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

did you but know how faint he hath been sometimes in speaking to you, you would go nigh to pity him. O pity your selves! O pity your own Souls, that ere long must be turned naked out of your Bodies, and hear the expostulations of a dying man that would gladly live with you in everlasting glory, and meet you all among the Friends of the Bridegroom, that I may see you among the Sons of God, in your great meeting, when the Father shall send his Servants the Angels to fetch all his children home to his own house. O pity your Souls, & let not all my pains be lost, trample not under your feet the blood of the Covenant, neither count it a common thing, remember that the slighting of Christ is a dangerous thing, the loss of his favour, and the loss of your soul, must go together? O how shall I leave you? How shall I part with you, shall I go before my work is done? What shall I say more? What arguments shall I further make use of? O that I knew what to say, that I might prevail! And are you still resolved to put me off with frivolous excuses? Can you put off your consciences thus? Are you still contented to be Aliens and Strangers? If you are, know this, that I must leave these lines to bear witness against you; Remember this, that you were told of these things again and again. Those that can forget Sermons ⟨p. 268⟩here, shall remember them hereafter; if you be not the better for this discourse, you will curse the day that ever you heard it; it will be a cutting reflection, when another day you shall say to your own Soul, at such a time, such a one did beseech me in Christs stead to be reconciled to God, and I would not: Cursed man that I was! I made nothing of all the offers of Grace and Mercy, I made little account of these intolerable Torments which now make me to gnash my teeth. Hear, O unhappy Creature, that art yet alive, Be not ye past hope! O that thou mayest see thy sad state before it be quite past remedy! O let me take up a lamentation for thee, as one whose condition is beyond expression deplorable! O that I could speak as affectionately to you as one did lately, who spent his strength and life amongst you all, viz. That I can neither eat nor drink, nor sleep quietly, whilst I think of the danger that precious Souls run every moment, while they are unacquainted with God!

did you but know how faint he hath been sometimes in speaking to you, you would go nigh to pitty him. O pitty your selves! O pitty your own Souls, that ere long must be turned naked out of your Bodies, and hear the expostulations of a dying man that would gladly live with you in everlasting glory, and meet you all among the Friends of the Bridegroom, that I may see you among the Sons of God, in your great meeting, when the Father shall send his Servants the Angels to fetch all his children home to his own house. O pitty your Souls, & let not all my pains be lost, trample not under your feet the blood of the Covenant, neither count it a common thing, remember that the slighting of Christ is a dangerous thing, the loss of his favour, and the loss of your soul, must go together? O how shall I leave you? How shall I part with you, shall I go before my work is done? What shall I say more? What arguments shall I further make use of? O that I knew what to say, that I might prevail! And are you still resolved to put me off with frivolous excuses? Can you put off your consciences thus? Are you still contented to be Aliens and Strangers? If you are, know this, that I must leave these lines to bear witness against you; Remember this, that you were told of these things again and again. Those that can forget Sermons