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

XI. DIRECTION.

If you would be acquainted with God, take heed of those things, which keep God and man at a di∣stance, and make the Lord take no pleasure in us. In general, take heed of all sin, Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek judge∣ment, relieve the oppressed, judge the Fatherless, and plead the cause of the Widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Isa. 1.17, 18. You must wash your hands in Innocency, if you intend to compass his Altar, to sit down it his Table. In Psal. 101. David is exceeding desirous of Gods company, and he cries out, O when wilt thou come unto me! he thinks long to have a visit from his old friend; he would gladly walk with him. Now what course doth he take to get Gods

company? Why, he goes the best way to work in the world: He will set no wicked thing before his eyes. He knows it is to no purpose for him to expect much of Gods company, while he doth entertain his greatest enemies; therefore he turns them out of doors; I hate, saith he, the works of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me: And that God may dwell with him, and make his house, as well as his heart, a Temple for him∣self, he will not suffer a wicked person to live in it, he will have none in his Family, but such as shall be ready to serve God, and bid this his great Friend welcome.

But more particular, if you would have much of Gods company, and be intimately acquainted with him; take heed more especially of those particular sins which make God most to estrange himself from. As,

First, Take heed of Pride: That was the sin which made the first breach between the Crea∣ture and the Creator, the sin that sunk the An∣gels, that made God and them, who were very good Friends once, to be bitter enemies; this hath made the breach infinite, the feud everlasting, the wound incurable. And this made the first Quarrel between God and man. When man thinks himself too good to be but a man, he must be a God; he quickly is too had to be a man, he is but one remove from the Devil. To be a fa∣vourite of his Prince is not enough, except he may step into the Throne; it's therefore high time for his Prince to remove such from his pre∣sence to a Prison, from the Court to a Dunge∣on. It was Pride that cast Adam out of Paradise; and do you think that that sin is less hateful to

God, and less dangerous to man than it was five thousand years ago? Did it then spend all it's poyson? And can it now do no harm? Do you believe that God will take that into his bosome now that formerly he abhorred to look upon? Now sin hath increased it's strength and defor∣mity, and heightened it's enmity against the in∣finite Majesty of the holy Jehovah, shall his hatred against it decrease? will he be more willing to ac∣company proud aspiring Rebells now than then? no such matter: God is still as holy as ever, and hates all sin, especially pride as much as ever. Do you think that it is for nothing that the word of God speaks so much against this sin? Can it be that the Holy-ghost would say, Prov. 11. That eve∣ry one that is proud, is an abomination to the Lord, except God did indeed hate them? Why should God threaten such so much, if he took any plea∣sure in their Society? though hand joyn in hand, yet the proud shall not go unpunished. Now we call the proud happy, but shall we call him so, when the day of the Lord shall burn as fire, and all the proud shall be as stubble: And the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord, and it shall leave them neither root nor branch. When the Lord shall tread down the wicked, and they shall be like Ashes under his feet, Mal. 3.15. & 4.1, 3. There is not one proud man in Heaven, I am sure: Nor a proud man upon the Earth, that shall have much of Gods acquaintance. And let me say, he that sets himself above God (for that's the Pride I mean) whilest he stands in that state, must never expect that God should look upon him with any kindness. Heaven and Hell will as soon be a∣greed, as God and such a one shall be united. The

proud now overlook others that are their bet∣ters, and scorn their Maker; but shortly they shall be paid in their own coyn, they shall be scorned too. If all the proud Nimrods, Pharaohs and Bel∣shazzars in the world should enter into a League, and combine against the Almighty, and say, they will cast away his Cords from them, and that they will never debase their noble Spirits so low as to stoop to his commands; yet none of them all shall go unpunished: They shall be like stubble before the devouring flames, and like Chasse before a mighty whirlwind: God is not afraid of their big looks, Prov. 21.4. Prov. 6.17. Prov. 15.25. Isa. 2.12. Luke 1.51. Jam. 4.6. God will cloath himself with vengeance, and the mighty Jehovah will gird his weapon upon his thigh, and march out in fury and Indignation, and draw his glittering Sword, and resist the proud, and teach them what it is to bid defiance to the Lord of Host. We shall soon see, who shall be uppermost, God or they. And when the proud sinner lies conquered at his feet, how doth he with infinite scorn look upon him, and say, be∣hold, the man is become like one of us! This 'tis for man to attempt the dethroning of the Al∣mighty! But it may be, most may think them∣selves little concerned in that which I now speak; wherefore I must add this one word. Be it known unto thee, O man, whosoever thou art, that think'st thou hast no pride; I am sure thou art one of those that are in that black Roll which have proclaimed War against Heaven; thou art the man that shall never be acquainted with God whilst thou art in that mind. It may be thou maist speak Peace to thy self for all this, and

flatter thy self as if God and you were Friends; but let me tell thee, I come with heavy tydings in my mouth to thee: If thou turn not, he will whet his Sword, he hath bent his Bow, and made it rea∣dy, he hath prepared for thee the Instruments of death, the day of thy Calamity is near: The dreadful Jehovah is upon his march; and if you ask me whether there be not Peace for thee, I answer as Jehu did to Jchoram, what peace, O haughty sinner, so long as the pride of thy heart is so great, and thy Rebellions against thy Maker so many? There is no peace saith my God to the wicked. Wherefore as you value your Soul, as you tender your everlasting Salvation, and desire to be owned by the Lord in the day of your di∣stress, take heed of pride. Go quickly, and hum∣ble your self, and make sure your Friend; labour to pull down every high Thought, and every proud Imagination; and let your Arrogant Spirit how before the mighty God, there is no way will do but this; as ye have already heard: You must set the Crown upon the Lords head, you must lay your selves at his feet, and lick the very dust. Your betters have done so before you, and have thought it their honor to lye at the feet of Christ; this they look'd upon (as with good reason too) as the first step to preferment. If therefore you would be acquainted with God, take heed of pride.

Secondly, Take heed of a worldly mind. What concord is there between Earth and Hea∣ven? What agreement between God and the World? What delight can his Holiness take in him, who had rather be wallowing in the Mud, and treading of Clay, then bathing himself in

Divine contemplation; that thinks it higher pre∣ferment to sit by his bags of Gold, then to stand in the presence of his God: a greater happiness to be rich, than to be holy; that had much rather be in a Fair, Marker, or Exchange, getting money, than with his God, getting Pardon, Grace and Heaven. How pregnant is the Scripture of proofs for the evidencing of this truth? to name one or two of a hundred, Rom. 8.7. To be carnally minded is enmity against God: For it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be. What do you say to this Scripture? Those which walk with God, live in the world, and yet they live above the world; they all look for a City that hath founda∣tions, whose builder and maker is God. It was not for nothing that the Apostle John layes so strict a charge upon those which he wrote to, That they should not love the world, nor the things of the world: For if any love the world, the love fo the Father is not in them, 1 John 2.15. Whence is it that so few great ones go to Heaven, and that it is next to impossible for such to be saved? Is it not because they have chosen Mammon for their Friend, rather than God? He hath their heart, their Love, their Time, their Service, and they have little to spare for God, & therefore God hath but a little happiness, a little heaven, a short glory for them; they shall have but a little of his sweet com∣pany, little Acquaintance with him. Why doth James speak so terribly to the rich men, & bid them go, and weep and howl? was it not because their riches were like to undoe them? Did the wealthy man in the Parable live ever the longer for his riches, or fare ever the better for his greatness, when he came into another world? There is no

question but he might have more flatterers; there is no doubt but he hath more worldly Friends; but bring me a man upon the Earth, that lets his heart without controle fly upon the world, cleaves to it, and takes it to be his best friend, that knows God, that's acquainted with his Maker, that priz∣eth his Redeemer. It was a wise man, who said, that it's absolutely impossible to mind externals and internals, this world and another, with earnest∣ness at the same time: but it was wisdom it self who said, That no Servant can serve two Masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other; he cannot serve God and Mammon, Mat. 5.24. &c.

3. Take heed of Hypocrisie. Who are the persons that God doth denounce his dreadful threatnings against? Are they not such as ho∣nour him with their Lips, when their Hearts is far from him? With what Abhorrency doth he look upon such, and all that they do? Isa. 1. They never bring their heart to visit God with, and therefore they have little reason to expect that he should bring his Dainties to entertain them with.

4. If you would be acquainted with God, take heed of being acquainted with wicked company. We read that many wicked men have fared the better for the company of the godly; but we scarce ever heard that any godly man ever fared the better for being in the company of the wick∣ed, except they went on Gods Errand amongst them. This is clear in the case of Lot, who first lost his goods, and was made a Captive by being in Sodom; and though they were restored to him

again for a while, (one would have thought that should have been a fair warning how he came a∣gain into such company) yet because that would not do, a while after you may read how dear Lot paid for dwelling in Sodom. Poor man! he lost all that he had, and was fain to fly away without ei∣ther. Flocks or Herds, and little more than his cloathes on his back; and that which was more sad, to leave some of his own dear Relations be∣hind him, roasting in those dismal flames. Where∣as had he never come to Sodom, or upon the sight of their wickedness speedily left them, it had been much better with him in many respects. Jehosa∣phat fared never the better for joyning in affinity with his wicked Neighbours, it had like to have cost him his life. But were it, only loss of Tem∣porals that a man hazarded by such society, the danger were not so considerable; but the peril is greater than so, for by it they make God stand at a distance; they must never look to have such company, and Gods company both together; I mean, when they do unnecessarily or delightfully converse with God. If therefore you intend to be acquainted with God, you must not have them always in your company whom he hates, and which hate him, and will labour all they can to cool your affections towards him. Wherefore, be ye not unequally yoaked with unbelievers: For, what Fellowship hath Righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath said,

I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people; where∣fore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters, saith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6.14. to the end. But I would not here be mistaken, as if I would com∣mend an ungodly proud separation from all that are not just of our mind; or as if a man ought to have nothing at all to do with wicked men; no, no: Every one ought to do what he can in his place for the good of Souls. O that Christians would thus converse more with their poor, igno∣rant, carnal, Christless neighbours! O that they would thus be more acquainted with the wicked, and then they should have never the less of Gods company, but the more; but it is an unnecessary delightful associating of our selves with them that I mean, especially such of them which will stifle e∣very spiritual discourse, and divert you from any thing that tends to the promoting of the interest of Religion; and such as have frequently expres∣sed their detestation of the way of Holiness, and make but a mock at your serious Counsels, stop their ears so who some Advice, or make some un∣decent reflections upon the strict prosession of godliness; such as labour to make you believe that all Religion, but that which will consist with their wickedness, is but a Fansie. As for such as those, abhor their company, fly from them as those that have the plague, the marks of death are upon them, and you may write Lord have mercy upon us upon their doors, but go not in, lest you be In∣fected.

5. If you would be acquainted with God, take heed of unbelief. Unbelief will make your soul depart from God, and God quite to depart from your soul. This, This is one of those dreadful and God-estranging sins, which leads on whole Le∣gions against the Almighty. This is that bold daring sin which gives Truth it self the lye, and saith, That the Word of God is false, his Pro∣mises airy, his Threatnings but a Wind: But know this, O sinner, such a wind they be, that will rise to a dreadful storm, and turn your strong confidence up by the roots, and blow them in∣to Hell, if you make no more of them than you do.

6. If you would be acquainted with God, be∣ware of sensuality. To be sensual and devillish are near akin. To be lovers of pleasures and haters of God, are usually concomitants; in a word, to fare deliciously every day, and to be despised of God, are no strange things. But I wave the further pro∣secution of these things, because they are so large∣ly and excellently handled already by so many of our brave Worthies. See Mr. Baxters Saints Rest, and R. A. his Vindicia Pietatis.