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

I have read of a wise man, that would commend, and be thankful for every thing, because he was sure a friend of his had the management of every thing, whose understanding was infinite, and whose wisdom was unsearchable, who could & would work his own honour and his Friends comfort out of every thing, yea, though seemingly evil; for the greater the evil seems to be, the greater will be the real kindness which makes so much good out of it. O but I have lately lost many of my most near and precious relations? If thou art one of Gods Friends, let me tell thee for thy comfort, you will meet them at your Friends house, when you come thither. It was no unsuitable advice that he gave to his Friend Lucilius, to cheer him up after the loss of a dear Friend, Let us consider my dear Lucilius, that we our selves should be glad to be in that place, and to enjoy that company, which you are so sad that your Friend is gone to; and he that you say is lost, is not so, but happy before you. We do not judge rightly of things. Well then, would you know what a man is? would you pass a true estimate of him, and understand his worth and value? Why then consider the man without his riches, lay aside his honours, take away all his externals from him; nay further, lets see the man raked out of his body, and how doth the Soul look? is it now rich, beautiful, joyful? can it stand confidently before God? doth it appear cheerfully in the presence of it's maker? Why, this is something; It matters not much whether his body were fed ⟨p. 216⟩with Pulse or Dainties, clothed with Rags or Scarlet, it matters not whether his Soul went out of his mouth, or at a wound; whether he dyed in bed of down, or in flames. Methinks, by this time you should be ready to think that Religion is an excellent thing, that Gods acquaintance is desirable, and that no life is like the life of a Christian, all whose sorrows end in joys, whose miseries make him more happy, whose shame for Christ will make for his glory; In a word, whose death brings him into life. This is the generation of them that seek thee, that seek thy face, O Jacob.

I have read of a wise man, that would commend, and be thankful for every thing, because he was sure a friend of his had the management of every thing, whose understanding was infinite, and whose wisdom was unsearchable, who could & would work his own honour and his Friends comfort out of every thing, yea, though seemingly evil; for the greater the evil seems to be, the greater will be the real kindness which makes so much good out of it. O but I have lately lost many of my most neer and precious relations? If thou art one of Gods Friends, let me tell thee for thy comfort, you will meet them at your Friends house, when you come thither. It was no unsuitable advice that he gave to his Friend Lucilius, to cheer him up after the loss of a dear Friend, Let us consider my dear Lucilius, that we our selves should be glad to be in that place, and to enjoy that company, which you are so sad that your Friend is gon to; and he that you say is lost, is not so, but happy before you. We do not judge rightly of things. Well then, would you know what a man is? would you pass a true estimate of him, and understand his worth and value? Why then consider the man without his riches, lay aside his honours, take away all his externals from him; nay further, lets see the man raked out of his body, and how doth the Soul look? is it now rich, beautiful, joyful? can it stand confidently before God? doth it appear cheerfully in the presence of it's maker? Why, this is something; It matters not much whether his body were fed