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

and a partial conformity to him upon earth, is his unspeakable honour in this life, O were men and women better acquainted with God, they would sparkle and shine in their Generation, so that their enemies, should be forced to say, that a Saint is another kind of Creature then a sensual sinner. O why stand you then so far off from God! come nearer him, and the rays of his glorious Image will reflect from your lives! Be acquainted with him, and you shall be like him; keep much in his company by Faith, secret Prayer and Meditation, and you will be more Holy, Divine, Spiritual.

12. The last effect of this acquaintance with God, which I shall name, is this, it will make a man better, far more Excellent in all states, and relations; all his Friends will have the better life with him, the whole Family, it may be where he dwells, will fare the better for him? If he be a Child; he is more dutiful to his Parent then he was, while he was unacquainted with God? If he be a Servant he is more diligent and Faithful then before, he serves not with eye service, but doth what he doth with singleness of heart, as unto the Lord? If he be a master, it makes him more exemplary, and makes him to take care that his Household should serve the Lord; he had rather his servants should make bold with him then God, he is concerned for the honour of God in his Family, as much as his own; if he be a Father, ⟨p. 236⟩he is careful to bring up his children for God, he is more Spiritual in his affections to them, and desirous to leave them God for their Father, Friend, Portion; as he is a neighbour, he follows peace with all men, and holiness, because he hath seen God? How sweet and amiable doth acquaintance with God make a man! how ready to heal divisions! how full of goodness and charity! how ready to do good unto all, but especially to those that be of the Household of Faith! how compassionate, and tender-hearted! how ready to provoke others also to love, and good works: so that the whole Parish lives the quieter, all the poor fare the better, all the neighbourhood, some way or other is beholding to him: one that knows God himself, doth what he can to get others acquainted with God too? how sweetly doth he commend the way of wisdom? with what earnestness, and pity doth he plead with sinners, and labour to teach transgressors, the paths of God, that sinners may be converted unto him. How doth he set before them the necessity of a change, the danger of their present state, and the excellent qualities of this Friend, that he would bring them acquainted with, telling them, that time was, that he also was as they are, and thought his condition as safe as they do their's: but that it pleased the Lord by his word to open his eyes, and to reveal to him the need that he had of Christ, and to enable him to accept of him, and to prize him above the whole world.