from seeking Christ because they were never truly numbled for sin In their first seeking him some transient convictions it may be they had but never truly humbled for sin O young ones look to this or else all your affections and desires will come to nothing you will see no worth in Christ no need of Christ if you be not truly humbled for sin Mat. 13.5 6. We read of that ground that had no root and what became of it it withered That house that digged not deep to lay the foundation what became of it Luk. 6. ult it fell and great was the fall of it 2. Many young Seekers go off from seeking Christ because they never see any real worth and excellency in Christ They have had it may be some flashes of affection but they never see Christ to be distinctly precious to their poor Souls Have you ever seen him to be the pearl of price the chiefest of ten thousand Can such souls who have fallen really in love with Christ fall off again Did thou ever see Christ a spiritual Christ It may be thou hast lookt upon him as a carnal Christ and hast known him as the Apostle saith after the flesh made only a notional Christ of him or an historical Christ of him O then it is no wonder if thou fall off from seeking of him 3. Many morning Seekers turn off from seeking Christ because profession grows too hot for them because of the heat of the day O it is fine travelling in the morning but after a while the Sun gets up and then it is with them as with that ground which by and by was offended when persecution arose Travellers take in in the heat of the day so I doubt do many poor young ones that have set fairly out after Christ 4. Many poor young Seekers fall off from Christ because they never truly and really closed with him Alas it is not your seeking Christ but your closing in with Christ will preserve you from falling off Have you chosen the Lord Jesus and received him Closing with him is called Job 1.12 receiving of him to as many as received him A poor Soul may be a seeker of Christ that is not a receiver of Christ 5. Many morning Seekers of Christ fall off again because they come after Christ with some reserve If you will be thus seekers of Christ you shall fall off at one time or other viz. I mean if you will reserve any lust Thus the young man came on to some terms with Christ but the market soon fell when he was told he must sell all and Judas followed Christ with a reserve usually reserves are sinners ruine Turn from all iniquity said the Prophet lest it be your ruine 6. Many morning Seekers fall off again because they seek him for themselves and not for himself and many do thus that are not aware of it this is but to bring forth fruit to your selves as Ephraim is charged with Hos 10.1 Do you see any loveliness in Christ any comliness in him Is he a plant of Renown to you Many seek him for loaves though in a more refined sence than there spoken of for his comforts for his discoveries of love for his smiles Mr. Rutherford I am more taken sayes one with my Lords manifested love than with himself This is to love him for what comes from him for his tokens 7. Many morning Seekers fall off again because they let other lovers in process of time steal away their hearts Many in the dayes of their youth have sought after Christ but after a while the heart hath been strangely and insensibly gone affections lost Christ not in all his thoughts why what is the matter The world it may be hath won in upon the soul or gaming or some other sin and now the Soul falls off as new suiters come on O poor young ones you will have many suiters many will court you and then you will be in danger 3. The next word of Inquiry If that morning Seekers shall be sure finders how comes it to pass the Lord Jesus hath so few Seekers One would think Jesus Christ would be thronged after as in the dayes when he was in the flesh they thronged about the door where he was Alas poor Souls you may throng about Ordinances and Meetings and yet never come near Christ We read of a whole crowd about Christ and yet but one poor Woman touched him to draw vertue from him You may crowd about Christ in an Ordinance and yet draw not one drop of vertue from him 1. Hindrance to young ones seeking Christ they are not convinced of the misery of their distant state from Christ if young ones or old ones were convinced of this if all were convinced throughly of their misery of lying out from Christ O what crying what mourning what running nay what roaring after Christ would there be One poor young man would run up and down crying none but Christ none but Christ Another would run to every Ordinance enquiring with the Spouse saw you him whom my Soul loves And another would run to a poor Minister with this cry Sir I am an undone soul if there were no more souls in the world if a Christ be not my portion Another would cry what shall I do to be saved Methinks I see how the stung Israelites run up and down when the fiery Serpents had stung them crying O where where is the brazen Serpent that I may get a look at him and be healed So would poor Souls convinced of their misery do 1. Poor Soul that lies in thy distance from Christ did thou ever see thy misery First Thy misery of guilt as thou art an unpardoned Soul Is not guilt a miserable thing to lie upon a poor Creatures conscience Ask the Devils and they will tell thee if guilt be not an intolerable burden Ask the damned spirits and they will preach to thee the misery of unpardoned guilt Nay if thou could talk with a despairing Soul O what terrible things would it tell thee of the misery of unpardoned guilt O poor young man hast thou found out the way to a pardon and leave out Christ Angels could never find out such a way Or dost thou think to carry guilt into Glory with thee Must any be saved but such as God hath pardoned If thou didst see the misery of guilt thou would'st be a Seeker and a morning Seeker after Christ All pardons are purchased and drawn up and preached in his name They are purchased we have redemption and remission of sin but how come they in through his blood And they preached Repentance and Remission of Sins in his Name beginning at Jerusalem 2. Poor Soul hast thou seen the misery of thy distant state as thou art under the power of sin as every soul is that is out of Christ And O what a sad sight is a young person in under the power of strong corruption Is it
If God should prolong your lives your day of Grace may have its sun-set on a sudden and alas what good will your lives do you when you are wrapt up in gross darkness May not you say already Woe unto us our day goeth away Alas there is a night coming when no man can work 3. Seek the Lord early If you have your lives lengthened your means of Grace continued yet you cannot promise your selves any more gales of the Spirit of God to breath upon you And alas what will Gospel Ordinances signifie to you without the spirits influences breathing in them What is the most precious Ministry you can sit under if not influenced from the Lord by the efficacy of his own Spirit 4. Seek the Lord early you have loytered long you have slept much of your day of Grace away already He that sleeps in harvest is a Son that causeth shame but he that gathereth in summer is a wise Son O what a harvest of the Gospel have we slept in O what a spirit of deep sleep and slumber hath fallen upon us O that we may all take that counsel Vp and be doing and the Lord will be with you Up and be seeking Christ early 5. The longer you neglect to seek the Lord Jesus the more difficult it will be for you Your very sloth will take away your hearts the more a man sits still the less mind he hath to stir Sitting is a pleasing posture it is the description of Gentile Sinners they sit in darkness they are pleased with their dark state And it is hard when we have indulged our sloth to stir up our selves to lay hold of God 2. Seek the Lord earnestly as well as early It is said of Christ he prayed earnestly when in his agony and we read of striving to enter in at the strait gate Strive to an agony put your Souls into an agony So we must seek Christ having our Souls in an agony Poor Souls it may be fall under some general convictions of their sins and they are now put upon seeking the Lord but alas it is with a kind of indifferency of spirit as though they cared not whether they found him or not We should seek the Lord with Jacobs resolution I will not let thee go except thou bless me 2 Cant. 1.2 3 4. The Spouse by night sought Christ in a night of persecution some refer it to that night of persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes yet she gives not over seeking but did she find him No she found him not Now she might have fallen under some temptation to give over why should I wait upon the Lord any longer O no but she falls now upon an earnest search and enquiry after him and now she finds him 3. Seek the Lord under the sense of a promise viz. believingly They that seek shall find If we have not our practice bottomed in our seeking of Christ upon some promise we shall have no comfort in it But now when the Soul sayes I will go a seeking Christ but I will carry a promise with me O this is very comfortable Vnto him shall the Gentiles seek and in him shall the Gentiles trust This is the Great Magna Charta of the Gentiles thou must not seek to thy own Righteousness We read of seeking that way Isa 42.2 You must not trust in your selves but in his Name shall the Gentiles trust If you know not where to trust come hither Mat. 12.18 and here place your trust Many Souls seek Christ but their eye of faith is not up to the promise in their seeking of him 4. We are to seek the Lord in a through sense of our lost condition without him Many Souls seek Christ but they do it not in a sense of their undone condition It is the lost Soul that is the right seeker of Christ Christ seeks such Souls and such Souls seek Christ then they are like to meet That which is promised of the Jews Return holds good here Jer. 50.5 Going and weeping seeking the Lord their God c. It will make you seek him weeping if you were but convinced you were lost to all Eternity undone for ever irrecoverably miserable if you find not Christ. The first-step to seek Christ is to be convinced of ones lost condition O now the Soul falls inquiring after Christ If you see him whom my Soul loves tell him I am sick of love 5. Seek Christ perseveringly Thus the Spouse did seek Christ untill she found him as the woman sought her lost groat until she found it The watchmen smote the Spouse and took away her veil from her yet she gives not over seeking her beloved The watchmen either the Ministerial watchmen or the Magisterial upon the City walls they took away her veil viz. a token of subjection to Christ yet she perseveres still seeking Christ Jacob wrestled until the break of day He was a persevering wrestler and then came the blessing 6. We must seek Christ as appointed by the Father to entertain poor Gentile Sinners Therefore we see the Commission of Christ is to carry it tenderly towards poor Gentiles smoaking flaxes and bruised reeds The Father hath put this work upon him to treat with poor Gentiles about their everlasting Salvation and therefore we must seek Christ distinctly under a distinct notion as the Father hath commissioned him Poor Sinners get some confused notions and apprehensions of Christ and upon these notions they seek Christ but all this while they are ignorant of Christs being sent as the Fathers Commissioner to treat with poor Sinners about the things that concern their peace Several words the Spirit of God hath bestowed upon this thing noting to us that it is a matter of such great concernment 1. He hath set him forth to be a propitiation Rom. 3.25 or fore-ordained him to this end and purpose 2. God hath chosen him My Servant whom I have chosen 3. God hath called him Isa 42.6 4. God hath anointed him to this purpose 5. God hath sent him now we should consider all these and seek him as one thus sent by his Father to treat with poor Sinners 7. We must seek whole Christ in all his Offices As you have received the Lord Jesus Christ so walk you in him This is whole Christ as Prophet Priest and Lord. And thus should poor Gentile Sinners seek the Lord Jesus The second Observation is this That there are especial times for Sinners to find the Lord Jesus Christ in Seek the Lord while he may be found We read David pointing out such a time For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time Psal 32.6 when thou wilt be found or in a finding time so we should read it Others read it in a time of hitting when Gods judgements go abroad and the Lord hits the consciences But David had been confessing his sins and the Lord forgives him and the sense of this forgiveness raises
his heart so that he breaks out thus the Godly shall pray unto thee in such a time in an especial time Luk. 19.41 42. O Jerusalem hadst thou known in this thy day It was an especial time in which they might have found the Lord he so sweetly offering himself to them in the Gospel Solomon tells us Eccl. 8.5 6. A wise mans heart discerneth time and judgment because to every purpose there is a time and judgment therefore the misery of man is great upon him So in this case there is a time an especial time to put your Spiritual purposes into execution to seek the Lord Jesus in Therefore that was good Counsel Job 22.20 21. Now acquaint thy self with God and be at peace and thereby good shall come upon thee Now seek the Lord. There are some especial Nows that we should all improve and lay hold on 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the acceptable time now is the day of salvation c. I passed by thee and saw thee in thy blood and then it was a time of love c. The great question will be what are these especial times in which Christ is willing to be found 1. When he offers himself in the tenders of the Gospel O Jerusalem hadst thou known in this thy day It was a peculiar time in which the Lord Jesus was preached to them Now Christ is willing to be found of you What is the Gospel but Christ seeking out his Sheep his voice calling in his Sheep Christ following poor sinners with invitations and entreaties that they would return unto him and live We read of the Shepherd seeking out his sheep Would Christ offer himself but that it is an especial time of love O poor Souls take heed as you reject these offers 1. These offers of Christ are a fruit of his blood if he had not died he never had been tendred to you and for you to refuse these offers is for you to reject his purchase nay for you to tread his blood under-foot and account the blood of the Covenant an unclean thing And O how must this needs provoke the Lord as is said in the parable of the Supper when they all had refused the Lord was angry and resolved that none of them should taste of his Supper 2. These offers are offers of life and salvation O then take heed of rejecting them You will not come to me that you may have life Now is an especial time you may have life If a poor condemned Malefactor should but have his life offered him O how would he be transported with joy And this is the case of every poor sinner out of Christ he is under a sentence of condemnation and Christ comes and offers them their lives O then as we value the lives of our precious Souls let us not reject the offers of Christ 3. The offers of Christ are unasked unsought for by us therefore it is now an especial finding time Thou poor sinner dost not come forth and ask a Christ and cry for Christ and lament after Christ O no but Christ came out to offer himself to thy poor Soul when thou lay dying and perishing in thy blood then he said unto thee unasked Live 4. The offers of Christ are not only of his Grace but of himself He offers not only what he hath but what he is to thy Soul But my people would have none of me He that hath the Son hath life There must be an union with the Son a closing with the person of Christ as well as with the promise of Christ Now this is more than to offer Grace yea than to offer Heaven to poor sinners Therefore it is we read of the marriage of the Kings Son and shall we despise such a match as this God forbid 5. Surely this is a finding time in an especial manner he offers with entreaties and invitations to accept He doth not make an offer and away as careless whether poor sinners accept or no but he follows his offers with arguments if by any means he might prevail with poor Souls before it be too late 6. He offers all he hath O will neither his person nor his benefits take with the Souls of poor sinners All he hath may be yours If he have pardoning mercy it is yours if he have sanctifying mercy it is yours if he have comforting mercy it is yours He interests you in all his fulness upon your closure with him He bestows upon you a large joynture upon your marriage with him All is yours Then certainly this is an especial finding time 2. The second especial finding time is when the Spirit breaths upon sinners in their attendances upon God We read of a certain season in which the Angel came down and moved the waters There are some certain seasons that the Spirit of God doth breath more freely upon poor sinners than at other times and these times we are to make an especial improvement of The Spirit of God it is said came upon Sampson by times Certain briezes if you will give me leave to call them so that come from Heaven at certain times The wind blows where it listeth O but poor Souls be sure you lose not these winds when they stand fair for Heaven do not let them slip lose not a gale for Eternity for they are especial finding times 1. These gales once gone and they are irrecoverable There is no buying a wind for Heaven if you would give all the world for it one fair gale lost and thy poor Soul may lye wind-bound unto thy very dying day 2. These gales once gone and your hearts harden Sinners hearts harden as the gales of the spirit of God are abused and so suspended And O what a sad case will it be for a poor Sinner to lye upon a death-bed crying out this heart of mine as very a stone as it is as hard as it is now once was breathed upon by the Spirit to close with Christ but I sinned all those precious breathings from my Soul and so by degrees hardned for Hell apace 3. These winds will not alwayes blow upon you the wind will not alwayes stands here Say so when under the Spirits breathings The wind will not alwayes hold thus fair for Heaven it will not alwayes blow in this quarter My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man You must not think of having a trade-wind for Heaven 4. These gales must you give an account for Why did not you move with such a fair wind when you had it This question one day will be asked your precious Souls O what answer will you give in that day Did not my Spirit strive with you but you resisted it and vexed it and quenched it Every motion you ever had and slighted will come in as an evidence against you another day 5. These gales once gone will fill your Souls with horrour that you have lost them that you were in so fair a way for closing with
to an account for all your especial times of finding Christ 2. These especial times of finding Christ are not all persons priviledges He hath not dealt with all people as with you How many parts of the world that never were enriched with the tenders of Gospel-grace as you have been but lie in the rubbish of ignorance and ungodliness Nay how many that have lived under the sound of the Gospel and yet the Gospel is hid to them 2 Cor. 4.3 and such souls are lost And shall your Souls be priviledged above others in the being under these especial seasons and you not improve them 3. These especial times if you let slip you will be hardned and rivetted in your sins After men have sinned away the day of Grace O then they grow worse and worse Then their poor Souls do swim down the stream of all manner of prophaneness Have you not often observed it that after sinners have worn off their Convictions they have been more careless more prophane more resolute in their course of sin 4. These especial times if you let them slip it may be you shall never have such times again My Spirit shall no more strive with man His bowels will be shut up in displeasure against you You may out-live the breathings of the Lord upon your Souls And O if God should awaken you and cause you to reflect upon what hath past betwixt God and your Souls O then it may be you will cry out O that it were with me as in months past O for one of the Motions of the Spirit of God I have sleighted O for one of the Convictions I have murdered 5. These especial times will exceedingly aggravate your sin in standing out against Christ A woe was written upon the head of Capernaum and Bethsaida O when Christ shall say what have you to say for your selves was not I tendred unto you was not I offered with all the benefits of my death but you would none of me O now how will such poor Souls run to the rocks yea be fit to creep into the holes of the ragged rocks for the Majesty of the Lord 2. Word is a word of direction What shall we do by way of improvement of these especial times or how shall we improve them 1. Would you improve these especial finding times Then 1. Lament sensibly over your lost time Lapsed time goes to the heart of a poor convinced sinner nothing doth cut so deep as the consideration of trifling away golden seasons of Grace It was the charge the Lord brought in against Jezabel I gave her space to repent but she repented not O for a poor soul to reflect upon the time that is past then it will cry as Job did in that case O that it were with me as in months that are past O that I might enjoy one of the dayes of the Son of Man that I have so slighted The Apostle tells us of some who for the time might have been Teachers of others but alas they had lost their time If you lose but a tide-time you can fret at that and be impatient O how many tide-times have you lost for Eternity Every appointment of Christ in which the Spirit of Christ breaths is a tide-time O how many market-dayes for Heaven have your Souls lost And can you remember them and not lament over them 2. Would you improve these especial finding times Consider then you cannot mis-improve neglect these but you put a sleight upon Christ O how dangerous is this to put a sleight upon the Lord Jesus when he is willing to be found of you What a sleight was that they put upon Christ when they made all their excuses they could not come when Christ tenders himself and is refused Therefore he complained but my people would have none of me For the Lord Jesus Christ to leave the bosome of his Father the Glory of Heaven and be clothed in and married to our nature and be made a curse for us and after all this to be slighted by a company of poor sinners O what monstrous ingratitude is this Would we slight a Relation a Friend an Acquaintance thus Is not this to be highly uncivil to Jesus Christ O how do poor sinners put their incivilities upon Christ 3. Would you not mis-improve these especial finding times then consider how this grieves Christ When he came nigh the City he wept over it what was the matter this was the consideration that did draw tears from Christs eyes that they had enjoyed an especial time and day of Grace in which Christ was willing to have been found of them O that thou hadst known in this thy day c. We read also of those that refused the tenders of Christ the master of the house was angry at them O take heed of angring Christ poor sinners in this respect Kiss the Sun lest he be angry What if he be Ps 2. ult and you perish from the way When his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are they that trust in him O who can stand before the wrath of the Lamb Yea what can cover us from the wrath of the Lamb O what ingratitude is this to grieve him for loving you to requite him evil for good Is this your kindness to your friend Will you thus requite the Lord O you foolish Souls Do you thus answer his love in coming from heaven upon your errand It is said the Lord Jesus Christ was grieved because of their unbelief and the hardness of their hearts You would not willingly grieve a Relation a Father a Mother and will you grieve Christ 4. Direction Would you not mis-improve these especial finding times then live in the consideration of what depends upon them Upon these times depend your eternal conditions upon on these monosyllables depends eternity upon these Nows these present gales and seasons of Grace We say of some business that we are very solicitous about there is much depends upon it It is a matter of grand importance This is the case thy laying hold of these special times is a business of great moment as much as your immortal Souls are worth O that every time you prayed you might say this is for eternity and every time you heard a Sermon O poor Soul this is for eternity As that great Painter said propter aeternitatem pingo So should every poor sinner say of his duties Write Eternity upon the head of them I have read of one that lived many years in a Cave under the earth among multitudes of Gnats to the wonder of many he was insensible of their disturbances and the reason given is this he was come thither to contemplate eternity So do I say the consideration and contemplation of eternity would make you forget the world and the comforts of it when you make your approaches to God 5. Would you not mis-improve these especial finding times O then live much in the consideration of the worth of your
set and watered that they might become Trees of Righteousness Therefore he hath his Nurseries to debauch and corrupt them like Herod he is all for killing Christ in the cradle O this puts him upon that rage and wrath in pursuing poor Souls as soon as their Convictions begin to stir in them As Pharaoh pursued Israel when he saw them attempting an escape so doth Satan follow poor Young Ones as soon as ever they look out of their miserable Captivity under which they are in their natural estates and conditions 11. I have observed that the Lords effectual working upon the hearts of Young Ones is and hath been a token of some approaching appearance of God on the behalf of a People or a Nation It argues God hath still some work there some thing to do there that he would not leave that place and people He doth not beget Children for the murtherer he doth not use to beget Children and send away the breasts from them And on the contrary when Conversion-work ceases O then some heavy blow comes Some National stroak is at the door When the Harvest is inn'd then the labourers are called home and this portends a storm Ambassadours calling home looks like a War 12. I have observed the sad and doleful heart-breaking lamentations of many Godly Parents over the Souls of their dear and dead Children many Families mourning over their dead There was a great cry throughout the Land of Aegypt when the First-born was dead Exod. 11.6 O what a cry hath gone through the Land for the Souls of poor dead Children One Family crying Lord this dear Child is dead his Soul is dead while he lives 1 Tim. 5.5 as is said of some while they live in pleasures are dead and that which cuts poor Parents to the heart is this they fear they shall ere long hear such a cry for their Childrens Souls as was in the night time in the great Plague some times Cast out your dead cast out your dead O then sayes one Family LORD how many have we to cast out So many Children and so few of them made alive to God so few that have Christ formed in their precious Souls O you Young Ones that are the Seed of Godly Parents if you miscarry to all Eternity your Parents Tears and Frayers I must tell you will be as so much oyl to make Hell flames burn so much the more vehemently upon you If you that are Children of the Kingdome by Education be shut out this will aggravate your condemnation dreadfully 13. I have observed that the wandring of such Young Ones in the by-wayes of Sin as have sprung from and have been nursed up in Godly Families have rolled much reproach upon Gods Covenant If the reproach was only upon their Persons it would not be so laid to heart though for a Son to be an occasion of reproach to his Father and Family is sad but that which goes deeper is the Covenant of God is reproached The world say they see no difference betwixt the posterity of the Godly and the Vngodly and this is an over-whelming consideration to them And O Young Ones is neither the Name of God nor the Name of your tender Parents nor your Families nor your immortal Souls precious in your eyes How may that Endictment be drawn up against you Mic. 7.6 The Son dishonoureth the Father and the Daughter riseth up against her Mother Lastly I have sadly observed a spirit of stubbornness and rebellion hath taken possession of many Young Ones towards their dear and tender Parents 2 Tim. 3.2 which indeed is a sin of the highest rank Rom. 1.30 therefore reckoned among ihe sins of the later times and so on the contrary obedience to Parents is reckoned among the most Religious Duties Lev. 19. ◠You shall fear every man his Mother and his Father and keep my Sabbaths I am the Lord your God Yea in the punishment of this sin we may read the heinousness of it the Rebellious Son was to be stoned to death under the Law Deut. 21.18 19 20 21. and sure the sin is not less now in Gospel-times than it was then Now Young Men these were some of those Observations I have made that tendered my heart towards the everlasting good of your immortal Souls and prevailed with me to put these papers into your hands hoping the Lord may in some measure succeed them with his blessing which is and shall be the hearty Prayer of Your unfeigned Souls Friend and Servant in the Ministry of the Gospel J. R. Decem. 9. 1672. Advertisement to the Reader There is published by the same Author a Book Entituled A Plat for Mariners or the Sea-mans Preacher in several Sermons upon Jonah's Voyage In 8 vo Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me THat young Inquirers after the Lord Jesus Christ may be encouraged in their following on to know him notwithstanding the temptations they meet with without them and within them this Text of Scripture is very considerable The Words are the Promise of Christ to young Seekers by way of encouragement to continue and hold on in seeking him 1. We have the Persons to whom the Promise is made They that seek me early they that seek me in the morning so the word because that which is done in the morning is always done most vigorously the Spirits being more raised and lively Therefore we read of the morning as an especial praying time as a time of worship I direct my prayer unto thee in the morning Prov. 15.14 The word is uused Psal 130.6 and will look up and at another time says he my soul waits for thee more than they which wait for the morning Psal 130.6 viz. than the Watchmen that give notice of the morning Tempus matutinum Hebraeis dicitur Boker à Bokkar Est quaerere magis conatu studio Pro. 15.14 It signisies to seek by suing and praying by asking direction and counsel of them that are able to give it that they may offer up their Sacrifice says Mr. Ainsworth These are the Persons under the Promise that seek him in the morning of their time in their youth 2. We have the Person that makes this Promise They that seek me viz. Jesus Christ It is apparent all over the Chapter that is meant of Christ who is here called Wisdom who indeed is the Wisdom of the Father I need not take up time in proving this the very Text carries its own Evidence in it O Poor Soul Christ himself is your Encourager what ever Discouragements you meet withall and this he doth by his own Promise 3. Here is the Promise it self they shall find me They are poor mourning Seekers early Seekers and young Seekers but they shall be sure and certain finders They shall not seek as God threatned them in the Prophet they shall seek me with their Herds and their Flocks Hosea 5.6
he hath promised to carry them Isaiah 40.11 he carries the Lambs in his Bosom and can any pull them out of his Bosom If none can pull them out of his hand much less can any pull them out of his heart 2. Perseverance is Christ's Purchase did he die for you and will he lose you Will he pay the Price and let another carry away the Purchase Did not he die for Glory as well as Grace and Happiness as well as Holiness No no not a soul that his blood is gone for can be a miscarrying soul 3. Your Perseverance is Christ's charge he hath undertaken for it to his Father John 6.37 none that thou hast given me shall be lost but I will raise it up at the last day 2. They have Discouragement from without as well as from within and both meeting together is a great damp to the young Seeker The discouragements from without are from these Causes 1. From Satan As soon as he sees they look Christ-ward and Heaven-ward he begins then to torment them though while they were his Bondslaves they were all the time quiet As when the Children of Israel were to go out of the Egyptian Captivity then Pharoah with all his Host pursues them so when a soul is going out of his spiritual house of Bondage Satan with all his might and main labours to reduce them It is the observation of one upon the Church the Woman in the Revelations that all the while she was breeding the Dragon did not meddle with her but when she comes to be delivered then he casts a flood after the woman to destroy both her and her man-child So all the while a poor soul is under some Breathings and desires only after Christ Satan doth not much tempt or disturb it but when it comes to bring forth Christ and answer his Convictions with a change of Conversation O then he casts a whole flood of Temptations and discouragements after it And alas this proceeds from his envy to the good of your souls He is the envious one and his envy puts him upon laying discouragements before you O who can stand before Envy O poor soul the Lord will look after thee while thou art looking after him Poor soul be of good cheer thy Temptations argue his Rage and his Rage being great argues his time of rule in thy soul is like to be short 2. Discouragement without proceeds from the Persecution that attends the Profession of the Gospel While the Sun did shine upon the Gospel it had many friends but when it is brought under the Clouds of Persecution many go away from Christ as he said unto them Will you also go away There was I remember a Law that the first year of marriage none should go to War O but may young ones say what a discouragement it is to us as soon as ever we desire to be married to Christ in a profession of the Gospel we must be Sufferers and must go to War with Persecutions Well poor Souls be not discouraged you shall not go to war on your own cost The Lord the great Captain of your Salvation will renew your strength and you shall run and not be weary walk and not faint though Persecutions meet you in the way Jesus Christ hath his strict Charge and he will look after them in a suffering day 3. Discouragement from without is the Opposition they meet with from carnal Relations such as are Encmies to the Cross of Christ Many times such do mightily oppose these ways they are ignorant of which is a great discouragement And Satan many times helps on the rage of such and stirs up their wrath but yet for all this poor soul be not discouraged when thy way pleases the Lord he can make thine Enemies at Peace with thee much more thy Relations God many times has turned the heart of Relations about as he did Esau's heart to his Brother Jacob when pursuing of him but if not there is a Friend nearer than a Brother viz. the Lord Jesus Christ he will be a friend in the day of Adversity Nay often it is observed that as cold water makes fire burn so much the hotter so Grace gains by opposition by the cold water of discouragement burns so much the brighter Thy opposition will drive thee more to look up to him where thy strength lies and so may be a great preservation to thee 4. Discouragement from without is from the miscarriages of such as do profess the Lord Jesus Christ Many that call upon the name of Christ do not depart from iniquity but walk loosely deal unrighteously betwixt man and man dishonour their Profession by an unsuitable Conversation Others they have more grosly backsliden from God and whereas formerly they have been praying men in their Families hearing men frequenting the means of Grace somewhat strict in their lives now they have thrown off all these and become like other men as vain as other men nay as prophane as other men and this is a great discouragement O poor Soul notwithstanding this Discouragement yet go on for the ways of the Lord are the same and if thou follow on to know the Lord thou wilt find sweetness in his Ordinances and Truth notwithstanding this Application Is it so that young Seekers early Seekers meet with Discouragement Word of Use is Caution O let young ones take heed in their first looking out after Christ 1. Of consulting with flesh blood this will occasion you to yield to Discouragements It is said of Paul Gal. 1.16 he consulted not with flesh and blood The worst counsel in the World will flesh and blood give in the case of a mans soul Alas poor young man will flesh and blood say what art thou going to do Art thou able to deny thy self of the delights and pleasures of Youth Art thou able to cut off a right hand to put out a right eye to cut the throat of a beloved Isaac to let out the hearts blood of a constitutional Lust Can thy tender years indure such hard things as Religion is like to be attended with Canst thou bear the scoffs and jeers of the World the oppositions and displeasure of thy dearest Relations And thus will flesh and blood follow thee But alas what is this to a poor soul that sees its precious soul lie at stake and is in danger Cannot will not this soul reply to all these reasonings of flesh and blood Get you behind me Satan What are the greatest severities in the World to a man that sees and feels he is a lost soul for ever if he have not a Christ 2. Take heed in your first seekings out and meeting with discouragements that you pore not unbelievingly upon your discouragements It is true there ought to be sitting down and counting the cost for the want of which many poor souls after Profession have backsliden but the poor young ones may pore too much upon their discouragements may look
an easie yoke by giving them to see a difference betwixt this yoke and the yoke of Satan And now sayes the poor Soul the yoke of Satan would have prest me down to Hell I should have drawn my self damned in the Devils yoke and O now how heavy do I feel it My sins are gone over my head as a burden yea as too heavy a burden for me to bear O now when a poor sinner compares yokes and burdens O how easie doth Christ's yoke become 4. The Lord Jesus Christ doth encourage young Seekers by giving them hearts to wait upon him and sweetly and secretly renewing their strength in waiting on him While there is a waiting Spirit there is encouragement this was the great encouragement of Jacob's Soul a wrestling frame was kept up in him Where-ever a Soul continues a waiter and wrestler there is hope it will come off conquerour therefore we read of that blessed Promise Isa 40.30 31. The youths shall faint and the young men shall utterly fall but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength strength comes in upon your waiting You young waiters he will not let you wait upon him for nothing if your hands wax weak he will strengthen them there shall be a secret invisible strength sent in that shall still keep you waiting O but may Souls say we shall be weary after a while for all this O no poor Souls you shall run and not be weary walk and not faint a poor young runner shall hold on and hold out That word in the Psalms is of the like comfort Psal 27. ult to waiters Wait on the Lord and be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart I say wait on the Lord. O but sayes the poor Soul I am discouraged I know not what to do I shall sink under them wait on the Lord and what then the Lord will strengthen thee in waiting against all thy temptations both within and without the Lord is good to them that wait for him and thou shalt find it so 5. The Lord doth encourage the souls of young Seekers by giving them tastes of his love for many times at first conversion he gives more of it than he doth afterwards this is to encourage Souls and draw them on more to love him and seek him and follow after him When the Prodigal came newly home at his first return O how he treated him Bring forth the best robe and put it on him and a ring on his hand and shooes on his feet If the Lord should not give young Seekers some sweet tastes of his love they would be discouraged in seeking after him But now they that taste how good and gracious the Lord is they come unto him 6. The Lord Jesus doth encourage the Souls of young Seekers by passing by and pardoning their infirmities in their approaches to him and graciously accepting and owning what is his There is something of Gods and something of their own in every duty and a great deal of their own to a little of Christs a great deal of dross to a little silver a great deal of water to a little wine and O sayes the poor young Seeker I am discouraged will the Lord accept of such an offering as this If thou shouldst offer this to thy Governour would he accept of it O poor Soul see what he sayes I have eaten my honey with my honey comb not only the honey but the comb because of the dross he doth not refuse all he knows how to separate the comb from the dross the infirmities of a duty from any thing of the spirit in a duty he will pick out what is his own and pardon what is thine 7. The Lord Jesus doth encourage the Souls of young Seekers by helping them to believe the precious Promises made to them There are not more precious Promises made to any sort of sinners or sort of people than to young Seekers after Christ. Is not this a precious Promise in the Text Of all persons you shall not be disappointed you shall seek and find â—â—â— 40.11 He shall carry the Lambs in his bosome and gather them with his arm and shall gently lead them that are with young O what a Soul-reviving-Promise is this are not Lambs weak creatures but in his bosome shall they get both warmth and strength The old Proverb shall not hold in this case The weakest go by the walls if they cannot go he can carry them and not carry them on his back but in his bosome which is the easiest carriage and the safest carriage O what a sweet shepherd is this that nourishes his Lambs in his bosome And is not that also a rich and glorious Promise A bruised Reed shall he not break nor shall he quench the smoaking flax until he bring judgement unto victory O poor Soul can there be greater encouragements than in this Promise What is a weaker thing than a bruised Reed what is a poorer thing than smoaking flax soon extinguished soon trodden out but the Lord will make weak ones strong weak Grace shall be victorious Grace thou art a poor weak worm it may be the Lord chooses things that are not to confound things that are 8. The Lord encourages such as are young Seekers of him by watering the buddings of his own Grace in their Souls Grace is so tender a plant that it will live in no soyle where it is not well watered it cannot be in any soyle but it must be watered He takes notice of the buddings of the Pomegranate or the opening of it When a poor soul begins first in its openings to desire after Jesus Christ in its faith in its love to Christ O then these are watered with precious quickning influences from above which makes them spring up and grow apace he breaths upon his young plants Blow O south mind that the spices may flow out these breathings are influences from the Spirit 1. Reason why the Lord Jesus Christ doth encourage young Seekers because in their first setting out to seek Christ they meet with most temptations O now when Satan is like to lose his prey how doth this greedy Lion roar when he sees he is like to be disappointed how doth he follow the Soul with wrath and rage Now the greater the rage of Satan is against poor Souls the more bowels hath Christ yearning towards them as it is his great office to succour those that are tempted When Christ was born in Jerusalem there was a great uproar O poor Soul thou wondrest what is the matter there is an uproar a tumult in thy own Spirit a combate within and thou begin'st to be restless in Spirit look'st up to God in this condition O what if Christ be forming in thy soul There are two things make Satan bestir himself against morning Seekers 1. It is his envy he is the envious one he envies the good and happiness of every poor Soul therefore he pursues thee
2. His pride that his dominion should be lessened that he should lose a subject this makes him rage 2. Reason why the Lord Jesus Christ doth encourage poor morning Seekers because he will allure them after himself This is the method of Jesus Christ to allure by encouragements young Converts This the Lord did with the people of Israel Hos 2.15 Therefore I will allure her into the Wilderness perswade her and sometimes it is called drawing with loving kindness have I drawn thee A poor Soul by being encouraged is allured after Christ spoken as some Expositors say after the manner of Lovers that give one another presents not only pledges but as baits to allure and inflame further affections Every encouragement the morning Seeker hath from Christ the more doth his love burn after Christ 3. Reason why the Lord Jesus doth encourage morning Seekers after Christ because this is the will of the Father and whatsoever is his Fathers will is his will they run into one another I and my Father is one Joh. 36.37 Thus he argues in that famous place I will in no wise cast out them that come unto me why this is the will of my Father God will have young Seekers encouraged who ever be cared for in the family the Children must 4. Reason because they are soonest discouraged O if poor Souls at the first work get not some little taste of love some comfort and refreshment alas their souls faint within them That is the reason he will carry the Lambs in his bosome they are soon wearied cannot go are prone to be tired and sit still O but this tender hearted Shepherd shall carry them that is the reason of that Promise he shall not quench the smoaking flax viz. he shall not carry it roughly but tenderly towards Souls under weak beginnings of Grace The smoaking flax is soon put out and the bruised Reed is soon broken so is a poor weak young beginner in Grace soon discouraged but the Lord shall not do it viz. he will do the contrary for it he will strengthen he will encourage it 5. Jesus Christ doth encourage young morning Seekers after himself because it is his own work in their Souls and he that begins a good work will carry it on Jesus Christ must needs encourage the breathings of his own Spirit in the Soul he is tender of his own begettings every Creature that begets seeks to maintain that life so doth Jesus Christ The work of Regeneration is called the New Creature it is of his Creation we are his workmanship created to good works in Christ Jesus God will encourage his own workmanship Application Is it so that poor morning Seekers are encouraged by Jesus Christ 1. It informs us then of the love of Christ that it runs to the weakest of Believers as well as the strongest of Believers to those that are in the lowest form in Christs School as well as those that are in the highest to the weakest of the flock as well as the strongest to the youngest children as well as the eldest There are three sorts of Christians as John ranks then Fathers young Men Joh. 12.13 and little Children 2. It informs us of the evil and sin of the desponding frame of heart which is often found with young Seekers viz. if they seek a little and find not at first then they are discontented and discouraged and then why should I wait any longer seek any longer pray any longer mourn any longer hear any longer O this is an evil frame of heart you see Christ is very loth you should be discouraged 1. This desponding and being discouraged argues much shortness and impatience of spirit in you that you are not willing to let the Lord alone with the management of his own work He that believes makes not hast Psal 40.1 2. A poor Soul may be too impatient after comfort and discoveries of love but David came to this frame of heart to wait patiently upon the Lord then the Lord heard his cry and delivered him out of the horrible pit 2. Doth not this speak much pride to be in the heart What is it but pride that you are not willing to wait Alas poor Souls should not you say as the Church did I will put my mouth in the dust if there may be hope What is non-subjection to the will of God but pride 3. It informs what is Ministers duties and Believers duties This was the charge of Christ to Peter and in him to the Gospel Ministry succeeding him feed my Lambs Joh. 21.15 There are some that concern themselves too little with the Lambs of Christ they are so taken up with the Hee-goats of the flocks that they forget there are Lambs in the flock that there are Hinds in the flock poor timorous creatures startled with any thing for so are the Hinds Can we write after a better Copy than our Lord and Master hath set us He carries the Lambs in his bosome and should not substitute Shepherds do so He took little children in his arms and should not we do so And this is also the duty of others Fathers and Mothers when you see any thing of Jesus breaking out any desires any good inclinations any convictions of sin O you should encourage these beginnings this is Christ-like and the contrary is Devil-like Herod-like which undoubtedly was stirred up by Satan to kill Christ in the cradle viz. while young to seek for the life of the young Child Pharoah-like to throw the Male Children into the River Pharisee-like neither to enter your selves nor let others enter Masters how should they encourage their Servants when they see any thing of Christ appear in them The day is coming you your servants will stand before the Lord to give an account how you have carried it towards them whether you have encouraged them or no and I am afraid the evidence of some Servants will be received against their Masters Are not such Masters monsters rather than Masters as shall way-lay the salvation of a servants Soul Would not the rich man have prevented the coming of his brethren to hell What can there be any love to Souls in hell Expositors tell us that their going thither would have added to his torments because by his example they had sinned O will not this add to your torments and misery in another world that you have been the occasion of so many poor Souls miscarrying under your roof 4. It informs us of the infinite condescention of Jesus Christ that he will look after poor young enquirers after poor morning Seekers Is not this condescention even to admiration to carry Lambs in his arms to nourish poor Lambs in his own bosome that he should trouble himself with such poor sinful worms May not such souls say how is it Lord that thou should manifest thy self to us and not to the world and not to the rest of my brothers and not to the rest of my
others oppositions within and without Now where there is a principle of Grace when under opposition it will seek so much the more importunately after Christ The Disciples discouraged the poor woman of Canaan saying Send her away a great discouragement but she cryed the more Opposition meeting with Grace doth but prove like cold water upon good coales make them burn the brighter Usually at thy first looking out after Christ opposition will meet thee but then let such opposition send you to Christ 2. Reason why morning Seekers shall be certain finders because they are diligent Seekers and the Promise runs unto diligent seeking He that comes unto God Heb. 11.6 must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of such as diligently seek him It is not the slothful Seeker that shall be the certain finder no no the desire of the sluggard kills him 1. Morning Seekers are diligent Seekers now they see the worth of what they seek none can seek diligently but such O now they seek the Lord Jesus in the sense of the worth of him When we know the worth of that we seek we will seek diligently Ask these Seekers what Christ is worth and they will tell you ten thousand worlds he is the pearl of price chiefest of ten thousands 2. Morning Seekers are diligent seekers because now they are convinced of the worth of their Souls for the good of which they seek Persons will never seek diligently until they come to see the preciousness of their immortal souls Can a man be too diligent in the business of his Soul Did ever you hear of any repented them of their diligence in working out of their salvation with fear and trembling when they came to die Have you ever known any who have cryed out what a fool was I to pray so much to live so holily to take up so much of my time about my immortal soul Ask a poor Soul why it is so diligent at first seeking Christ and it will tell you I never saw the worth of my Soul before I am now seeking out for my Soul and if I do not find I am a lost undone Soul to all Eternity 3. Morning Seekers are diligent Seekers because they now know the evil dayes are coming upon them Eccl. 12.1 in which they will be unfit to seek him dayes of sickness dayes of affliction it may be temptations and tryals they seek while it is to day because when night comes there will be no seeking 4. They know there is a day in which he will not be found Isa 99.6 Seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is nigh O sayes the morning Seeker the time is coming when it will be too late the gate of Mercy will be shut the bridge of Mercy drawn and the Soul is afraid of delaying and dallying upon that account 5. Morning Seekers are diligent Seekers because they are convinced now of the great need of Christ O now they see and say they are undone and lost for ever if they miss of the Lord Jesus What makes persons diligent in seeking but when they see a need of what they seek Do not they need a Christ that see they are undone to all Eternity if they have not a Christ 3. Reason why morning Seekers will be certain finders the Promise runs to them what plainer than this word in my Text They shall find me They that seek shall find He never said to the Seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain And he is faithful that hath promised Let this encourage you that you are under a Promise Application Is it so that morning Seekers shall be sure and certain finders Then it is a word of Inquiry Why or what should be the reason so many poor morning Seekers are complaining they find not him whom their Souls love as the Spouse did I sought him but I found him not And so many poor Souls are complaining I sought Christ so long but I know not that I have found him to this day 1. Reason why Jesus Christ is not at present found of morning Seekers he will exercise their Graces by it he had a design upon the Spouse to exercise her Grace by withdrawing from her 1. Sayes Christ I will try whether this poor Soul love me or no Love is a waiting Grace whether this poor Soul can wait and enquire Saw you him whom my Soul loves 2. Christ by this tryes their faith faith will continue seeking though at present it doth not find Isa 8.17 I wait upon the Lord who hides his face from the house of Jacob. 2. The Lord Jesus is not found at present of morning Seekers to draw out their Souls in longings after him The more a poor seeker of Christ seems to be denied the more is his Soul enflamed with ardent desires Thus did Christ with the Spouse when he had withdrawn himself the watchmen smote her took away her veil from her Yet her Spirit was raised the more after Christ to enquire after him Thus often it is with morning Seekers after Christ 3. The Lord Jesus is not at present found of morning Seekers because he will let the Soul see it is only his free Grace that must be adored and admired in finding Christ Morning Seekers would be sacrificing else to their nets and dosing incense to their own drags and stroaking self upon the head and saying this is my praying this is my mourning this is my being early up in the morning O now he will have the Soul know that it is of the riches of his Grace that he is found of those that seek him 4. Jesus Christ is not found at present of morning Seekers because he will try whether their hearts be upright with himself Many poor Souls begin to seek Christ but it is but for a time temporary seekers and afterwards they are offended with one thing or other then they draw back that is a note of a rotten heart I dare say thou wert never right at heart Christ-ward that turnest off and lookest back upon some offence taken against Christ I doubt there be many hypocritical Seekers it is no wonder if such be not finders 5. Jesus Christ is not at present found of morning Seekers because they are many times too legal in their seeking him I mean they seek him too much in a way of works as Israel of old did Now he would acquaint poor Souls with the way of faith to seek him in a way of believing this is the only way of seeking Christ 2. Word of Inquiry If that morning Seekers shall be certain finders of Christ then how comes it to pass that so many of them after a while give over turn their backs on the way of God and apostatize from that they once profest O how many young ones who have begun in the Spirit and yet have ended in the flesh as we might judge 1. Many young Seekers have turned off
nothing to thee that thou art a slave to sin serving divers lusts and pleasures But when was this they did so the Apostle tells us before the loving kindness of God their Saviour did appear Tit. 3.4 5. Would'st thou have power against sin It may be thy Soul goes to thy prayers for it to thy duties for it to thy resolutions and purposes for it the best way is to close with Christ for there can be no power against sin that can subdue it until closure with Christ While thou art under the power of sin it doth what it will with thee it Kings it and Lords it that thou obey'st it in the lust thereof Secondly Hast thou seen the misery of thy distant state as thou art under enmity to God and God under enmity to thee 1. The enmity of thy side O what a piece of misery is it to be under the power of enmity this is a piece of the misery of the damned they have an inveterate enmity against God that if such a thing were possible they would dethrone God like some we read in their distress Isa 8.21 Curse their God and their King and look upward Is not this misery indeed to be an enemy to the God of all thy mercies to be an enemy to him thou daily livest upon nay cannot live one moment without And such a monster art thou I have read of one that killed her Child while it smiled so would'st thou do Art not thou spurning Gods tender bowels every day but now by seeking Christ or closing with Christ this enmity is done away 2. Enmities on Gods side God an enemy to thee and can there be greater misery than this what he thy enemy that thou art every day provoking and can upon every provocation in a moment turn thee into Hell Every one fears having great ones for their enemies but what sayst thou to the great God who is thine enemy If ever poor sinners were convinced of this O what seeking Christ would there be for reconciliation 3. Hast thou seen the misery of thy distant state as thou art a vassal to Satan for so is every one out of Christ and is this nothing to thee Wert thou in Algier what Letters wouldst thou send to thy friends setting forth thy dolefull slavery to affect their hearts to send over thy redemption-money But alas what is a Turk to the Devil the one reaches the Body the other the Soul Poor Soul out of Christ the Devil is thy patron and wilt not thou groan to be delivered Why are not Souls morning Seekers after Christ Alas they see not the misery of being under the power of Satan Now want of powerful convictions in these three things while you lye in a distant state from Christ is the first cause why he hath so few Seekers 2. Hinderance to young Seekers after Christ is their beloved lusts and darling corruptions they are willing to part with some but not all their lusts there is an Isaac that causes laughter they cannot think of cutting the throat of it there is a Benjamin they cannot tell how to let that go there is a Dalilah they are loth to lose there is an Herodias they cannot endure to part with Mat. 13.45 46. a right hand they will needs keep and hide O no poor young man thou must sell all if thou wilt seek and find this pearl of price We read of the young man and he was very fair and like to fall in with Christ Mark 10.22 Jesus Christ begins to strike at his right hand and he pulls it in and Christ and he parts upon this occasion Herod was fair but when John gets a blow at his Herodias Herod gets a blow at Johns head and strikes it off O poor sinner if thou resolve for Christ thou must resolve against thy darling sin 3. Hinderance to young Seekers after Christ is their entanglement by wicked company They come to Ordinances and are convinced that sin will be bitter to them in the latter end and they see no way but that living and dying in such courses they are lost for ever Well one would think some good would spring and grow out of such convictions but alas the next time they come in their evil company they have absolutely lost all one would not think these were the young men that were so affected at Sermons Now it may be you may see in their hands instead of their Bibles their Cups and in their mouths hear instead of their prayers their oaths Well young men know for all this God will bring you into judgement 1. Wilt thou poor Soul rather part with a precious Christ than with thy base company O unworthy Soul of Christ's bowels to prefer thy sinful Companions before thy Blessed Jesus as those poor Souls preferred Barabbas before Jesus What wilt thou love a drunkard a swearer an unclean wanton before Jesus Christ 2. Wilt thou rather part with an immortal precious Soul than part with thy wicked company O how many have been damned by this one sin how many thousands of Souls have been cast away for ever upon this rock while other sins have slain their thousands this hath slain ten thousands O how many company-keepers are now in Hell 3. Then canst thou look upon them when thou comest to dye and thy conscience filled with guilt and horrour canst thou then look upon them with delight Canst thou sport thy self with thinking or discoursing how many times you have been drunk together how many times you have violated the Lords day together how many nights you have spent all gaming together If your Companions should come in when you are upon a death bed and say Come be of good cheer remember such a bout and such a bout how merry we were O will not this be as a dagger to stab through your heart will not this wound like a sword in the bones Remember the young mans doleful ditty in the Proverbs and thou mourn at last when thy flesh and thy body is consumed and say Prov. 5.11 12 13. How have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof 4. Will not your wicked examples one to another here be aggravations of one anothers torments in another world 5. Poor Souls if you will go to Hell for company you shall have company enough there What company is there there There is the Devils company and wicked Spirits company As blessed Doctor Preston said in a good sence so here may be said in a sad sence I shall change my place but not my company So thou mayest say thou must change Earth for Hell but not thy company there is wicked company enough there 4. Fourth hinderance to young Seekers after Christ is a spirit of slothfulness they indulge themselves too much in their own ease as the Spouse did but this provoked Christ and he did withdraw upon it Poor Sinner what man that hath been industrious that by pains and care hath gotten an
estate afterwards repents himself but rather looks back upon his diligence with delight So did you ever hear of any when they were to dye that ever cryed out O that I had not spent so many dayes in the service of God! O that I had never taken such pains in seeking after Christ But you have heard of many on the contrary that have cryed O that I were to live over my dayes and time again would I ever be so careless of an immortal Soul would I ever indulge my carnal sloth at that rate I have done would I miss so many precious seasons of Grace for my Soul as I have done 1. Poor Soul do not many strive and never win into the harbour had not thou need cast off thy sloth then 2. Work out thy salvation with fear and trembling who then would give way to flesh 3. It is a business of eternal consequence who would be slothful in a business of such great concernment 4. All our diligence is little enough therefore God calls for violence in the case to take heaven by violence this is honourable 5. The fruit of diligence will be peace upon a death bed 2 Pet. 3.14 Be diligent is Peters exhortation but what motive doth he use That you may be found of him in peace 5. Fifth hinderance to young Seekers after Christ is hope of a longer lease of their lives they hope there is no such hast Some years hence when they have gotten an estate in the world then they will look after these things but why should they be so early with Christ will not two seven years hence serve and thus they delay their seeking after Christ 1. It is worth considering what if thou do live longer and be hardened in sin While Plants are tender they may be dealt with but when they are grown they are too sturdy Alas poor Sinner thou mayst be hereafter a sturdy sinner an hardned sinner an Atheist a Scoffer a Persecutor what if God shall give thee up after thou hast refused to hearken unto him and say of thee Psal 81.11 12. as of Israel of old But Israel would have none of me so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts 2. Is it not worth considering whether the motions of the Spirit be not irrecoverably forfeited by such Souls as delay seeking after Christ upon hope of a longer day There have been Souls that have irrecoverably forfeited the Spirits gales and then what a sad condition would thy poor Soul be in God hath said his Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man 3. What if while thou art hoping for a longer day God should send thee a summons by the black Serjeant Death to tell thee this night shall thy Soul be taken away It was so with him while he was saying Soul take thine ease thou hast goods laid up for many years 4. What if thy day of Grace should be over and Christ wooe no more tender himself no more but his abused love turn into incensed wrath 5. Consider how thy puts off and delayes have grieved Christ Hast not thou wearied out the Lord Jesus while he hath stretched his arm all the day long 6. Consider how your delays will sting you upon a death bed or in another world O how often was I called and yet delayed The remembrance of every delay will go to your hearts like a dagger and bleed in your conscience for ever 6. Sixth Hinderance to morning Seekers after Jesus Christ is perswasions of Christs unwillingness to receive them or be found of them because of their unworthiness This very case discourages many a poor Soul from seeking after Christ they have taken in hard thoughts of God and Christ And O how doth Satan now haunt the Soul taking all opportunities to blow up their unbelieving jealousies against Christ 1. Poor Soul would Jesus Christ wooe thee if he were not willing to be found of thee Would he knock if he were not willing to come in upon thy opening Would he hold out his Golden Scepter for thee to kiss if he were not willing to be reconciled to thee 2. Poor Soul would he wait if he were not willing What speaks his great patience and long suffering towards thee but his willingness to be found of thee Why doth he not only knock but stand and knock Behold I stand at the door and knock Rev. 3.20 He is not yet gone from your doors which notes his willingness to be in 3. Poor Soul would he complain of poor Sinners unwillingness to receive him if he were not willing If it stick not on the sinners side there then is no ground for complaining on Christs side O the sad complaints and groans that have proceeded from Christ upon this account You will not come unto me that ye might have life He was grieved because of their unbelief and hardness of their hearts 4. Poor Soul would the Lord Jesus Christ send his voice behind thee so often prompting thee on to seek after Christ if he were not willing O how doth the voice still keep behind thee in Ordinances in Afflictions whispering to thee thy duty We read of the Spirit saying Come as well as the Bride saying Come it is the Spirit of God is the great maker up of the match betwixt the Soul and Christ and this argues Christ is willing because he sends his messenger so often to thee upon the errand 5. Poor Soul would the Lord Jesus Christ have been so willing to come a Salvation-errand into the world if he were not willing to be found of Sinners What was Christs errand from Heaven unto Earth He came to seek Souls to seek and to save that which was lost He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Would he seek you if not willing to save you O let not Christ lose his pains by your harbouring unbelieving jealousies of his love 7. Seventh hinderance to morning Seekers after Jesus Christ is they hope they may repent upon a death bed or sick bed after they have spent their youthful time in sin and vanity this is very incident to all but especially to young persons 1. Poor Soul what if the grim Serjeant Death serve a Writ on thee unawares If thou be struck on a suddain where then will be thy repentance Dost thou know the manner of thy death any more than the time of death What if thou poor young man who hast slighted so many warnings shouldst have none given thee when the great stroak comes What if the Lord come upon thee in an hour thou lookedst not for him 2. What if thou be given up to a seared conscience on a sick bed or death bed A seared conscience at any time is sad but most sad on a sick bed have not many died seared and hardned in sin yea in their very youth But as they lived so they died without sense or feeling of their sad and sinful state 3. Poor Souls what if
instrumental to do your souls good and is this your kindness unto them to put them unto shame Disappointments bring shame Make me not ashamed of my hope sayes David O many Ministers had hopes of you and prayed for you and have hoped you would be their Crown and Rejoycing as Paul said and what now prove their shame O how near this will go to the hearts of Godly Ministers Have not they said of you as Paul said of them We live if you stand fast in the Lord. Secondly If morning Seekers be sure and infallible finders then take heed of a discouraged frame of heart in seeking Christ this is Satans work to discourage poor Souls to lay stumbling blocks in their way and tell them there is no hope no Christ will never be found of such as they are hope is perished from the Lord. O take heed I say of this frame of heart you know what they said to the poor blind man Be of good cheer the Lord calleth thee So do I say unto you poor morning Seekers be not discouraged the Lord will be found of you 1. A discouraged frame of heart will open a door to hard thoughts of God Usually discouraged Souls are jealous and suspicious Souls of God and alas this will weaken you exceedingly in your seeking after Christ O what a hard thought was that My God hath forgotten my God hath forsaken 2. A discouraged frame of heart grieves the Spirit of God what seek Christ with a discouraged frame of heart can this be pleasing to the Spirit of God who is the Comforter 3. A discouraged frame of heart opens a door to consult with Satan he loves to be fishing in troubled waters and ordinarily he sits by discouraged Souls helping them to conclude against Christ and their own Souls it is a very dangerous thing to be drawn in to consult with Satan 4. A discouraged frame of heart will weaken your endeavours in your pursuits after Christ the joy of the Lord is a believers strength but discouragements weaken exceedingly 5. A discouraged frame of heart in seeking Christ reflects upon Christ as though he were unwilling to be found of poor sinners This is dishonourable to Christ dishonourable to his design of coming into the world was it not to save Sinners dishonourable to his Promises hath not he promised He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Thirdly If morning Seekers shall be sure and certain sinders then take heed of delaying to seek the Lord Jesus do not put off Christ take heed of this because that you are young and hope you have time before you O this many times is a Rock that splits thousands of Souls they say they will seek Christ at a more convenient time 1. Take heed of losing your morning for the present time is only yours Alas poor Soul if thou layest not hold of the fore-lock of thy present time thou mayest be undone for ever O how the Lord calls on us to improve our present time Work while it is to day and if you will hearken to his voice while it is to day walk in the light while you have the light now is the acceptable time 2. Take heed of losing your morning You young ones you know not how short your morning may be and when mornings are short persons had need be up and doing How many young ones have been cut off in their morning in the prime of their time in the flower of their youth gone to the Grave in a moment while the milk was in their breasts and marrow in their bones 3. Take heed you lose not your morning it will be harder work to seek Christ afterwards when you have delayed time after time after you have lost the forenoon of your lives it will be hard redeeming the afternoon O how rare a thing is it to see a person wrought on in their afternoon not but some have been met with but this is not so ordinary 1. The more guilt there is upon the Soul the harder it will be to seek out after Christ the longer thou delayest the more guilt thou contractest upon thy Soul O what complaints have such Souls uttered O that I had come to Christ sooner but will he now receive me to mercy who have stood out so long Had I fallen in with Christ upon his first offers and tenders it had been more easie to have thought he would have accepted me And thou wilt find this a strong objection upon thee the heavier load of guilt upon thy Soul the heavier thou wilt find it to draw to Jesus Christ 2. It will be harder for you to seek after Christ after you have delayed because the sense of your unkindness to Christ will fill your Souls when you are awakened What stand out against Christ after so many knocks after so many calls after so many offers and invitations Thus it was with the Spouse when she arose to open to her Beloved there was a little myrrhe left upon the handles of the lock and then her bowels were moved viz. She was filled with shame and sorrow that she should use Christ so unkindly 3. The more a Spirit of sloth takes possession on the Soul the harder it is to shake off 4. Take heed of losing your morning for a dark night is fast approaching upon you in which you cannot seek Christ in which you cannot work it is bad seeking any thing in the dark I may say unto you as the Prophet to them Give Glory to God before he cause darkness Jer. 13.16 and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountaion This is the Doctrine that our Lord Jesus Christ preacht himself Work while it is to day for night comes when no man can work 1. Poor Souls what if a night of judicial darkness and blindness come upon you What if God give you over to a dark heart He suffered some we read of to walk in the wayes of their own heart 2. What if a night of temptation come upon you It is ill seeking Christ under temptation 3. What if a night of death come upon thee then thy seeking Christ is at end there is no work in the grave where thou goest What though young men you be now in your morning God can cause your Sun to set at noon-day and bring a night upon you before you are aware therefore lose not your morning 5. Take heed you lose not your morning your morning discoveries and manifestations will be your evening supports and consolations the evening of our lives is our declining time our old age And O what a mercy is this to be laid in with comfort when that comes What a sad thing is that to see one gray-headed and forsaken of God As David prayed many have cause to pray forsake me not when I am gray-headed If you seek him in your youth he will sit by you when you are old O that is a sad Text and the sinner an
time in which God will not be found For this shall the Godly pray unto him in a time when he will be found 1. There is a day coming in which the Spirit of God will leave striving with you and then seeking will be out of season Can you seek if the Spirit strive not What is that which puts poor Sinners upon seeking of Christ but the strivings and convictions of the Spirit 2. There is a day coming wherein the things that concern your peace will be hid from your eyes Thus God told Jerusalem But now the things that concern your Peace are hid from your eyes You will be judicially hardened 3. There is a day coming in which Gods bowels will be shut up in displeasure against you You are hardened against God and God against you O that is a terrible Text I will not answer when you call What will God then do Prov. 1.25 26. I will laugh at your Calamity and mock when your fear comes 4. There is a day coming when ordinances shall be ineffectal to you God sayes Make the bea rt of this people fat O dreadful word to have Ordinances given to harden and not to soften 5. There is a day coming that death and hell shall look ghastly upon you and will this be a seeking time Will not Christ tell you O poor Sinner this is but a force Now when you see no way but damuation before you now you seek after me this is only to serve your own ends of Christ O poor Souls be perswaded to seek Christ before these dayes come upon you 2. Motive in the morning of your dayes to be seeking the Lord Jesus Christ such Souls shall live in him you may have life life is only to be had in him therefore he is called a Believers Life He is the Way the Truth and the Life and he is called the Living Stone You will not come to me that you might have life The poor Sinner is dead while he lies at distance from Christ thou mayst have gifts and parts as dead bodies may be stuck with flowers and strawed with herbs but this is but dubbing the dead all this while there is no life in the man it is only he that hath the Son hath life 1. First They that seek Christ have living influences from Christ he is the head that sends living influences into all his members O what a supply of influences is to be had from Jesus Christ You must seek all you have from him it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell 2 Pet. 2.4 5. and this as believers head And we read of believers being called Lively Stones active for Jesus Christ not only Christians but lively Christians How comes this to pass being built up in him united to him as the superstructure is to the foundation the living Stone sends up living influences into all that are built upon him therefore he is the Vine that by his communicating influences doth keep Souls not only living but thriving 2. Secondly He communicates living comfort to such as seek him That is a precious Prophecy concerning Christ Psal 22. The meek shall eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever They shall eat by Faith the Lord Jesus Christ and be satisfied viz. be comforted in their Soul Who The poor meek humble Seekers of Christ in the sense of their own vileness who have been cast down in the sense of their own unworthiness for by the meek are meant such What then They shall live for ever Gen. 4.5.27 not be rejoyced and comforted for a while for this is meant by the heart living it shall be revived and comforted O but may the poor Soul say this comfort will not last O yes Psal 69.33 Their heart shall live for ever The like Promises we have in other places 3. Thirdly They that seek Christ have living Graces from him we receive of his fulness Grace for Grace all we have must be in a way of seeking not only Grace at the first effusion when he sayes to the Soul live but the lively exercises of Grace are from him The Spicknard gives a pleasant smell viz. the Graces of the Spirit Faith and Hope and Love and Zeal they are all exercised they put forth lively acts What is the matter the King is at the Table 3. Motive to seek the Lord Jesus in the morning of your day your Rest must be found in Christ O whither will not a poor burdened sin-ladened Soul go for Rest O what will not a poor distressed Sinner do in hope to obtain Rest Rivers of Oyl and thousands of Rams if it were possible to expiate their sin Nay they will not stick at their first-born What is the reason the blind Papists appoint so many Penances so many Pilgrims so many Fasts and Scourgings but they hope these are expiatory But alas all this will but be seeking that they will never find If you will have the desirable mercy of Soul Rest you must go to him for it Mat. 11.29 Come unto me all ye that are weary and laden and you shall find rest for your Souls The verse before sayes I will give it this you shall find it But might the poor Soul say Lord if we seek it here shall not we miss of it No you shall be sure to find it Isa 11.10 To him shall the Gentiles seek and what then And his rest shall be glorious Some Interpreters it is true take it for his Church which is Christs Rest it shall be glorious Others carry it his rest the rest which he shall give it shall be glory It shall be the glory of a Soul to seek and find rest from him What is it you young ones would have is it this true spiritual rest and peace never think to have this short of Christ. 4. Motive to seek the Lord Jesus Christ in the morning of your day you know not what your evening may prove or your mid-day may prove What if you should have an afternoon filled up with afflictions do you know what God will fill up your day withall 1. What if God should fill up your day with temptations Will it not then repent you that you sought him not in the morning If you should be exercised with that one dismal thought that the day of Grace is over O how it will grieve you that you looked out so late after Christ O what a wretch am I to be so much behind with Christ and my own Soul And O how many objections will such a thought cast in thy way 2. What if God fill up thy day with sharp tryals with weakness of body losses in thine outward estate Will this be so fit a time to seek Christ in when thou wilt have enough to do to bear up under these tryals O then how will thy poor Soul wish thou had been laid in better for such rainy
to in the Text. The Text then runs thus There is both in time and out of time for your poor Souls there is an especial season of Grace you have and upon this depends the Eternal happiness and felicity of your poor Souls Let that slip and your Souls are undone for ever Lay hold of this especial time and you are happy for ever This is the meaning of the Text I will not always strive with you will not always call on you will not always wait with offers of pardoning grace therefore before I call in my Scepter O do you seek me Observations are these 1. The Lord Jesus is willing to be found of poor Gentile Sinners 2. There are especial times of finding the Lord Jesus while he is to be found 3. It is the duty of every poor Soul to observe his especial times to seek Christ in 4. There is a day and time in which Christ will not be found 1. The Lord Jesus is willing to be found of poor Gentile Sinners I must keep close to my Text and it speaks of such as have been before hinted 1. Let us make inquiry what a Gentile Sinner is In the general take this Answer A Gentile Sinner is the worst of Sinners the vilest of Sinners thus the Apostle describes them Gal. 2.15 We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles They were reckoned the greatest sinners Mark 16.15 Preach the Gospel to every Creature viz. Gentiles as though they were not worthy the name of men and women That we may set off the Free Grace of God in Christ to poor Sinners let us see a Scripture-map of Gentilism or Gentile Sinners that Christ is thus willing to be found of 1. They are said to be Idolaters Howbeit then when ye knew not God Gal. 4.8 9. ye did service unto them who were no Gods While they were in Heathenisme that is Gentilism God is willing to be found of such What though you have been Idolaters yet such may have mercy from God Jer. 14.22 In that black Catalogue of Sinners Idolaters are reckoned among the Corinthians such were some of you Idols are called the vanities of the Gentiles 2. Gentiles were poor slaves Tit. 3.3 For we our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures c. They were servants to their lusts their lusts did Lord it over them Know you not you are Servants to him whom you obey Yet of these poor Souls Christ is willing to be found O do not say then I am a poor Gentile too great a Sinner ever to find favour from the hands of God Luk. 15.15 The prodigal Gentile was a slave joyned to a Citizen to keep Swine and yet God took him to be a Son out of the field into the house 3. Gentiles are poor hood-winkt blind Souls Call in the blind and the halt viz. the poor Gentiles now become the Lord Jesus Christs guests and the Jewes are rejected The God of this world hath blinded their eyes they go muffled in ignorance of God and Christ from day to day yet God is willing to be found of them They are such muffled Creatures Acts 17. that they are said to feel after God 4. A Gentile is a poor perishing Soul The poor man that was wounded and lay perishing of his wounds is the poor Gentile Luk. 10.30 that Jesus Christ is the good Samaritan to and binds up his wounds and pours oyl into them We may say we are all poor Assyrians ready to perish and yet Christ is willing to be found of such Joh. 3.10 Whosoever believes on him Jew or Gentile might not perish but have everlasting life Doth thy poor Soul say as the poor prodigal did and I perish for hunger O Jesus Christ is willing to be found of such 5. A Gentile is a poor Soul that lies far from God They are the inhabitants of the far Countrey Eph. 2.13 14. You who were a far off are brought nigh by the blood of Jesus He is there speaking of Gentiles They are said by the Prophet to be far from Rightcousness Isa 46. ult Well poor Souls Christ is willing to be found of such Alas Sir sayes a poor Soul I am a great way from Christ O so were Gentiles there was a wall of partition betwixt Christ and them yet Christs blood took it away melted down the stones in this partition wall 6. A Gentile is a poor Soul without hope Without Christ Eph. 2.12 Without hope of being saved without Christ without hope can thou be worse Yet Christ is willing to be found of such Alas sayes a poor Soul I have no hope Thou art a Gentile a poor hopeless Soul Because they are without Promise they are without hope The Heathens feigned when all was gone yet Hope was in the bottom of Pandora's box implying that Hope is a good refuge in calamity 7. A Gentile is one that is a blasphemer of the name of God Rom 2.24 Christiani sanctè vixissent si Christus sancta docuisset For the name of God is blasphemed through you They did take all occasions to speak evil of God for the infirmities of his followers If Christ had taught them better they would have lived better was the brand of Gentiles cast upon Christ in Tertullians time Paul tells us he was a Blasphemer and yet obtained mercy It is the spirit of a Gentile to speak evil of his Name because of the miscarriages of his followers 8. A Gentile is one that seeks only after earthly things An earthly spirit is the spirit of the Gentiles After these things Mat. 6.32 saith Christ do the Gentiles seek It may be many poor Souls have made the comfort of the Creature their Summum Bonum never sought after any thing for their Souls in all their lives Yet Christ calls such to seek him yea is willing to be found of such What though thou hast been a poor earth-worm all thy dayes yet if now thou seek the Lord there is hope for thee if thy heart be in good earnest for Heaven Take these Scriptural descriptions of Gentiles to set off the Free grace of God to the worst of Sinners 1. Reason why Jesus Christ is willing to be found of poor Gentile Sinners 1. Because this was the end of the Fathers donations Christ is the great gift of his Father Now surely the Lord would never have parted with such a gift as his own Son but he had some great end in such a gift Well what was the Fathers design He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him might not perish but have eternal life That Gentile sinners might not perish to all eternity Eph. 2.18 Therefore we read of such Souls being made nigh by the blood of Jesus and through him we have both Access viz. both Jews and Gentiles to the Father c. Many poor Souls are under Objections concerning the
willingness of God to shew them mercy Do you think that the Lord would have parted with his own Son for you if he had not been willing to shew you mercy The Prophet tells us Isa 42.6 He is given for a Covenant to the people for a light to the Gentiles 2. Reason why Jesus Christ is willing to be found of poor Gentile sinners this is evident from the invitations that he gives them to come in to him O what an invitation is this very Call of my Text to such O how do the affections of Christ sparkle in his invitations 1. Consider his invitations are free There is no merit on our side there is no such thing as worthiness in the Creature Christ moves freely from Arguments springing up in his own bowels My Creature will be lost else this poor Soul will be undone for ever else And as Hester said in that case so sayes Christ How can my heart endure to see this evil come upon my people and kindred So O sayes Jesus Christ how can my heart endure to let this poor Soul go to Hell and eternally perish And thus his heart works freely in his invitations towards poor Sinners 2. His invitations are affectionate invitations invitations mixed with entreaties I beseech you be reconciled unto God Christ doth not only invite but becomes a suppliant to the sinner He comes to the Sinner which is obstinate and inexorable and upon his knees begs the Soul for his sake for its own sake to accept of terms of mercy and reconciliation 3. They are importunate invitations He doth not invite with an indifferency of Spirit whether we accept of his terms or no but he invites in good earnest and sets on invitations with pressing arguments sometimes taking an argument from the Souls danger if it close not with his invitations sometimes an argument from the Souls duty and sometimes an argument from the Souls benefit and profit these are importunate invitations 4. His invitations are daily and incessant invitations Poor Sinners are daily invited Christ is an every dayes Solicitor and Suitor he waits to be gracious If you deny him to day he comes again to morrow he doth not cast off for every present denyal 5. His invitations are universal therefore thou mayst say as he did I am invited also O poor Sinner God hath not excluded thee if thy unbelief exclude thee not 6. His invitations are upon the most solemn preparations that ever was All things are ready Hath he invited and prepared his guests and doth not this argue his willingness to entertain 3. Reason why the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to be found of Gentile Sinners because upon this account the Father enters into a Covenant with the Son to reward him There was a Covenant struck betwixt Christ and his Father that upon his undertaking the great work of Mans Redemption he would exalt him and glorifie him I will glorifie thee The Rewards of Christ for Redemption-work seem to consist in these things 1. The conversion of Souls Isa 49.6 Is it a small thing thou raise the Tribes of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles as if Christ should stand with his Father and say But Lord what will become of the poor Gentile part of the world Must they all dye in their sins and be damned O the heart of Christ was inflamed with love after the salvation of poor Sinners Well now the Lord gives him a Patent for Gentiles as well as Jews a Patent of Free Grace Tit. 1.2 this is covenanted for betwixt God the Father and the Son this is the promise of Eternal Life before the world begun He shall see the travil of his Soul and shall be satisfied 2. His exaltation is promised So he shall sprinkle nations viz. convert them Sprinkle them with his blood an allusion to the blood of the Paschal Lamb when the destroyer was to pass over Isa 52.15 And Kings shall shut their mouths at him Shall all be silent at the setting up of his Dominion they shall be convinced of his Kingly Office and Dignity Not a word to say against the Lord Jesus as King Isa 53 ult He shall conquer them and deliver the Elect out of their hands Therefore sayes another Text He shall divide a portion with the great Some read it I will give him a portion among the great He shall have his day of visible greatness among them Others read it He shall divide the Mighty as a prey This will be Christs work when he comes forth in Majesty to prey upon all that stand in his way to his Kingdome whether persons or things Now this clearly demonstrates the point in hand because God Covenants for this with him upon his undertaking Redemption and Salvation-work Application Is it so that the Lord Jesus is willing to be found of Gentile Sinners Then 1. It informs us of the unspeakable love of Jesus Christ to poor Sinners O how is it commended to us In this that while we were Sinners he died for us greater love than this hath no man 1. Is there not love in this to be willing to be found of such as have been professed Enemies proclaimed Traytors The Lord hath proclaimed us upon our first apostasie to be Traytors and Rebels to him but yet he hath sent out a proclamation of Peace and look to that blessed proclamation and lay hold of it by a hand of faith or Isa 27.5 Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me You see here is the proclamation to lay hold on And so poor Souls upon their falling in with Christ are at peace Is not here love shining love to poor dark Gentiles Let us see the Proclamation renewed Isa 55.1 2 I am found of them that asked not for me I am found of them that sought me not I said behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people viz. to a company of poor obstinate Jews and lo therefore I turn to the Gentiles Behold here I am here I am so some read it as Christ holding out terms of Mercy Life and Salvation to poor Sinners If a man find his Enemy sayes Saul will he let him go well away O the love of Christ to Gentiles which were enemies 2. Is there not love in this to call these first to look after him Is not this preventing love Did I look after him said poor Hagar who here sees me Alas if the Lord had never found me out I had never found him He is called a Shepherd that seeks out his Sheep O here do we run into corners from this good Shepherd untill he follow us O what love is this 3. Is there not love in this to tell us there is a time coming when it will be too late to seek him See how
Soul is lost for ever You must not think to put it off and say to morrow No the Lord sayes Now and should not you say Lord why not Now O do not say come again at a more convenient time Christs time is the most convenient time and this is Christs time Now is the accepted time c. 2 Cor. 6.2 See how the finger of Free Grace points out the time O poor Soul now thou mayst be accepted of God and laid in his bosome Now his heart is open now his arms are widened expecting thy running in thither and if thou miss of this accepted time thou wilt for ever be rejected of God Now or never is the language of Christ in an Ordinance Heb. 3.7 8. Hearken to his voice while it is to day See still how God points at the present time While it is to day It may be you may be dead to morrow why may not I say damned to morrow Who knows what to morrow may bring forth Luk. 12.36 We read of opening to Christ immediately O poor sinners you should not delay the business but strike in with Christ while he is beseeching of you 1. Reason Poor Sinners should be observers of Christs times This the Lord calls to and if we do not this we turn a deaf ear to this blessed charmer O what a pity it is that a poor Soul should be deaf to Christ As though Christ only preached hell and damnation and his Fathers displeasure And alas poor sinners it is the quite contrary he preaches Heaven to you Salvation to you This day saith he poor Sinner salvation is come unto thy house If you will not come to him he will come to you with his Salvation This makes me remember that sweet call of Christs in the Prophet Isa 46. ult Hearken unto me ye stout-hearted that are far from Righteousness O poor Gentile Sinners that are afar off from me nay that do oppose me yet sayes he I bring near my Righteousness One would have thought it would have been You stout-hearted I bring near my wrath I bring near my judgements O no but Gods thoughts are not as our thoughts He calls such to accept of his Righteousness and his Salvation and shall we be deaf to such calls What a call is that Hearken to his voice while it is to day Christ calls to poor Sinners that they would lay hold of their especial times 2. This is complained on by God The Calls of God and the complaints of God do both speak it And O this hath been complained on of old O what a complaint was that of Christ against Jerusalem O that thou hadst known in this thy day c And this complaint came from Christ weeping He came nigh the City and wept over it Surely it is some notable Sermon Christ preaches now he weeps O this was it that Jerusalem did not know her day Mat. 23.37 And at another time How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her wings but she would not be gathered I would have gathered them into me gathered them out of their sins gathered them out of the world my armes were stretched out to that very end but they observed not their gathering times Alas what are the seasons of Grace but Christs gathering times He sees poor Souls are like a Lamb in a large place and they will wander and wander untill they drop into the Pit whence there is no Redemption if Christs compassions do not gather them 3. We are to observe our especial times in which Christ will be found else we receive the Grace of God in vain 2 Cor. 6.1 2. Paul writing upon this subject We beseech you sayes he as workers with him that you receive not the Grace of God in vain and then follows I have heard thee in an accepted time c. He had been in the preceding Chapter speaking of the Ministry of Reconciliation now sayes We beseech you that you receive not this Grace viz. of the Ministry of Reconciliation in vain which you will do if you observe not that now is the accepted time that now is the day of salvation The end of Christ is frustrated if you observe not these times in which he is willing to be found for he offers himself in order to acceptation O how sad would this be for so many Sermons of Christ of his Love of the Riches of Grace to be in vain For Christ to say I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Isa 49.4 It is spoken in the person of Christ Is it not a pity free Grace should spend its breath in vain O what will sinners have to say or answer the Lord when the Lord Jesus shall say to them O how many Sermons of my own Love of my Fathers Love did I preach to you but who hath believed my report All these were in vain I could not be credited by you though I came from the bosome of the Father to preach all these things unto you 4. Sinners are to observe those especial times in which Christ is to be found because upon these especial times depends Eternity The eternal condition of a poor Soul depends upon one of these Nows That very motion of the Spirit of God which it may be thou slightest or that very Sermon it may be thou refusest to hear or upon the very conviction thou smotherest with thy worldly enjoyments or employments it may be upon these very times did depend your eternal conditions That Sermon thou was not at might have been the means of thy Conversion As I close with these Calls of Christ fall in with these motions of the Spirit of Christ so it will be with my Soul to all Eternity O did but sinners think of this one thing this one Truth how serious would it make them in their observation of such times Now this is for eternity this motion this striving of the Spirit of God with my poor Soul If any of you were going to Sea on a voyage and all that you were worth depended upon that voyage and if you miscarried you were undone wives and children undone O how careful would you be to observe your time your winds your markets This is the case thou art engaged in a voyage that all thou art worth is concerned in nay infinitely more than thou art worth even thy precious Soul and if thou miscarry in this voyage thou art undone even undone to all Eternity O then what a mad man art thou that observest not what may tend to the security of thy great venture viz. thy precious Soul Observe then thy gales for this voyage it is either a making or a marring voyage 5. Sinners are to observe Christs times when he is willing to be found because these times lost will aggravate the condemnation of poor Souls Christ hath not tendred himself so to all as he hath done to you O
how many Souls have lived and died without the tenders of Christ How many that never heard of a Christ as they said We have not so much as heard of an Holy Ghost How many that sit in darkness and the shadow of death How many parts of the world that are the dark places of the earth full of the habitations of Cruelty You do not hear such Sermons in India as you do in England you do not hear Christ so preached and tendred at Guiny at Jamaica Suppose those poor Indians and Natives that you converse with there should know what you have heard of Christ here and what you have professed of Christ here they would certainly seeing no more of Christianity no more of likeness to Christ among you certainly they would say this Christ is an Impostor and this Christianity a cheat a delusion to gull the world withal Therefore upon this account it is that a woe was denounced against Chorazin and Bethsaida If I had never spoken unto you sayes Christ you had not had sin O Sirs if Christ had never been preached to you never been tendred to you never beseeched you never wooed you you had been under less guilt but now your sin remains and how can you escape who have neglected so great salvation You may think to escape you may think you have some back door to creep out at but alas how can you escape as Christ said to the Pharisees the damnation of Hell 6. These times of Christs being willing to be found will not last alwayes O what stronger reason to observe them My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man You think poor Sinners that I will alwayes wait on you alwayes wooe you alwayes beseech you O no poor Sinners times are coming on that my Bowels will be shut up in displeasure against you my Bridge of Mercy shall be drawn and my Gate of Mercy shall be shut and then what will you do O poor Sinners what standing will there be without in that day what crying Lord Lord open unto us Do you think to have a trade-wind to heaven do you think the wind will alwayes blow fair in your voyage for Eternity The time is coming that the Lord Jesus as it is said of those Angels will keep the winds in his hands Rev. 7.1 and not suffer them to blow on a poor Soul That was good Counsel of our dear Lord work while it is day the night comes wherein no man can work Your day will not alwayes continue the night comes May it not be said by many poor Sinners Woe unto us our day goeth away And alas poor Sinners the night is no time for working in 7. Reason There are no Christ finding times beyond this life No Christ-finding times in the Grave whither we are all going That is excellent counsel Pecl. 9.10 what thou findest to do do it with all thy might Now is the doing time this present time is only the doing time and the reason is very cogent for there is no work in the Grave whither we go then it is past time to work for Heaven to work for an interest in Christ O that word is a sad word it is past time As the Tree falls so it lies to all Eternity there is no turning of it on the other side O then poor Souls had need look to it and make sure when they fall they fall right that they fall Heaven-ward When you die then all the tenders of Christ cease 8. Reason Because it is not long that Christ will call that Christ will offer himself to be found of you The Mart-dayes for your poor Souls will not long continue the shadows of the evening are stretched upon us the Sun of the Gospel declines apace Time is short Gospel-time is short life-time is short liberty is short God is cutting us short O now how should we observe the finding times of Christ It is said 2 Kings 10. â—â— the Lord began to cut Israel short but now the Lord hath been cutting England short a great while cutting us short of Trading of Liberties of Priviledges and all that we may observe the times of Christ in which he is willing to be found The Angel within a little time will swear Time shall be no more Application Is it so that Sinners should observe these times of Christ 1. It doth inform us of the great stupidity and senselesness that is upon the Souls of poor Sinners naturally They go on in the neglects of Christ untill the Lord Jesus meet them and stop them They do not consider Nay it was the complaint of the Lord against his own people that they were worse than brutes Isa 1.3 4. The Oxe knows his owner and the Ass his masters crib and yet my people do not know they do not consider O the bruitishness of our hearts The Turtle and the Crane observe the time of their coming c. The Psalmist cautions us be not as the Horse and as the Mule that want understanding O may not every poor Sinner when God comes to convince at first the Soul say Surely I am more brutish than any man 2. It informs us that it is not the having times of Christs offering himself but it is the observing of these times that we are especially to look after It is indeed a great Mercy to have them but it is a greater to observe them We may say in this case as in that who is wise will observe these things and the prudent shall know them There are many poor Souls who are now in Hell that have lived under the Calls of Christ under the offers of Christ. What say you to Chorazin and Bethsaida You may hear Christ forty years together preached nay you may profess Christ nay you may follow Christ for loaves many years and after all this be Cast-awayes nay a man may preach Christ and at last be a Cast away 3. It informs us that the Spirit of God doth not alwayes breath alike and strive alike The Spirit of the Lord came upon Sampson by times and the Angel came down at a certain season The wind of the Spirit blows by gusts many times upon poor Souls it blows where it listeth and it blows when it listeth It may be not in that Ordinance thou expectedst most but in that Ordinance thou expectedst least Or ever I was aware my Soul made me sayes a poor Creature like the chariot of Aminadab There is a set time to favour Zion So there is a set time for the Spirit of God both to convince and comfort the poor Soul 4. It informs us that in every poor Sinners miscarriage to all Eternity there is room to justifie God We must not think to lay it at Gods door as too many would do but we must lay it at our own doors Hos 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self Perditio tua ex te will be the Motto written upon Sinners backs in Hell Will not
God say to them Jer. 4.18 These things have your own wayes and doings procured unto you O then will not every poor guilty Soul cry out O! O my self was the cause of all these O how often did Christ wooe me invite me call on me beseech me to be reconciled to him but wretch that I was hard hearted wretch that I was I had no room for him my heart was shut against him I shut him out of my heart and now for ever I must justify him for shutting me out of his Heaven 5. It informs us what a great evil it is to put off Christ when he is willing to be found O how many say of Christ and to Christ as he did to Paul Come at a more convenient time and I will hear thee They are too busie with the world they have no leisure no time and they desire to be excused O what if the Lord say to such as he did to them They shall not taste of his Supper O Sinners do you think Christ will be thus dallied with to say to morrow to morrow and Christs voice is to day to day Do you think Christ can be mocked or deceived It is true the Gospel is called the word of his Patience but do you think it is impossible to weary his Patience Do not we read the Prophet complaining of the Jews You have wearied man and will you weary God also Isa 7.13 O Sinner dost thou know what thou doest to delay thy striking in with Christ What if God take thee at thy word when thou sayest Depart from me for as yet I desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What if God should resolve as Moses said to Pharaoh I will never see thy face more Where wert thou then and what a sad condition would thy poor Soul be in then 2. Vse Is it so that poor Souls should observe Christs times in which he is willing to be found then it is a word of Reproof to such as put off Christ that observe not these times May not the case be expostulated with such poor Souls as God did with the people of Israel by the Prophet Ezekiel why will you dye O house of Israel O poor Sinners why do you neglect such great salvation why do you dally and delay in a business of infinite moment and eternal consequence Is the salvation of an immortal Soul a jesting matter are Heaven and Christ indifferences O why then poor Souls should ye not arise from your sloth and shake your selves and resolve to have a Christ how dearly soever you come by him May not Christ say to poor Sinners that loyter in their motion Heaven-ward as was said to them why stand you idle all the day long 1. Are not such poor Souls to be reproved This is the highest ingratitude and unthankfulness in the world that Christ should make offers and be willing to be found and you put a slight upon him and you not observe them Is this your kindness to your friend Will you thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise 2. Are not such Souls to be reproved This speaks great infidelity and unbelief Is not this the reason why Christ and poor sinners make not a closure they do not believe he is willing to receive them to embrace them to pardon them This cross-iron bolt and bar of unbelief lies betwixt Christ and a poor Soul and was it not this that grieved Christ He was grieved because of their unbelief and hardness of their heart Their Souls were doubly bolted against the Lord Jesus O poor sinners after all Christ hath promised all he hath suffered all he hath done that you should slight Christ when he is willing to be found of you is not this sad 3. Are not such to be reproved You will observe times for your worldly secular advantages you will observe a Summer season to go into the Countrey for the air if your bodies need it you will observe times to take physick in you will observe your winds to sail in you will observe your marts and fairs you will observe your Change-time and all this for your outward advantage and alas you neglect your especial times and seasons for your Souls All these things are but your outward concernments but there are things that concern the peace of your immortal Souls and how do you look after them 3. Vse Is it so that the Lords finding times ought to be observed by poor Sinners Then it is a word of exhortation to poor Sinners that they would take especial notice of such times that it may not be said of you as is said in that case Job speaks The Lord passed by on my left hand and on my right hand and I perceived him not For God to be near a poor Soul in an Ordinance in a motion of the Spirit and the Soul see him not for the eyes of the Soul to be held that it knows him not O how sad is this O delay not to lay hold of Christ at such times 1. Your delayes will provoke and displease Christ Christ loves that Souls should close with him without delays We read of some that delayed the matter and fell to framing excuses and the Lord was angry with them and said They should not taste of his Supper The Spouses delay to open to Christ so displeased him that he did withdraw from her and she paid dearly for her delay Now did he stand waiting untill his locks were filled with the drops of the night 2. Your delays are dishonourable to Christ They dishonour him as though he were not to be trusted when he calls for Souls to close with him to open to him immediately as though there were no great danger as though it were but a dallying jesting matter and you could do it when you would even at your leisure 3. Your delayes will prove dangerous to your own Souls We say there is danger in delay and O how true is that in Soul cases What if God shut up his bowels in displeasure What if he will be gracious no more in visiting you in breathing upon you in knocking at your doors What if the Lord do withdraw from you and say he will wait no more upon you strive no more with you but pass that Sentence upon you Let them alone let them wander like a Lamb in a large place O poor Sinners you are in danger of all this and much more by your delayes to observe Christs times of being willing to be found 4. Your delayes will make your falling in with Christs finding times a great deal more difficult Yea every day it will be more difficult than other Sin and corruption will grow stronger Satans temptations will be more violent The longer a Soul is held in a snare the faster it is 1. It will be more difficult you will have fewer motions of the Spirit to call you out and thrust you out to close with Christ Delay to answer the Spirits