The Morning Seeker, Sermon 1

The Morning Seeker · Sermon 1

p. 1Prov. 8.17.

I love them that love me, and they that ſeek me early ſhall find me.

THat young Inquirers after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt may be encouraged in their following on to know him, notwithſtanding the temptations they meet with without them, and within them, this Text of Scripture is very conſiderable.

The Words are the Promiſe of Chriſt, to young Seekers, by way of encouragement, to continue, and hold on in ſeeking him.

1. We have the Perſons to whom p. 2the Promiſe is made, They that ſeek me early, they that ſeek me in the morning (ſo the word) becauſe that which is done in the morning, is always done moſt vigorouſly, the Spirits being more raiſed, and lively. Therefore we read of the morning, as an eſpecial praying time, as a time of worſhip, I direct my prayer unto thee in the morning, Prov. 15.14. The word is uuſed. Pſal. 130.6.Prov 15:14Ps 130:6and will look up — and at another time (ſays he) my ſoul waits for thee, more than they which wait for the morning, Pſal. 130.6. (viz.) than the Watchmen that give notice of the morning,Tempus matutinum Hebraeis dicitur Boker à Bokkar: Eſt quaerere magis conatu, & ſtudio (Pro. 15.14.) It ſigniſies to ſeek by ſuing and praying, by asking direction and counſel of them that are able to give it.Prov 15:14 that they may offer up their Sacrifice (ſays Mr. Ainſworth.) Theſe are the Perſons under the Promiſe, that ſeek him in the morning of their time, in their youth.

2. We have the Perſon that makes this Promiſe, They that ſeek me (viz.) Jeſus Chriſt. It is apparent all over the Chapter, that is meant of Chriſt, who is here called Wiſdom, who indeed is the Wiſdom of the Father. I need not take up time in proving this, the very Text carries its own Evidence in it. O Poor Soul! Chriſt himſelf is p. 3your Encourager, what ever Diſcouragements you meet withall, and this he doth by his own Promiſe.

3. Here is the Promiſe it ſelf, they ſhall find me. They are poor mourning Seekers, early Seekers, and young Seekers, but they ſhall be ſure, and certain finders. They ſhall not ſeek, as God threatned them, in the Prophet, they ſhall ſeek me, with their Herds, and their Flocks, Hoſea 5.6.Hos 5:6and ſhall not find me. They ſhall not ſeek, and be diſappointed, they ſhall not ſeek and go without, but they ſhall find me; who ever miſs of Chriſt, of all the Perſons in the World, they ſhall not miſs of him. O what Encouragement is here to young Seekers of Chriſt! [This word in the Text we have rendred thus; (Job 8.5.) If thou would ſeek God betimes, if thou wouldest morning God: Shahar (diluculare Deum diligenter, ſedulò & magno ſtudio quaerere.)

The Obſervations are theſe.

1. That young Inquirers after Chriſt p. 4are much upon his heart.

2. That Morning Seekers ſhall be ſure, and certain Finders.

3. That uſually in Souls morning lookers after Chriſt, they meet with much diſcouragement. This is ſtrongly implied, becauſe Chriſt gives them this Promiſe, by way of Encouragement. We will begin with this laſt.

Let us enquire a little what theſe Diſcouragements are; what are great Hindrances of poor morning Seekers.

1. From within, there are diſcouragements. 2. From without.

1. Diſcouragements from within. 1. Strong Corruptions; for as ſoon as ever the Soul begins to look out, and enquire after Jeſus Chriſt, then doth Corruption begin to work more ſtrongly, than it did before. … corruption is more ſtrong in young ones than in others, and up… this occaſion (ſays the Soul) Will … poor ſoul get over this moun… … Jeſus Chriſt? Alas! there is … Luſt betwixt me and Ch…, … ſhall I not one day periſh p. 5by the hand of Saul? Will not theſe Sons of Zerviah be too ſtrong for me? O now ſays the poor Soul my Enemies are ſtrong and lively, (as David ſaid) and thruſt ſore at me. O poor Soul! what though thy Corruptions be ſtrong, yet thy Redeemer is ſtrong: he is ſtronger than the ſtrong man armed, and that promiſe anſwers this diſcouragement.

He ſhall bring forth Judgment unto Victory: Iſaiah 42.3.Isa 42:3though thou be but a poor ſmoak-ing flax, and bruiſed reed, yet thou ſhalt have the day over all thy Corruptions; and will not ſuch a day of Victory call for a day of thankſgiving? I have read of a Victory called Victoria Hallelujetica, upon this: The Saxons here in England being to engage the Britains, the Leader of the Britains being a**Germanus who came over from France to ſubdue the P…lagian Hereſie. Godly Biſhop, having his Army in ſome Dales and Valleys, ordered them to crie Hallelujah, which they did, and through the Eccho of the voyce in the Valleys, the Enemy thought there was many more of them, than there was, and through fear fled. O poor diſcouraged p. 6ſoul! thou ſhalt have ſuch a Victory over thy Corruptions, as thou wilt for ever ſing Hallelujah in Heaven for.

2. Diſcouragement from within is weakneſs of Grace. O! ſays the poor ſoul, can ſuch a weak Creature as I ever be able to ſeek Chriſt, through ſo many difficulties? every ſin is too hard for me, every duty too hard for me, I may as well give over praying, and hearing, and contending againſt my ſin, for I find my ſelf ſo weak, I am ever and anon foyled. O poor ſoul! doſt not thou know the Promiſe is made to truth of Grace, and not only to the ſtrength of grace: bruiſed Reeds are within the Promiſe, as well as ſtrong Cedars; the Lambs are under the Promiſe of his Boſome; the weak of the flock this good Shepherd hath promiſed to ſtrengthen; the days of ſmall things he will not deſpiſe; weak ones are neither caſt out, nor caſt off, becauſe of weakneſs, if they be Children.

3. Diſcouragement is ſenſe of their own vileneſs and unworthineſs. O p. 7poor young ones! at firſt ſetting out after Chriſt they are under their Humiliations for Sin, a great piece of which Humiliation lies in the ſenſe of their own Unworthineſs; thus it was with the poor Prodigal, at his firſt coming home to his Father's Houſe; Lord, Luke 15.19.Luke 15:19I am not worthy to be called thy Son; and as the Samaritan, I am not worthy thou ſhould come under my Roof: O ſays ſuch a poor ſoul, Lord wilt thou be found of ſuch a wrech as I; ſuch a vile wrech as I?

O poor ſoul! doſt thou not know that all ſinners that come unto him, though vile, though wretched, though miſerable, are to be welcomed by him? And this as he is commiſſionated by the Father;John 6.37, 38.John 6:37John 6:38 He will in no wiſe caſt out them that come unto him; and the ſtrength and ſtreſs of all lies here, this is the will of my Father. Now Chriſt will be ſure to act obedientially, and faithfully to his Commiſſion received of his Father.Luke 14.21.Luke 14:21 Poor Souls! were not the poor Gentiles, who were Chriſt's Gueſts, vile, Hedgeway ſinners? High-way ſinners? the p. 8blind, and maimed? yet how doth Chriſt welcome ſuch Gueſts to his Table? Are you viler than theſe? Alas poor ſouls! you that are under the ſenſe of your own vileneſs, you come right to Chriſt unworthy of a Pardon, of a good look, of a good word; as they came with Ropes about their necks to the King of Iſrael; he uſually accepts and pardons ſuch.

4. Diſcouragement from within is ſenſe of former loſt, and buried Convictions. While we are under Ordinances, or we are under Afflictions, O how ordinary is this! and we are affected with theſe Convictions. But one Temptation or other, either within, or without, meets thee, and the Conviction preſently is buried; the Soul hears no more of it, it may be for a year, or two; but if the Lord have a gracious deſign upon thee, he cauſes thy Convictions to riſe again, and walk again; and O then the ſoul is troubled, and diſcouraged: Alas! this Conviction is come again, but will it not die, as the laſt did? It will not ſtay long.

p. 9O poor Soul! yet this hath uſually been the way of God to cauſe the ſecond Convictions, or the Return of convictions to do their work throughly: O how many ſouls have found it ſo! Though truly it is a wonder of mercies, when firſt Convictions are ſmothered and extinguiſhed, that God ever blows them up, and kindles them again.1 Sam. 3.7.1 Sam 3:7 God often doth with young Seekers, as he did with young Samuel, calls him again, and again, though we lie down, and ſleep again, and again; it is ſaid, he knew not the word of the Lord, for he was young.

5. Diſcouragement is, fears of Nonperſeverance, that young ones meet with from within. O ſay theſe poor ſouls, what will become of us poor low Shrubs, when we ſee ſuch tall and ſtrong Cedars fall? Shall we ever be able to hold on in our way? Shall we run and not be weary, walk, and not faint? We ſhall never be able to continue to the far end, to run the Race with patience that is ſet before us.

O poor Soul! thy Perſeverance in p. 10the ways of God is Jeſus Chriſts Promiſe, Purchaſe, and Charge. 1. He hath promiſed it,Iſaiah 40.31.Isa 40:31 they that wait on the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, even ſo as they ſhall run and not be weary; nay if they cannot, he hath promiſed to carry them;Iſaiah 40.11.Isa 40:11 he carries the Lambs in his Boſom, and can any pull them out of his Boſom? If none can pull them out of his hand, much leſs can any pull them out of his heart. 2. Perſeverance is Chriſt's Purchaſe; did he die for you, and will he loſe you? Will he pay the Price, and let another carry away the Purchaſe? Did not he die for Glory, as well as Grace? and Happineſs as well as Holineſs? No, no, not a ſoul that his blood is gone for, can be a miſcarrying ſoul. 3. Your Perſeverance is Chriſt's charge, he hath undertaken for it to his Father:John 6.37.John 6:37 none that thou haſt given me ſhall be loſt, but I will raiſe it up at the laſt day.

2. They have Diſcouragement from without as well as from within, and both meeting together is a great damp to the young Seeker. The diſcouragements p. 11from without are from theſe Cauſes.

1. From Satan; As ſoon as he ſees they look Chriſt-ward, and Heaven-ward, he begins then to torment them; though while they were his Bondſlaves, they were all the time quiet. As when the Children of Iſrael were to go out of the Egyptian Captivity, then Pharoah with all his Hoſt purſues them; ſo when a ſoul is going out of his ſpiritual houſe of Bondage, Satan with all his might and main labours to reduce them. It is the obſervation of one upon the Church, the Woman in the Revelations, that all the while ſhe was breeding, the Dragon did not meddle with her; but when ſhe comes to be delivered, then he caſts a flood after the woman to deſtroy both her and her man-child. So all the while a poor ſoul is under ſome Breathings and deſires only after Chriſt, Satan doth not much tempt, or diſturb it: but when it comes to bring forth Chriſt, and anſwer his Convictions, with a change of Converſation, O then he p. 12caſts a whole flood of Temptations and diſcouragements after it. And, alas! this proceeds from his envy to the good of your ſouls. He is the envious one, and his envy puts him upon laying diſcouragements before you: O who can ſtand before Envy? O poor ſoul! the Lord will look after thee, while thou art looking after him. Poor ſoul! be of good cheer, thy Temptations argue his Rage, and his Rage being great argues his time of rule in thy ſoul is like to be ſhort.

2. Diſcouragement without proceeds from the Perſecution that attends the Profeſſion of the Goſpel. While the Sun did ſhine upon the Goſpel, it had many friends: but when it is brought under the Clouds of Perſecution, many go away from Chriſt; as he ſaid unto them, Will you alſo go away? There was I remember a Law, that the firſt year of marriage, none ſhould go to War: O but may young ones ſay, what a diſcouragement it is to us, as ſoon as ever we deſire to be married to Chriſt in a profeſſion of the Goſpel, we muſt be Sufferers, p. 13and muſt go to War with Perſecutions. Well, poor Souls! be not diſcouraged; you ſhall not go to war on your own coſt; The Lord the great Captain of your Salvation will renew your ſtrength, and you ſhall run and not be weary, walk and not faint; though Perſecutions meet you in the way, Jeſus Chriſt hath his ſtrict Charge, and he will look after them in a ſuffering day.

3. Diſcouragement from without is the Oppoſition they meet with from carnal Relations, ſuch as are Encmies to the Croſs of Chriſt. Many times ſuch do mightily oppoſe theſe ways they are ignorant of, which is a great diſcouragement.

And Satan many times helps on the rage of ſuch, and ſtirs up their wrath; but yet for all this, poor ſoul, be not diſcouraged, when thy way pleaſes the Lord he can make thine Enemies at Peace with thee, much more thy Relations. God many times has turned the heart of Relations about, as he did Eſau's heart to his Brother Jacob, when purſuing of him; but if not, p. 14there is a Friend nearer than a Brother (viz.) the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he will be a friend in the day of Adverſity. Nay often it is obſerved, that as cold water makes fire burn ſo much the hotter; ſo Grace gains by oppoſition, by the cold water of diſcouragement burns ſo much the brighter. Thy oppoſition will drive thee more to look up to him, where thy ſtrength lies, and ſo may be a great preſervation to thee.

4. Diſcouragement from without is from the miſcarriages of ſuch as do profeſs the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Many that call upon the name of Chriſt, do not depart from iniquity, but walk looſely, deal unrighteouſly betwixt man and man, diſhonour their Profeſſion by an unſuitable Converſation. Others, they have more groſly backſliden from God; and whereas formerly they have been praying men in their Families, hearing men, frequenting the means of Grace, ſomewhat ſtrict in their lives; now they have thrown off all theſe, and become like other men, as vain as other men, nay p. 15as prophane as other men, and this is a great diſcouragement.

O poor Soul! notwithſtanding this Diſcouragement, yet go on; for the ways of the Lord are the ſame, and if thou follow on to know the Lord, thou wilt find ſweetneſs in his Ordinances and Truth notwithſtanding this.

Application.

Is it ſo that young Seekers, early Seekers meet with Diſcouragement? Word of Uſe is Caution. O let young ones take heed in their firſt looking out after Chriſt,

1. Of conſulting with fleſh & blood; this will occaſion you to yield to Diſcouragements. It is ſaid of Paul, Gal. 1.16.Gal 1:16he conſulted not with fleſh and blood. The worſt counſel in the World will fleſh and blood give in the caſe of a mans ſoul. Alas poor young man! will fleſh and blood ſay, what art thou going to do? Art thou able to deny thy ſelf of the delights and pleaſures of Youth? Art thou able to cut off a right hand, to put out a right p. 16eye, to cut the throat of a beloved Iſaac, to let out the hearts blood of a conſtitutional Luſt? Can thy tender years indure ſuch hard things, as Religion is like to be attended with? Canſt thou bear the ſcoffs and jeers of the World, the oppoſitions and diſpleaſure of thy deareſt Relations? And thus will fleſh and blood follow thee: But alas! what is this to a poor ſoul that ſees its precious ſoul lie at ſtake, and is in danger? Cannot, will not this ſoul reply to all theſe reaſonings of fleſh and blood, Get you behind me Satan? What are the greateſt ſeverities in the World to a man that ſees and feels he is a loſt ſoul for ever, if he have not a Chriſt?

2. Take heed in your firſt ſeekings out, and meeting with diſcouragements, that you pore not unbelievingly upon your diſcouragements. It is true, there ought to be ſitting down, and counting the coſt, for the want of which many poor ſouls after Profeſſion have backſliden; but the poor young ones may pore too much upon their diſcouragements, may look p. 17too much to the dark ſide of the Cloud, and ſay as the Prophet's man did; Alas Maſter, what ſhall we do?2 Kings 6.15.2 Kgs 6:15 And the Propher prayed and his eyes were opened, and then he ſaw the Mountains full of Horſemen and Chariots, and now he crys out, More are they that are with us, than they that are againſt us. O thus it is with many young ones! they cry, Alas what ſhall we do? And are utterly diſcouraged until God come and open their eyes.

3. Take heed you young Seekers under your diſcouragements of believing diabolical ſuggeſtions, that ſhall be caſt into your hearts againſt the ways of God: O! Satan will be ever ſuggeſting one thing or other into your hearts; that Chriſt is a hard Maſter, that his Commandments are grievous, that the burdens of the command of the Croſs are intolerable, and that in the way to Chriſt are Mountains and Hills inacceſſible, too high for ſuch ſhort breathed Creatures to aſcend or travel over: And O how many poor ſouls by ſuch ſuggeſtions p. 18have been exceedingly diſcouraged in their purſuits after Chriſt! O but this is dangerous to take counſel of an Enemy: would any of you do ſo in other Caſes?

4. Caution to young Seekers under diſcouragements, Take heed of giving over ſeeking, becauſe you find not at firſt what you ſeek: This poor ſouls are very prone to. Why ſhould I wait on the Lord any longer? (ſaid that King.) O ſo ſay many poor ſouls, why ſhould we ſeek Chriſt any longer? Pray any longer? Hear any longer? Solomon adviſes in this caſe, dig for Wiſdom as for hidden treaſure, and ſeek her as ſilver. They that dig in ſuch Mines as Gold and Silver, do not give over, becauſe they find not it firſt: O no! it lies deep, and they muſt ſearch with great pains and patience. The poor woman ſought her loſt Groat till ſhe found it: O continue ſeeking to the far end, till you find: O it is very dangerous to give over, you ſee the Promiſe is, you ſhall find.

5. Caution to young Seekers: O p. 19take heed when you are under diſcouragements, you do not murmure againſt God in your Hearts, and ſay as thoſe poor Iſraelites did, would to God we had never come out of Egypt; what was the matter? They meer now with great difficulties and diſcouragements, and their hearts fell a murmuring, which in the New Teſtament is called a going back in their Hearts: O this doth much diſhonour God; as if he could not in his own everlaſting arms, carry poor ſouls over all their difficulties.

6. Caution, Let young Seekers take heed of drawing up haſty concluſions againſt themſelves, becauſe of preſent diſcouragements; which they are very prone to do.

O how many poor ſouls raſhly conclude, for their part, they are cut off, and their hope is loſt; as David: Pſal. 10.7, 11.Ps 10:7Ps 10:11but he ſaid in his haſte, all men are lyars: ſo ſay many poor ſouls, I doubt Preachers will be found lyars, and flatterers unto me: Alas, did not poor Jeremy, Jer. 15, 18.Jer 15:18under this diſcouragement, break out into that ſad concluſion againſt God, p. 20Wilt thou be a lyar unto me, and altogether as waters that fail? So ſay poor young ones; alas, how ſhould ſuch weak worms, as we are, get through ſuch difficulties, and diſcouragements? and as it is ſaid of the Children of Iſrael, in their Travel to the Good Land, ſo may it be ſaid of young Travellers, Their Souls were diſcouraged becauſe of the way.Numb. 21.4.Num 21:4

2. Ʋſe, Is it ſo that morning Seekers of Jeſus Christ meet with great diſcouragements? then it is an Uſe of Direction, what ſhall poor young Inquirers do under all their diſcouragements? Young Travellers you know ſtand in need of direction, and ſo do young Inquirers after Chriſt.

1. Direction, Under your diſcouragements be often looking up to Chriſt, Rev. 1.11.Rev 1:11as the Alpha and Omega of the whole Work (viz.) as the Author of it, and finiſher of it. Did you ever underſtand the Glorious Name and Title of Chriſt, I am the Alpha and the Omega; what is the meaning of this? it notes out the Deity and Eternity of Chriſt, he is the first and the laſt (ſo the p. 21moſt Interpreters) but there ſeems to be ſomething more in it, it notes alſo the Stability and Omnipotency of Chriſt to execute threatnings, and perform promiſes,Iſa. 41.4.44.6.Isa 41:4Isa 41:44Isa 41:6 as you may ſee in the places quoted in the Margin, That Christ who hath begun a good work, is the Omega of it, he will finiſh it. Now do you look up to Chriſt to this very end, under this very notion and title; Lord Jeſus the work is thine; the hands of Zerubbabel (as was ſaid in that day) hath laid the foundation, and the hands of Zerubbabel muſt finiſh the building; Lord, the foundation ſtone, Grace, was of thy laying, and ſo muſt the Top-ſtone of Glory alſo: Do you thus ſay to Chriſt, when you look up to him? We have the direction expreſly given us by the Apoſtle,Heb. 12.2.Heb 12:2 Look up to Jeſus as the author and finiſher of our Faith. Beza reads, the Captain of our faith and looking. The word ſignifies, ſuch a looking, as calls off the eye from all other objects that repreſent the difficulty of the race; and ſhould not young Souldiers look to their Captain? In the greateſt diſcouragements p. 22that we can be under, we muſt look to him; therefore God ſayes, he hath given him for a Leader and Commander to the people.Iſa. 55.4.Isa 55:4 He is called the Captain of our Salvation, alluding to Joſhua the great Captain of the Old Teſtament, under whoſe Conduct the children of Iſrael marcht to the Good Land. Well then poor Soul, do you look to him for finiſhing the whole work: This made Paul ſo confident of the poor Philippians, 1 Phil. 6.being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Chriſt.

2. Direction to young Seekers, under all their diſcouragements, is this, Be ſure a good foundation be laid: if there be not a good foundation, your diſcouragements will ſink you, or elſe ſpoyle all your convictions. You know they which built upon the ſand, when diſcouragements beat in upon them, then the houſe fell; but it was not ſo with the houſe upon the Rock;Luk. 6.48.Luke 6:48 why, what was the matter? the houſe that fell, digged not deep enough to lay the foundation; and p. 23we read of the Seed that withered, becauſe it had not depth of earth:Mat. 13.6.Matt 13:6 O but now a good foundation laid will bear you up under all your diſcouragments. And what is the reaſon of the Apoſtaſie of young ones, who once have been warm in the wayes of God; alas, the foundation at firſt was not well laid.

If it be asked what I mean by young ones laying a good foundation, I anſwer, there is a two-fold foundation in this ſenſe, Firſt, there is a foundation as to ſtate, as to the ſtate of an immortal ſoul, and thus Christ is the foundation; there is no other foundation for the hopes of eternal ſalvation to be bottomed and built upon; another foundation can no man lay (ſays the Apoſtle) and therefore the Rock the wiſe builders built upon was Chriſt: O then be ſure to let young ones get an intereſt in Chriſt, be built upon him, be bottomed upon him, and then they will weather all their diſcouragements comfortably.

2. There is a foundation as to Principles, and Doctrinals, after which young ones ſhould look in their firſt p. 24ſeeking after Chriſt; therefore we read of being built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief Corner Stone; this foundation was the Principles, and the Doctrine of the Apoſtle; therefore we read of the twelve names of the Apoſtles of the Lamb, being written upon the twelve foundations of the New Jeruſalem; and alas, how often do ſouls miſcarry for want of Goſpel Principles? I never knew an unprincipled Profeſſor, but at one turn or other he would deſert the Lord Jeſus. You young ones may have ſtirring deſires, ſome ſtirring affection and convictions, but alas many times you neglect Principles. When you meet with a diſcouragement, you will fall back, if you be not laid in with Principles. Do not fiſh begin to ſtink firſt in the head? If the Leproſie was in the head, the High Prieſt was to pronounce him utterly unclean. When Satan cannot keep youth in profaneneſs, then he will labour to poyſon them with Erroneous Principles.

p. 253. Direction, to young inquirers after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is this, Acquaint your ſelves with the promiſes of the Goſpel, and the way of Faith. Moſtly young ones over-look believing, they follow humbling work ſo faſt; it is a piece of admirable skill to put them both together, humbling work, and believing work. O but hard work is this to be humbled under the ſenſe of ſin, and believe for the pardon of it, at the ſame time. Uſually young Converts ſorrow is too legal; they are the ſweeteſt tears for ſin that flow from faith's eyes; they ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn. Young Seekers are all for mourning, and little ſtudy the way of believing; but go to the Promiſe, and acquaint thy ſelf with the fulneſs, and freeneſs, and ſutableneſs, and unchangeableneſs of the Promiſes; theſe would be great helps to you in ſeeking after Christ. Let young ones acquaint themſelves with two or three things in Promiſes.

1. That Goſpel Promiſes run to weak Grace. They are prone to queſtion p. 26whether the Promiſe belong to them or no; why ſo? O they are ſuch weak Creatures, have ſo little ſtrength againſt ſin, ſo little power againſt corruption: O but can thou ſay, Lord, here is truth of Grace, and Lord, I walk before thee with a true and perfect heart? O poor Soul, I tell thee the Promiſes run to uprightneſs in heart and truth in the inward parts.

2. Let Young Ones acquaint themſelves with this, that Goſpel Promiſes look over all unworthineſs in their objects. If thou be the object of Gods love, Promiſes overlook all thy unworthineſs, how is his love free elſe? therefore we ſee the Promiſes running down to the vileſt of ſinners. O how doth this temptation of unworthineſs ſtand in the way of many a Soul to Chriſt? and hath kept many a Soul and Chriſt a long time at diſtance? but we may ſee this anſwered in the Promiſe.

3. Let them know that the accompliſhment of Promiſes doth not depend upon any thing in the Creature, but in God himſelf; this hath been a p. 27great temptation, to look for ſome qualifications in themſelves, and ſo they have been ſpinning ſome webb out of their own bowels; but alas, this can never be a garment to them! God accompliſhes his Promiſes for his own Names ſake.

4. Let Young Seekers,2 Cor. 1.20.2 Cor 1:20 under their diſcouragements, know, that all the Promiſes are Yea and Amen in Chriſt Jeſus (viz.) they all receive in him a full ratification and accompliſhment; ſo that he is undertaker to ſee them all have their performance.

5. Let Young Ones, under their diſcouragements, know, that Goſpel Promiſes will carry the Soul through all difficulties they can meet with in their way; there is that in a Promiſe, that will hold up the head, when ready to ſink in the very ſwellings of Jordan; this made Jacob plead ſo hard with God, in his difficulty, that old Promiſe, Lord, did not thou ſay, thou wouldſt do me good: therefore when Joſhua had ſuch hard ſervice to go upon, in the conqueſt of the Land of Canaan, he gave him that Promiſe, I p. 28will never leave thee, and Abraham when to leave his Country, I am God all-ſufficient.

4. Direction to Young Seekers under their diſcouragements; ſtudy well the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. This is very hard with young ones, to get out of ſelf: O how many years are poor Souls before they get off the bottom of their own Righteouſneſs? they are prone to ſeek ſome things in themſelves, as Iſrael of old, who ſought to obtain Righteouſneſs in a way of works, but could not; every temptation, every objection is too hard for a poor Soul, until it get acquaintance with the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; but now when a Soul can call the Lord Jeſus, by that Name, The Lord my Righteouſneſs, Jer. 23.6.Jer 23:6in this Name every temptation, every objection, every doubt is anſwered in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. His Righteouſneſs is oppoſed to our guilt: If it be thy nakedneſs that is thy objection, it is anſwered in Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, for it is the beſt robe; if it be thy deformity, here it is anſwered, Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is a p. 29Believers comelineſs; thou art comely with the comelineſs that I have put upon thee; this is the beautiful garment that a Believer puts on to go into the preſence of God withall, and now all deformity is covered. The poor Infant in its blood, thus was covered, and rendred comely. Is it thy filthineſs, that becomes an objection? here it is anſwered, the blood of Chriſt is cleanſing blood; who loved us, and waſhed us in his blood.

5. Direction to young Seekers under diſcouragements; Let Jeſus Chriſt hear often from you; when ſhould Jeſus Chriſt hear from you, but when diſcouragements are upon you? theſe are to ſend you to Chriſt, theſe are to bring you upon your knees. We read of the Spouſe crying to Chriſt; 2 Cant. 14.where was ſhe? in the ſecret place of the ſtairs, the Text tells us, in a diſcouraged, perſecuted condition; yet ſays Chriſt, Thy voice is ſweet, and thy countenance comely. O poor Soul! under all thy diſcouragements, Chriſt loves to hear from thee. O but will he hear ſuch a poor, ſtubborn, brutiſh creature, p. 30as I have been? Yea, I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelf; poor Ephraim was diſcouraged, and yet goes to God, and cryes, Lord I have a brutiſh heart, Lord I have a ſtubborn heart, as a Bullock unaccuſtomed to the yoke;Jer. 31.18.Jer 31:18 yet Lord turn thou me: here was his Prayer, and O how this took, and melted the heart of God, that his bowels broke forth, Is Ephraim my dear Son?

6. Direction to young Seekers, under their diſcouragements; pore not upon thy diſcouragements too much. O how ordinary is this! This is to look upon the black and dark ſide of the cloud; what, is there not a bright ſide? Many poor Souls by doing thus, have entred into great temptations; you lead your ſelves into temptations by this means; but this hath been cautioned againſt in the former uſe, therefore I ſhall not enlarge upon it here.

2. Obſervation from this Text, we obſerved, was this, That Young Seekers, or Morning Seekers are much upon the p. 31heart of Chriſt. It is evident in the Text, it being a Promiſe, by way of encouragement to ſuch poor Souls; O they are ſo much on his heart, he would not have them diſcouraged: O he knows they are ſoon diſcouraged; therefore they are upon his heart to encourage them.

1. He doth encourage them by accepting of their weak beginnings; when a Scholar is a young beginner, he is ſoon diſcouraged, but when he ſees his Maſter takes notice, and accepts in good part what he doth, this doth much encourage him; and ſo a young Apprentice: Thus it is with a poor Soul at its firſt enquiring after Chriſt; when it ſees the Lord accepts and takes in good part its weak motions after Chriſt, its weak affections, and deſires, O it is encouraged; will the Lord accept of any thing ſuch a poor Creature doth? have I any offering that can find favour in his ſight? what, ſuch a poor Soul, that am but of yeſterday, that am but newly begun to peep out of my profaneneſs? who have but newly turned my back on the p. 32ſinful vanities of youth? This was typed out in Gods acceptance of the firſt fruits, though never ſo ſmall; we read the ſheaf of their firſt fruits of their harveſt was to be given to the Prieſt,Lev. 23.11, 13.Lev 23:11Lev 23:13 and he was to wave it before the Lord, that it might be accepted. If it be but a poor ſheaf, it is accepted though thou carried out precious Seed weeping; and it may be haſt not gotten thy ſheaves to return with, yet peradventure thou haſt gotten one ſheaf;Lev. 2.14.Lev 2:14 Well, carry that to Chriſt, thy High Prieſt, to wave before the Lord, it may be accepted for you: Yea, if it be but a handful of green ears you bring to the Lord, a few green deſires, and affections, they ſhall be accepted with the Lord. We read of a glorious work begun in the day of Zachary, Zach. 4.10.Zech 4:10in the building of the Temple, and great diſcouragements the Inſtruments of that Glorious Work met withall; there was a mountain in the way, but all is encouraged by this, The hands of Zerubbabel (ſaith God) hath laid the foundation, and the hands of Zerubbabel ſhall finiſh the building. p. 33For who hath deſpiſed the day of ſmall things? ſaith the Lord; there were ſome poor beginnings, and God would not diſcourage them. So I ſay in this caſe, who hath deſpiſed the day of ſmall things? what though convictions be but ſmall, affections ſmall, grace ſmall? yet God accepts of this day of ſmall things, and thus encourages them.

2. Jeſus Chriſt doth encourage young Seekers, by perſwading their hearts that they ſhall find favour and grace in the ſight of God ſooner or later. Did he ever ſay to the Houſe of Jacob, ſeek ye my face in vain? O no ſayes the poor Soul, I am under a Promiſe, they that ſeek ſhall find, therefore the poor Soul is of good courage. O though a perſon doth meet with diſcouragements, yet ſayes the Soul, I ſhall find, though I digg long firſt, cry long firſt, ſeek long firſt, yet the good hope to ſpeed at laſt becomes a great encouragement: and the contrary is as great a diſcouragement. Why ſhould I wait on the Lord any longer, pray any longer, hear any p. 34longer, ſeek any longer? this weakens and enfeebles the Soul exceedingly. What kept up Jacob in wreſtling all night, but a ſecret hope, and ſweet perſwaſion that he ſhould for all the oppoſition he met withall, come off conquerour, and at laſt get the bleſſing? How is it with your ſouls, young ones, as to this thing? are you perſwaded your praying, ſeeking, will not be in vain? O this is a great encouragement.

3. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth encourage young Seekers after him, by making the yoke of Chriſt eaſier to them every day than other. Every yoke or burden is hardeſt at firſt. O! poor Souls are ready to ſay of the yoke of Chriſt, at firſt, as they did of the yoke of Circumſion; wherefore put you upon us a yoke, that neither we nor our Fathers are able to bear? O but this yoke of Chriſt is made more eaſie to the ſoul every day than other. Now an Apprentice, or a Scholar, when he finds his work caſier and eaſier to him, O then how is he encouraged to go on it? O now (ſaith the p. 35ſoul) I find that Scripture true, Chriſts yoke is an eaſie yoke, Mat. 11.28.Matt 11:28and his burden is a light burden; and that word I now find to be true, and none of his Commandments are grievous. Now it may here be demanded, How doth Christ make his yoke to young Seekers eaſier every day than other?

1. By an increaſe of love in them to Chriſt. As love grows up in the Soul, difficulties are not dreadful; the dread of them is taken off; when the ſpark is blown into a vehement flame, what difficulty can ſtand before it? Who can ſtand before envy? But here it may be ſaid, who can ſtand before love? Many waters cannot quench it. Is not love the greateſt conquerour in the world? How evident is this in mens love to their luſts! O what deſperate adventures do poor Sinners make to get to their luſts! As David's worthies did break through an Hoſt for the water of the well of Bethlehem, ſo do thouſands of Sinners, for love to their ſins, break through a whole Hoſt of Convictions, Reproofs, Admonitions, Counſels, and all for love to their p. 36ſins. And ſo love to Jeſus Chriſt, as it increaſes, the commands of Chriſt are pleaſant; the wayes of wiſdome are wayes of pleaſantneſs; we take pleaſure to ſerve ſuch as we love.

2. Chriſt makes his yoke eaſier every day than other, and ſo encourages young Seekers, by making Duty a delight. So long as Duty is a burden, there will be grievouſneſs in it, but when it once is matter of delight and priviledge, O then it grows eaſie. Delight makes every thing eaſie, though difficult in it ſelf. Alas, a poor Soul at firſt, looks upon the yoke of Chriſt as a task, as Scholars have their tasks at firſt; but after delight in them, Prayer now becomes a delight, and the Soul can ſay as the Spouſe did, I ſit down under his ſhadow with great delight. Communion with God is a great delight; reading and hearing is a great delight; and now theſe duties go ſweetly and eaſily on.

3. He makes his yoke 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 p. 37yoke 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. Whereever 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.Isa 40:30Isa 40:31 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 p. 38hands 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.Ps 27 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 p. 39him. 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; p. 40not 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;…. 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 p. 41is 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 p. 42opening 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 p. 43thou begin'ſt to be reſtleſs in Spirit, & look'ſt up to God in this condition. O what if Chriſt be forming in thy ſoul?

There are two things make Satan beſtir himſelf againſt morning Seekers;

1. It is his envy: he is the envious one, he envies the good and happineſs of every poor Soul, therefore he purſues thee.

2. His pride that his dominion ſhould be leſſened, that he ſhould loſe a ſubject, this makes him rage.

2. Reaſon, why the Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth encourage poor morning Seekers, becauſe he will allure them after himſelf. This is the method of Jeſus Chriſt, to allure by encouragements young Converts. This the Lord did with the people of Iſrael, Hoſ. 2.15.Hos 2:15Therefore 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 p. 44baits 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 p. 45not 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 p. 46are 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.John 12:13and 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 p. 47work. He that believes makes not haſt: Pſal. 40.1, 2.Ps 40:1Ps 40:2A 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.John 21:15There 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 p. 48Lord 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 p. 49Maſters. Are not ſuch Maſters monſters, rather than Maſters, as ſhall waylay 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 ſiſters, and not to the reſt of my relations?

p. 502. Ʋſe. Is it ſo that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the encourager of poor morning Seekers after himſelf? Then it is a word of Comfort to young Seekers. Be of good cheer, as they ſaid to the blind man, for the Lord calleth; for the Lord encourages you. O all you morning Seekers, be of good courage, and wait on the Lord, and he will ſtrengthen your hearts; I ſay wait upon the Lord.

1. Be of good comfort, you are the travail of Chriſts Soul, and therefore he will look after you. His ſuffering was his travail. O the pangs and throwes of a travailing woman! We ſay ſuch have hard labour. O you poor young Converts, inquirers after Chriſt, he hath had hard labour for you. O the pangs of his Fathers diſpleaſure, that he hath endured, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Here was one bitter pang, and his Soul was ſorrowful unto death: There was another pang, and throwes came upon him ſo faſt, that he died travailing for the Salvation and Redemption of poor Sinners. Therefore we read that ſweet p. 51word, He ſhall ſee his Seed; Iſa. 53.10, 11.Isa 53:10Isa 53:11he ſhall have Seed come out of his ſufferings, which are called the travail of his Soul. And is not this a great comfort? He will ſurely encourage his own travail: O poor Souls he hath travailed for you; therefore he will encourage you.

2. Second word of Comfort to young Seekers is this, you are his joy, his delight, He ſhall ſee the travail of his Soul, and be ſatisfied, (viz.) it ſhall be matter of great contentation and delight to ſee his ſufferings iſſue, in the bringing forth a Seed and Remnant, that ſhall be ſaved. As one delights in his children, ſo doth Chriſt in his young Seekers, Behold, Heb. 12.13.Heb 12:13I and the Children thou haſt given me (which is ſpoken of Chriſt, and quoted out of the Prophets.) He rejoyces, you ſee, in his Seed. O what joy was there when the young prodigal returned home to his Father's. The whole parable preaches this Doctrine. A man delights in his youngeſt children. As a man delights in his nurſery, ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt in his garden; he hath his young nurſery.

p. 523. Word of Comfort to young Seekers, He hath accommodated Promiſes to ſuit with the conditions of ſuch. O what a care had Chriſt of ſuch, that he would give Promiſes on purpoſe to ſuch? As to their weakneſs in Grace, he would ſtrengthen ſuch poor bruiſed reeds; as to the diſpenſations of God, which they fear they are not able to keep pace with, He ſhall carry the Lambs in his boſome; they cannot go they are ſo weak, he ſhall carry them. As for the temptations within or without, Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings, he ſhall ordain ſtrength, to ſtill the enemy, and the avenger. There is not any condition, but you may find a Promiſe accommodated for that condition.

4. Word of Comfort to morning Seekers, You are Chriſts charge; Behold I and the Children thou haſt given me. Heb. 1.13. Spoken of Chriſt.Heb 1:13Now upon the Fathers donation, and the Sons acceptation they begin to be his charge; therefore he is the great Truſtee for poor Souls. He ſtands engaged to give his Father an account of them all at the laſt day; and will p. 53not Chriſt be faithful to his truſt? nay to the truſt God the Father hath committed to him? Therefore he loſes not a ſoul. They paſs under the hand of him that tells them again; all that God the Father hath told out to his Son, the Son tells back again to God the Father.

5. Word of Comfort to morning Seekers is this, This argues the great love God bears to your Souls, to call you betimes, to call you while you are young. O how many go down to Hell, while the milk is in their breaſts and marrow in their bones! though young in years, yet old in ſin, &c. O at what a rate do ſome young ones ſin? How expert are they grown in that curſed trade? And that thou ſhould'ſt be called to ſeek after Chriſt in thy young dayes, O what a comfort is this! Here is one taken and another left.

O but ſayes a poor Soul, Alas! I can get no comfort, as yet I am a poor troubled Soul, much caſt down and dejected.

They that ſow in tears ſhall reap in p. 54joy; it is thy ſeed-time now, therefore thou muſt not expect a crop preſently, the Seed muſt lie in the ground. Let your Seed-prayers, and Seed-tears lie in Gods hand a while; Light is ſown for the Righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

O but ſayes a poor Soul, I am followed with temptations, ſince that I begun to ſeek after Chriſt, and I know not what to do.

Poor Soul, his rage is great, becauſe his time is ſhort; now thou art coming out of captivity to him, he is purſuing thee to reduce thee to the old houſe of bondage; thy temptations do argue, the Lord Jeſus Christ is about caſting out of Satan; therefore he is angry.

O but I am a poor needy creature;Pſal. 40. ult.Ps 40 well, but doth not the Lord think of thee?

O but I am a weak Creature.

He will perfect ſtrength in weakneſs, out of the mouth of Babes, Heb. 5.3.Heb 5:3&c.

O but I am an ignorant Creature.

Well, he can have compaſſion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way.

p. 55The laſt Ʋſe is of Exhortation to Young Ones, to ſeek the Lord betimes, and make ſupplication to him. If thou ſeek early after God, the Word is, Thou ſhalt find him. Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth,Job 8.5. The word Seeking we find uſed in ſeveral places: Significat quaerere diligenter & cum cura. Dareſh eſt ſummo judicio quaerere. So Eccl. 1.13.Job 8:5Eccl 1:13 &c. Leave all for Chriſt, ſell all for the pearl of price. Seek him while he is to be found.

The third Obſervation we are now come unto from the words, is this:

That morning Seekers ſhall be ſure and certain finders.

They that ſeek me early ſhall find me; to be ſure ſuch find me; whoever miſs of me, they ſhall not.

1. By morning Seekers is meant,Job 8.5. Shahar aurare ſeu diluculare ſignifies diligently to ſeek, or riſe timely in the morning. Prov. 11.27.Job 8:5Prov 11:27 one that ſeeks the Lord betimes. So Job phraſes it, If thou ſeek the Lord, and make ſupplication unto him. To remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth. Our youth is our morning time to ſeek Chriſt in; our age is our afternoon: now it is not ſo good ſeeking in the middle of the day, nor in the afternoon, as it is in the morning.

2. By morning Seekers are meant, ſuch as do earneſtly ſeek the Lord Jeſus: p. 56Are there any poor Souls that do more earneſtly ſeek the Lord Jeſus than ſuch as give up themſelves betimes to Chriſt? Hoſ. 6.15.Hos 6:15In their affliction they will ſeek me early; (viz.) they will ſeek me earneſtly, they will ſeek me in the morning; becauſe what is done in the morning is done with moſt vigour and fervency. O! morning Seekers, how vigorouſly in Soul do they ſeek the Lord Jeſus? they do not ſeek like Solomons ſluggard, as though they cared not whether they found or no; but they ſeek with all their heart, which we read a Promiſe made to;Jer. 29.13.Jer 29:13 And you ſhall ſeek me, and find me, when you ſhall ſearch for me with all your hearts.

3. By a morning Seeker of Chriſt, is meant a ſoul that the Lord is viſiting with the day of his power. The morning is the beginning of the day, ſo the morning is the beginning of the work of Grace.Hoſ. 6.3.Hos 6:3 The morning of a day of Grace we read of; the Goings of God prepared as the morning. The morning light is gradual, ſo is the dawnings of the day of Grace upon the Soul;Pro. 4.18.Prov 4:18 as that word is, The p. 57path of the Juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. There is the dawning of the day, and the perfect day. When the day-ſtar from on High firſt ariſeth in the ſoul; this is the morning Seeker, it had not light to ſeek by, until the day-ſtar aroſe in the heart; and now morning light is come in to let the ſoul ſee the miſery of its dark and undone eſtate without Chriſt. O now it is a ſeeker in this light after the Lord Jeſus, &c.

4. By a morning Seeker is meant, a Soul waiting for more appearances, more ariſings of the day-ſtar in and upon the Soul:Pſal. 130.6.Ps 130:6 As David ſaith, My Soul waiteth for the Lord, more than they that wait for the morning; more than the watchmen that wait for the morning. And thus, as ſoon as poor Babes in Grace are begotten to Chriſt, they are children of the light. All young Converts are children of the light; they are looking out for more light, more light of Grace, and more light of Comfort. Thus doth a poor morning Seeker wait for light to ſhine into his dark heart.

p. 585. By a morning Seeker is meant, a poor Soul that ſtands upon the watchtower of Obſervation, taking notice of the firſt breakings in of light: as the watchmen waited for the firſt peep and dawning of the day, that they might offer the ſacrifice appointed for the morning. So a poor morning Seeker is one that obſerves the firſt convictions that dawn upon it, the firſt light of the ſpirit that ſhines into it; and it ſtands by the creviſe and will not away; but here is ſuch an Ordinance, that God firſt convinced me by, firſt illuminated me. And thus the Soul keeps an obſervation of the gradual breakings in of light.

6. By morning Seekers is meant, a poor Soul in its firſt breathings, out of the deſires and wants of the Soul to Christ; Pſal. 5.3.Ps 5:3My voice ſhalt thou hear in the morning. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Here is the morning, a time for prayer. I will order my prayer in the morning. In the morning of a begun work of Grace, O what directing is there of prayer to God? A praying Soul is a p. 59morning Seeker. Alas! the Soul prayed not before, but now a day of Grace hath viſited it, it may be ſaid of him, behold he prays.

7. By morning Seekers is underſtood, a Soul that looks out for ſome encouragement by way of anſwer to prayer. In the morning will I direct my prayer and look up (the word ſignifies, diligently to look out for ſomething that is coming towards us.) O! a morning Seeker enquires for ſome anſwer to prayer, ſome encouragement to animate it in its purſuits after Chriſt.

8. Laſtly, By a morning Seeker is meant, one that ſeeks with hope and joy, that ſeeks chearfully in expectation to find. The Spirits are moſt chearful in the morning. O how it glads the poor weary Centinel to think of the approaching day! Thus it is with a poor Soul ſeeking Chriſt; O thinks this Soul, ſorrow may continue for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Reaſons why early and morning Seekers ſhall be ſure and certain finders.

1. Reaſon, why early or morning p. 60Seekers ſhall be ſure and certain finders, becauſe ſuch are importunate Seekers, and it is importunate praying, that is prevailing prayer with God; therefore we read that Parable teaching Souls how to ſeek; for his importunity he aroſe and gave him;Luke 11.Luke 11 the word is (Impudence;) there is a holy Impudence that will not be ſaid nay. O! this God loves in all Seekers, but eſpecially in morning Seekers, they are uſually importunate.

1. Young Seekers have ſtrong corruptions to combate with. The corruptions of youth are ſtrong; and when ſtrong corruptions meet with ſtrong convictions, how ſhould a principle of Grace live in the Soul but by importunate ſeeking Chriſt? The ſtronger the corruption, the more importunate the wreſtling of the Soul under it; ſtrong corruptions where there is a begun work of Grace, cauſe the ſoul to put forth ſtrong crys and ſupplications.

2. Uſually morning Seekers are importunate Seekers, becauſe they have ſtrong temptations. We read of John p. 61writing to young men,1 Epiſt. of Joh. 2.14.John 2:14 I write unto you young men, becauſe you are ſtrong, and have overcome the wicked one. Then young Seekers are combatants not only with their own corruptions, but the wicked ones temptations. Paul, when a meſſenger of Satan was ſent him to buffet him, what did he do? He beſought the Lord thrice, (viz.) frequently or importunately. Temptations will put upon importunate Seeking the Lord Jeſus, where there is a principle of Grace in the Soul. O are not young mens temptations ſtronger than others? The temptations of young men to vain company, O how hard to overcome is this! hath not this one temptation been the Rock that many a young man hath ſplit his Soul on for ever? Solomon ſetting out the ſinful ſtate of youth, being led by the ſtrange woman, ſayes, I diſcerned a young man void of underſtanding; but where was he?Prov. 7.7.Prov 7:7 The Text tells you, amongſt the Simple Ones.

3. Morning Seekers are importunate Seekers, they are in their firſt love. Love will be importunate; I remember p. 62the kindneſs of thy youth, Jer. 2.2.Jer 2:2and the love of thine Eſpouſals. Their affections are ſtrong.

4. Morning Seekers are importunate ſeekers, their convictions are ſtrong. Now where there are ſtrong convictions, there will be importunate Seeking; morning convictions are ſtrong convictions. O now the power of the Lord takes hold of the heart; and conviction is born in upon the Soul, that it ſtoops under it. Thus Ephraim as a bullock unaccuſtomed to the yoke;Jer. 31.19, 20.Jer 31:19Jer 31:20 I was aſhamed, yea confounded, becauſe I did bear the reproach of my youth. O what ſtrong convictions are here! and what now doth poor Ephraim do? He mourns and prays, Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned.

5. Morning Seekers are importunate Seekers, their oppoſitions are greater and ſtronger than others; oppoſitions within and without. Now where there is a principle of Grace, when under oppoſition, it will ſeek ſo much the more importunately after Chriſt. The Diſciples diſcouraged the poor woman of Canaan, ſaying, Send p. 63her away; a great diſcouragement, but ſhe cryed the more: Oppoſition meeting with Grace doth but prove like cold water upon good coales, make them burn the brighter. Uſually at thy firſt looking out after Chriſt, oppoſition will meet thee; but then let ſuch oppoſition ſend you to Chriſt.

2. Reaſon, why morning Seekers ſhall be certain finders, becauſe they are diligent Seekers, and the Promiſe runs unto diligent ſeeking; He that comes unto God, Heb. 11.6.Heb 11:6muſt believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of ſuch as diligently ſeek him. It is not the ſlothful Seeker that ſhall be the certain finder; no, no, the deſire of the ſluggard kills him.

1. Morning Seekers are diligent Seekers, now they ſee the worth of what they ſeek, none can ſeek diligently but ſuch. O now they ſeek the Lord Jeſus in the ſenſe of the worth of him. When we know the worth of that we ſeek, we will ſeek diligently. Ask theſe Seekers what Chriſt is worth, and they will tell you ten thouſand worlds; he is the pearl of p. 64price, chiefeſt of ten thouſands.

2. Morning Seekers are diligent ſeekers, becauſe now they are convinced of the worth of their Souls, for the good of which they ſeek. Perſons will never ſeek diligently, until they come to ſee the preciouſneſs of their immortal ſouls. Can a man be too diligent in the buſineſs of his Soul? Did ever you hear of any repented them of their diligence in working out of their ſalvation with fear and trembling when they came to die? Have you ever known any who have cryed out, what a fool was I, to pray ſo much, to live ſo holily, to take up ſo much of my time about my immortal ſoul? Ask a poor Soul, why it is ſo diligent at firſt ſeeking Chriſt, and it will tell you, I never ſaw the worth of my Soul before, I am now ſeeking out for my Soul, and if I do not find, I am a loſt, undone Soul to all Eternity.

3. Morning Seekers are diligent Seekers, becauſe they now know the evil dayes are coming upon them,Eccl. 12.1.Eccl 12:1 in which they will be unfit to ſeek him; dayes of ſickneſs, dayes of affliction, it p. 65may be, temptations and tryals; they ſeek while it is to day, becauſe when night comes, there will be no ſeeking.

4. They know there is a day in which he will not be found,Iſa. 99.6. Seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is nigh. O ſayes the morning Seeker, the time is coming when it will be too late, the gate of Mercy will be ſhut, the bridge of Mercy drawn, and the Soul is afraid of delaying, and dallying upon that account.

5. Morning Seekers are diligent Seekers, becauſe they are convinced now of the great need of Chriſt. O now they ſee, and ſay they are undone and loſt for ever, if they miſs of the Lord Jeſus. What makes perſons diligent in ſeeking but when they ſee a need of what they ſeek? Do not they need a Christ, that ſee they are undone to all Eternity if they have not a Chriſt?

3. Reaſon, why morning Seekers will be certain finders; the Promiſe runs to them: what plainer than this word in my Text, They ſhall find me, p. 66They that ſeek ſhall find. He never ſaid to the Seed of Jacob, ſeek ye my face in vain. And he is faithful that hath promiſed. Let this encourage you, that you are under a Promiſe.

Application.

Is it ſo that morning Seekers ſhall be ſure and certain finders? Then it is a word of Inquiry;

Why, or what ſhould be the reaſon ſo many poor morning Seekers are complaining they find not him whom their Souls love? as the Spouſe did, I ſought him, but I found him not. And ſo many poor Souls are complaining, I ſought Chriſt ſo long, but I know not that I have found him to this day.

1. Reaſon, why Jeſus Chriſt is not at preſent found of morning Seekers, he will exerciſe their Graces by it; he had a deſign upon the Spouſe to exerciſe her Grace, by withdrawing from her.

1. Sayes Chriſt, I will try whether this poor Soul love me or no; Love is a waiting Grace; whether this poor p. 67Soul can wait, and enquire; Saw you him whom my Soul loves?

2. Chriſt by this tryes their faith; faith will continue ſeeking, though at preſent it doth not find.Iſa. 8.17.Isa 8:17 I wait upon the Lord who hides his face from the houſe of Jacob.

2. The Lord Jeſus is not found at preſent of morning Seekers, to draw out their Souls in longings after him. The more a poor ſeeker of Chriſt ſeems to be denied, the more is his Soul enflamed with ardent deſires. Thus did Chriſt with the Spouſe when he had withdrawn himſelf; the watchmen ſmote her, took away her veil from her: Yet her Spirit was raiſed the more after Chriſt to enquire after him. Thus often it is with morning Seekers after Chriſt.

3. The Lord Jeſus is not at preſent found of morning Seekers, becauſe he will let the Soul ſee it is only his free Grace that muſt be adored and admired in finding Chriſt. Morning Seekers would be ſacrificing elſe to their nets, and doſing incenſe to their own drags, and ſtroaking ſelf upon the p. 68head, and ſaying, this is my praying, this is my mourning, this is my being early up in the morning. O now he will have the Soul know, that it is of the riches of his Grace, that he is found of thoſe that ſeek him.

4. Jeſus Chriſt is not found at preſent of morning Seekers, becauſe he will try whether their hearts be upright with himſelf. Many poor Souls begin to ſeek Chriſt, but it is but for a time, temporary ſeekers, and afterwards they are offended with one thing or other, then they draw back; that is a note of a rotten heart. I dare ſay thou wert never right at heart Chriſt-ward that turneſt off, and lookeſt back, upon ſome offence taken againſt Chriſt. I doubt there be many hypocritical Seekers; it is no wonder if ſuch be not finders.

5. Jeſus Chriſt is not at preſent found of morning Seekers, becauſe they are many times too legal in their ſeeking him; I mean, they ſeek him too much in a way of works, as Iſrael of old did. Now he would acquaint poor Souls with the way of faith, to p. 69ſeek him in a way of believing; this is the only way of ſeeking Chriſt.

2. Word of Inquiry.

If that morning Seekers ſhall be certain finders of Chriſt, then how comes it to paſs, that ſo many of them after a while give over, turn their backs on the way of God, and apoſtatize from that they once profeſt? O how many young ones who have begun in the Spirit, and yet have ended in the fleſh, as we might judge!

1. Many young Seekers have turned off from ſeeking Christ, becauſe they were never truly numbled for ſin. In their firſt ſeeking him, ſome tranſient convictions it may be they had, but never truly humbled for ſin, O young ones look to this, or elſe all your affections and deſires will come to nothing; you will ſee no worth in Chriſt, no need of Christ, if you be not truly humbled for ſin.Mat. 13.5, 6.Matt 13:5Matt 13:6 We read of that ground that had no root, and what became of it? it withered. That houſe that digged not deep to lay the foundation, what became of it?Luk. 6. ult.Luke 6 it fell, and great was the fall of it.

p. 702. Many young Seekers go off from ſeeking Chriſt, becauſe they never ſee any real worth and excellency in Chriſt. They have had it may be ſome flaſhes of affection, but they never ſee Chriſt to be diſtinctly precious to their poor Souls. Have you ever ſeen him to be the pearl of price, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand? Can ſuch ſouls, who have fallen really in love with Chriſt fall off again? Did thou ever ſee Chriſt a ſpiritual Chriſt? It may be thou haſt lookt upon him as a carnal Chriſt, and haſt known him, as the Apoſtle ſaith, after the fleſh; made only a notional Chriſt of him, or an hiſtorical Christ of him; O then it is no wonder if thou fall off from ſeeking of him.

3. Many morning Seekers turn off from ſeeking Chriſt, becauſe profeſſion grows too hot for them, becauſe of the heat of the day. O it is fine travelling in the morning, but after a while, the Sun gets up, and then it is with them, as with that ground which by and by was offended when perſecution aroſe. Travellers take in, in the heat of the day; ſo I doubt do many p. 71poor young ones, that have ſet fairly out after Chriſt.

4. Many poor young Seekers fall off from Chriſt, becauſe they never truly and really cloſed with him. Alas! it is not your ſeeking Chriſt, but your cloſing in with Christ, will preſerve you from falling off. Have you choſen the Lord Jeſus, and received him? Cloſing with him, is called,Job. 1.12.Job 1:12 receiving of him, to as many as received him. A poor Soul may be a ſeeker of Chriſt, that is not a receiver of Chriſt.

5. Many morning Seekers of Chriſt fall off again, becauſe they come after Christ with ſome reſerve. If you will be thus ſeekers of Chriſt, you ſhall fall off at one time or other, (viz.) I mean, if you will reſerve any luſt. Thus the young man came on to ſome terms with Chriſt, but the market ſoon fell, when he was told, he muſt ſell all; and Judas followed Chriſt with a reſerve; uſually reſerves are ſinners ruine: Turn from all iniquity (ſaid the Prophet) leſt it be your ruine.

6. Many morning Seekers fall off again, becauſe they ſeek him for themſelves, p. 72and not for himſelf; and many do thus, that are not aware of it: this is but to bring forth fruit to your ſelves (as Ephraim is charged with.)Hoſ. 10.1.Hos 10:1 Do you ſee any lovelineſs in Chriſt, any comlineſs in him? Is he a plant of Renown to you? Many ſeek him for loaves, though in a more refined ſence than there ſpoken of, for his comforts, for his diſcoveries of love, for his ſmiles,Mr. Rutherford. I am more taken (ſayes one) with my Lords manifeſted love, than with himſelf. This is to love him for what comes from him; for his tokens.

7. Many morning Seekers fall off again, becauſe they let other lovers in proceſs of time ſteal away their hearts. Many in the dayes of their youth have ſought after Chriſt, but after a while the heart hath been ſtrangely and inſenſibly gone, affections loſt, Chriſt not in all his thoughts, why, what is the matter? The world it may be hath won in upon the ſoul, or gaming, or ſome other ſin; and now the Soul falls off, as new ſuiters come on. O poor young ones, you will have many ſuiters, many will court p. 73you, and then you will be in danger.

3. The next word of Inquiry;

If that morning Seekers ſhall be ſure finders, how comes it to paſs, the Lord Jeſus hath ſo few Seekers? One would think Jeſus Chriſt would be thronged after; as in the dayes when he was in the fleſh, they thronged about the door where he was. Alas! poor Souls, you may throng about Ordinances, and Meetings, and yet never come near Chriſt. We read of a whole crowd about Chriſt, and yet but one poor Woman touched him to draw vertue from him. You may crowd about Christ in an Ordinance, and yet draw not one drop of vertue from him.

1. Hindrance to young ones ſeeking Chriſt, they are not convinced of the miſery of their diſtant ſtate from Christ; if young ones or old ones were convinced of this, if all were convinced throughly of their miſery of lying out from Chriſt, O what crying, what mourning, what running, nay, what roaring after Chriſt would there be? One poor young man would p. 74run up and down, crying, none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt. Another would run to every Ordinance, enquiring (with the Spouſe) ſaw you him whom my Soul loves? And another would run to a poor Miniſter with this cry, Sir, I am an undone ſoul, if there were no more ſouls in the world, if a Chriſt be not my portion. Another would cry, what ſhall I do to be ſaved? Methinks I ſee how the ſtung Iſraelites run up and down when the fiery Serpents had ſtung them, crying, O where, where is the brazen Serpent, that I may get a look at him and be healed? So would poor Souls convinced of their miſery do.

1. Poor Soul, that lies in thy diſtance from Christ, did thou ever ſee thy miſery?

Firſt, Thy miſery of guilt, as thou art an unpardoned Soul. Is not guilt a miſerable thing to lie upon a poor Creatures conſcience? Ask the Devils and they will tell thee, if guilt be not an intolerable burden: Ask the damned ſpirits, and they will preach to thee, the miſery of unpardoned p. 75guilt. Nay, if thou could talk with a deſpairing Soul, O what terrible things would it tell thee, of the miſery of unpardoned guilt! O poor young man, haſt thou found out the way to a pardon and leave out Chriſt? Angels could never find out ſuch a way. Or doſt thou think to carry guilt into Glory with thee? Muſt any be ſaved, but ſuch as God hath pardoned? If thou didſt ſee the miſery of guilt, thou would'ſt be a Seeker, and a morning Seeker after Chriſt? All pardons are purchaſed and drawn up and preached in his name: They are purchaſed; we have redemption, and remiſſion of ſin; but how come they in? through his blood; And they preached Repentance and Remiſſion of Sins in his Name, beginning at Jeruſalem.

2. Poor Soul, haſt thou ſeen the miſery of thy diſtant ſtate, as thou art under the power of ſin, as every ſoul is that is out of Christ? And O what a ſad ſight is a young perſon in under the power of ſtrong corruption? Is it nothing to thee that thou art a ſlave to p. 76ſin, 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.Titus 3:4Titus 3:5 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.Isa 8:21 Curſe their God, and their King, and look upward. Is p. 77not 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 p. 78to 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.Matt 13:45Matt 13:46 a right hand they will needs keep, and hide. O no, poor young man, thou muſt ſell p. 79all, 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.Mark 10:22Jeſus 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 p. 80their 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 p. 81with 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.Prov 5:11Prov 5:12Prov 5:13 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, p. 82and 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 p. 83Soul? 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. 3.14.2 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 p. 84world, 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.Ps 81:11Ps 81:12 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.

p. 853. 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 p. 86unworthineſs. 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.Rev 3:20He 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 p. 87not 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 p. 88to 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 p. 89death 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 your repentance then will not go with God? I think ſinners, you may well have ſuch jealouſies, that your repentance is hypocritical, while it is thus forced and extorted from you, by reaſon of your fears and horrours that now walk in your conſciences. There is a great deal of counterfeit repentance that God will not take when you come to die; late repentance is ſeldome true: and is it not a pitty (as one obſerves) to play the Courtiers with your own Souls? They do all things late, they go to bed late, and riſe late, and dine late, and ſup late, and worſt of all, repent late.

4. What if thy poor Conſcience ſhould now cry, it is too late, thou ſhouldſt have done it ſooner? Many have thus cryed out, O no there is no p. 90mercy for them, they have ſtood it out too long, and now they cannot expect any thing at Gods hand, but a righteous ſentence of ſeparation for ever from his comfortable face.

5. Poor Soul, how will it ſting thee to conſider thou might often have done it in a fitter time, when thou put it off. Is not a time of health the fitteſt time for repentance? O now how will the conſideration of thy many calls, and many refuſals lie heavy upon thee!

8. Eighth hinderance to poor morning Seekers againſt Chriſt, is the prejudice that Satan labours to fill their Souls with againſt Chriſt; this is very incident to young perſons, to take up prejudices againſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

1. Satan labours to prejudice them by the paucity and fewneſs of thoſe that ſeek after Chriſt; they are but a few, and why ſhould you go from the way the multitude walks in? O poor Sinner, would you be pleaſed to conſider it is Chriſts own Doctrine, There be few that ſhall be ſaved; why ſhould then this be a ſtumbling block unto you? Have you a mind to go to Hell p. 91for company? Many are the travellers that go hells beaten road, broad is the way that leads to deſtruction, and many there be that find it.

2. Satan prejudices many times young ones by the meanneſs and contemptibleneſs of thoſe that are Seekers of the Lord Jeſus Christ. This people that know not the Law are accurſed; few of the Rulers believed on him; not many wiſe Nobles, &c. The Poor receive the Goſpel. O poor Souls, know they are moſt honourable that are ſo in the account of God, and not of man.Iſa. 43.4.Isa 43:4 Since thou wert precious in my ſight, thou wert honourable: The Righteous is more excellent than his neighbour. They that honour God, God will honour.

3. Satan labours to fill Souls with prejudice againſt Christ, by preſenting them with the difficulties they ſhall meet withal. It is true, you may meet with diſcouragement in the way, but you ſhall have the breaker up go before you, and he will make the way eaſie, and crooked wayes ſtreight, and rough wayes ſhall become plain.

p. 924. Satan labours to fill Souls with prejudice againſt Chriſt from the manifold infirmities that attend his followers; and indeed this is a great objection, that all Seekers after Chriſt do not walk ſo cloſely as they ought. Well poor Soul, know, the wayes of God are the ſame, and Jeſus Chriſt is the ſame, though it is ſad there ſhould be ſo much ground for this ſtumbling block lying in your way.

5. Satan labours to fill them with prejudice againſt Chriſt, from the Croſs that attends them; and the Croſs of Chriſt hath been a Rock of offence to many poor Souls. Well but poor Soul, there is a Crown annexed to the Croſs, they that ſuffer with him ſhall raign with him. Unto you I appoint a Kingdom; who were they? Such as continued with him in great temptations.

The next Ʋſe. If morning Seekers be ſure and infallible finders, then it is a word of Caution.

Firſt, Take heed of giving over, of being too ſhort breathed in ſeeking of Chriſt; He that believes makes not p. 93haſt. To ſet on this Caution which is of great concernment to every poor Soul that hath ſet out to ſeek Chriſt, although it was hinted the laſt Obſervation, I will enlarge it now.

1. If you give over, your hearts were never truly in good earneſt in the work. It may be you had ſome flaſhes of affection, or ſome gripes and pangs of conviction, that for the preſent ſtartled you, but yet your hearts were not truly in good earneſt in the work. Ah poor Soul, that truly ſees its need of Christ, the real worth and excellency that is in him, its real miſery without him, this Soul will never give over untill it hath found him, whom its Soul loveth. Is that love in good earneſt, that becauſe it meets diſcouragements, gives over the purſuit of the object? The Spouſe was in good earneſt, therefore gives not over, but ſtill keeps up her enquiries after Chriſt, Saw you him whom my Soul loveth.

2. If you give over you loſe the prize; if the racers give over they loſe;1 Cor. 9.24.1 Cor 9:24 therefore we have that Caution, So p. 94run as you may obtain. Is not this ſad to be runners and loſers, ſeekers and miſſers at laſt? Poor Souls, if you give over you will go without; He that continues to the end, the ſame ſhall be ſaved. We are to run with patience the Race ſet before us; to run it, and not give over.

3. If you give over, and ſo ſit down ſhort of Chriſt, it will aggravate your guilt and condemnation. What, you that once were ſo forward in the ways of God; what, you that once gave ſuch good hopes you were truly in love with Jeſus Chriſt; what, you that were once praying young men and women, and nigh the Kingdom, as that Scribe we read of in the Goſpel,Luke 13.26.Luke 13:26 and to give over? O how will this aggravate your miſcarriage! and you your ſelves ſhut out, this aggravates all.

4. If you give over ſeeking, you will fall either into perſecution or profaneneſs; uſually this is the end of ſuch. When young men, while they have been Apprentices, and under convictions, they have ſought Chriſt, but p. 95afterwards fall off again, they ordinarily prove, either Perſecutors of the wayes of God, or elſe Profane; this is in judgement upon them. God ſuffers them to fall into theſe things, puniſhing ſin with ſin; and very ſad hath been the end of ſuch. Would you ever think this hopeful praying young man would prove a drunkard, a ſwearer, a prodigal? If you give over ſeeking Chriſt, this I doubt will be your end.

5. If you give over ſeeking Chriſt, this will be a great diſcouragement to others; you weaken the hands of others; they will be afraid when they ſee you ſo ſadly drawn back, that they ſhould do ſo too; you hinder others ſeeking after Chriſt.

6. If you give over ſeeking Chriſt, you cloath your Miniſters with ſhame; and is this the love you have formerly profeſt to them? O how once you were endeared to thoſe ſpiritual Fathers! How could you have pulled out your very eyes for them, when they were firſt inſtrumental to do your ſouls good; and is this your kindneſs unto them, to put them unto ſhame? p. 96Diſappointments 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 p. 97God. 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 p. 98of 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. p. 99You 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 p. 100out 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 p. 101ſeek 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.Jer 13:16and 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 noonday, and bring a night upon you before you are aware; therefore loſe not your morning.

p. 1025. 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 hundred years old ſhall be accurſed. O but there are many gracious Souls that have ſought him while they were young, that comfort themſelves with his loving kindneſs of old, that remember the ſweet loveſtories, and paſſages betwixt Chriſt and their poor Soul, and at laſt go off the ſtage of this life triumphing. To ſee an old Chriſtian go comfortably to heaven, leaning over the ſtaff of the Promiſe, and telling of nothing but his youth experiences of Chriſt, O what a ſight is this! And on the other ſide, p. 103to ſee an old man, who hath nothing to remember, but what a drunken wretch he hath been, what a wicked company-keeper he hath been, what an unclean filthy wretch he hath been, what an oppreſſor of other men he hath been; and ſuch ſtories he can tell you all day: O what a dreadful thing is this!

6. Take heed you loſe not your morning; when God doth awaken you, and get you out of your bed of ſin and ſloth, it will grieve, and cut you to the very heart, that you got up no ſooner, that you have loſt ſo much time already. O how many Souls have been deeply wounded with the ſenſe of their loſt time? O what complaints have ſuch Souls groaned out, That I ſhould be ſo long in the ſervice of ſin and Satan, O that I ſhould ſpend ſo many years in gratifying the luſts of the fleſh, in making proviſion for the fleſh, and all that while put a ſlight upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as not being worth ſeeking.

4. Caution, If morning Seekers ſhall be ſure and certain finders of Christ, p. 104then let them take heed of haſty and raſh concluding againſt Christ and their own Souls; this is an infirmity that young Seekers are mightily prone to in their firſt convictions. O ſure Jeſus Chriſt will not be found of ſuch poor ſinful, vile Creatures as we are: we have been ſuch Ephraims, ſuch Bullocks unaccuſtomed to the yoke, ſuch Sons of Belial, ſo ſtubborn even from our youth up, we cannot think he would be found of us, though we ſhould ſeek him.

1. Firſt, O poor Soul, do you think Chriſt doth not matter his word? If under your temptations you ſhould think he does not matter your Soul, yet think he matters his word. Cannot you ſay, remember the Word, Lord, upon which thou cauſeſt me to hope. Do you think Christ is indifferent, whether his Promiſes be accompliſhed or no? No, no, not one Jota of his Promiſe ſhall fail. You may be diſcouraged, but the Promiſe is in reference to bruiſed reeds and ſmoaking flax.Ite. 42.4. It is ſaid, He ſhall not be diſcouraged, nor fail; you may, but he ſhall not.

p. 1052. Secondly, why, Souls, ſhould you think he will not accept of you, are not your names in his Commiſſion? He was ſent to ſeek and ſave ſuch as are loſt; and are not you loſt Souls? Loſt in your ſelves, loſt prodigals. This my Son was loſt: and do you think he will not then accept of you?

3. Thirdly, why think you ſo hardly of Chriſt, doth not Chriſt call ſuch? He came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Be of good chear poor Soul, the Lord calls on thee, as was ſaid to the poor blind man. But ſomething of this nature will fall in upon another uſe; therefore I will forbear now.

5. Branch of the Caution; then let morning Seekers take heed they do not ſit down ſhort of Chriſt. Why, if he will be found of us, ſhould we ſit down ſhort of him? As it is ſaid in that caſe, ſo may I ſay in this; a Promiſe being left us of entring into his Reſt, let us not ſeem to reſt ſhort of it. There are many things morning Seekers are prone to reſt in on this ſide Christ. You may take up in your common p. 106convictions, in your conſtitutional affections, in your acquired gifts and parts, in your reſtraining grace, in a form of profeſſion, and ſo miſs of Chriſt for ever.

1. Firſt, take heed of reſting ſhort of Chriſt, many thouſands have done ſo. We read of the Scribe that anſwered Chriſt diſcreetly, and Jeſus ſaid unto him, Thou art nigh unto the Kingdome of God: But alas, he was ſhort of Chriſt for all this. And alſo the young man in the Goſpel reſted ſhort of Chriſt; and alſo the fooliſh Virgins, and the Children of the Kingdom we read of came ſhort of Chriſt.

2. Secondly, take heed morning Seekers you do not reſt ſhort of Chriſt; this will aggravate your miſery exceedingly in miſſing of him. What, you that were within a little of Chriſt miſs him! What, you that were in ſo fair a way for Chriſt, you who ſet out ſo hopefully in the morning of your day! O for poor Souls in Hell, to ſing ſuch doleful ditties, I was once convinced of my ſin, and I was once convinced of my miſery without Chriſt, and I p. 107was once convinced of the excellency of Chriſt; But O my corruptions were too ſtrong for my convictions! and ſo my poor Soul ſat ſhort of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. To miſcarry within a little of harbour, within ſight of land; O what a cutting aggravation is this to poor Seamen, when almoſt at their Port? So many Souls have done, they have been almoſt perſwaded to become Chriſtians, yet they have reſted ſhort of Chriſt.

3. Thirdly, take heed, morning Seekers, that you reſt not ſhort of Chriſt. Satan, if it be poſſible, will keep you ſhort of Chriſt: this is Satans deſign, if he can but perſwade the Soul to take up in ſomething on this ſide Chriſt, in ſome notion, ſome opinion. Hence it is, as ſoon as young people come under any convictions of ſin, and when any good Seed is ſowen in the Soul, then comes Satan with his Tares. Then they get, it may be, ſome notion or opinion whereby Satan does divert them, and hinder them from cloſing with Chriſt: And when they are gotten hither, here they reſt. p. 108Thouſands have been eternally undone this way.

3. Ʋſe. Is it ſo, that morning Seekers ſhall be ſure and certain finders of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? then it is an Ʋſe of

Exhortation

To ſet upon the duty, and work in good earneſt, to loyter no more of your morning away, to trifle no more of your precious time away: but that you may have the comfort of the Promiſe, O that you may be found in obedience to the precept; if you would find, you muſt ſeek. O poor Souls, do not you hear him Call? Call upon him while he is near, ſeek him while he is to be found. What, is not the Lord Jeſus worth ſeeking? he is then worth nothing.

1. Motive to ſeek the Lord in your morning; now is your ſeeking time; ſeeking will not alwayes be in ſeaſon. You muſt do things in their proper ſeaſon; there is a time for every purpoſe, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of Salvation. Now acquaint thy ſelf with God, and be at p. 109peace, was good counſel by Jobs friend. Now is thy only time to ſeek acquaintance with Chriſt. Poor Sinner, there is a time in which God will not be found; For this ſhall the Godly pray unto him in a time when he will be found.

1. There is a day coming, in which the Spirit of God will leave ſtriving with you, and then ſeeking will be out of ſeaſon. Can you ſeek, if the Spirit ſtrive not? What is that which puts poor Sinners upon ſeeking of Chriſt, but the ſtrivings and convictions of the Spirit?

2. There is a day coming wherein the things that concern your peace will be hid from your eyes. Thus God told Jeruſalem, But now the things that concern your Peace are hid from your eyes. You will be judicially hardened.

3. There is a day coming, in which Gods bowels will be ſhut up in diſpleaſure againſt you. You are hardened againſt God, and God againſt you. O that is a terrible Text, I will not anſwer when you call. What will God p. 110then do?Prov. 1.25, 26.Prov 1:25Prov 1:26 I will laugh at your Calamity, and mock when your fear comes.

4. There is a day coming when ordinances ſhall be ineffectal to you. God ſayes, Make the beart of this people fat. O dreadful word, to have Ordinances given to harden, and not to ſoften!

5. There is a day coming, that death and hell ſhall look ghaſtly upon you; and will this be a ſeeking time? Will not Chriſt tell you, O poor Sinner, this is but a force? Now when you ſee no way but damuation before you, now you ſeek after me: this is only to ſerve your own ends of Chriſt. O poor Souls, be perſwaded to ſeek Chriſt before theſe dayes come upon you.

2. Motive in the morning of your dayes to be ſeeking the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſuch Souls ſhall live; in him you may have life, life is only to be had in him, therefore he is called a Believers Life. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life; and he is called the Living Stone. You will not come to me that you might have life. The p. 111poor Sinner is dead, while he lies at diſtance from Chriſt; thou mayſt have gifts and parts, as dead bodies may be ſtuck with flowers, and ſtrawed with herbs, but this is but dubbing the dead; all this while there is no life in the man, it is only he that hath the Son hath life.

1. Firſt, They that ſeek Chriſt have living influences from Chriſt; he is the head, that ſends living influences into all his members. O what a ſupply of influences is to be had from Jeſus Chriſt! You muſt ſeek all you have from him; it pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell, 2 Pet. 2.4, 5.2 Pet 2:42 Pet 2:5and this as believers head. And we read of believers being called Lively Stones, active for Jeſus Chriſt; not only Chriſtians, but lively Chriſtians. How comes this to paſs? being built up in him, united to him, as the ſuperſtructure is to the foundation, the living Stone ſends up living influences into all that are built upon him; therefore he is the Vine, that by his communicating influences doth keep Souls, not only living, but thriving.

p. 1122. Secondly, He communicates living comfort to ſuch as ſeek him. That is a precious Prophecy concerning Chriſt, Pſal. 22.Ps 22The meek ſhall eat and be ſatisfied, they ſhall praiſe the Lord that ſeek him, your heart ſhall live for ever. They ſhall eat by Faith the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and be ſatisfied, (viz.) be comforted in their Soul. Who? The poor, meek, humble Seekers of Chriſt, in the ſenſe of their own vileneſs, who have been caſt down in the ſenſe of their own unworthineſs; for by the meek are meant ſuch. What then? They ſhall live for ever; Gen. 4.5.27.Gen 4:5Gen 4:27not be rejoyced and comforted for a while; for this is meant, by the heart living, it ſhall be revived and comforted. O but may the poor Soul ſay, this comfort will not laſt. O yes,Pſal. 69.33.Ps 69:33 Their heart ſhall live for ever. The like Promiſes we have in other places.

3. Thirdly, They that ſeek Chriſt have living Graces from him; we receive of his fulneſs, Grace for Grace; all we have muſt be in a way of ſeeking; not only Grace at the firſt effuſion, when he ſayes to the Soul live, but p. 113the lively exerciſes of Grace are from him. The Spicknard gives a pleaſant ſmell, (viz.) the Graces of the Spirit, Faith, and Hope, and Love, and Zeal, they are all exerciſed; they put forth lively acts. What is the matter? the King is at the Table.

3. Motive to ſeek the Lord Jeſus in the morning of your day; your Reſt muſt be found in Chriſt. O whither will not a poor burdened ſin-ladened Soul go for Reſt! O what will not a poor diſtreſſed Sinner do in hope to obtain Reſt! Rivers of Oyl, and thouſands of Rams, if it were poſſible to expiate their ſin: Nay, they will not ſtick at their firſt-born. What is the reaſon the blind Papiſts appoint ſo many Penances, ſo many Pilgrims, ſo many Faſts and Scourgings, but they hope theſe are expiatory? But, alas, all this will but be ſeeking that they will never find. If you will have the deſirable mercy of Soul Reſt, you muſt go to him for it,Mat. 11.29Matt 11:29 Come unto me all ye that are weary and laden and you ſhall find reſt for your Souls. The verſe before ſayes, I will give it, this, you ſhall p. 114find it. But might the poor Soul ſay, Lord, if we ſeek it here, ſhall not we miſs of it? No, you ſhall be ſure to find it.Iſa. 11.10.Isa 11:10 To him ſhall the Gentiles ſeek; and what then? And his reſt ſhall be glorious. Some Interpreters it is true take it for his Church, which is Chriſts Reſt, it ſhall be glorious. Others carry it, his reſt, the reſt which he ſhall give, it ſhall be glory. It ſhall be the glory of a Soul to ſeek and find reſt from him. What is it you young ones would have? is it this true ſpiritual reſt and peace? never think to have this ſhort of Christ.

4. Motive to ſeek the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in the morning of your day; you know not what your evening may prove, or your mid-day may prove. What if you ſhould have an afternoon filled up with afflictions? do you know what God will fill up your day withall?

1. What if God ſhould fill up your day with temptations? Will it not then repent you that you ſought him not in the morning? If you ſhould be exerciſed with that one diſmal p. 115thought, that the day of Grace is over, O how it will grieve you that you looked out ſo late after Chriſt! O what a wretch am I to be ſo much behind with Chriſt, and my own Soul! And O how many objections will ſuch a thought caſt in thy way!

2. What if God fill up thy day with ſharp tryals, with weakneſs of body, loſſes in thine outward eſtate? Will this be ſo fit a time to ſeek Chriſt in, when thou wilt have enough to do to bear up under theſe tryals? O then how will thy poor Soul wiſh, thou had been laid in better for ſuch rainy days? How will thy poor Soul then grieve that thou made a friend of Chriſt no ſooner againſt ſuch a day as this?

3. What if God towards the evening of thy day take away from thee the advantages thou once had for thy poor Soul? It may be when thou wert young thou livedſt in ſome Godly Family, which is no ſmall advantage, as little as young perſons matter it. It may be thou livedſt amidſt ſome godly acquaintance, it may be thou livedſt under ſome powerful Soul-ſearching p. 116Miniſtry, theſe helps may be removed from thee, or thou from them, and O then how thou wilt be grieved, that thou ſought Chriſt no ſooner, that now thou haſt no more acquaintance with him.

4. What if God ſhould give thee but a little warning or time to look about thee for thy Soul, if thou ſhould die in four or five dayes time; and then review thy loſt time, and look over thy life again? O how will it grieve thee that thou ſtruck no ſooner in with Chriſt! that now thou haſt all thy work to do for Eternity, that might have got it down long agoe. Now thy work to do, and no time to do it in. Formerly thou hadſt time, and wantedſt a heart, and now thou haſt a heart to it, and wanteſt time.

5. Seek Chriſt in the morning of your day, and you ſhall dye triumphing at night. You ſhall go gloriouſly off the ſtage of this preſent life. Should not we be often remembring our latter end? Is it not ſaid of Jeruſalem, Lam. 1.14.Lam 1:14ſhe came wonderfully down, becauſe ſhe conſidered not her latter p. 117end? Is not this to be a wiſe Virgin? to get your lamps and your veſſels ſtored with Oyl, that when the Bridegrome comes, and the midnight-cry calls, you may go out chearfully to meet him. Is not this wiſdome in Gods Book, O that my people were wiſe, Deut. 32.29.Deut 32:29that they did conſider their latter end. And who is it that hath an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of God, but the diligent Believer and Seeker? Add all diligence that you may be found of him in peace. 1 Pet 1.5.3.14.1 Pet 1:51 Pet 1:31 Pet 1:14O how many have died with this ſad and doleful note in their mouths, O it is now too late. Had I ſought Chriſt ſooner, there had been hope; but I cannot believe he will accept of ſuch a refuſer of a day of Grace, and tenders of Grace, as I have been.

Laſtly, O ſeek Chriſt in the morning of your day; others may be drawn to ſeek him with you, and ſay as they did to the Daughter of Jeruſalem when ſhe had ſought him diligently, Tell us where thy Beloved is gone, that we may ſeek him with thee. Your being up in the morning to ſeek Chriſt may p. 118draw others on, and O what mercy would this be?Yob 23.3.

But by this time methinks I hear ſome poor Soul ſay, O that I knew where to find him, I would come even to his ſeat: but alas, young travellers muſt have ſome directions, and ſo muſt young Seekers; how ſhall we then, ſay poor Souls, ſeek Chriſt?

1.Luk. 2.45.Luke 2:45 Be ſure you ſeek him ſorrowing, as the Parents of Chriſt after the fleſh ſought him, Thy Father and I ſought thee ſorrowing. Sorrowing under the ſenſe of ſin. So muſt you ſeek him. True mourners are the finding Seekers, O that is a ſweet word,Jet. 31.9. They ſhall come with weepings, and with ſupplications will I lead them. Jer. 50.4.Jer 50:4They ſhall go weeping, ſeeking the Lord their God. Thus Souls muſt go to Chriſt in a through ſenſe of their condition. Who were they that ſought to the Brazen Serpent, but they that were ſtung with the fiery Serpent?

2. Seek Chriſt with a high appretiation of Chriſt. Mat. 13.4….Matt 13:4Who will ſeek him, that doth not eſteem him to be the pearl of price? But when the Merchant man had found the pearl p. 119of price, he ſold all to buy it. Why did the Spouſe ſo ſeek Chriſt through all difficulties? He was to her the white and ruddy one, the chiefeſt of ten thouſands. Prov. 3.13.Prov 3:13We read of the happineſs of the man that finds wiſdome; why ſo? this wiſdom is Chriſt, and the merchandize thereof is better than that of Gold, &c.

3. Seek Chriſt ſincerely. We read of ſome that turned feignedly to the Lord. O take heed of ſeeking of him feignedly. If your hearts be not right, God will diſcover them. Simon Magus would be a Seeker, yet he was diſcovered, we was in the gall of bitterneſs, and bond of iniquity.

4. Seek him perſeveringly, if you would ſeek him ſo as to find him. She ſought her loſt groat, untill ſhe found it. But this hath been largely inſiſted on before.

5. Seek the Lord Jeſus Chriſt through all oppoſition, as the Spouſe did when they took her veil from her, and the watchmen ſmote her; yet ſhe gave not over.

The End of the firſt Sermon.