A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 4
CAP. IIII.
Of our daily exerciſe in ſeeking God, and what are the things which are required vntounto it.
§. Sect. 1 That our ſeeking God daily, is a neceſſary duty.
THe ſecond mayne dutie, which wee are dayly, and euen throughout the day to performe, is, to ſeeke the Lord our God, by conſecrating our ſelues wholy both in our ſoules and bodies vntounto his worſhip and ſeruice. The which dutie is required in many places of the Scriptures. So Dauid exhorteth the Princes of Iſrael, to ſet their hearts and ſoules to ſeeke the Lord their 1. Chro. 22. 19.God; and the Lord by his Prophet requireth it of all the people; Seeke ye Eſa 55. 6.the Lord whilſt he may be found, and call yee vponupon him while he is neere. And againe; Seeke yee the Lord, and yee ſhall liue. For howſoeuer the Lord, in Amos 5. 4.reſpect of the infiniteneſſe and immenſitie of his nature and eſſence, filleth all places with his preſence, and therfore cannot be farre (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) from eueryevery one of vsus; for in him we liue, and moue, and hauehave our being, as the heathens ſaw euen by the very light of nature; and though Acts 17. 27, 28.in the ſtate of innocencie and integrity man had ſweete communion with God, and inioyed the comfortable and liuely influences of his ſauing graces, and dwelled in God, and God in him: yet through the fall of our firſt parents, and the ouerſpreading corruption which did accompany it; man loſt God, & was depriued of his preſence; was wholy eſtranged from that happie and holy communion, and had all influence of his grace ſtopped from: And together with this ineſtimable loſſe, he loſt alſo the ſenſe of this loſſe, and of all the miſeries which did accompany it, and therefore neuer cared or deſired to ſeeke and finde him, that being againe revnited vntounto him, hee might thereby recouer his loſt happineſſe; till God, out of his free grace and infinite goodneſſe pittying mans loſſe and miſery, like the good Shepheard, ſought vsus firſt, who like wandring ſheepe Eſa. 53. 5. Luke 15. 4, 5.did ſtray from him, without any deſire of returning, and carrying vsus home to his ſheepefold, cauſed vsus to finde him before we ſought him, yea when wee gaineſaid and refuſed to make this ſearch, according to that of the Prophet cited by the Apoſtle, I was found of them who ſought mee not; I Eſa. 65. 1, 2. Rom. 10. 20, 21.was made manifeſt vntounto them that enquired not after me: All the day long I hauehave ſtretched out my hands vntounto a diſobedient and gaine ſaying people. Yea, but ſeeing wee hauehave now found God, and hauehave him alwaies by his grace preſent with vsus, what needeth (may ſome ſay) this daily ſearch and diſquiſition, ſeeing that labour may ſeeme vaine and to little purpoſe, which is ſpent in ſeeking that which is already found? To which I anſwere, that we may doe that act in an higher degree of perfection, which in the firſt degrees is done already, yea, ſeeing wee can neuer in this world doe it ſo perfectly as we ſhould, therfore we ought to doe it daily and continually, that we may aſpire vntounto more perfection. And this God, who by his preuenting grace cauſed vsus to ſeeke him for our owne good: requireth vsus to doe daily and more and more for our greater good: and becauſe all our happineſſe doth conſiſt in our finding and inioying him; not contenting himſelfe that we ſhould be in the firſt and leaſt degrees happie, by finding and inioying him in ſome ſmall meaſure, hee maketh it our daily taske to ſeeke him more and more, that finding him more perfectly, wee may perfect our happineſſe in our full finding and fruition. Yea, in truth there is none that hath truely found him, who doth not daily indeuour to finde him more and more. For what hungry man that hath once taſted delicate meates, that can content himſelfe with a taſte onelyonly, and doth not rather deſire to feede on them, till he be ſatiſfied and his hunger allayed? what wiſe Merchant finding a treaſure in a field, which he hath long ſought, contenteth himſelfe onelyonly to hauehave found it; and doth not rather purchaſe the field, that he may inioy the treaſure hid in it? or finding a precious pearle, ſatiſfieth himſelfe with a ſlight ſight of the luſtre and beautie of it; and doth not rather ſell all he hath, to buy it, being neuer at quiet till he ſafely poſſeſſeth it in his owne Cabinet? or who finding a rich mine of gold or ſiluer, is contented with the firſt oare which it offereth vntounto his view; and doth not rather digge deeper and deeper, till hee hauehave made himſelfe owner of the whole treaſure? And therefore it is impoſſible for any man, that hath taſted how good God is to thoſe that ſeeke him, to leaue off and ſo content himſelfe; but hee will labour ſtill to feede on him more and more, till he (as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh) be ſatisfied with his likeneſſe in the Kingdome of heauen, ſeeing Pſal. 17. 15.in his greateſt fruition in this life, hee knoweth that he wanteth much of him. And to leaue off further hungring after God, after that wee hauehave taſted of his louelove, bounty and goodneſſe, and to content our ſelues with a taſte only, without further feeding on them, is an euident ſigne that we are in the number of thoſe relapſed hypocrites, who cannot be renewed Heb. 6. 5, 6.by repentance. It is impoſſible, that if euer we truely felt the incomparable pleaſure of Gods preſence, but that we ſhould ſeeke to inioy it more and more, til we attaine vntounto fulnes of ioy in our ful fruitiō in Gods Kingdom.
§. Sect. 2 What it is to ſeeke God.
Let vsus then make it our daily exerciſe to ſeeke the Lord our God, whom to finde, and to bee happy and bleſſed, is all one, and whom to miſſe and loſe, is to be miſerable and accurſed, though we ſhould gaine and inioy the whole world, and all the happineſſe which it can offer vntounto vsus. And to this end, let vsus conſider what it is to ſeeke God, ſo as we may be ſure to finde him. Secondly, the manner and properties of this ſeeking. Thirdly, the ineſtimable benefits which accrew vntounto them who daily ſeeke and finde him. And laſtly, the euils, miſeries, and miſchiefes, which befall all thoſe that neglect this holy duty. For the firſt; to ſeeke God, is to labour daily in and through Chriſt, to recouer and make him our owne, whom wee hauehave loſt through the fall of Adam, and our owne originall Eſa. 59. 2.corruption and actuall tranſgreſſions, that being reconciled and revnited vntounto him, and ſo becomming one with him, and he with vsus, we may bee Ioh. 17. 21, 22, 23happy and bleſſed in his fruition. For in and through Chriſt alone, God is to be ſought of vsus; and by him and no other poſſible meanes can we euer finde him; in him onelyonly Gods Iuſtice is ſatisfied, and wrath appeaſed; in him, as our alone propitiatory ſacrifice, he is well-pleaſed, and being reconciled 1. Ioh. 2. 1.in the body of his fleſh through death, of a ſeuere Iudge and terrible enemie, he is become our gracious Father and chiefeſt friend. And ſo perfectly hath hee made our peace through the blood of his Croſſe, that hee hath left Col. 1. 20, 21.nothing for vsus to doe, but ioyning with his holy Spirit, to labour that this ineſtimable benefit may be applyed vntounto vsus; which is chiefly done by ſeeking and ſuing, with earneſt deſires and hearty indeuours to obtaine and make it our owne by faith.
§. Sect. 3 What is required vntounto the ſeeking of God. Firſt, that wee daily labour more perfectly to know him, and remember him.
And to this ſeeking of God and his fauour in Chriſt, there are diuers things required; firſt, that wee labour daily more and more perfectly to know him, not ſo much what he is in his owne nature, eſſence, and attributes, as what he is in Chriſt vntounto vsus, that is, infinitely wiſe to gouerne vsus, and all-ſufficient by his Word and Spirit to make vsus wiſe vntounto ſaluation; that he is omnipotent to defend vsus, and giuegive vsus victory ouer all our enemies; that he is immutable, not onelyonly in his owne nature, but in his louelove, goodneſſe, and gifts vntounto vsus; that he is true to performe vntounto vsus his gracious promiſes, and mercifull to forgiue vsus our ſinnes, and ſaue our ſoules; that Chriſt is an all-ſufficient and perfect Redeemer, to deliuer vsus out of the hands of all our ſpirituall enemies, and to bring vntounto vsus full redemption; that the Spirit is not onelyonly holy in his owne nature, but alſo to worke in vsus ſanctification and holineſſe. In all which, and all other reſpects, we are not ſo much to labour to know theſe things in ſpeculation, as in practice and experience, nor to apprehend them in the braine, as to feele them in our hearts, nor to conceiue of their excellency and ſufficiency as cauſes, but experimentally to feele and finde their efficacy, in producing their effects, and bringing foorth their fruits in vsus. And this is that excellent knowledge which the Apoſtle ſo much and continually laboured to Phil. 2. 10, 11. 1. Cor. 2. 2.attaine vntounto, as a thing which being of moſt excellent vſe, was alſo of great difficulty; and therefore he was content to be taken vp wholly of it, and in compariſon of it, to neglect all other knowledge, not onelyonly to know that Chriſt died and roſe againe, and the vertue and ſufficiency of them for his iuſtification and ſaluation, which were but the ſtudy of a few dayes or houres, and is eaſie to bee found and learned in eueryevery Catechiſme; and therefore it is not to be thought that the Apoſtle, who was of ſuch excellent gifts, and illuminated with ſuch an extraordinary meaſure of knowledge, did take ſo much paines, and ſpend his chiefeſt time and ſtrength in attaining vntounto it; but to finde and feele the power and efficacy of Chriſts death and reſurrection in his owne heart, for the ſtrengthening of his faith, the inflaming of his louelove, the mortifying of his corruptions, and his ſpirituall quickening vntounto new obedience and holineſſe of life. And as wee are thus daily to ſeeke God, by labouring more perfectly and effectually to know him; ſo alſo by indeuouring to hauehave theſe things thus knowne in continuall remembrance, that thinking and meditating on them, wee may take all good occaſions to reape the fruit and benefit of them for our owne vſe, to ſpeake of them as opportunity is offered, for the good and edification of others, and to draw this knowledge into continuall practice, for the reforming and amending of our liues and conuerſations. To which purpoſe, we muſt daily indeuour to purge our memories, and to caſt out of theſe ſtore-houſes the rubbiſh and traſh of ſinfull vanities, which doe but cumber the roome, and take vp the place of ſpirituall riches and heauenly prouiſion, and as it were to blot out of theſe tables all leſſons of impiety, which in the dayes of our ignorance were written in them, with all vaine, carnall, and corrupt motions and conceits, which will bee ſo many diſtractions to withdraw our minds from God and ſpirituall meditations; and in place heereof wee muſt ſtriue to write in them all profitable inſtructions, which we hauehave formerly learned, and thoſe eſpecially which we hauehave obſerued in our laſt holy and ſpirituall exerciſes. And if wee thus like ſcholers daily ſay our part, and recall to our remembrance the leſſons which we hauehave learned the laſt Sabbath, or any day of the weeke beſides, they will be ſo deepely imprinted in our memories, that they will not eaſily be forgotten, neither will the learning of new leſſons, be a meanes to put out the old, and make vsus forget what we hauehave formely learned.
§. Sect. 4 The ſecond thing is, that we adhere vntounto him with our hearts and affections.
Secondly, vntounto this daily exerciſe of ſeeking God, it is required, that wee doe continually adhere and cleaue vntounto him with our hearts and affections; that wee labour and indeuour daily more and more to weane Col. 3. 1, 2.them from the world and worldly vanities, that they may wholly be fixed and faſtned vponupon him, not affecting and doting vponupon earthly and momentany trifles which profit not, but minding ſpirituall and heauenly excellencies, and ſeeking thoſe things which are aboue, where Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God; and that we doe not carry our ſelues as Citizens of the earth, where we hauehave no abiding place, but that we hauehave our conuerſation Phil. 3. 20.in heauen, from whence wee expect a Sauiour and Redeemer. More eſpecially, wee muſt withdraw our affiance and truſt from the arme of fleſh, and earthly helpes and props, which will moſt faile vsus when wee moſt rely vponupon them; and faſten them wholly vponupon God the immoueable Rocke of our ſaluation, and our chiefe Tower of ſtrength, reſting vponupon Pſal. 18. 1. Pro. 18. 10.him at all times, and for all things; prouiſion in time of want, protection in time of danger, as well in the abſence as preſence of all inferiour meanes; knowing that he is infinitely gracious, and all-ſufficient to preſerue and defend vsus without, as well as with them. Wee muſt alſo faſten our hopes daily vponupon God, who is the ſure anchor-hold that will ſtay and ſecure vsus againſt all the ſtormes of troubles and tentations; and daily comfort our ſelues in our earthly pilgrimage, and take incouragement in the performance of all good duties, euen when wee are croſſed in them, and perſecuted for them of the world, by continuall renewing our expectation of the performance of Gods gracious promiſes, eſpecially thoſe that concerne a better life, which will make vsus to purge our ſelues, as he alſo 1. Ioh. 3. 2, 3.is pure, and not to doe any thing which may any way hazard our heauenly happineſſe. Moreouer, wee muſt labour daily that the true feare of Mal. 1. 6.the Lord may more and more poſſeſſe our hearts, making vsus to reuerence him as our heauenly Father, and to ſtand in awe of him as our ſupreme Lord and King. By which ſonne-like & holy feare, we ſhalbe more powerfully reſtrained from all ſinne, becauſe it is diſpleaſing vntounto our louing Father, then by all humane lawes, ſhame of men, or the ſharpeſt and ſeuereſt puniſhments; and inticed with more cheerefulneſſe vntounto all Chriſtian duties, becauſe they are pleaſing in his ſight, then by all earthly hopes or temporary rewards. By it all other ſeruile feare of men will bee expelled, becauſe when they hauehave done their worſt, they can but kill the body; and when they hauehave moſt ſeuerely whipped vsus, put a Paſport into our hands, for our more ſpeedy conducting into our heauenly Countrey: and fearing onelyonly God, we ſhall become bold and couragious in all good duties, and not caring greatly what men can ſay or doe, we will yeeld abſolute obedience vntounto Gods Commandements, and ſubmit our ſelues in all things to be ruled by his Word and holy Spirit. And ſo ſhall wee approoue our ſelues to be true Iſraelites, ſound members of the Church, and loyall ſubiects of Chriſts Kingdome; of whom it is prophecied, that they ſhall returne and ſeeke the Lord their God, and Dauid their King, and ſhall feare the Hoſ. 3. 5.Lord and his goodneſſe in the latter dayes.
§. Sect. 5 That we muſt cleaue vntounto God by feruent louelove.
Fourthly, vntounto this daily exerciſe there is required, that we doe adhere vntounto him by moſt feruent louelove, ſetting our affections vponupon him, and Matth. 22 37.louing him aboue all things with all our mindes, with all our ſoules and with all our ſtrength: And that we daily and continually renew our louelove, by conſidering that he is in himſelfe the chiefe goodneſſe, infinite in all excellencie, beauty, mercy and all perfection, and therefore moſt louely and amiable; and alſo towards vsus moſt good and gracious, benigne and bountifull. In which reſpects we are to eſteeme it our chiefe happineſſe, to be by his louelove towards vsus, and ours towards him, vnited vntounto him, and to inioy him as our chiefe goodneſſe and bleſſedneſſe. For if worldly men doe place all their happineſſe in the fruition of thoſe earthly things vntounto which by louelove their hearts are firmely vnited, as the ambitious man, in the inioying of his deſired honours; the couetous man, of his beloued riches; the voluptuous man, of his wiſhed pleaſures; the carnall louer, in the obtaining of his louelove; how much more ought we to eſteeme it the top and perfection of our felicity, when by feruent louelove we inioy God, being inſeparably vnited vntounto him, and hee vntounto vsus in the bonds of louelove? how much more ſhould our hearts bee rauiſhed with delight (as the Spouſe in the Canticles) with our mutuall and ſweete imbracements, entercourſe of kindneſſe, and tokens and teſtimonies of louelove towards one another? In which louelove if we would be truly happie, our daily care muſt bee to weane our hearts and affections more and more from the louelove of the world and worldly vanities, that they may be wholy faſtened and fixed vponupon God; and as men, when they would intend the whole ſtrength of their ſight to the more perfect beholding of an obiect, do winke with one eye, that all the viſuall ſpirits being collected in the other, they may more vigourouſly and exactly diſcerne and comprehend it: ſo if wee would hauehave the whole keyes and influences of our affections directed vntounto God, we muſt ſhut and auert them from the world, that wee may comprehend and imbrace him with more perfection, when they are wholy and ſoly fixed on him. Beſides, the Lord is a iealous God, who can indure no corriuals in his louelove, and much leſſe that wee ſhould ſhare and diuide our hearts betweene him and his enemies. He cannot abide, that profeſſing our ſelues his chaſt Spouſe, we ſhould like filthy ſtrumpets hauehave our hearts goe a whoring after ſtrange louers. To which purpoſe one ſaith, that that ſoule cannot be filled with the gracious viſitations of the Lord, Impleri viſitationibus Domini anima non poteſt quae bis diſtractionibus ſubiacet, &c. Bern. In aſcenſ. domini Serm. 3.which is ſubiect to worldly diſtractions, and by how much the more it is emptied of them, by ſo much it ſhalbe the more filled of the other; if much, then much; if little, then little. For if the Apoſtles adhering to the Lords bodily preſence, which was moſt holy, could not be filled with the Spirit, till he was taken from them; how canſt thou hope, who art glued and faſtened to the world and thy filthy fleſh, to hauehave the ſweete preſence of God and comforts of his Spirit, vnleſſe thou indeuoureſt to renounce theſe carnall comforts?
§. Sect. 6 That we muſt labour daily to hauehave our communion with God increaſed.
The fifth ſpeciall duty required vntounto our daily ſeeking of God, is, that wee labour more and more to hauehave our ſweete communion with him increaſed, and the comfortable fellowſhip of his holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, ſealed and aſſured vntounto vsus. To which end it muſt bee our daily exerciſe, to purge and purifie them by faith from all noiſome corruptions and ſinfull thoughts, that they may bee fit temples and habitations for this pure and holy Spirit to dwell in; and to decke and adorne them with ſanctifying graces, which will cauſe him to keepe his reſidence in vsus with cheerefulneſſe and delight: we muſt alſo ſubmit our ſelues to be ruled by him, and not quench any good motion which hee ſuggeſteth, either by rebellious and flat denials, or by vaine excuſes and ſluggiſh delaies, but preſently put the duties in practice vntounto which he moueth vsus, and open the dore of our hearts at his firſt knock and call, that hee Apoc. 3. 20.may come in, and ſupping with vsus, feaſt vsus with a moſt delicious banquet of Spirituall refections; leſt putting off his kinde offers with ſlothfull Cant. 5. 2, 3.excuſes (like the Spouſe in the Canticles) we moue him to depart, and hide from vsus his gracious preſence, and ſo moue vsus by a ſorrowfull and painefull ſearch, before we can recouer and finde him, to make more precious account of his company when we doe againe inioy it. We muſt be carefull to preſerue our peace with him, if we would inioy his company; for as the Prophet ſpeaketh, How can two walke together, except they Amos. 3. 3.be agreed? To which end we muſt often renew our faith, and after any ſlip or infirmity, rely vponupon the mediation of our Sauiour Chriſt for our Rom. 5. 1.reconciliation and renewing of our peace. Neither muſt we alone apply Chriſt vntounto vsus for iuſtification, but alſo for ſanctification, indeuouring in all things to pleaſe God; and if we deſire to hauehave the peace of him, wee muſt binde our ſoules to our good behauiour; labouring with feruent zeale to glorifie him in all our cogitations, words, and actions, not paſſing any of our time vnfruitfully and vnprofitably: but imploying it ſo, as ſome glory thereby may redound to God, and ſome comfort to our owne ſoules, by furthering the aſſurance of their ſaluation. Contrariwiſe our care muſt bee, that wee doe not vexe and grieue the good Spirit of God, by quenching his good motions which hee ſuggeſteth, or by defiling our ſoules with ſinfull corruptions; eſpecially, that we doe not ſuffer voluntarily and wilfully any knowne ſinnes to dwell in vsus, which will pollute our ſoules and bodies, and making them fitter to bee cages for vncleane Birds, and noyſome ſtyes for filthy Swine, then Temples and habitations for him to dwell in, will mooue him, as weary of his lodging, to depart from vsus. Moreouer, hauing this ſweete communion with God, and comfortable fruition of his preſence, by his holy Spirit dwelling in vsus, wee muſt labour to preſerue it inuiolable, by carrying our ſelues daily, and in all our thoughts, words, and actions, as in his ſight, and not to doe any thing before him, which wee would bee aſhamed to doe in the preſence of a man that is iuſt and religious. And ſeeing wee hauehave ſuch communion with God, wee muſt indeuour to bee holy, as he is Leuit. 19. 2. & 10. 2.holy; for the Lord will bee ſanctified in all thoſe that come ſo nigh him, either in his mercy or Iudgements; and being a conſuming fire, wee muſt take heede that we bee not as ſtubble and chaffe, but as pure gold, which will not be conſumed, but be made daily more pure by our communion with him. Finally, hauing this communion with God, wee muſt reioyce in him aboue all things in the world; and as this communion muſt not bee by fits and ſtarts, like that with our worldly friends, whom wee viſite onelyonly at good times, or when wee hauehave got ſome leaſure from our buſineſſe, but conſtant, daily, and continuall, like the communion of man and wife, who ſhould dwell together in the ſame houſe, or of the head with the members, and ſoule with the body, which whileſt life laſteth, admit of no diuiſion or ſeparation: ſo muſt our ioy and reioycing in God cauſed by this communion, be conſtant and continuall; according to that of the Apoſtle, Reioyce euermore: And againe, Reioyce 1. Theſ. 5. 16. Phil. 4. 4.in the Lord alwayes: and againe, I ſay, Reioyce; not onelyonly in worldly proſperity, but alſo in affliction and tribulation; for if wee inioy this neere communion with God, hee may much more fitly ſay vntounto vsus, as Elcanah to Annah, Am not I much better vntounto thee then 1. Sam. 1. 8.all worldly comforts, which are vaine and worthleſſe, for they laſt but a while, and leaue thee when thou moſt needeſt them? And this ioy will ſupport vsus, euen when all other forſake vsus, and make our labour of louelove light and eaſie, which wee vndertake for the Lords ſake; It will weane our hearts for all carnall delights, and make vsus euen with great ioy and comfort to finiſh our tedious pilgrimage, when as wee hauehave the ioy and delight of ſo ſweete a Companion in all our Trauailes.
§. Sect. 7 That vntounto the ſeeking of God is required, that we daily renew our repentance.
Sixthly, to the daily ſeeking of God, is required, that we daily renew our repentance; for theſe in the Scriptures are vſually ioyned together, to Deut. 4. 29, 30.intimate vntounto vsus that we then ſeeke God, when as wee doe vnfainedly repent vsus of our ſinnes. Thus the Lord promiſeth, that if the people of Iſrael would in their tribulation ſeeke the Lord, with all their heart, and with all their ſoule, and turne to the Lord their God, and bee obedient vntounto his voyce, then they ſhould finde him. And that if they ſhould humble themſelues and pray, and ſeeke his face, and turne from their euill wayes, then he would heare 2. Chro. 7. 14. Hoſ. 7. 10. & 10. 12. & 5. 15. Eſa. 55. 6, 7.from heauen, forgiue their ſinnes, and heale their land. So the Prophet Eſay ioyneth theſe together: Seeke yee the Lord while hee may bee found; call ye vponupon him while hee is neere. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the vnrighteous man his thoughts, and let him returne vntounto the Lord, and he will hauehave mercy vponupon him. Without which vnfained repentance, we cannot truely be ſaid to ſeeke God, or to hauehave any communion with him; for if wee ſay that wee 1. Ioh. 1. 6.hauehave any fellowſhip with him, and walke in darkeneſſe, we lye, and doe not the truth. More eſpecially we muſt ſeeke the Lord, by humbling our ſelues in true contrition and ſorrow for our ſinnes, which hauehave eſtranged God from vsus, and made vsus loſe the ſenſe and aſſurance of his louelove and fauour. And therefore the Lord exhorteth the meeke of the earth to ſeeke him, that they might be hid in the day of his anger: And ſaith, that Iſrael and Iudah ſhould Zeph. 23.come together, going and weeping, and ſhould goe and ſeeke the Lord their God. Ier. 50. 4.Secondly, we muſt ſeeke him, not onelyonly by bewailing and forſaking our ſinnes, but alſo by bringing foorth the fruits of new obedience. Whereof it is, that theſe alſo are conioyned in the Scriptures; Hearken vntounto me, ye Eſa. 51. 1.that follow after righteouſneſſe, ye that ſeeke the Lord. Thus Iudah is commanded to ſeeke the Lord God of their fathers, and to doe after the Law and 2. Chro. 14. 4.the Commandement. And Iehoſhaphat is commended, becauſe he ſought the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandements: which duties, if 2. Chro. 17. 4.we ioyne together, we ſhall be bleſſed; according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſed are they that keepe his Testimonies, and that ſeeke him with their whole heart.Pſal. 119. 2.
§. Sect. 8 That we muſt ſeeke to hauehave and hold Gods grace and fauour in Ieſus Chriſt.
Finally, to this duty of ſeeking God, is required, that we ſeeke to hauehave and to hold his face and fauour in Ieſus Chriſt; deſiring nothing more in Act. 17. 28.the world, then to hauehave the bright beames of his countenance continually ſhining vponupon vsus, and to finde and feele the ſweete and vitall influences of his fauour, warming our hearts with ioy and comfort; for in him wee liue, and mooue, and hauehave our being: and if hee graciouſly behold vsus with the benigne aſpect of his mercy and louelove, we liue and flouriſh; but if hee doe turne away his face, we are troubled; and if he but blow vponupon vsus with the Pſ. 104. 29, 30.breath of his diſpleaſure, our breath will faile, and dying, we ſhall returne to our duſt. He is the life-giuing Planet, and Sunne of all comfort and ioy, who by the beames and influences of his fauour, both giueth vsus life, and preſerueth vsus in our well-being. And therefore as the inferiour creatures are much indammaged, when in the eclipſes of the Sunne they are for a ſhort time depriued of its preſence and vitall influences; ſo cannot our ſoules but receiue much hurt and ſpirituall detriment, if the beames of Gods fauour be for the ſhorteſt moment eclipſed from vsus. Heereof it is, that we are exhorted to ſeeke the Lord and his face, becauſe in him, our Pſal. 105. 4.life and ſtrength, vertue and vigour chiefly conſiſteth. Seeke the Lord and Hoſ. 5. 15. Pſal. 106. 4.his ſtrength, ſeeke his face euermore: And therefore no ſooner was Dauid mooued to performe this duty, but preſently he vndertaketh it, as being aboue all other things moſt pleaſant and profitable. When thou ſaydeſt Pſal. 27. 8.(ſaith he) Seeke yee my face, my heart ſaid vntounto thee; Thy face, Lord, will I Verſ. 9.ſeeke. And hence it is, that if the Lord did neuer ſo little eſtrange himſelfe, he doth ſo earneſtly pray that hee would not hide his face from him; and cryeth out as a man vtterly forlorne and forſaken of all hope and comfort, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? why art thou ſo farre Pſal. 22. 1.from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? And contrariwiſe, when he inioyed Gods face and fauour, he thought himſelfe much more happy, then in the fruition of all earthly bleſſings. There are many (ſaith he) that ſay, Who will ſhew vsus any good? Lord, lift thou vp the light of thy countenance Pſal. 4. 6, 7.vponupon vsus. Thou haſt put gladneſſe in my heart, more then in the time that their corne and wine increaſed. Now the meanes whereby we may preſerue and aſſure vntounto our ſelues, the face, fauour, and louing countenance of God, is daily to ſtriue and labour after greater perfection in all ſpirituall graces, and in the duties of his ſeruice; as to know him more perfectly, to beleeue in him more aſſuredly, to louelove him more intirely, to feare him more reuerently, to truſt in him more firmely, to hope in him more cheerefully and patiently, to call vponupon him more deuoutly and feruently, to heare his Word more attentiuely, and to performe all the duties of piety, righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety, more ſincerely and diligently then we did the day before. And if we thus labour and indeuour to pleaſe God in all things, we ſhall be ſure of his fauour, and notwithſtanding our manifold infirmities, he will ſhine vponupon vsus with the light of his countenance, and graciouſly accept, and be well pleaſed with vsus in the face of his Beloued, and our Mat. 3. 17.onelyonly Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt.