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

O let your breath smell sweet, let your discourse be more savoury of the things of God! Labour to maintain a sweet, constant, unintermitted intercourse ⟨p. 263⟩with God, to walk with him. O little do you think what you loose by your coming so seldom to this Friend. I appeal to your own experience; was not that dish you eat last at his Table sweet? And what do you think that God doth not still keep as good a House as he did? Do you believe that he hath spent all his best Wines? Can that Fountain ever be emptied? Is there not Bread and good Cheer enough in your Fathers house? Believe it, God hath other kind of Entertainment, richer Cheer, better Fare still to make you welcome with, if you would not be so strange, if you will but come oftener to him. As for Christians, methinks I need not use so many words to persuade you, methinks you that know how sweet his company is, should desire to be never out of it. Christians, I tell you plainly, if you ever expect true peace in your life, and true joy and comfort at death, it's your only way to keep close to God, visit him oft by secret Prayer and other kind of Duties, and then you shall ever and anon meet with that which will sweeten your greatest diligence, and abundantly make amends for your pains. Knock at his door, ask for him, and resolve to stay till he come; though he come not at the first, second, or third knocking, yet I am sure he is within, and will come at last, if you will but wait; and when you have once again met with him, O let him not go, but tell him seriously that you can't bear his absence, he shall be your God and Friend living and dying, death it self shall not part you. Go also and tell your ⟨p. 264⟩Friends, you have found him whom your soul loves, that you have met with Jesus, and see if you can get them to come out and see him, bid them to taste and see how good the Lord is; commend him all you can to your poor Christ-less Friends. But you are not the persons that I intended to speak to, only thus a little by the by, that I may a little warm my own heart and yours, in this great duty of maintaining an intimate close converse and acquaintance with God.

O let your breath smell sweet, let your discourse be more savoury of the things of God! Labour to maintain a sweet, constant, unintermitted intercourse ⟨p. 263⟩