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

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but Food convenient for me is the highest that he dare pray for: He had rather live in a smoking Cottage, and have God for his companion, than dwell in the greatest palace, and have the Devil for his Neighbour, Counsellor, Master. When a man hath been in Heaven by contemplation, though his body be upon the Earth, yet the best part of him, his affections, his love, joy, and heart, is still there. Sen. Ep. 41. One that doth converse with God here, he is indeed that earthly lump, his body is below; but could you see his thoughts, could you look into his heart, and see the inward actings of his soul, you should see the man out of the world discoursing with God, he sticks close to the company of his Friend: He is like the Sun-beams, who though they touch the earth, yet they still abide there from whence they are sent, and are most intensely hot nearest the fountain, the Sun. So the soul and thoughts of a child of God, they may, nay, they can't but glance upon the world: but it's most vigorous spiteful actings are towards God, & the heat of its affections are abundantly more remiss and cool when they beat upon earthly objects. He that knows what it is to have the company of God, is almost ready to wonder how any one can be content with any thing below God: and as for ⟨p. 204⟩himself, he takes himself for little better then a prisoner, while his soul is pent up in a body which is so unwieldy as to all spiritual employments, till it be refined by the grave. He would not be to dwell here for ever for a world, though he might enjoy more content then ever any since the Fall did. A Soul acquainted with God is a noble Creature indeed, it scorns petty low things, it thinks no Estate big enough for it, but that which is infinite; he looks upon himself as a Citizen of no mean City, a Denizen of Zion, a Free-man of the New Jerusalem, one of the Royal Society, over which Christ, that King of Glory, is the President, his inheritance is greater than that which the Sun compasseth in its course. O when (saith such a one) shall I leave these Cities of Cabul, and dwell with the King at Jerusalem! O when shall my soul be safely ark'd! O when shall I be upon the wing for Heaven! O when shall I leave this body there whence it first came! When shall I go out of this cell, this cage! O that I were once safe in Heaven!

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but Food convenient for me is the highest that he dare pray for: He had rather live in a smoaking Cottage, and have God for his companion, than dwell in the greatest palace, and have the Devil for his Neighbour, Counsellor, Master. When a man hath been in Heaven by contemplation, though his body be upon the Earth, yet the best part of him, his affections, his love, joy, and heart, is still there. Sen. Ep. 41. One that doth converse with God here, he is indeed that earthly lump, his body is below; but could you see his thoughts, could you look into his heart, and see the inward actings of his soul, you should see the man out of the world discoursing with God, he sticks close to the company of his Friend: He is like the Sun-beams, who though they touch the earth, yet they still abide there from whence they are sent, and are most intensly hot nearest the fountain, the Sun. So the soul and thoughts of a child of God, they may, nay, they can't but glance upon the world: but it's most vigorous spiteful actings are towards God, & the heat of its affections are abundantly more remiss and cool when they beat upon earthly objects. He that knows what it is to have the company of God, is almost ready to wonder how any one can be content with any thing below God: and as for