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

VII. DIRECTION.

If you would be acquainted with God; entertain all the Messengers that he sends to you kindly. When God calls, answer; and when he sends any of his servants to you, bid them welcome; let the feet of those which bring glad tidings be beautiful in your eye; do not think much if they deal plainly and roundly with you, know that it is out of love to your Souls (God is their witness) they see that your condition requires it, & that a man in your state is not to be jested with. The Lord knows that they take little pleasure in grieving of people; they do it that you may rejoice for ever; they watch for your Souls, and therefore you must account them worthy of double Honour. But of all the Messengers that God sends, have the greatest care of dealing unkindly ⟨p. 335⟩with, and grieving his spirit; when you have any motions upon your Soul by the Spirit, labour to cherish them with all the care and tenderness that you can: Turn not Convictions away with, I am not at leisure; or I will hear you of these things when I have a more convenient season: but as soon as you find your heart begin to relent, cry out unto the Lord, and say, O Lord I beseech thee, carry on thy work effectually upon my Soul! O that I may have through work! O let not these convictions wear off from my Soul, till they end in a real Conversion! O let me not prove but a Half-Christian! Any thing in the world, Lord, so that I may but be made a Christian in good earnest! O let me not return with the Dog to his Vomit, and with the Sow that is washed, to her Wallowing in the Mire! Deliver me, O God, from sinning away these things, and getting into a cold World, and from shaking off all, least I prove worse than ever, and my latter end be more miserable than my beginning. Labour to be very curious in the taking notice of Gods absence or presence; and when you find your Soul raised in any duty, and your Heart somewhat drawn out after God, then be sure to own Gods goodness, and bless the Lord for it; Record his kindness, forget not his mercy, pass not over such great things in silence, Little do men think what a hazard they run, when they quench the Motions of God's Spirit, You may read in the 5. Cant. how dearly the Spouse had like to have paid for such an unkindness? What, shall God send his spirit to visit you? Shall the infinite Majesty so far condescend as to knock at your Door, and will not you open?