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

VIII. DIRECTION.

Seek his Acquaintance most earnestly if you would have it. O why do men and women jest with matters of the greatest weight and importance in the world? What do people mean to play with their Souls, the wrath of God, and damnation? O sinners, have you nothing else to play with? No lower matters to sport with? Believe it, Sirs, Heaven and Glory are not got with sitting still with our Hands in our pockets. We think it worth the while to rise early, and to sit up late, to get an earthly Estate; we count it no foolish thing for a man to be very diligent about his Worldly Affairs. The poor Country-man Ploughs and Sows, Harrows, Weeds, Reaps, Inns, Thresheth, and a great deal more, before he can eat his bread: and shall we look for a rich crop, and do nothing at all but eat, and drink, and sleep? Is this the way to be rich? is this the way to be happy for ever? If you intend to do any thing in Religion to any purpose, you must buckle to your business at another guess rate than most of the Professors of the World do. We must take as much pains about our Souls, as men do about their Bodies or Estates. Is there any comparison between the Soul and the Body; between a Worldly Estate, and an Heavenly Inheritance? Hath a man more reason to look after tricking up his body that must Die, or look after the adorning ⟨p. 337⟩adorning of his soul that must live somewhere for ever? Which are matters of the greatest consequence, eating and drinking, and pampering the flesh, and taking our pleasure; or looking after Life, Salvation, and Eternal Joy? Do you think that the Scripture faith in vain, That we must strive to enter in at the strait Gate? Is it a bare seeking that will serve the turn? Will a Lord have mercy upon me, and bowing the knee, do as well as the greatest seriousness and diligence in the World? Do you think that God will be put off with the skin and garbage instead of sacrifice, with the shell instead of the kernel, with chaff instead of the corn? Doth not Christ say, That many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able? O why do not lazy Professors read the Scriptures with trembling? Let all those that are angry with us for putting them upon making religion their business, and using all diligence to make their calling and election sure, Read that one Scripture over again,