A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 5
CAP. V.
Of the right manner of ſeeking God, ſo as we may be ſure to finde him: and of the benefits which ariſe from it.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt ſeeke God firſt and principally, ſeaſonably and conſtantly,
AND theſe are the things which are required to this duty of ſeeking God daily. The ſecond point propounded, was the Matth. 6. 33.manner how he is to be thus ſought of vsus. In which reſpect, wee are to ſeeke him rightly, according to the direction of his Word. Wherein is required, firſt, that we ſeeke God firſt and principally, that is, aboue all things in the world, more highly eſteeming him in our iudgements, more often thinking on him in our meditations, more feruently cleauing vntounto him, in our hearts, wils, and affections, more diligently ſeeking his grace and fauour in all our actions, then the greateſt excellencies that heauen or earth can affoord vntounto vsus. Secondly, wee muſt ſeeke him firſt in time, and before all other things, as men vſe to ſeeke firſt things chiefly neceſſary, profitable, and of greateſt value and excellency, and when they hauehave any ſpare time, things of leſſe vſe, vtility, or worth; as treaſures, before lumber; meanes of life, foode, apparell, liberty and peace, before ſuperfluities and ſuch things, as ſerue onelyonly for ornament and delight. Thirdly, wee muſt ſeeke him in the opportune, ſeaſonable, and acceptable time when he may bee found, that is, whilſt the day of ſaluation laſteth, and whilſt yet God offreth vntounto vsus his grace and fauour, and ſtill vouchſafeth vntounto vsus his holy Ordinances, that ſeeking, we may find him in them. Yea, whilſt God biddeth vsus ſeeke his face, and euen aſſoone as the word is come out of his mouth, our hearts muſt anſwere, Thy face, O Lord, will I ſeeke. So the Lord by his Prophet Pſal. 27. 8.exhorteth vsus: Seeke ye the Lord while he may be found, and call vponupon him while he is neere: And the Church and people of God perſwade one another; Eſa. 55. 6.Let vsus goe ſpeedily to pray before the Lord, and to ſeeke the Lord of hoſts, and Zach. 8. 21.I will goe alſo. We muſt ſeeke the Bridegroome when hee is come into his Garden, and inuiteth vsus to feaſt with him in his ſpirituall delicacies. And whilſt he knocketh at the dore of our hearts with the finger of his Spirit, and calleth vntounto vsus by the miniſtery of his Word, ſaying, Open vntounto mee, Cant. 5. 1, 2.my ſiſter, my louelove, my doue, my vndefiled: Wee muſt not giuegive him a comeagaine, nor put him off with ſlight excuſes; leſt he puniſh our ſloth, by withdrawing himſelfe and the comforts of his Spirit from vsus; and becauſe we would not open when he knocked, nor anſwere when hee called, he make vsus to knocke, and call and cry, before he will heare vsus, and to ſeeke him with ſorrow, before he will be found of vsus, that ſo he may make vsus afterwards to eſteeme more of his gracious offers, and to make more precious account of his comfortable preſence, when hee doth againe vouchſafe it vntounto vsus; which we did not greatly value, when as we might hauehave inioyed it with eaſe and pleaſure. Now the moſt ſeaſonable time of ſeeking God, are the dayes of our youth, and when with good Ioſias we ſeeke him 2. Chro. 34. 3.in our tender age, for he ſeeketh him beſt and moſt acceptably, that ſeeketh him ſooneſt and with beſt ſpeede. Which if we hauehave neglected, then the beſt time of ſeeking him is the time preſent, and while yet the ſound of his voyce in the miniſtery of his Word ringeth in our eares, calling vsus to turne from our ſinnes, and returne vntounto him. For whileſt God ſeeketh vsus in his holy ordinances, it is fit time of ſeeking him, neither is the acceptable time and day of ſaluation paſt, whileſt yet the light of the Goſpell ſhineth 2. Cor. 6. 2.vntounto vsus, and therefore to day if ye will heare his voyce, harden not your Pſal. 95. 7, 8.heart. But if wee neglect this time, and let Chriſt goe away, through our prophaneneſſe or ſlothfull negligence, hee will ſay vntounto vsus as he did vntounto the Iewes; Ye ſhall ſeeke me, and ſhall not finde me; and where I am, thither ye Ioh. 7. 34.cannot come. And finally, as in reſpect of the time, we muſt ſeeke him ſeaſonably, ſo alſo conſtantly, that is, continually, and to the end of our liues, when as hauing full fruition of him, we ſhall be ſecure in his preſence, and without feare of loſing him. Wee muſt ſeeke him, not onelyonly in the day of aduerſity and affliction, when wee moſt ſenſibly apprehend our neede of Eſa. 26. 16.him: for this may be performed by the greateſt hypocrites, and the moſt deſpiſers of his grace at other times; but alſo in the time of our proſperity, when carnall reaſon would perſwade vsus, that hauing all things at our hearts deſire, we hauehave leſſe neede to ſue and ſeeke vntounto him. Not onelyonly when he ſheweth his glory and greatneſſe vponupon extraordinary occaſions, as by terrible thunder, lightning, earthquakes, and ſuch like; which cauſed the rebellious Iſraelites to ſeeke him, when they had formerly reiected 1. Sam. 12.him; but wee muſt continue this duty at all times, according to that wiſh of the Lord, in the behalfe of the Iſraelites; O that there were Deut. 5. 29.ſuch an heart in them, that they would feare me, and keepe my Commandements alwayes, &c.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt ſeeke God in Ieſus Chriſt, ſincerely, zealouſly, and with all diligence.
And after this manner we ought to ſeeke God, in reſpect of the time; in reſpect of the perſon in whom we muſt ſeeke him, it muſt be in the face of his Anointed, and the alone mediation of Ieſus Chriſt, the Sonne of his louelove, in whom onelyonly he will be found of vsus. For if wee ſeeke him in our owne merits, workes, and worthineſſe, we ſhall, in regard of their imperfections and corruptions, be more eſtranged from him. In reſpect of our ſelues who are the ſeekers, we muſt ſeeke him, if we meane to find him, after a right manner; firſt, ſincerely and vprightly, with all our hearts and ſoules, wills and affections. So Dauid exhorteth the Princes of Iſrael, to ſet their hearts and ſoules to ſeeke the Lord their God. And heerein propoundeth 1. Chro. 22. 19. Pſal. 119. 10.himſelfe, as an example for our imitation, profeſſing that with his whole heart he had ſought the Lord. Thus Aſa and the people of Iuda entred into a couenant to ſeeke the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, 1 Chro. 15. 12. & 22. 9.and with all their ſoule. Which ſincere ſeeking onelyonly hath the promiſe of finding him; according to that in Deuteronomie, If from thence thou ſhalt Deut. 4. 29.ſeeke the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt finde him; if thou ſeeke him with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoule. And ſo the Lord promiſeth the people of Iudah, that if in the land of their captiuity they would ſeeke the Lord, they Ier. 29. 13.ſhould finde him, if they ſhould ſearch for him with all their heart. Secondly, we muſt ſeeke the Lord, not coldly and formally, as though we were careleſſe whether we found him or not, but zealouſly, and with all earneſtneſſe, as being the chiefe thing which we deſire. And as the couetous man neglecteth his meate, that he may get money; and the famiſhed man money, that he may get meate to ſatisfie his hunger: ſo muſt we couet and hunger after Gods preſence, and labour to inioy his face and fauour, more then to inioy all our earthly deſires. And this feruencie of affection in ſeeking God, is in moſt liuely manner expreſſed in the example of the Spouſe in the Canticles, ſeeking her Bridegroome, who like a woman rauiſhed with Cant. 5.the excellencies of her Louer, and euen mad with louelove, hath her heart ſo fixed on him, that ſhe can reſt neither night nor day; but euen in her bed where ſhee ſhould ſleepe, her mind runneth on him, and betweene ſleeping and waking, vp ſhe ſtarteth to let him in whom her ſoule loueth; of which hope, when ſhe findeth her ſelfe fruſtrate, by his withdrawing himſelfe, ſhe calleth vntounto him, and ſeeketh for him; and hauing neither anſwere, nor deſired ſucceſſe, ſhe runneth about the ſtreets of the Citie, euen in the night, and enquireth of the Watchmen, and eueryevery one ſhee met (as though the heate of louelove, had made her to caſt off the Vaile of modeſty) if they could tell her no tidings of her Beloued; being neuer at reſt till ſhe had found him, and had againe gotten him within her imbracements. Finally, vntounto this feruency in affection, we muſt ioyne diligence in action, indeuouring and labouring in the vſe of all good meanes, whereby we may finde God, and bee more and more aſſured of his grace and fauour. For vntounto this ſedulity in ſeeking God, are the promiſes made; and the Apoſtle telleth vsus, that he is a bountifull rewarder of them that diligently ſeeke him. As therefore they who hauehave loſt ſome precious iewell wherein their Heb. 11. 6.chiefe wealth conſiſteth, doe not content themſelues with a ſlight ſearch, but ſet all other buſineſſe aſide to ſeeke it, and are ſo intent and wholy taken vp with their imployment, that they can ſcarce finde any time to ſit downe and reſt them, yea to eate, drinke or ſleepe, till they hauehave found it; and hauehave all their thoughts ſo intent vponupon this one thing which they hauehave in hand, that they minde not what is ſpoken or done in other matters; ſo muſt wee vſe the like or greater diligence in ſeeking God, who is of infinite more value then all the Iewels of the world. And if Dauid was ſo wholy intent in preparing a viſible place of Gods preſence, that hee proteſteth to neglect all other things in compariſon of it; as that hee would not come into the tabernacle of his Pſal. 132. 3, 4, 5.houſe, nor goe vp into his bed; nor giuegive ſleepe vntounto his eyes, nor ſlumber vntounto his eye-liddes, vntill hee might finde a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob: then how much more ſhould wee bee diligent and earneſt aboue all things in ſeeking God, that wee may hauehave him to reſide and dwell with vsus in the temple of our hearts?
§. Sect. 3 Of the fruits and benefits which we inioy by our daily ſeeking of God.
The third point to be conſidered, is the manifold fruits and benefits which they receiue and inioy who thus daily ſeeke God. For firſt, they Pſal. 69. 6.ſhall not be confounded by any ſhame, nor with the malice and might of all their enemies, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Let not thoſe that ſeeke thee, be confounded for my ſake, O God of Iſrael. Their infirmities ſhall not be laid to their charge, nor their imperfections, corruptions and failings in performing the duties of Gods ſeruice; as appeareth by the prayer of Hezechias for them, who had prepared their hearts to ſeeke God, 2. Chro. 30. 18, 19.whom God pardoned, though they were not cleanſed according to the purification of the Sanctuary. They ſhall not loſe their labour, nor ſpend their ſtrength in vaine; for the Lord hath promiſed that thoſe who thus ſeeke him, ſhall ſurely finde him. If thou ſeeke the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt finde him, Eſa. 45. 19.if thou ſeeke him with all thine heart. So Azariah telleth Aſa and the people, that the Lord would bee with them, while they were with him: and if Deut. 4. 29. 1. Chro. 28. 9. 2. Chro. 15. 2. verſe 4.they ſought him, he would be found of them; the which he confirmeth by the experience which their fathers had hereof in former times, euen as afterwards they found the Word of God in his mouth confirmed in their owne experience; for no ſooner did they ſet themſelues to ſeeke the Lord with their whole deſire, but he was found of them, and the Lord gaue them rest round verſe. 15.about. And as wee ſhall by ſeeking God be freed from all euill, ſo ſhall we hauehave the fruition of all good; for we ſhall inioy God himſelfe, and hee will dwell in vsus as in his Temple, and communicate himſelfe vntounto vsus as vntounto his louelove and Spouſe. Neither will he come empty-handed, but bring with him his rich rewards: and as he is infinitely good in himſelfe, ſo will he bee good vntounto them that waite for him, and to the ſoule that ſeeketh him. He Heb. 11. 6.will not let any good thing bee wanting vntounto them. They ſhall receiue the bleſsing from the Lord, and righteouſneſſe from the God of their ſaluation. They Pſal. 34. 10. Pſal. 24. 4, 5, 6. 2. Chro. 31. 21.ſhall proſper in all their workes, be preſerued from all dangers, and deliuered from all euill; for the hand of the Lord is vponupon them for good that ſeeke Ezra. 8. 22.him, but his power and his wrath is againſt all them that forſake him. He will Pſal. 9. 10.not forſake them; but will hide them in the day of his anger. They ſhall Zeph. 2. 3.receiue ſpirituall growth in all graces, through the beames of his brightneſſe, and the ſweete influences of his fauour, as the hearbes and trees receiue growth and become fruitfull, by the vertue of the Sun that ſhineth vponupon them. Yea, themſelues ſhall be as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and Pro. 4. 18.more to the perfect day; and in his light they ſhall ſee light, and be admitted to the ſight and contemplation of his ſecret counſels. They ſhall hauehave their faith and affiance in God more and more confirmed, through that familiarity and communion which they hauehave with him; and hauing peace with God, they ſhall hauehave alſo peace of conſcience, and peace with all the creatures. They ſhall hauehave ſafety and Chriſtian ſecurity in Gods preſence, fauour, and protection, and he will giuegive them reſt on all ſides, becauſe they 2. Chro. 14. 7.hauehave ſought the Lord their God. So as they may ſay with Dauid; I will not bee affraide of ten thouſand of people that hauehave ſet themſelues againſt mee round Pſal. 3. 5.about. Though I walke through the vale of the ſhaddow of death, I will feare Pſal. 23. 4.no euill: for thou, Lord, art with me, thy rod and thy ſtaffe they comfort me. God Pſal. 46. 1, 2.is our refuge and strength, a very preſent helpe in trouble; therefore will not we feare, though the earth be remoued, and though the mountaines bee caſt into the middeſt of the ſea, &c. And in the greateſt garboyles of worldly troubles, they may ſay with him, I will both lay mee downe and ſleepe, for thou, Pſal. 4. 8.Lord, onelyonly makeſt me dwell in ſafety. They ſhall hauehave their hearts filled with ioy and gladneſſe in the fruition of his fauour, and ſhall, aboue all others, hauehave continuall cauſe of reioycing; according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Let all thoſe that ſeeke thee, reioyce & be glad in thee, and let all ſuch as louelove Pſal. 70. 4.thy ſaluation, ſay continually, Let God be magnified. And againe: Glory ye in his holy name, let the heart of them reioyce that ſeeke the Lord. They ſhall Pſal. 105. 3. 2. Cor. 1. 12.lead an holy and vnblameable life, when as they are alwaies taken vp in theſe pious exerciſes, and attaine daily vntounto more and more perfection in all ſauing graces, and in the performance of all Chriſtian duties. Yea, they ſhall hauehave not onelyonly abundance of grace and all Spirituall good in this life, but alſo of glory in the life to come. For they that ſeeke God now, ſhall then perfectly finde him, and with him eternall bleſſedneſſe in the fruition of the chiefe goodneſſe, according to that of the Prophet Dauid: They that ſeeke the Lord with their whole heart, are bleſſed; for John 17. 3. Pſal. 16. 11. Pſal. 119. 2. Amos 5. 4, 6.they ſhall liue the life of Grace here, and the life of glory in the world to come.
§. Sect. 4 Of the euils which follow our neglect of ſeeking God.
Finally, the euils and miſchiefes are manifold which follow the neglect of this dutie of ſeeking God: for Gods power and wrath is againſt them, to Ezra 8. 22.bring vponupon them the puniſhment of their neglect. Hee will withdraw from ſuch his comfortable preſence; and by grieuous afflictions enforce vponupon them this dutie, which they will not doe cheerefully and of their owne accord, according to that in Hoſea: I will goe and returne to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and ſeeke my face; in their afflictions they will Hoſ. 5. 15.ſeeke me early. They ſhall not proſper in any thing which they doe or take Ier. 10. 21.in hand, as the Lord threateneth the bruitiſh paſtors of Iudah. And as the flowres and plants cannot thriue and flouriſh, which inioy not the light and warmth of the Sun: ſo much leſſe ſhall they proſper and grow in grace or goodneſſe, who neglect to ſeeke God, and ſo depriue themſelues of the comfortable beames of his gracious preſence. Finally, the Lord hath threatned to ſtretch out his hand, and take vengeance on them Zeph. 1. 6.that hauehave not ſought the Lord, nor enquired for him; yea, that he will laugh at their deſtruction, and delight himſelfe in their puniſhments, as he intimateth, by comparing the day of vengeance to a day of ſolemne ſacrifice, vntounto which he inuiteth his gheſts, that they may be ſpectatours of theſe fearefull examples, and glorifie his Iuſtice in the deſerued puniſhments of thoſe who had not fought him.