which can't fill the arms of him that doth embrace them: And under this apprehension, and ⟨p. 202⟩sense of things, no marvel that he doth prefer the substance before the shadow. He believes with that Worthy, that he was born for other things than to eat and drink, and sleep, or to take his pleasure, or to get an estate; he knows that the business in this world, is to provide for another, to get his peace made with God, to contemplate Heaven, and to get thither; and therefore you must not count it strange, that such a person as this is somewhat cold, and remiss in his carrying on of lower designs; he knows that the disproportion between Finite and Infinite, Times, and Eternity, is no such inconsiderable one as the most count upon. Again, he hath more than once experienced this, that the very joys and comforts that are to be had in the enjoying of Communion with God, even in this world, are unspeakably more intense and refreshing, than the highest sensual pleasures in the world. One that is acquainted with God, will take the word of his Friend for true, which word tells him that whatsoever is presented to his sense, the world and all that is therein, must ere long be burnt up, whereupon he thinks it no imprudence at all to hazard present enjoyments for future hopes; no folly to look after something that will bear the flame. He thinks it scarce worth the while to be born to possess, if it were a whole world, except he were sure of having something after it that were better than what he met with here; he had rather have one smile from his friend, than thousands of Gold and Silver: he would not for a world be to have his portion here, though it be never so large a one: he had rather by far be with Lazarus upon a dunghill, than sit with Dives in a chair of ⟨p. 203⟩State, before the richest fare that the Sea, or Air, or Earth could afford him: he would not change conditions with those which enjoy the most of the things of this world: he can thankfully want that which most commonly makes its possessors miserable. O could you but talk with a man that lives in Heaven while he is upon earth, and could you but see and here how much he slights that which you adore!