James Janeway

Because  man is so welded to the world and dotes upon his lust, all the arguments that we can use are most commonly unsuccessful. Therefore I shall add one more upon this sort of motives drawn from the qualifications of him whom I would fain have you acquainted with… Consider that he is altogether lovely; he’s made of love, goodness, and all excellencies…Ask of them that by faith have seen him.
—James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the Best Friend of Man”

What is the substance of the whole Bible? does not almost every chapter speak of God’s desire to be reconciled to man? Behold, he calls you. He offers you his  Son, a kingdom, a crown. Behold, the Father meets, he makes haste, to meet his returning prodigal.
—James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the Best  Friend of Man”

If you would be acquainted with God, you must visit him often… knock at his door… wait for him… through solemn meditation, secret  prayer, fasting, communion with the saints, and the Lord’s supper.
—James Janeway  “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the best friend of Man”

Acquaintance with God… will make a man rich. As soon as anyone is acquainted with God he is set in  a thriving way [impoverished and indebted through] the serpent, that great cheater [he is bailed out by Christ]. Through the kindness of Christ, the great creditor has patience, and offers to make up the business, and to compound on better terms than the sinner could possibly expect. Christ undertakes to heal the infinite breach, to bring God and man acquainted, to set him up again if he will but accept the gracious terms of the agreement. Thus, undone man, that was before in a beggarly condition, upon his return to God, is set in a better way than ever.
—James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the Best Friend of Man”

If you would be acquainted with God, you must get acquainted with some of his friends; and they will do all they can–and be glad of it, too—to help you to be acquainted with him… If you would be brought to the knowledge of God, go speedily to them that know him well… Get acquainted with some warm, rare, experienced Christian.
—James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus, the Best Friend of Man”

It is the duty of man to acquaint himself with God… because therein is the improvement of his highest excellency… Now what is this excellency of man? Is it not that he is made in a capacity of knowing God, and enjoying God, and having communion with God? This is the height of his glory.
If we refuse acquaintance with God, it is the slighting of the greatest of all the mercies God bestows.
It concerns us to acquaint ourselves with God, for without it, we are in a necessity of sin and misery.
—James Janeway–”Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the best friend of Man”

Some resist and stifle that natural knowledge that they have of God (Rom. 1:28)… Acquaintance with God implies frequent access to God… Under this head I shall speak first of the separation that is of the soul from God; secondly, or the return to the soul to God; thirdly, of the abiding of the soul with God.

To our acquaintance with God is required and abiding with God… If you return to God and continue with  God, than shall you be acquainted with him indeed.

There is required to our acquaintance with God an intimate converse with God… as those who are of his family The communications that are between the soul and God are exceeding transcending all  communications between men’s acquaintance. Men may communicate their thoughts, there estates, their assistance to one another, but they cannot communicate their life, nor their nature, nor their likeness. But such communications there are between God and the soul that is acquainted with him.
—James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the Best Friend of Man

Another effect of acquaintance with God is, that it will make us honour him more highly. Mere familiarity is far from breeding contempt. Those that are strangers to God see not his worth and excellency, they honour him not, but have the most vile, low,  contemptible thoughts of the infinitely glorious majesty.
–James Janeway “Heaven Upon Earth: Jesus the Best Friend of Man.”

The first head of motives that I shall insist on to enforce this exhortation shall be taken from the nature of the Person that I would have you know.
First, he is the most loving and kind Friend… Secondly, He is a most comfortable Friend… Thirdly, He is the most able and powerful Friend… Fourthly, He is the most active Friend… the fifthly, He is the most humble and condescending Friend… the most faithful Friend… a sympathizing Friend… the most patient Friend… an honourable Friend… a suitable Friend… a wise Friend… an immortal Friend… a present Friend, that is always in all places… a soul-Friend… an everlasting Friend… One that is willing and desirous to be acquainted with you.
—James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the Best Friend of Man.”

Another glorious effect of acquaintance with God, is that it makes a man like God… Company is of an assimilating nature. He that before was unholy, and like the devil, by conversion to God and converse with him is made holy like God… A full and perfect conformity and likeness to God is the very glory of glory… Be acquainted with him, and you shall be like him. Keep much in his company by faith, secret prayer, and meditation, and you will be more holy, divine and spiritual. The last effect of this acquaintance with God: it will make a man better, far more excellent in all states and relations. All his friends will have the better life with him, the whole family… will fare the better with him.
—-James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the best friend of man.”

Another excellent affect of acquaintance with God is that it will make a man fall upon sin in good earnest…When he begins to be at peace with God, he commences a war against his adversaries. Friendship with God makes enmity against Satan [and the] unspeakable evil of sin.
—James Janeway

Of a moral separation from God: there is a great strangeness between our souls and God…we reckon ourselves to have little to do with him…and that God takes very little regard of us…we have not God, and think that God loves not us.
Before we can ever be acquainted with God, the separation must be removed…He has set an open door for our return…He has revealed his willingness to receive us if we return…as a father rejoiced to receive a prodigal son that has departed from him …While we cleave to our sins, we are separated from God; till we are separated from our sins, we cannot be united to God.
–James Janeway “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the Best Friend of Man.”

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Another glorious effect of acquaintance with God is, that it makes one to have  very low and undervaluing  thoughts of the world…He reckons that it is better being rich in grace than rich in purse; and that he who  lays up for his body, and provides not for  his soul, is the greatest fool in the world.
—James Janeway

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Happy are they that can always act as if in the sight of God…Hapy are those who, by the thoughts of God, are enraged against sin …I will die a thousand deaths before I willingly yield to anything that may be in in the least offensive to him whom my soul has such infinite reason to love above the whole world.
—James Janeway, “Heaven upon Earth: Jesus the best friend of Man.”

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This acquaintance with God…will make a man rich. As soon as anyone is acquainted with God, he is set in a thriving way. [Indebted and impoverished though,] the serpent, that great cheater, [he is bailed out by Christ.]. Through the kindness of Christ, the great creditor had patience, and offers to make up the business, and to compound on better terms than the sinner could possibly expect. Christ undertakes to heal the infinite breach, to bring God and man acquainted, to set him up again if he will but accept the gracious terms of agreement. Thus, undone man, that was before in a beggarly condition, upon his return to God, is set in a better way than ever.
—James Janeway, “Heaven upon Earth.”

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How sweet and amiable does acquaintance with God make a man! How ready to heal divisions! How full of goodness and charity! How ready to do good unto all, but especially to those that be of the household of faith! How compassionate and tender-hearted! How ready to provoke others to love and good works: so that the whole parish lives the quieter… This is the man who adorns the gospel. This is the Christian who makes credible his profession. This is what it means to be intimately acquainted with God.
—James Janeway from “Heaven upon Earth.”

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If we refuse acquaintance with God, it is a slighting of the greatest of all the mercies that  God bestows.
—James Janeway

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It is no unusual thing for a vile unsanctified sinner to leap with a mad confidence into eternity; but he alone has a solid peace who has God for his friend…Would you die joyfully? Why, then, you must live holily; get acquainted with God, and then this may be your state.
—James Janeway

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“Acquaint yourself with him, and be at peace, so shall good come to you.” [Job 22:21]

They who have improved their experience of things by wisdom, and gathered up the value of man’s life by comparing his desire with his enjoyments, his troubles and sorrows with his content and joy, have concluded the worth of life of man to be less than nothing; they have drawn a black line upon the whole, and shut up all in darkness.

We have given our souls into captivity to our bodies, and are gathered up into ourselves, and become deprived of a sufficiency in separation from God…We, descending to a lower state than that to which we were made, find nothing but dissatisfaction and emptiness: here we are by nature, and hitherto we have brought ourselves by forsaking God.. Is there any way whereby we may be delivered from this misery? What way is it? These words,  which I have chosen to speak to, do containt the answer to the inquiry.

The doctrine is, “Acquaint yourself with him, and be at peace.” The promise, “So shall good come to you.”
—James Janeway

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“Acquaint yourself with him, and be at peace, so shall good come to you.”  (Job 22:21). They who have improved their experience of things by wisdom, and gathered up the value of man’s life by comparing his desire with his enjoyments, his troubles and sorrows with with his content and joy, have concluded the worth of life of man to be less than nothing; they have drawn a black line upon the whole, and shut up all in darkness.
—James Janeway

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Another glorious affect of acquaintance with God is that it will ease us of all sorrows, or cure all sorrows ….A saving knowledge of Christ… buoys up the soul under the mightiest ways of fear…Make sure of this Friend. It is impossible that one with such a Friend should be much daunted. When he hears of wars..when the pestilence rages …distress of nations and perplexities, then a child of God may lift up his head with comfort, because his redemption draws near.
—James Janeway
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