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

Then a Child of God may lift up his head with comfort, because his redemption draweth near. There is a vast difference between a godly man and a wicked, as to their affections, fears, joys, desires, hope. The godly thinks long for that, which the wicked wishes withal his heart might never be; the Day of Judgment. The ⟨p. 207⟩righteous man is even delighted with the forethoughts of that, the thoughts of which doth put a damp upon all the comforts of the ungodly, he rejoiceth in that which makes his Neighbour to tremble. As for death, a gracious heart that hath kept his watch, and maintained a sweet & constant correspondency with God, and hath had his heart in heaven, and can look upon the great Jehovah as his friend, can't be very much affrighted at his approach: He is not much appalled, when he looks out at the window, & sees this messenger making hast to his house; and when he knocks at his door, he dares let him in, and can heartily bid him welcome; he understands whence he comes, and what his errand is, & though he look somewhat grimly, yet as long as he comes to conduct him to his friends house, he can dispense with that: he hath more reason to speak it then he which did. (Plotinus) Let me make haste away to my Country; there are my excellent Ancestors, there dwell my noble Relations, there is the constant residence of my dearest Friends. (Tull.) O happy will that day be when I shall come into that glorious assembly, when I shall have better company then Homer, Orpheus, Socrat. Cato, when I shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, in the Palace of their Friend and mine! O happy day when I shall come to my Fathers house, to that general Assembly, the Church of the First born, to an innumerable company of Angels, to Jesus, the Mediator of the New-Covenant, and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect. A mans knowledge of other things may add to his fears, and make his miseries greater: But the more knowledge we have of God, the less our fears and sorrows must needs be: and when our knowledge ⟨p. 208⟩of God is perfect, all our fears and sorrow shall be for ever blown over. I can't omit a brave speech of that noble Stoic which comes to my mind, Ar. Epist. l. 1. c. 7. (If the acquaintance and favour of Caesar can keep you (as you are made to believe) from some fears? how much rather to have God for your Father and Friend?