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

II. DIRECTION.

My next Direction to those which would be acquainted with God, shall be this: Get an humble heart, which is the consequent of the former. God will exalt none to this high honour of being his Friends, but such as have low Thoughts of themselves. The humble are the persons that he will raise, these are they that he will converse most with, these are the great Favourites of Heaven which God doth delight to honour, Psal. 34.18. The Lord is nigh to them which are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. God is nigh to them, (with Reverence be it spoken) God takes so much complacency in the company of such, that he can't endure to have them far from him, he must have them always nigh to him, always under his eyes; as for these broken ones, he will to be sure not leave them long, not go far from them, but will be ready at hand to set their bones, to bind up their wounds, to keep them from festering. It may be he may put them to much pain before he brings the Cure to perfection, but it is to prevent future Aches. He is a foolish cruel Chirurgeon, who for fear of putting his Patient to some pain, never searcheth the wound, but skins it over presently: and a wise man will not think him unmerciful that puts him to exquisite pain, so he make a through Cure of it. Thus God doth by his Patients sometimes, when the nature of their Distemper calls for it. ⟨p. 296⟩But however, he will be sure not to be out of the way when they want him most. It's possible they may look upon themselves as forgotten by God, they may not know their Physician when he is by them, and they may take their Friend for an Enemy, they may think God far oft when he is near; but when their eyes are opened, and their distemper is pretty well worn off, they will with shame and thankfulness acknowledge their Error; nay, they do from their souls confess that they do not deserve the least look of Kindness from God, but to be counted strangers and enemies; but God will let them know that he loves to act like himself; that is, like a God of Love, Mercy, and Goodness; and that they are the persons that he hath set his heart upon; he will have them in his Bosom, never leave them nor forsake them; and though these contrite ones many times look upon themselves as lost, yet God will save them, and they shall sing a Song of thankfulness amongst his delivered ones.