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

Again, the Sacrifices of God are a broken heart: A broken and a contrite Spirit, O God, thou wilt not despise, Psal. 51.17. The proud sinner he may bring his stalled Oxen, multitudes of Rams and Sheep, und his Rivers of Oil, and yet all this while not be accepted. There is another kind of Sacrifice that would be ten thousand times more acceptable to God. We read that Sacrifices have been despised, Prayers, long Prayers have been rejected; Sabbaths, New-Moons, and Solemn Assemblies the Lord hath sometimes abhorred; but we never read that he despised the Sacrifice of an humble heart, the Prayers of such always have an answer one way or other; their poor performances, ⟨p. 297⟩their chatterings, and mournings, are sweet melody, and powerful Rhetoric in Gods ear. Who are the men that have most of Gods company? who are they which he doth most frequently visit? Are they not such as look upon themselves as the chiefest of sinners? These are they which are wrapped up into the third Heaven. None have so much of Heaven upon Earth as those that wonder that the Earth doth not swallow them up, and that they are not in Hell. But, O saith the humble Soul, God is the high and mighty God, and infinite in his Holiness and Justice; how then can such a Creature as I ever expect that he should so much as cast his eye upon me? Yes, sweet soul, such is the infinite condescension and goodness of God, that he will sooner look upon thee than another. And if you can't credit my words, here what he speaks himself, Isa. 7.15. Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of my contrite ones. The thoughts of Gods Majesty, Eternity, and Holiness may, and with good reason too, awe that Soul that hath low thought of it self. Every sinner hath cause enough to cry out with astonishment, Will God look upon such a vile sinful wretch as I am? Will he that is infinite in holiness take any notice of me, except to show his displeasure against me? What shall I do? sure such a creature as I can't without a miracle have a smile from God. God may indeed look upon me in his Wrath, and vix me in his sore Displeasure. God may justly look me into Hell;