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

4. The next head of Motives, by which I might enforce this duty of acquaintance with God, may be taken from the examples of them which made all the Friends they can to get acquainted with God. Behold a cloud of witnesses, which do all with one consent speak high in the commendation of this Friend, that I am persuading you all that I can to be acquainted with. Are you wiser then all your neighbours, is the ignorant objection of some that would take it very heinously, if we should call them fools, when we put them upon a serious diligence in pursuit of the best things? Why, let me retort this objection upon themselves, are you wiser then Enoch and Noah? have you more understanding then Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Have you more wit then David? Are you wiser then Heman, Daniel, and many others of those brave worthies, which were the wonders of the world, the Non-suches of their age, and a pattern to future Generations? This was the greatest piece of their wisdom to walk with God, this was the best of their policy to get so potent an Allie; this spake them to be men of ⟨p. 250⟩a deeper reach, and a larger understanding then others, because they made it their business to get acquainted with God, and thus to make their interest as large as Heaven, and their peace and prosperity as sure as the oath of a God could make it. Do you think that all these men were mistaken? did their wisdom lie only in a prudent management of their worldly affairs to their best advantage? what then, did they mean some of them to leave all that they had so cheerfully upon the command of God? dare you say that they prized the favour of God at too high a rate? as for their parts, they thought they could never value such a friend as God too much. What else was the meaning of their longing, panting, and breathing after him? Why else are they so glad of his company, his presence? How loath were they to do any thing that might be in the least displeasing to him? What bitter moans did they make, if he did but withdraw a while, if he did but a little absent himself from them? how wonderful desirous were they of enjoying communion with him? how earnest to live in his house for ever?

4. The next head of Motives, by which I might inforce this duty of acquaintance with God, may be taken from the examples of them which made all the Friends they can to get acquainted with God. Behold a cloud of witnesses, which do all with one consent speak high in the commendation of this Friend, that I am perswading you all that I can to be acquainted with. Are you wiser then all your neighbours, is the ignorant objection of some that would take it very heinously, if we should call them fools, when we put them upon a serious diligence in pursuit of the best things? Why, let me retort this objection upon themselves, are you wiser then Enoch and Noah? have you more understanding then Abraham, Isaac and Jacoh? Have you more wit then David? Are you wiser then Heman, Daniel, and many others of those brave worthies, which were the wonders of the world, the Non-suches of their age, and a pattern to future Generations? This was the greatest piece of their wisdom to walk with God, this was the best of their policy to get so potent an Allie; this spake them to be men of