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
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
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
How hath the Name of God been blasphemed many times by the miscarriages of such And how may it be said of many Young Ones as was said of that Fig-tree Jesus Christ cursed Mat. 21.20 How soon is this Fig-tree withered away Where is your Zeal your Affections your Love your fervency for God for his Ordinances for Duties for Worship that once seemed to move upon your Spirits O consider of it young men that the wayes of God have been evil spoken of by your means And I may say to you as the Prophet to them This hath been by your means Mal. 1.9 3. The going back of such I have observed is a great stumbling-block to others a great discouragement to others to own the wayes of God O say such poor Souls shall not I prove as others have done make a fair flourish for a year or two bear green leaves and promising buds and blossoms but yet for all that brings forth no fruit to perfection And therefore such poor Souls rather sit still seeing so many that have been in a fair way of profession backslide and apostatize before them 4. Many poor Sinners have been hardned in their Atheism Profaneness and contempt of the wayes of God by seeing you fall off after that you have made some progress in the wayes of God Do not they conclude at the sight of such miscarriages that their conditions are good Deut. 29.19 though they walk in the imaginations of their own heart Do not they cry Peace Peace to their own Souls though they walk in Soul-undoing and destroying courses Take two young men One of them falls under some conviction of sin under the Ministry of the Word upon this Conviction he launches out into a visible Profession owns the wayes of God Hears Prays Reads repeats Sermons c. The other of them continues sinning on still senseless of his Soul kicks against the pricks still but he cryes his Companion will return to him again this is but for a fit a little melancholy or to please some party or other Well in a little time it proves thus the Professing young man becomes profane again returns with the dog to his vomit 2 Pet. 2.22 and with the Sow after once washing to her wallowing in the mire returns to his Onions and Garlick again O how this doth now harden the other poor Sinner in his dangerous and damnable state and makes him venture his Soul to live and lye and dye in it 5. I have observed such Young Men that once have tasted some thing of the Word of God and have laid under Convictions of Sin when they have fallen off and lost them they have grown harder after than before they have like the wicked men we read of grown worse and worse 1 Tim. 3.13 Such have out-stripped others in sin As Iron often heated proves harder so it is with such poor Souls and is not this a sad sight to see him a Drunkard a Swearer a Reviler a Scoffer at the wayes of God who once was a praying Young Man One that worshipt with those he now scoffs at and reviles If one had told thee while thou wert a praying a professing Young Man that thy Praying thy Hearing thy repeating Sermons would have ended thus would not thou have said as Hazael did to the Prophet 2 Kings 8.13 Is thy Servant a Dog O but have not a few years produced too many such instances 6. I have observed that as soon as many Young Ones have set forth under Convictions of a need of Christ to seek after him they many times have fallen into erroneous notions When Satan cannot keep poor Souls in profane practices he then will labour to poyson them with pernicious Principles And as the Devil hath his Nurseries to debauch Young Ones in their Practices so he hath his Nurseries to poyson them with pernicious Principles No sooner doth a Young Man become sober and serious but there are persons that are ready to drop their poyson upon them and so many poor Souls are set wrong at the very first setting out 7. I have observed Young Ones to be like foolish Children Hos 13.13 as the Prophet sayes to stay long in the place of breaking forth Especially Young Ones under Godly Education nursed up in Godly Families How long is it often before the work be a through-work upon their Spirits Alas how do their Convictions come and go for months if not for years some times not hearing of them and then another while Conscience being a Boanarges to them thundring forth the terrours of the Lord to them One while they are murdered another while they walk and make a dreadful noise in the Conscience Here poor Soul thou may see thy danger in delaying thy great work of seeking in thy prime and flower of thy youth 8. I have observed a great deal of pride grow up with the Profession of Young Ones O how often hath this been the mortal bane and poyson of many of their Souls How many have upon this Rock split their Convictions their Profession their Expectations with their Souls for ever Have not many poor Young Seekers been over-set by carrying too much sail Vpon their supposition of acquired gifts and parts how have they prided themselves untill as the Poets say of young Narcissus that he fell in love with his own shadow untill he pined away Have not many Young Seekers fallen into a Consumption by self-love and setting too high a price upon themselves Nay hath not this sin caused the Lord to suffer some of them to fall into some visible gross evil that might keep them little and low in their own eyes all their dayes Many have got a halt at the first setting out that they might be kept from self-exaltation 9. I have observed an untractable Spirit grow up with Young Ones to their Superiours and Guides which is a dangerous evil Doth this become young Travellers nay indeed any Travellers to cast off their Guides or to think they can get to their journeys end without observing the Counsels Conduct and the directions of such as are set over them in the Lord Are Ministers set over you to be your Guides are Parents are Masters set over you to be your Guides 1 Pet. 5.5 and will you prove untractable to these This is a great provocation to the Lord which occasioned that Exhortation of Peter's You younger submit your selves to the elder As it particularly relates to Ministers so it may refer to others At what door came in Erroneous Principles Heb. 13.17 at first and Licentious Practices Was it not at this when persons refused to obey and submit to them that were set over them in the Lord 10. I have observed that Satans grand Designs and Engines are laid so as if it be possible to prevent Jesus Christ having a Young Off-spring The Devil would not have Christ have any Nurseries any Young Nurseries where any tender Plants should be
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
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
free and ingenuous as I may say Divine Love is it tells us the worst that we might be awakened to look about us If you neglect but a while follow your sins for a while set out your day of Grace for a while then it will be over and the bowels of the Lord will be shut up in displeasure against you and then you will say as he upon his death-bed I have told you now all is too late all is now too late Is there not great love in warning Souls of danger before it comes 4. Is there not love in this that the Rejection of the Jews the Cutting off them should be the grafting in of the Gentiles O that such wild Olives should be partakers of the sweetness of the fat Olive that ever such brambles should be inoculated into Christ Rom. 11.33 This raised up the spirit of Paul into a frame of admiration The casting away of the Jews was the reconciling of the world 5. There is love in this that Christ was so willing to come as his Fathers Gift as a Commander and Leader to his People as the words before speak See how Christs heart ecchoes to the heart of the Father in the work of the Salvation of poor Sinners In the volume of thy Book it is written I come to do thy will O God 2. Vse O then let us a little admire the condescention of Christ in this thing that he is so willing to be found of poor Gentiles It is no wonder if upon the head of this Divine Mistery be written a verily Verily he took upon him not the nature of Angels Heb. 2.16 but the Seed of Abraham That he should overlook them Glorious Creatures that Mercy should come to poor Gentiles over the head of Angels how few take notice of this 1 Pet. 1.12 Angels desire to look into these deeps and yet we do not look into them with an eye of holy inspection and heavenly admiration 3. Another word is this If Christ be willing to be found of poor Gentile Sinners it is then a Call to such to seek him Seek him while he may be found May not I say to poor Sinners as God argues the case with those Jews by the Prophet Ezekiel Why will ye dye O ye house of Israel So why do poor Gentile Sinners neglect seeking the Lord Jesus Is not this to go carelesly the ready way to your Eternal destruction Is not this the rode to your Everlasting ruine And will not the Lord say to you one day as the Prophet to them Your destruction is of your selves 1. Motive to seek the Lord. He first is suitor to you and seeks you And is not this a mighty motive This is that great loadstone that should draw the hearts of poor Sinners much in love with Christ He loves them first Who loved us first Christ is first in the motion He came to seek and to save that which is lost Take that Parable of the Prodigal his Father sent after him into the far Country sought him out This my Son was lost and is found Nay Christ is the Shepherd of the Gentiles and he seeks out his sheep in a dark and gloomy day Alas what is the Gospel but Christ sending after poor Sinners to wooe them to accept of terms of Grace and Mercy 2. Motive to seek the Lord Jesus His seeking you cost him dear He laid down his life for his sheep He sought you and where did he find you He found you slaves and he must pay your ransome for you I have found a ransome for him His death is our ransome We were prisoners and captives and could not be redeemed at a lower rate than Christs blood 3. Motive He comes from the Father to seek you The verses going before are a Prophecy of Christ proceeding from the Father I have given him for a witness And frequently when he is spoken of to poor Gentile Sinners then he is said to come by way of donation I have given him a light to the Gentiles He comes and brings commendations of his Fathers love to poor Sinners He is called the faithful and true witness of God 4. Motive He came from Heaven to seek you O what Glory he left to come and mind your Eternal concerns upon earth I cannot nay what Man or Angel can tell you what he forsook to seek you He stript himself of all his Glory of all his Royal Robes to wash your feet to wash you all over He left his Throne I remember it is storied of a King that found a sheep in a ditch and sate down on hands and knees and pulled it out with his own hands The Sheep is thy own Soul this King is the Lord Jesus the Ditch is thy Natural Condition in which thou hadst perished to all Eternity if he had not come from Heaven to have pull'd thee out 5. Motive He seeks as impatient of denyal He is an importunate Seeker he will not be said nay seeks like a beggar that will not be gone from your doors Christ will not be gone from the door of thy heart he stands and knocks he doth not knock as he passes by but stands waiting for thy coming out to accept of him and close with him Therefore he beseeches wooes waits to be Gracious He comes in Ordinance after Ordinance Providence after Providence Motion after Motion and Day after Day What sayest thou poor Soul wilt thou now close with me And as he did Wilt thou be made whole to the Leper And O how loth to go away when will it once be 6. Motive He is a Seeker that is grieved when he is denyed He was grieved because of their unbelief and the hardness of their hearts You cannot grieve Christ worse than deny him when he comes to make out love to your Souls and you slight him 7. Motive He seeks poor Sinners in their proper months Jer. 2.24 In their months one shall find them Christ knows the months to find Sinners in All these Motives are taken from Christ as the great seeker of Souls 3. Vse is of Reproof 1. to such as neglect to seek the Lord that seek him not at all Yet they are Seekers but not Seekers of the Lord. Gentiles are Seekers after these things the Gentiles seek They seek good trading good livelihoods c. But alas this is all they seek after Nay Lev. 10.31.20.6 we read of some that seek after Wizards they are so far from seeking after God But the Lord sayes he will set his face against such Do you think poor Seamen and you their wives that this is the way to have good voyages to go to ask the Devil his Counsel Some seek their lusts Prov. 23.30 like Solomons drunkard they say they will seek it yet again But all this while they seek not the Lord. O how few seek to the Lord What are these poor Souls seeking but the living among the dead 1. See the danger