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

as one of Gods Children, he desires the sincere milk of the word: before he was acquainted with God, he found it far otherwise; then nothing almost would down with him, the pure word could not be relished, except it was adulterated with flourishes of humane wit. He had very little appetite to good wholesome Food, his stomach was ready to turn at it, except it were so cooked and sauced, and set out, that an understanding man could scarce tell what to make of it! What do you say to this, you that are so faint and cold, in what you do, in the service of God? Come a little nearer, get better acquainted with God, and you shall find such entertainment from him, that you will scarce be able to keep long from his house; get oft into his company, and you shall feel, your Soul strengthened with new spirits, animated with a strange life, Heat and Warmth. You will not complain that the Sabbath is the longest day in the week; you will not say, what a weariness is it? When will the new Moons and Sabbaths be ⟨p. 223⟩at an end? But you would think long till the Sabbath day come, and when it is come, the pleasure that you take in the work of that day would make you to think it the shortest day, and gone too soon; and when you have spent it in the most diligent attendance upon God, you would wish it were to begin again, or that you were to begin such a Sabbath, that would never have an end. This is the condition of one that is very intimately acquainted with God; his nearness to his Master, makes him to follow his work, and he knows he shall lose nothing by it; something will be coming in ere and anon, which will more then quit his cost: So that when God calls, he is at hand, and readily answers, Speak Lord, for thy Servant heareth. When God hath any message, any hot service to do, he accounts it his great honour to be employed in it, and saith, here I am, send me. I believe he that spoke it (Ar. Ep. l. c. 9.) might be a little confident, when he said, Lay what thou wilt upon me, O God, I have power to bear it, it shall not be my Burden, but my Ornament: Yet I am persuaded one that is acquainted with God, can say it, and say it again in good earnest; Lord what wilt thou have me to do? wilt thou have me to preach for thee, to run through Fire and Water for thee, to dye for thee, to go or come? O Lord do but bare me company, and give me strength, and it shall be don:

as one of Gods Children, he desires the sincere milk of the word: before he was acquainted with God, he found it far otherwise; then nothing almost would down with him, the pure word could not be relished, except it was adulterated with flourishes of humane wit. He had very little appetite to good wholsome Food, his stomack was ready to turn at it, except it were so cook't and sawc't, and set out, that an understanding man could scarce tell what to make of it! What do you say to this, you that are so faint and cold, in what you do, in the service of God? Come a little nearer, get better acquainted with God, and you shall find such entertainment from him, that you will scarce be able to keep long from his house; get oft into his company, and you shall feel, your Soul strengthned with new spirits, animated with a strange life, Heat and Warmth. You will not complain that the Sabbath is the longest day in the week; you will not say, what a weariness is it? When will the new Moons and Sabbaths be