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

IX. DIRECTION.

If you would be acquainted with God, be much in expostulating the case with God, and in urging those arguments which the Scripture doth afford you in such a case. Take with you words, and come unto the Lord, and spread your requests before him, and say, O Lord, thou hast sent thy servant the Ministers, and hast invited me to come unto thee, and thou offeredst peace and reconciliation, and to be acquainted with me. O God, I desire from my soul, to come upon thy call, and would fain be acquainted with thee. I see myself in an undone state, while I am a stranger to thee: but, O Lord, I have a cursed base heart that keeps me back from thee, and I can't tell what in the world to do. O Lord, I beseech thee help thy poor Creature to come unto thee, lead me by the hand, let thy goodness and love constrain me, conquer me by thy kindness; come Lord into my soul, and let me see thy face, & look upon thee till I am in love with thee. O why art thou as a stranger to me? wilt thou forsake me for ever? shall I be one of those thine enemies which shall be slain before thy face? shall I be one of those that shall dwell with everlasting burnings? O Lord, pity, pity, pity, for Christ his sake, a poor creature that would fain love thee, & be acquainted with thee. I am convinced that I must be damned without thee, & come to thee ⟨p. 344⟩of my self I cannot, O draw me! O carry me! O compel me! constrain me, make me willing in the day of thy power: I cannot get loose, my heart is too hard for me, my lasts are too strong for me, my temptations are too many for me to conquer of my self. O Lord help me. Turn me, and I shall be turned. Pluck my feet out of the snare, or I shall be utterly destroyed for ever. Forgive mine iniquity, make me a clean heart, make me thy servant. Tell God that thou hast heard of his goodness and mercy, and that the King of Israel is a merciful King; and that it is his nature to pity. Say to him, O I am a poor undone creature, and wilt thou send me away without mercy? will the God of Grace send me away without Grace? hast thou not called me, O God? thy servants, tell me so, O Lord speak and give me ears to hear; O Lord I am come in upon thy merciful Proclamation, and I desire to lay my self at thy feet; mercy Lord, mercy upon what terms thou pleasest.