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

Quest. 3. What do you mean then to mind such things as you acknowledge to be most unquestionably true, and of the greatest consequence, with so much indifferency and coldness? what reason have you then for your strange neglect in your prosecuting of them? what, say they are the greatest things in the world, and will you say they are least to be looked after? Is it any Prudence and Wisdom to be very serious about trifles, and to trifle about the most serious things? Are Heaven, the love of God, and the like, by your own confession the most weighty, and will you make light of them? O folly and Hypocrisy! Out of thy own mouth thou shalt be condemned. Dost know that Heaven and Hell are before you? dost thou know that the one is unspeakably glorious, and the other unspeakably dreadful? and yet for all this dost thou stand demurring which of these thou shouldest choose? and darest thou for all this venture on in a way which leads to the region of Eternal Darkness? and though those that know the way better then you, and see you ride on so hastily and merrily, call after you with earnestness, yet dost thou still turn thy back upon them? Consider whether you act in these affairs, like one that is well in his wits. Is God the best friend in the world, and yet his kindness least to be regarded? Man, what hast thou to say for thy self? O What brutes, and how irrational are men in their spiritual matters! how ⟨p. 274⟩do they contradict themselves! how do they say one thing, and do the quite contrary! O let me in a word or two renew my Expostulation with them which are loath to be accounted fools! What reason hast thou to undervalue the favour of God so as you do? what reason have you thus foolishly to cast away your selves, and to slight acquaintance with your Maker? Let me plead with you in the language of a Reverend Divine (R. B.) of our own. Look up your best and strongest Reasons; and if you see a man put his hand into the fire till it burn off, you'll marvel at it: but this is a thing that a man may have reason for, as Bishop Cranmer had when he burnt off his hand for subscribing to Popery. If you see a man cut off a Leg or an Arm, it's a sad sight; but this is a thing that a man may have good reason for, as many a man doth it to save his life.

Quest. 3. What do you mean then to mind such things as you acknowledge to be most unquestionably true, and of the greatest consequence, with so much indifferency and coldness? what reason have you then for your strange neglect in your prosecuting of them? what, say they are the greatest things in the world, and will you say they are least to be looked after? Is it any Prudence and Wisdom to be very serious about trifles, and to triflle about the most serious things? Are Heaven, the love of God, and the like, by your own confession the most weighty, and will you make light of them? O folly and Hyprocrisie! Out of thy own mouth thou shalt be condemned. Dost know that Heaven and Hell are before you? dost thou know that the one is unspeakably glorious, and the other unspeakably dreadful? and yet for all this dost thou stand demurring which of these thou shouldest choose? and darest thou for all this venture on in a way which leads to the region of Eternal Darkness? and though those that know the way better then you, and see you ride on so hastily and merrily, call after you with earnestness, yet dost thou still turn thy back upon them? Consider whether you act in these affairs, like one that is well in his wits. Is God the best friend in the world, and yet his kindness least to be regarded? Man, what hast thou to say for thy self? O What bruits, and how irrational are men in their spiritual matters! how