Heaven upon earth, or, The best friend in the worst of times.: Delivered in several sermons by James Janeway, Minister of the Gospel.

V. DIRECTION.

If you would be acquainted with God, come much where he is wont to be, frequent his house, lye always at the Doors of Wisdom, engage much in his Ordinances. This was that course that David took when he wanted Gods company, away he goes to the house of God; and, O what earnestness doth he use when the doors of the Lords Tabernacle were shut, to get them open again? what moan doth he make when he was for some time sequestred by his enemies, from the enjoyment of God in his publick Ordinances? As the Hart pants after the water-brooks, so did his soul pant after God, the living God. O when should he appear before him? when should he again behold the out-goings of God in his Sanctury, as some∣times he had? How amiable are thy tabernacles, saith he, O Lord God of Hosts! And one thing have I desired, and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in thy house, and see thee, and enquire in thy taber∣nacle, Psal. 42. Psal. 48. Psal. 27.4. He thought God was like to be found no where so soon as at his own house; he was sure he was never from home. David can never forget what usage, and entertainment he was wont to have there, and that this great Friend was used to have a standing Table, an open House, and that when his Guests were set, he would come and bid them welcome; eat O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly O be∣loved. See therefore that you get into that part of Gods house where he doth most frequently come, get under the most powerful Ministery; O hear the Word with all the Reverence, Attention,

and affection that you can for your soul; miss not any opportunities that God puts into your hand, least that should be the time in which you might have met with God; Lye at the pool of Bethes∣da, and wait for the moving of the Waters; set your selves as in the house of God, and remember, though you see not God, that he is always pre∣sent in all places, but he is there more especially present where his people meet together to attend upon him in his own Ordinances? Wherefore when you come to hear the Word, set your self as in the presence of God, and hear as for your life and soul, Deut. 32.46. Set your hearts to all the words that you shall hear; for it is not a vain thing, it is your life, Isa. 55, 2, 3. Hearken diligently unto me, and cat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight it self in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the mighty Jehovah is speaking to his soul. Wherefore I say it again, set your self as in the very immediate presence of God; and when you hear a word that you are very nearly concerned in, put up such a short Ejaculation as this. Now Lord, strike this hard heart of mine; now Lord come in I beseech thee; O that this word might be the key which might open my heart for the King of Glory to come in! O com∣mand thy loving kindness this day to break into my soul! O that this might be the day in which Salvation might come unto my house! O that this might be the man that might be my Spiritual Fa∣ther, that this might be the Messenger one among a thousand, that may bring me good tidings! O

that this might be the sentence, that this might be the hour of Love! O that this might be the day that I may have in everlasting remembrance! O that I might presently without any more delay, set out for Canaan! Cry out with as much earnestness as that poor man did, who brought his possessed child before Christ; O Lord I have brought my un∣beliving heart before thee to cure, it exposes me a thousand times to unspeakable hazards; but Lord, if thou wilt but speak the word, it shall be dispos∣sessed: I would believe, Lord help my unbelief. I have brought my hard heart before thee, Lord soften it, and let me not go from time to time with these dreadful diseases hanging about me, to infect, and undoe my self and others. O melt me, O Lord, melt me, and let me have such a look from thee, as Peter once had, which made him to go out and weep bitterly. But I shall speak a little more of this nature under another Direction.