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

9. Another effect of this Acquaintance with God, is, That it will make a man wise. He that before he was acquainted with God had not the wit to know his Friends from his Foes, by his converse with God is made more wise then the great Sages and grand Politicians of the world. Upon his acquaintance with God, he is soon able to know right from wrong, to distinguish between good and evil. He hath now the wisdom to look after the salvation of his soul, to seek the Kingdom of Heaven in the first place, and not to be laughed and jeered into Hell. He is so wise, that he doth outwit the Devil himself; he doth get so much wisdom by his acquaintance with God, that God will reveal many of his great secrets to him. I know one my self that was little different from those which are commonly called Naturals, whom when the Lord had wonderfully wrought upon, and brought near to himself after his converse and acquaintance with God, his very natural understanding was exceedingly ⟨p. 228⟩refined, and afterward he became more discreet and fit to manage worldly affairs. But however this be, I am sure the knowledge of God gives understanding to the simple. A good under standing have they which love the Lord: and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Converse with men of wisdom doth not a little improve a man; but converse with the wise God it makes a strange alteration indeed, they are made wise unto Salvation. Of such as these David thought it best to make his privy Council. These are the persons that are the fittest to advise with in businesses of the greatest importance in the world; they have learned the art of managing the affairs of greatest concernment with the greatest care and prudence. I know the wise world usually look upon these persons, as the veriest fools living. To converse with God, to take all possible care to make their calling and election sure, to do what one can to be happy for ever, goes amongst them for a ridiculous thing, and more then needs. But it is no great matter, they will not be beat from their work thus; they should be fools indeed, if such things as these should make them turn their backs upon God; they will not be jeered out of Heaven, they pass not upon mans censures. He is wise that God calls so, and he will be sound to be a fool which God faith is so.

9. Another effect of this Acquaintance with God, is, That it will make a man wise. He that before he was acquainted with God had not the wit to know his Friends from his Foes, by his converse with God is made more wise then the great Sages and grand Politicians of the world. Upon his acquaintance with God, he is soon able to know right from wrong, to distinguish between good and evil. He hath now the wisdom to look after the salvation of his soul, to seek the Kingdom of Heaven in the first place, and not to be laughed and jeered into Hell. He is so wise, that he doth outwit the Devil himself; he doth get so much wisdom by his acquaintance with God, that God will reveal many of his great secrets to him. I know one my self that was little different from those which are commonly called Naturals, whom when the Lord had wonderfully wrought upon, and brought near to himself after his converse and acquaintance with God, his very natural understanding was exceedingly