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

while the Spouse is thinking of her glorious Husband, he knocks at the door, she draws the Latch, and be comes in smelling of Myrrh, Aloes, and Cassia; he comes and kisses the soul with the kisses of his lips, his love is better than wine, he comes and takes the soul into his arms. O the sweet pleasure of Divine Love, infinitely transcending all carnal Affections! O the joy that is at this meeting, far surpassing humane apprehension! O the sweet entertainment that God and the Soul gives each other at such a time! I appeal to the experience of those that have been much exercised in this great Duty of Meditation, if they have been in good earnest in the work, I am confident they can say something to this point. What sayest thou, O Christian, which art used to imitate Isaac? didst thou never meet with another-guess Companion than Rebekah? As he met with a Wife, so thou hast met with thy Husband? When thou hast been in the Field, or Closer, at this work, hath not Christ then taken you by the hand, and led you into his Garden, and made you to taste of his pleasant Fruits? hath he not brought you into his Banqueting-house, and brought out some of his choicest dainties? are not those Flagons more full of Spirit, more Cordial, and refreshing than Wine? O little do any but those who have tried it, think what a life they might lead, if they would with seriousness engage in this duty. Speak O ye gracious ones, that make conscience of this Soul-ravishing duty; speak I beseech you, and ⟨p. 307⟩do not smother the kindnesses of God to you; speak, and let him have the praise: It may be by your venturing your experience, hundreds may be encouraged to set upon the same work, and hundreds may also have the same experiences. What do you say? have you not found the benefit of this duty? did you never find Meditation a sweet work? was it worth your while or no, to sequester your selves a while from the world to talk with your Beloved? did you ever repent you of your Labour, and think your time lost? have you not been able to say that at such and such a time, when you were in the Mount, that it was good being there? could you not have been almost content to have lest the dearest Relations, and to have quitted your interest in all Creature-comfort, so you might have had fuller enjoyments of God; could you not have been contented to pass from Contemplation to Vision and Fruition?

while the Spouse is thinking of her glorious Husband, he knocks at the door, she draws the Latch, and be comes in smelling of Mirrhe, Aloes, and Cassia; he comes and kisses the soul with the kisses of his lips, his love is better than wine, he comes and takes the soul into his arms. O the sweet pleasure of Divine Love, infinitely transcending all carnal Affections! O the joy that is at this meeting, far surpassing humane apprehension! O the sweet entertainment that God and the Soul gives each other at such a time! I appeal to the experience of those that have been much exercised in this great Duty of Meditation, if they have been in good earnest in the work, I am confident they can say something to this point. What sayest thou, O Christian, which art used to imitate Isaac? didst thou never meet with another-guess Companion than Rebeccah? As he met with a Wife, so thou hast met with thy Husband? When thou hast been in the Field, or Closer, at this work, hath not Christ then taken you by the hand, and led you into his Garden, and made you to taste of his pleasant Fruits? hath he not brought you into his Banquetting-house, and brought out some of his choicest dainties? are not those Flaggons more full of Spirit, more Cordial, and refreshing than Wine? O little do any but those who have tried it, think what a life they might lead, if they would with seriousness engage in this duty. Speak O ye gracious ones, that make conscience of this Soul-ravishing duty; speak I beseech you, and