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

7. Another excellent effect of this acquaintance with God, is, it will make a man Patient under all the dispensations of Gods providence, in all conditions to be content, in quietness to possess his Spirit: Acquaintance with God will make him be at peace, not to open his mouth against God, whatsoever he lays upon him. What was it that kept such a calm in Pauls heart, when there was such a constant storm without him? was it not his sense of his interest in Gods love? though all the world were his enemies, yet as long as Christ was his Friend, he doth not care; though men and devils be against him, yet if God be for him, he passeth not much upon it: though men be never so unjust: yet God will never be so, that's his comfort. It's a small matter for him to be judged with mans judgment, as long as he is sure that God will acquit him; he knows that justice it self will do him no wrong, infinite goodness could not be unkind, and that wisdom it self could work glorious effects out of these things, which the world call evil; if he do receive evil at ⟨p. 225⟩the hands of God, he is confident he deserves more; if it be good, and but a little, he is thankful, because he deserved none at all. Let the worst come to the worst, if all the Devils in Hell, and all his instruments upon Earth should combine against him, as long as he is sure of the love of God, and that none of them all, can pluck him out of the Arms of the Almighty, he is not very much concerned; Heaven will make amends for all: whatsoever he suffers, it is nothing to the displeasure of a God, it is nothing to everlasting burnings. He believes that if his persecutors did know what he knows, they would as soon eat fire, as do as they do; therefore he rather pities them, then is angry with them, as seeing that their day is coming! How seldom have you either Paul or Silas complaining of their sufferings! How rarely bemoaning their condition? And what is it that makes them so patient? what have they to sweeten such bitter draughts? Why, God loves them; and so long, they do not much care though others hate them. Mans frown can't sink a Soul to Hell, nor his favour make one happy for ever. It is but a little while, and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes. The kindness, and faithfulness of God is enough to make a man cheerfully to hold up his head, when all the world is against him:

7. Another excellent effect of this acquaintance with God, is, it will make a man Patient under all the dispensations of Gods providence, in all conditions to be content, in quietnesse to possess his Spirit: Acquaintance with God will make him be at peace, not to open his mouth against God, whatsoever he lays upon him. What was it that kept such a calm in Pauls heart, when there was such a constant storm without him? was it not his sence of his interest in Gods love? though all the world were his enemies, yet as long as Christ was his Friend, he doth not care; though men and devils be against him, yet if God be for him, he passeth not much upon it: though men be never so unjust: yet God will never be so, that's his comfort. It's a small matter for him to be judged with mans judgment, as long as he is sure that God will acquit him; he knows that justice it self will do him no wrong, infinite goodness could not be unkind, and that wisdom it self could work glorious effects out of these things, which the world call evil; if he do receive evil at