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

11. Another glorious effect of acquaintance with God, is, that it makes a man like God, which is the top of the Creatures honour. Company is of an assimilating nature. He that before was unholy, and like the Devil; by conversion to God, ⟨p. 234⟩and converse with him is made holy like God. He that before was cruel, fiery, unmerciful, by his acquaintance with God is made kind, meek, and lovely. He that in his natural state, was a Non-Conformist to the Laws of his maker, when he is well studied in this point, is the stiffest Conformist, he sticks close to the righteous Cannons of the holy God, and will not by his good will turn to the right hand, or to the left. He that was sometimes very unlike God, when he is brought nigh unto him, his countenance is changed, his features are altered, and the lineaments of Gods image appear very lively in his face; and the more he is in Gods company, and the older he grows, the more he grows like him. O how doth such a one shine! what a Majesty, Glory, and Beauty is there in is face! the oftener he comes to God, the more he is taken with his Excellency, the more he labours to imitate him. He studies what God is; and as far as his nature is capable of it in this life, he desires to be like him. If God be true and faithful, he dare not be false; but he will hate the way of lying; if God be free and bountiful, he thinks it very ill becomes one of his children to hide his face from his own flesh, to shut up his bowels, to be void of natural affection. If purity be so eminent in God, he knows that impurity would not be commendable in himself. In a word, he desires in every thing to carry himself, as one whose highest ambition is to speak, act, and think as one that would be like God. It was bravely spoken of him (Sen. 3.73.) especially if we consider what the man was, who told his Friend that called him to Heaven in compendium, To get as much happiness as this place, this ⟨p. 235⟩soul, while in this body is capable of; that is, to get God for his Friend, to be like him. This is a short cut so glory, a Soul carried to Heaven, or Heaven brought down to the Soul. A full and perfect conformity and likeness to God is the very Glory of Glory;

11. Another glorious effect of acquaintance with God, is, that it makes a man like God, which is the top of the Creatures honour. Company is of an assimulating nature. He that before was unholy, and like the Devil; by conversion to God,