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

Nay, may I not say, O the folly of the Children of God themselves, that are no more in Gods Company, when they know they may be so welcome, when they have rasted so oft of his kindness, when they were made so much of the last time that they gave him a visit. Are not men in a deep sleep, that they do not hear? Are they not blind, that they do not see? Are they not ignorant, foolish, and mad, that they do not understand their interest any better? It is not without good reason, that the Spirit of God doth so, oft cry out upon sinners for their folly; the Scripture saith not in vain, That there is none that hath understanding, no not one. No wonder that they which have but half a cure see men like trees, that those which never hall a through work, do not prize Christ. O but that those which have been brought nigh by Grace, who were sometimes afar off, that such should be so much strangers; for those that have met with such kind entertainment at his house, for ⟨p. 262⟩these to keep off so, to come so seldom, for them which have fed so high at the Kings Table, to shall to their Trash, their Husks, this is a shame indeed; as if the Devil kept a better house than God. Christians, doth God deserve this at your hands? How unkindly do you think he takes this from you? What will the world say? Look how his own acquaintance despise him? How will the Devil insult? O how do the hearts of your fellow Christians ache, to see how strange your carriage is? How do they tremble to think, what if that fine House be built upon the Sand? Christians, you which seldom or complementally visit God, bethink your selves well what you do, when you begin to be cold in your affections to this Friend; remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your first works; remember what entertainment you have sometimes had at Gods House; forget not all his Kindnesses; of all the Creatures in the world, you have no cause to carry your selves so towards God. I tell you again, the World stands by, and looks on, to see what there is in you more than in others; they mark your lives more than you are aware of, it may be: Wherefore look to your selves, take heed how you carry your selves before them. O why should they see your faces pale, when you may feed so highly? O show them by your countenance, that you feed upon wholesome food!

Nay, may I not say, O the folly of the Children of God themselves, that are no more in Gods Company, when they know they may be so welcome, when they have rasted so oft of his kindness, when they were made so much of the last time that they gave him a visit. Are not men in a deep sleep, that they do not hear? Are they not blind, that they do not see? Are they not ignorant, foolish, and mad, that they do not understand their interest any better? It is not without good reason, that the Spirit of God doth so, oft cry out upon sinners for their folly; the Scripture saith not in vain, That there is none that hath understanding, no not one. No wonder that they which have but half a cure see men like trees, that those which never hall a through work, do not prize Christ. O but that those which have been brought nigh by Grace, who were sometimes afar off, that such should be so much strangers; for those that have met with such kind entertainment at his house, for