The Truly Blessed Man, Part 4 · Section 3

The Truly Blessed Man · Part 4 · Section 3

p. 301God to be ſought in a finding time.

DOCTRINE. III.

THey that hope to find forgiveneſs from God in the way of Prayer muſt ſeek him in a time when it may be found. There is emphaſis in this, they p. 302ſhall not only pray, but they ſhall do it ſeaſonably. There are two Propoſitions in this Doctrine.

1. That there is a time wherein God may be found.

2. That if we would ſpeed in our Prayers for forgiveneſs, we muſt take this time to ſeek him in.

Prop. I. That there is a time wherein God may be found. And there are three Concluſions contained in this Propoſition.

1. That God may be found by ſinful men.

2. That the Opportunity of thus ſeeking God is limited to time.

3. That there are ſpecial ſeaſons wherein God is to be found by them that ſeek him.

1. That God may be found by ſinful men. This is the foundation of all our encouragment to ſeek after him. We may here enquire.

1. When God is ſaid to be found?

2. For the evidence that he may ſo.

3. The ground of it, or how it comes to paſs?

1. When God is ſaid to be found?

A. In reſpect of his Omnipreſence it is every where. Act. 17. 27, 28. And with regard to his Providence, he fills all with his preſence and influence, Pſal. 135. 6. But it here aims at a gracious diſcovery which God makes of himſelf to us. We then find him, when we obtain favour from him in the thing we ſeek him for, when he is propitious to us, Deut. 4. 29. Gods being found is, oppoſed to his hiding himſelf; and his people account him to do ſo, when they receive no favourable returns of their Prayers, no gracious effects coming thereupon. p. 303But when we ask his mercy, and he beſtows it upon us, we conclude that we have found him. If when we are burdened with the Guilt of Sin, we humbly addreſs him for pardon, and he applies the promiſe, and helps us to take hold on it, and witneſſeth within us his accepting us, we conclude that we have found him: and ſo in every other reſpect in which his Children call upon him. It is he himſelf who comes in by his Spirit to the Soul, and leaveth thoſe things there which teſtify his preſence: Pſal. 34. 4. I ſought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me.

2. For the evidence, that he may be found. Sin indeed hath made an infinite diſtance between God and Sinners, and hath provoked him to hide from them. Every natural man is a loſt Creature, hath loſt his God, and his happineſs, and knoweth not where to find him, but wandereth in a Wilderneſs where there is no way. But for all this, ſuch is Gods rich Grace, that he hath diſcovered himſelf in the Goſpel, ſo as that he may be found again by the loſt Creature; and theſe things will evidence it.

1. He invites men to ſeek him. This precious advice is given to all where the Goſpel cometh. He would not have men to ſeek their help elſe where, but enquire after him. He gives them this call, while they are wandring from mountain to hill, ſeeking reſt, and finding none. 1 Chron. 16. 11. 22. 19. Now God would not invite men to ſeek him; if there were no hope that they might find him; he doth not delude them, but point them to a way of ſafety.

p. 3042. He hath therefore made promiſes to ſuch as ſee… him, that they ſhall find him. The Prophet tells … from God, Iſa. 45. 19. I ſaid not to the ſeed of Jacob ſeek me in vain. And to make this appear he hath obliged himſelf, 1 Chron. 28. 9. If thou ſeek him, he will be found of thee. So, Pſal. 69. 32. Prov. 8. 17. Heb. 11. 6. And he who hath promiſed is faithful and will perform, and they that adventure on his word, ſhall never ſee cauſe to repent.

3. He hath made a way for his being found by Sinful men. And there is nothing wherein God hath equally celebrated his goodneſs to man, as in this … that when Sin had ſhut us out of his preſence, and raiſed Mountains between him and us, he hath been at the coſt to remove them, and make a New and Living way for us to find him. For this it was that Chriſt came into the World, and made the Atonement with his own Blood, that he might pull down the wall of ſeparation: And now he tells us that he is the way, Joh. 14. 6. And ſo there is a new way Conſecrated, Heb. 10. 20. This God would not have done, if he had not deſigned that ſome of the loſt race ſhould find him in it.

4. He hath given us directions how we may find this way, and him in it. All the Goſpel Precepts are adapted to this end. As there could have been no way, if he had not opened it, ſo we could never have known it, if he had not ſhown it us, Mic. 6. 8. And his Spirit is ſent to influence and guide us into it, Iſa. 30. 21. The preceptive part of the Goſpel is purpoſely given for our direction in this affair.

p. 3055. Jeſus Chriſt came to ſeek loſt Sinners, and bring them into this way; he himſelf tells us ſo, Luk. 19. 10. True, he had a further deſign in coming, viz. to make this way, by his Prieſtly Office; but yet in his Prophetical and Kingly he purſueth this deſign: for having purchaſed to himſelf a Church in the world, he ſends forth his Spirit to gather them to himſelf; he ſeeks them up in their loſt eſtate, and finds them, and ſo they find him, Iſa. 65. 1.

3. For the ground of this, or how it comes to paſs, that he is willing to be found, let theſe things be conſidered.

1. That God hath purpoſed the glory of his Grace in the Salvation of Sinners. Hence ſome are ſaid to be Choſen in Chriſt to this very end, Eph. 1. 3. 6. The foundation of all this is laid in his good will: it was becauſe he had a mind that this letter in his name ſhould be made legible, and celebrated throughout Eternal Ages.

2. That mans happineſs conſiſts in his ſeeing and enjoying of God. There is no other object is adequate for him: ſhould he enjoy all the goodneſs of the whole Creation, ſeparate from the favour and love of God, it would not make him better man miſerable, Pſal. 73. 27. He only is a portion that can ſatisfy the cravings of an immortal Soul; and if the man be happy, he muſt know him, Joh. …7. 3. and he muſt have him to be his portion, Lam. 3. 24.

3. That man by Sin hath lost God. This is the unhappy effect of the Apoſtaſy, and is the fruit p. 306of ſin, Iſa. 59. 2. Man was at firſt made near to God, but as ſoon as ſin came in, it ſet him at a vaſt diſtance; ſo that now he knows him not, but is a ſtranger to him; hath loſt all title to him as his God, and is become his enemy, and ſo is made miſerable.

4. That fallen man must find God again, if ever he enjoy him. Viſion and Fruition go together i… Mans miſery is that he hath left him, his only happineſs is in finding him. We muſt find him, if we find life by him, Prov. 8. 35. Till we ſo do, we remain in the forlorn ſtate ſtate which Sin hath caſt us into; That man that doth not find his God again, is undone for ever.

5. For this end God exhibits himſelf to man, as the object whom they are to ſeek. God hath made our ſeeking of him a medium in order to our finding him. Not but that he ſeeks us firſt by his preventing Grace, yet in order to his diſcovering himſelf graciouſly to us, he makes us to exert this Grace, in asking after him. Hence in the Goſpel Proclamation theſe two are connected together, Jer. 29. 13.

USE I. Why then do men ſit ſtill and live contentedly without him? Let this rouſe up Sinners to enquire after him; to ſeek him, that they may find him; for motive, Conſider.

1. You are ſtrangers to him in your natural ſtate. This is the condition of all men, as they derive from, and ſtand related to the firſt Adam. Your condition is laid out, Eph. 2. 12. The relation you may pretend that you have to God by vertue p. 307of the Goſpel Covenant, will not ſecure you, but if you are ſtill Unregenerate, you are far from him, and he will ſay, that he knows you not, Mat. 7. 22, 23.

2. You are undone without him. You muſt have him to be your God, or you periſh; as contentedly as you live without him for the preſent, there is a time coming when you will be made to know, that there is no happineſs but in the fruition of him; all thoſe things whereon you now truſt, will ſhortly fail you, and if you have not a God to uphold you, you ſink into remedileſs perdition; without God, and without hope, Eph. 2. 12.

3. He is willing to be found by you. Whence is it that he makes ſuch diſcoveries of himſelf to you in the Goſpel? that he cometh ſo near you in the means of Grace? that he ſo diſplays himſelf in the face of Chriſt? Surely all the Meſſages that are ſent you from Sabbath to Sabbath, are to let you underſtand how ready he is to be found, why elſe doth he bid you look to him and be ſaved, Iſa. 45. 22.

4. Hence if you ſeek him in truth, he will certainly manifeſt himſelf to you. He would never have called you ſo earneſtly, nor expreſſed himſelf ſo grieved at your neglect, if it were not ſo. He waits for it after all your refuſals, who might have put you ere this beyond all hope, did he not in compaſſion, reſolve to give further opportunity of ſeeking him. He therefore cries how long? Prov. 1. 22.

5. If you find him you ſhall be happy. You will p. 308never repent your ſeeking him. You will be fully recompenſed for all the pains you have taken in it, Prov. 8. 35. He that findeth me, findeth life. Forgiveneſs of ſin and an Inheritance among then that are Sanctified, will be the happy fruit of this Enquiry.

USE II. Let this encourage drooping Souls under the ſenſe of ſin and Guilt. You are afraid, but do not as Adam did, Gen. 3. 10. but let this ſenſe drive you to ſeek God. Conſider,

1. You can never come to true quiet till you enjoy him. You reſent a diſtance between him and you, and that is your perplexity; and where do you hope to find eaſe and relief? it is only in him that your Souls can be ſettled. Guilt will abide till he removes it; and as long as he is angry you are in an ill caſe.

2. He now expects that you ſhould ſeek him. He hath not forbidden you, nor driven you away, but he requires it: this trouble he brings you to, is to make you feel your neceſſity; it is one way in which he is wont to fetch home his loſt ſheep, that are gone aſtray, ſo he did David, Peter, &c.

3. Hence be not diſheartened by any Temptation to deſpair. Satan would be at this, and a miſgiving heart, that is wounded, too readily reſents it; but Conſider;

1. He invites ſuch as you are in particular, Mat. 11. 28. Come to me you that are weary and heavy lader. He would have them that are in diſtreſs to ſeek p. 309refuge in him, who only can ſecure them: He would have none that know their ſins, and feel their miſery to deſpond, becauſe ſuch are nextly called to look after him.

2. He hath provided ſufficient to remove all the cauſes of diſtance between him and you. Let your Guilt be never ſo aggravated, yet in the compleat Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, there is abundant proviſion made, which cannot be out done by our ſins: He can ſave to the uttermoſt, Heb. 7. 25.

3. And he will herein advance the glory of his Grace. How often doth he take an opportunity thus to do? he hath purpoſed to be admired in them that believe, 2 Theſ. 1. 10. And in this way will he promote that admiration; reſolve then to ſeek his face, for the health of his countenance.

Conclu. 2. That the opportunity of thus finding God is limited to time. There are two ages of man, or a double ſtate to which he is appointed, with reſpect to duration, viz Time and Eternity; the former whereof is limited, the latter boundleſs; the one will quickly come to an end, the other never; and where the former ends, the other begins. Time, in the general notion of it, is the boundary of the Creatures duration: and this may be conſidered generally with reſpect to the world, and ſo, it begins with the firſt moment of the Creation, and ſhall laſt till the conſummation of all things, i. e. the Day of Judgment; and all this while God will be to be found by ſome: there will be a Day of Grace, the Mediators Kingdom, in which a p. 310treaty of Reconciliation is held up with man, will continue till the end: for it is with regard to the Elect that the World is continued, but when that ends, this will end with it; that will determine the everlaſting ſtate of all men unchangeably. But then there is a more particular conſideration of time, as it reſpecteth the ſeveral Creatures which are the Subjects of it: and thus every Creature in the lower world hath its own time, or the bounds of its duration, which begins with its exiſtence, and ends with its diſſolution; thus David, Pſal 31. 15. My times are in thine hand. Only this difference is to be obſerved between man, and other ſublunary beings, that when their time ends, and they are diſſolved, their exiſtence ceaſeth for ever, being reſolved into their firſt principles, never to return to their firſt individual being: Whereas man, when by his diſſolution he ceaſeth to be a Son of time, but enters upon his Eternity, in which he is to exiſt for ever: and though for a while his body muſt be reſolved into duſt, yet it ſhall return again by a Reſurrection to its particular exiſtence; the Soul in the mean while retaining its eſſence, faculties, & activity. Now every mans particular time is the ſpot that lieth between his birth and his death; it begins with his coming into the World, and laſts till he goeth off the Stage, and there it ends; this is that to which his opportunity of ſeeking and finding God is limited. I do not ſay that it ſhall laſt ſo long with every one, but I am aſſured that it ſhall extend no further. When once this glaſs is run, it ſhall be p. 311turned no more. For the Demonſtration of this, take theſe Concluſions.

1. That it is arbitrary with God whether ever he will be found by ſinful man or no Man in his Apoſtaſy went away from God, bad him depart, preferred other Objects before him, and renounced communion with him; how juſtly might God upon this have rejected him for ever, and reſolved that he ſhould never more obtain his favour? He hath no dependance on his Creature; if he had ſaid they ſhall never ſee my face again for ever, he had offered them no injury at all. He therefore in this acts his Soveraignty: and it therein eminently appears, in that he thus manifeſteth himſelf when, where, and to whom he pleaſeth; the greateſt number of mankind are groping in the dark, ſeeking an object in which to find their happineſs, and God doth not ſhew himſelf to them, than whom, they to whom he doth thus appear, are nothing better; ſo that his meer good pleaſure is herein diſplayed; hence that of our Saviour, Mat. 11. 25, 26.

2. Hence it is at his liberty to fix the terms on which he will be found by them. If the thing it ſelf be at his liberty, he muſt needs then have the power of preſcribing. Man is a Rebel and an Out law; if God will purſue him to death, and deſtroy him, he doth him no wrong: and if he will indulge him with a treaty of reconciliation, it is at his diſcretion to make the Articles of it. Now among the other terms of the treaty this is one, viz. the ſtating of the time wherein men may come in p. 312and find him. A Prince that proclaimeth peace, to his Rebellious Subjects, may limit the day, and proclaim, that if they come in by ſuch a day, and ſhe for it, they ſhall have it; but if they take not that opportunity, there ſhall be no hope; and it is a very high favour that ſuch an offer as this, though thus bounded, ſhould be ever made to any of the race of ſinful men.

3. That except God reveals himſelf unto men, they may ſeek, but they ſhall not find him. There is ſuch a thing as this, Prov. 1. 28. And there is great reaſon for it. God indeed hath made our ſeeking of him, the way to our finding him, & made a gracious promiſe that they who truly ſeek him ſhall find him; but it is a promiſe of Grace, and indeed the reaſon why any do ſeek & not find him, is becauſe they do not ſeek him as they ought. However, God manifeſteth himſelf arbitrarily to men: we may be in the outward uſe of all the means of grace, and yet miſs him, & never meet him there: and it will be ſo, unleſs he pleaſe to come and manifeſt himſelf.

4. That unleſs God giveth them his Spirit & Grace, they will never ſeek him ſo as to find him. There is a ſo ſeeking him, as is ever crowned with ſucceſs, and brings us into his preſence, ſuch as that, Jer. 29. 13. All other is either hypocritical or legal, which is not acceptable to God. Now if any of the Children of men ſo ſeek him, they muſt have the grace from him ſo to do; it is a work of his Spirit, and till he give them a new heart, they cannot ſo do: there muſt be his drawing, if ever there be their following. Now the drawing of p. 313the Spirit is at his pleaſure: if he ſee meet to withold this grace from men, they will never ſo ſeek him, notwithſtanding all the calls and counſels, and warnings that can be given them; and he hath no neceſſary lying upon him to beſtow this on them.

5. There are certain means in and with which God reveals himſelf to men, ſo as they may find him. As God is to be found, ſo there is a way for it. Natural men that live without the Goſpel, can never find him in that condition; the meer light of nature will never lead any of mankind to God, or bring them to communion with him again: had not this been manifeſted in the Goſpel, it had never been known, and man muſt have wandred in an endleſs maze of error, 2 Cor. 4. 6. And it is in and with this Goſpel that God is pleaſed to ſhew himſelf to the Souls of men, and therefore by ſerious attendance thereon they are to ſeek him. Where therefore theſe means are either not beſtowed, or are taken from men, or they from them, now the opportunity muſt needs ceaſe with them.

I now proceed to make it appear, that if ever we find God, it muſt be during the time of our life in this world; and from the premiſes there are theſe evidences for it.

1. That God hath in his Word, limited the day of Grace to this life. The Word of God is that by which we are to acquaint our ſelves with his will; and there we are aſſured that the day of Grace is limited. When our Text ſaith, they ſhall pray in a p. 314finding time, it infers that there will be a time when there is no finding of him; and of the ſame import is that in Iſa. 55. 6. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Hence he may be ſought too late, when there is no finding him, Prov. 1 23. Nay the Scripture hath expreſly limited the time to this life, Pſal. 6. 5. Iſa. 38. 18. And elſewhere; which intimate, that the time of Glorifying God by making our peace with him, will then be over; or that the work of providing for eternity will then be at an end; and this is the force of the wiſe mans argument, when he urgeth the husbanding the preſent ſeaſon of life, Eccleſ. 9. 10. There is no work, nor wiſdom, nor device, nor knowledge in the grave whither thou goeſt.

2. That the means and offers of Grace are only afforded men during the time of this life. Whiles God is to be found, he affords men advantages of ſeeking him, and theſe are the Goſpel & Ordinances, in which his Spirit is wont to come and ſtrive. As long as he continueth theſe, and cometh in and with them to the hearts of men, they have a fair opportunity for finding him: but when theſe are withdrawn and gone, he goeth with them; and it is certain that men enjoy theſe only in this life. Whether ſo long, is arbitrary, but longer they ſhall not. What ſaith the Pſalmiſt? Pſal. 88. 11. 12. Shall the dead praiſe thee? &c. by which interrogatories, a vehement negation is inſinuated; and if Gods faithful Servants would never ſo fain, they can come at them no more, to ſpeak to them about their Souls concerns.

p. 3153. There are awful threatnings denounced againſt ſuch as neglect this time, and theſe offers. God is a God of truth in his threatnings as well as his promiſes: and he hath warned Sinners of what will come of it, if they neglect the preſent time: he hath denounced that they ſhall for ever miſs of the benefit offered, and for the obtaining of which they once had a price in their hands; if they will not comply with Gods time, they ſhall fail when they would fain be entertained by him: How ſolemn a moan doth Chriſt make over Jeruſalem, Luk. 19. 41, 42. And what mean thoſe fearful expreſſions? Ezek. 24, …, 13. Iſa. 27. 11. In which God gives men to underſtand, that for neglecting their time, they ſhall be rejected for ever.

4. That Death, which finiſheth the Creatures time, puts an end to all ſuch buſineſs. It is the man that muſt ſeek God, but man conſiſts of a Soul and a Body; and it is whiles theſe are in union that he is capable of this affair: Whereas Death diſſolves his union, and ſo utterly ends the opportunity; the body can no longer be uſed as an inſtrument of this, if we ſhould preach to it, it cannot hear …. The Soul is now ſeparated from the body, and can no longer perform its functions in it, whiles this diſſolution remains: and we are told, that life is the only working time, Eccleſ. 9. 10. The Grave is therefore called the place of ſilence, and the land of forgetfulneſs; and they that are … are ſaid to know nothing, &c.

5. That the Eternal State into which men paſſeth from time, is unchangeable. Where time ends, Eternity p. 316begins; and it is the property of time that the Subjects are mutable, they may be changed from what they are: but it is equally the property of eternal things that they are immutable. When men dy, they paſs to their particular judgment, Heb. 9. 27. The condition they enter into … that from which there is no returning, Job. 16. 22. Life is working time; eternity is for the rewards of men according to their works. Men immediately paſs from life, through death, either to heaven or hell, and the gulf between theſe two is fixt; and this follows properly upon death, Luk. 16. 21. with 26. In one word, when God will be no longer found, it is too late to ſeek him to any advantage: when life is done, and time ſpent, God is reſolved that they who ſought him not before ſhall never find him.

USE I. For Information in two particulars.

1. Learn hence the folly and unprofitableneſs of praying for the Dead. If the day of grace, the opportunity of ſeeking and finding God be over with all men, when time is done with them, and death waſts them over into eternity, what then can our prayers any more avail them? either they ſought God and ſound him in their life time; an… if ſo, they are now in glory, and in full fruition o… that God whom they ſo ſought, and out of danger of ever loſing him again, and ſo have no need … our prayers; but if they ſought him not here, … ſo did never find him, but died ſtrangers to him p. 317they are gone to their own place, to the generation of their fathers never to ſee light: they are beyond recovery hopeleſs; there is no more mercy for them: what good then can our prayers do them? If all the prayers of all the Saints on earth, could fetch one ſoul out of hell, ſomething might be pleaded, but it is impoſſible. Let us then pray for poor Sinners with the greateſt importunity ſo long as they are alive; but when once they are gone, we muſt leave them till the Great Day, when we ſhall be ſatisfied about them.

2. Learn hence alſo the madneſs of thoſe who ſpend their time in ſeeking other things, neglecting to ſeek God in it. And is not this the unhappy trade which the generality of the Children of men are driving? obſerve what the moſt, even under the Goſpel, are doing, and you ſhall ſee how fearfully this is neglected.

1. Are there not thoſe that will not ſeek God? Nay they bid him depart from them; if not in words yet their carriages ſpeak their minds. How many are there that deſpiſe all the counſels that are given them, who will not pray to God; nor read his word, nor enquire after him? they are angry … thoſe that give them good counſel? this is the …ty character of them, Pſal. 10. 4. The wicked …ll not ſeek after God; and if at any time they are … led with terrours, they do all they can to … them, which is a plain diſcovery of their …fulneſs.

2. And how many are there who are ſo taken up with other things, that they can find no time to ſeek p. 318him? Their hearts are enſnared with theſe things and they cannot get from them; the profits, pleaſures, and preferments of this world, things lawful in themſelves, have ſtollen their hearts from them; and though Chriſt calls, and invites them, they hearken not. One hath a Farm to look after, another is over head and ears in Trading, another is …aken up with his new married wife, and ſo the time ſlides away, wherein he ſhould be ſeeking an… intereſt in Chriſt, and he continues eſtranged from him; and how contentedly do men ſpend their time at this rate?

But Conſider,

1. You loſe a finding time. It is a day of grace that you ſquander; a precious opportunity to be getting acquainted with God, and laying up for eternity. If it were a time in which you had nothing elſe to do, it were more excuſable; but it is a ſeaſon of doing the greateſt and moſt important buſineſs that lieth on the children of men. Vain men think, it is nothing but a little time they throw away, and that is no great matter: but time is a pearl of more worth then, and tha… cannot be purchaſed with a whole world.

2. That which you lay out your time for, will not profit. Poſſibly you count your ſelves the beſt Husbands: and think them mad who ſpend ſo… much time in Religious duties: whiles this man was… praying, you made ſuch a gainful bargain; while… he was hearing a Sermon, you earned ſo much o… the world, and bleſs your ſelves in your diſcretions… but you will ſooner or later find your miſerable er…our: p. 319the beſt title that God hath to put on you, is Fool, Luk. 12. 20. And ſee, Iſa. 55. 2. Eccleſ. 5. 16. Compare but what you loſe mean while with our Saviours Rule; Mat. 16. 26. What is a man profited, &c.

3. When time is done, and you would ſeek God, he will not he found. Whiles you have been minding unprofitable things, your opportunity hath been Stealing away from you irrecoverably, and when you come to be on the brink of time, and your Soul ready to fleet into an unchangeable ſtate, you will then Mourn, Prov. 5. 11. And what a doleful outcry will it be, to hear a deſparing Sinner in his paſſage, roaring out, Call time again, and wiſhing, Oh that I had one of thoſe Sabbaths that I deſpiſed, one of thoſe hours to ſeek God in, which I trifled away in vanity, had I all the gold and pearls in the world, I would give them for it, but it is now too late; Oh that you were wiſe, that you underſtood this!

USE. 11. Let it be an awakening call to us all to Redeem our time, by ſetting our ſelves ſpeedily to ſeek God. And to move us hereto, Conſider,

1. We are all of us ſtrangers to him in our natural …tate Eph. 2. 12. The Apoſtaſy hath made an infinite diſtance between God and Sinners. Man go… away from God by every Sin, for it is of the nature of Sin to deaprt from him, Pſal. 73. 27. Hence …he Sinners of the Gentiles are ſaid to be afar off, …ct. 2. 39.

2. If we get not an interest in him, we muſt periſh or ever. Mans miſery took its date from his looſ…ng of God, and his happineſs begins upon his finding p. 320of him; nor will he ever be perfectly bleſſed, till he cometh to that compleat and uninterrupted Communion with him, which is reſerved for glory. Every diſtance from God is ſo far a miſery, and they that regard it not now, will find it to their coſt, when they ſhall hear that fearful word, Depart, pronounced upon them: and there is no other way to remedy our miſery, but by the getting of this diſtance removed; & God reconciled to us through Chriſt: he muſt, of our enemy be our God, or we are undone.

3. We muſt ſeek after this, if ever we obtain it. On how many Solemn conſiderations is this Command urged in the Scriptures? and, though it be a Solemn truth, that if Chriſt do not ſeek us firſt by his preventing Grace, we ſhall never ſeek him; yet the way in which he cometh to be found by us, is in his putting us upon ſeeking him He gives us ſuch an heart, and then he comes and revealeth himſelf to us. All men are either ſeekers or forſakers of him, and we are told how it is with both, 1 Chron. 28. 9.

4. We have but this time of life to do it in, God hath limited the whole opportunity of a… treaty with Sinners hither: What ſaid Chriſt to thoſe Jews that deſpiſed him, Joh. 8. 21. Ye ſhall… ſeek me, and dy in your ſins. This life is mans… probation time, for another. You have but on… life to work in, take heed then that you d… not let it go before your work be done: Go… will not give you a ſecond life to try over again, if you ſpend this away prodigally, though… p. 321you ſhould repent never ſo bitterly of it, and promiſe never ſo ſairly; he will bid you to remember you had a time, but you regarded it not.

5. This time will ſoon be done. The ſhortneſs of life is that of which all complain, though but few rightly improve the conſideration; there is indeed through Grace, time enough, if well husbanded, to lay up ſtore in for time to come: However, it is but a little while, a few days will ſumm up, and put a concluſion to it. See how the Word of God comments upon lifes brevity, Job. 14. 1. Pſa. 102. 11. 103. 15. 144. 4. It makes uſe of the moſt fleet and tranſitory things to repreſent it by; it is but a moment to eternity; and yet on this moment that eternity dependeth. We begin to dy, as ſoon as we begin to live. Sinners! you have but a ſhort day to do your great work in: take heed how you let it ſlide away inſenſibly, leſt your glafs be out before you are aware.

6. The finiſhing of this time is very uncertain. Your times are not in your own hands, but Gods, Pſal. 21. 15. An age indeed is a poor ſhort thing, Pſal. 39. 5. But how few are there that live to conſummate the ordinary age of man? how few whoſe candle of life burns out? the moſt have it blown out by an immature end; and there is …one of you that knows how ſoon death will ſeiz you. The truth is, if you muſt find God in this life; … ever, you had need to do it juſt now, or you may miſs of it. Think of this you that pretend ex…uſes and delays; you are young, and there is …me enough; how know you but God hath appointed p. 322your time to dy to be in youth? you ſay to the Spirit, go away and come to morrow; but what if this night you be cut off, and to morrow dawn not upon you? Take heed, there is but an hands breadth between life and death, and the Change made by it is inexpreſſibly great. If you take this day, you may do your work, but if you put it off to another, it may never be done; and then there is a Soul undone and loſt to Eternity.

7. The finiſhing of time will put an end to all opportunity of grace. You now enjoy it, but then no more. Now you have Gods holy Sabbaths, and precious Ordinances; now you may read, hear, pray, ask counſel, repent, believe, and be ſaved: You have a rich price in your hands, why will you not ſet your hearts to improve it? when time is done, all theſe things ceaſe; no more Sabbaths, you muſt never hear a Sermon more, never be entreated again to be reconciled to God; then the Spirits ſtrivings will ceaſe. Where will you then ſeek God, when you can no more come there where he uſeth to reveal himſelf?

8. Poſſibly a great portion of your little time is already gone, and you have hitherto neglected this great buſineſs. You have had a fair ſeaſon for many years, living under the Goſpel, and enjoying a… helps for ſeeking and finding of God; but yo… have ſquandred them away negligently; and yo… have ſquandred them away negligently; and yo… have now reaſon to think that your time is haſtening to an end: it may be gray hairs predic… your approaching diſſolution; it may be you labour of waſting bodily infirmities, that are undermining p. 323your lives, and telling you that you can hold out but a little longer. And is it not time for you to rouſe up now at laſt, who have ſo ſmall a remnant of a ſhort life left you to ſeek God in? and will you loſe this too? ſhall the few …itting hours that are behind be ſent after the reſt? there is time yet, but it is upon the laſt ſands; Oh! redeem it.

9. The longer you delay, the harder work you will find of it. It is the moſt unhappy way of arguing, for men to plead, they ſhall be better diſpoſed afterward, when they grow into years, or their youthful luſts are tired out, or worldly buſineſs a little over, and in better order, &c. Aſſure your ſelves, he that is not ready to day, will be more unready to morrow: it is the deceitfulneſs of ſin, to uſe delays on ſuch pretences, while ſin taketh faſter hold, and gets deeper rooting; and cuſtom in ſin adds a ſecond nature. When luſt pleads hereafter, the true meaning is never. For helps in this affair;

1. Reſolve in this to be the firſt and moſt neceſſary thing. It is a point of prudence to be rightly informed in this matter. The moſt that periſh for …, have this plea to make for themſelves, that they minded that which they accounted moſt neceſſary, yielding to the pleadings, and importunities of the fleſh; but weigh things in an equal allance: enquire what will be of greateſt moment …o you when come to part with time, and …hink that to be ſo now: And I am ſure that will … the favour of God.

p. 3242. Lay aſide all that will hinder, and ſubordinate every other affair to this. When vain and unprofitable things preſs hard to be minded, reſolutely tell them you have a more important buſineſs on your hands, and time little enough to attend that and if the neeful affairs of this life would impo… upon you, ſee that you entertain them not to the hindrance of this great concern, but to make them to ſerve under it, to this end; beware of any weight that ſhould impede your race, Heb. 12. 1. 2. Reckon all time loſt, which doth not advance your communion with God.

3. Apply your ſelves to the uſe of all means by which you may find God. Give diligence in attendance on the Goſpel Ordinances, whiles you have the liberty of them; read, hear, pray, meditate; when any ſuch opportunity offers, think, it may be I ſhall have no more ſuch in this world, time may be done with me before another comes: and let this thought make deep impreſſion on your hearts, and rouſe you up, not only diligently to attend theſe means, but make it your buſineſs to ſeek, that you may find God in them all.

USE III. To excite and encourage us to endeavour to bring others to ſeek God. Are there no… thoſe to whom we are bound in duty to endeavour their Salvation, and for whom we are ſollic… tous that they may be ſaved? Let us then from the conſideration of the truth in hand,

1. Be excited to do it preſently. Do not delay it call upon them now, uſe means with them now p. 325let us not adjourn the duty, but uſe all earneſtneſs and importunity in purſuance of it: Conſider then;

1. It is now the time for it. This is a finding time: are they young? it is the beſt ſeaſon for them to ſeek and find God in, Prov. 8. 17. Hence that advice, Eccl. 12. 1. You have now all advantages before you to purſue this buſineſs to effect, they enjoy the Goſpel means; it is alſo the beſt opportunity to preſs them to this whiles there are theſe helps to promote it: you will never have a more convenient ſeaſon.

2. This finding time may be gone before we are aware. It is very uncertain, whether if now we delay it, it will not ſlip by irrecoverably: for,

1. Our time may be paſt. Let us do as much good this way as we can, while we live, for when once we are dead, we ſhall be paſt doing, Eccleſ. 9. 10. We reſolve to ſpeak to this perſon, and deal ſeriouſly with that other; but to morrow, or the next week; but our mouths are ſtopt are then, and ſo our good thoughts periſh: Iſaac deſired to bleſs his Son before he died, Gen. 27. begin.

2. Their time may be over. If we ſhould live, they may dy, and then they are paſt hearing of us; they are liable to many caſualties which we can neither foreſee nor prevent. A ſudden death may ſurprize them, which will not give us leave to drop one counſel upon them, or make one prayer over them.

3. If the time thus ſlip through our neglect, it will … bitter to us. Whatever the event of our endeayour p. 326be, yet if we have been faithful to our truſt… in this way, it will afford us inward peace: but if we have groſly neglected it, it will procure a ſad remorce, and leave a ſting on our Conſciences. When we come to ly on a death bed, it will diſquiet our tranquility: or if they be taken from us, it will be the moſt afflicting conſideration, to think we have neglected to do our part toward thei… ſpiritual and eternal welfare, and now it is t… late, and becauſe we did it not when we might, & ought, we ſhall no more have any advantage for it…

2. Be encouraged to purſue this work. Though you have been faithful according to your opportunity, and ſee little good come of it: you have been earneſt and ſerious with them, and told them of their miſerable ſtate by nature, neceſſity of ſeeking and finding God, the folly of their co… ſes, the hazards they are expoſed to; and with bleeding hearts entreated them; but your com… ſels are neglected, your warnings ſlighted, your entreaties diſregarded. Do not for this aband… all hope, but take heart, renew your ſollicitation… Conſider;

1. They are ſtill within the compaſs of time. … that were done, you muſt have done too, they a… among the living: and what ſaith he? Iſa. 38. 1… Though they are gone far, they may return; the… is a who knows left; and that is an encourag… ment in a deſperate caſe.

2. They are within the reach of the means. they were beyond the opportunity of Goſp… Ordinances, of our counſels and prayers, our b… p. 327ſineſs with them would be over; but while they enjoy theſe priviledges, they may be taken by them: God may ſtill ſend a word, which may ſtop them in their wicked and vain courſes, and rouſe them up to ſeek after him; though they have deſpiſed offered mercy, God can be too hard for them, and melt them.

3. There are the examples of ſuch as have ſought God at last, and found him. In their month they were taken. Yea, What doth God himſelf ſay of ſuch? Iſa. 57. 17, 18. He knows how to glorifie his grace, and get him honour on ſuch; and he will have them to be monuments of his mercy in whom he will be admired for ever. Deſpair not; there are ſome whom we muſt ſave with fear, Jude 25.

USE IV. Let this be to prevent deſpair in ſuch who fear they have outlived their time. God righteouſly ſuffers ſome to be hurried by this Tempta…on; and Satan takes advantage by it: they are under awakening terrours; they have had a long …ay of Grace, many calls, ſerious counſels, loud …cries, potent ſtrivings of the Spirit; but they have withſtood, and refuſed to ſeek God; and now …here is no more hope for them; their day is …one, finding time is over with them: To ſuch …et me offer theſe conſiderations; after I hav epre…niſed that it is a dangerous thing for any to run …he adventure of ſuch a preſumption. It is a wonder of grace that ever God ſhould make an …offer of grace to ſuch as have deſpiſed ten thou…and counſels, and warnings, and are now grown p. 328old in ſin: and ſuch had need be very ſpeedy, and deeply humbled for all the affronts given to… God. Yet let me ſay to ſuch.

1. You are yet in the place where there is room for repentance and forgiveneſs. You are not in the pit from which there is no Redemption; if you were there, you were gone for ever; but you are alive ſtill, and within the compaſs of a treaty; you are there where proclamation is made, that it you ſeek God with all your heart, you ſhall find him. God hath no where ſaid that he will not give you the grace to ſeek him, or that you ſhall not find him if you ſo do. Secret things belong to God; but the offer of this Grace is to be made to you; and though it be admirable, yet God hath bidden ſuch a proclamation to be publiſhed, Jer. 3. 1. And I am ſure that he can break your hard hearts, and give you repentance; and if he do, there is no doubt of the good ſucceſs of it.

2. You are yet ſtriven with, and called upon. God indeed ſpeaks of a ceſſation of his Spirit ſtriving with obſtinate Sinners, Gen. 6. 3. And there are the awful inſtances of it; but the caſe is otherwiſe with you. If the means of grace are influenced ſo as to rouſe and awaken you out of your ſecurity, and make you feel your mifery, and be aſraid by reaſon of it: if he preſents your ſins to you i… their aggravations, and makes them evil and bitte… to vou, this is a wo…k of his Spirit, and ſaith tha… he ſt…ives ſtill; and whiles he ſtrives, there is hop… that he may be found.

3. Hence theſe fears and terrours are not to dri… p. 329…ou to deſpair, but to awaken you from your neglect. And indeed you ſtand in need of them. You de…piſed many a gentle warning, and were grown dreadfully ſecure, fearfully aſleep: it was there…ore meet that you ſhould be ſtar…led by ſome ter…ible impreſſions made on you; that he ſhould give you deep and gaping wounds in your Con…dences, to make you ſenſible; the providence. then is merciful, though terrible; but you ought to count it a mercy, and then, the leſſon properly to be learned from it, is to put you upon ſpeed, and utmoſt diligence, in ſeeking of God without delay. We have ſuch a prayer of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 83. 15, 16. God makes ſin a burden too heavy t… hear, that men may feel the neceſſity of ſeeking him: And therefore Chriſt ſpecially invites ſuch to come unto him, Mat. 11. 28. Be then encouraged; whatever you have been and done, there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing; only delay not.

Conclu. 3. That there are ſpecial ſpecial ſeaſons wherein God is to be found by thoſe that ſeek him A finding time, not only intends that it muſt be done in time; but that there is a diviſion of time into that wherein God is to be found; and that wherein he is not to be found. Here in general obſerve.

1. That God hath more largely made this life a finding time; ſo that none in particular ought to conclude his time to be paſt, if he be alive. This is the difference between the dead and the living, Iſā. 38. p. 33018, 19. The treaty of grace ordinarily continu… with men under the Goſpel, till they dy; and a… long as it ſo doth, their ſtate is not to us deſperate; for any to ſay of himſelf, my time is over, my day is done, I am gotten paſt hope of Salvation, is a raſh concluſion, without any Scripture warrant. It is a great ſin, becauſe it ſtops men from uſing the means; yea, it is to make God … liar; for he ſaith in his word to ſuch, if you will return to me, I will return to you: whereas this ſaith, let me ſeek, and pray, and confeſs, and mourn, all will be to no purpoſe, he is reſolved never to ſave me.

2. God hath declared concerning ſome that their f… ing time ſhall be over in this life. He may wait and ſtrive longer or ſhorter as he pleaſeth; and though we have no ordinary Rule, certainly to determine it to perſons, that they are ſo left, yet there are ſome, and that ſhould make all fearful of trifling with, and putting of him off; we have ſuch threatnings, Prov. 1. 28. Joh. 8. 21. Hence that warning, Heb. 3. 7. Gods invitations are all for the preſent, their date is, To Day: and whether he will repeat them another day, is with him. Eſau repreſented too late, Heb. 12. 17. And how awful a word was ſpoken to thoſe Jews, who rejected the Salvation offered them? Act. 13. 46. Now, there are ſome awful ſymptoms of this.

3. That there are ſome ſeaſons wherein there is greater advantage to ſeek & find God, than in other. The word, Time, in our Text, ſignifyeth an Opportunity it intimates a fit ſeaſon. A work may be done p. 331while there is time, but it is beſt and more readily done at ſome times. We are told that ſometimes God is near, and that it is beſt then to Call upon him, Iſa. 55. 6. intimating that he may be far off, and then it will be more difficult. There are times when he is within call, and will anſwer at firſt, and times when we may call again & again, before we have an anſwer from him. Here,

…o Queſt, What are thoſe ſeaſons wherein we are peculiarly advantaged for the ſeeking and finding of God?

A. There are four ſeaſons more eſpecially for this.

1. The time of Youth is a ſpecial ſeaſon for this. Young perſons put off, and think hereafter is ſoon enough; but it is their great folly, there is no ſuch …eaſon for ſeeking, and making out after Chriſt as …. For,

1. God earneſtly calls upon ſuch to ſeek him. He doth, as it were, ſingle out ſuch, and the offer is particularly made to them: the Spirit of God ſpeaks emphatically to ſuch; Pſal. 34. 11. Come ye Children, …. Wiſdom calls them, as it were, by name, Prov. 4. 1. 5. 7. 8. 32. Eccl. 12. 1. which tells us how …in God would have young ones to begin early, and how loth he is that they ſhould ſpend their firſt time in vanity.

2. God hath testifyed how well pleaſed he is, when ſuch ſeek him. The entertainment he gives them, is a teſtimony how acceptable it is to him. What reſpect did he ſhew to young Abel? Gen. 4. 4. How wonderfully did he reveal himſelf to young Samuel, who was devoted to him from his Infancy? 1 Sam. p. 3323. 1. with verſe 19; 21. What an eminent inſtrument of reformation did he make of Joſiah, who began young? 2 Chron. 34. 3. And what a teſtimony did he give to a good Child of a wicked father, when dying? 1 King. 14, 12, 13.

3. Young ones have not ſo reſiſted him as others have done. Children have Original Sin in them, as ſoon as they live, and begin to diſcover it as ſoon as they are capable: but God hath taken the Children of his Servants into Covenant with him, and they have not ſo notoriouſly rejected his Covenant as thoſe have done, who withſtoold him in youth, and addicted themſelves to follow folly and vanity.

4. Their hearts are uſually more tender and eaſy to be wrought upon. Not but that natural hardneſs born with us requires Gods Almighty power to take it away, in the tendereſt Child that is. But there is a contracted obſtinacy, which grows on perſons by cuſtom, which Children do not preſently arrive at; but are more tractible, readier to receive the impreſſions of Counſels given them. And this is the reaſon why we are bidden to begin early with them in, Prov. 22. 6.

5. They have many advantages now which they will not have afterwards. With ſuch arguments the Spirit of God pleads with young ones to husband their youth well, Eccl 12. begin There will be many encumbrances of life afterward, which now burthen them not: and when old age ſiezeth them it will greatly unfit them for it, who did not engage in it before.

p. 3332. Whiles the Goſpel is diſpenſed to them powerfully, and faithfully. This is another ſpecial ſeaſon.

Here obſerve,

1. That the Goſpel Miniſtry and Ordinances, are the ordinary inſtruments by which God Converteth Sinners. He hath ſeen meet to make this the appointed way of promoving the Salvation of men. 1 Cor. 1. 21. Rom. 10. 17. Where he ſendeth not theſe, it is an awſul ſign that he hath none of this work to do there.

2. That they are the Goſpel truths, by the diſpenſation whereof he uſeth them as instruments. They are moral inſtruments, and therefore their buſineſs is to treat with men: and the matter of the treaty is, theſe great truths that declare the Counſel of God, and the way wherein Sinners may come to enjoy him, in and through Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. 2. 2.

3. Hence the faithful diſpenſation of theſe truths is that which gives men all the advantage to ſeek and find God. Their work is an Embaſſy, 2 Cor. 5. 20. And the buſineſs is Reconciliation; which is to be advanced by opening the terms, and urging of them ſuitably. If then they are faithful, and do ſeriouſly, and ſolemnly purſue this deſign, there is all that can be expected of inſtruments by way of information and excitation. Legal Preaching ſufficeth not for this, but Preaching Chriſt, and the way of Peace by him: and the more there is of this, the more is the advantage of ſuch a people.

4. Hence when theſe fail, this advantage is greatly impeded. If then the Goſpel is no longer Preached among a people, it is a Judgment, and a ſign of his p. 334departure. If inſtead of ſuch diſpenſations, there be ſuch who Preach falſe Doctrines, who blow up men with opinion of their own abilities, who corrupt the pure ſtream of Goſpel Truth, or Proach unprofitable things, needs muſt theſe impede this affair.

3. Whiles the Spirit is pleaſed to accompany the means with his powerful influences. This is a ſpecial finding time. And here obſerve,

1. That our ſincere ſeeking of God depends on the Spirits operation. He firſt ſeeks us, if ever we ſeek him. We muſt have a principle of Grace for it, elſe we cannot do it; and that muſt derive from him, who is the God of all grace, 1 Pet. 5. 10. All our own moral powers can never exert this.

2. There are times when he is more plenteouſly poured out upon men. Not only is there a more powerful Miniſtry at one time than another, but alſo more of the efficacy. of Grace on the hearts of men; when Sinners come flocking in apace at the call of the Goſpel, and the reaſon why it is ſo at any time, is becauſe the Spirit ſets in powerfully with the means. They may be the ſame, and the labour in diſpenſing them as great; Iſa. 33. 15.

3. There are times when he applieth himſelf to this and that perſon in particular, as he did to Lydia, Act, 16. 14. And this is not always, but at certain ſea… ſons, which are arbitrary, and he acts his liberty therein. This he doth ſometimes to one, ſometimes to another: and when it is ſo, it is an happy opportunity; he is now very near, and ready p. 335to be found: when he ſtands at the door and knocks, it is but opening to him.

4. There are times of his withdrawing in both reſpects. He ſometimes lets a faithful Miniſtry be an unprofitable one to ſuch as ſit under it; his Servants toil all night, and catch nothing: they complain as he, Iſa. 49. 4. I have laboured in vain, &c. And then it becomes an hardning Miniſtry, as Iſa. 6. 9, 10. a ſavour of death, 2 Cor. 2. 16. It will be hard finding of God at ſuch a time as this.

5. And there are times when after a great while he cometh again. The Spirit withdraws, and mens hearts grow hard, but afterwards ſometimes he comes again before he utterly giveth them up; they have awakenings and remorces: and now he is alſo near.

4. When God brings his Judgments on a people: And here,

1. Theſe Judgments, whether publick or perſonal, are Testimonies of Gods diſpleaſure at men for neglecting to ſeek him. He herein witneſſeth his righteous anger at them; and the reaſon is becauſe they have not ſought him, but ſomething elſe inſtead of him, Jer. 2. 17. Iſa. 57. 17. If they had not forgotten him, he had not fallen upon them.

2. The proper deſign of theſe Judgments, is to awaken them to ſeek him. A profeſſing people may ſo far provoke him, as to fall upon them in his fury, and make his Judgments a Sword to cut them off; but it is not ſo at firſt; they are part of his Diſcipline, hence called his Corrections, p. 336and God, ſpeaking after the manner of men, tell… them what he expected, Zeph. 3. 17. I ſaid thou… wilt receive inſtruction, &c.

3. He is wont to ſtir up ſome at leaſt of his Servan… to take this occaſion to be earneſt with men: He affecteth them, and makes them to cry aloud; they ſee his anger, and are afraid, and upon it blow the Trumpet: Thus in the times of the Apostaſy of Iſrael and Judah, God ſent ſuch Prophets to them; who dealt faithfully with them.

4. And he uſually toucheth mens hearts at ſuc… times. Indeed it is a natural operation of Judgments to put men upon thoughtfulneſs; but th… Spirit is wont to ſet in, and put ſuch a people, at… leaſt many of them, upon enquiring after hi… mind, and to affect them with Convictions of ſin… and fear of his Wrath. And this is a great advantage now to ſeek him.

5. If all this be neglected, he is hereby grievouſly… incenſed. It is an high provocation, and he now thinks of withdrawing, Hoſ. 5. 15. Nay, ſome… times it arrives at that, that becauſe all means a… ineffectual, and they grow worſe by them, he de… clares reſolutely to come at them in this way n… more, but abandon them to deſtruction, Ezek. 2… 13. And then what a wo caſe are they in?

USE 1. For caution: Let none from the pr… miſes conclude that his time is paſt. I know ſom… troubled hearts are apt to be ſhaken by ſuch aw… ful truths, and the adverſary is ready to ſet i… and perſwade them that their day is done, an… p. 337ſo ſink them into deſpondency. To prevent this, … me offer theſe things.

1. That none hath Scripture warrant ſo to conclude. Gods purpoſes concerning individual perſons on this account are reſerved with himſelf; nor hath he given us any Rules in Scripture to determine it concerning our ſelves or others; there being but one Sin there branded for unpardonable, all others may be forgiven, Mat. 12. 31. Now we are to …tch our hope, and regulate our ſelves in our duties by the revealed will of God.

2. The arguments that ſuch are wont to uſe, will … infer this concluſion. They may prove their …eſent ſtate bad and hazardous, but not evidence them paſt hope.

1. The greatneſs of their ſins. If they have fallen into ſome heinous and aggravated tranſgreſſion, and conſcience ſmites them for it, Satan preſently …ells them, this is to big for a pardon; Cain ſaith, …en. 4. 13. My Sin is greater than I can bear, or can be forgiven: how can the forgiveneſs. of …eh ſin be conſiſtent with Gods Juſtice? But …is is to reflect on the value of Chriſt's Sacrifice; … if the vertue of his blood had only an influence … do away the Guilt of ſmaller ſins, whereas we …re told otherwiſe, 1 Joh. 1. 7. Heb. 7. 25. How …argumentative then muſt Davids plea be? Pſal. … 11. Pardon my ſin, for it is great. Yea, God …ſelf reſolves this doubt, Iſa. 1. 18.

…. The multitude of them. They are not only …ormous, but their number is not to be reckoned …, they outdo their Arithmetick, they are innumerable; p. 338and every one of them as a great mountain: and did ever ſo great a Sinner obtain mercy? and is not Manaſſeh ſet forth as a monument of mercy, who is ſcarce to be parallel'd, either for magnitude or multitude of ſins? 2 Chr. 33. begin. God hath multiplied pard…n for ſuch as have multiplied their tranſgreſſions, Iſa. 55. 7.

3. Their long living in their ſins. They have long driven this trade; they began in their youth, and have followed it to their ripe and declining years; this hath been their courſe all along, and now they are habituated by cuſtom, and what ſaith God, Jer. 13 23. Can the Ethiopian, &c but though by this you have rendred your Converſion and Salvation more difficult in reſpect of the Subject of it, yet it is not hard to Gods Omnipotency, we have the caſe repreſented. Iſa. 57. 17. 18. Suppoſe you have made you heart as an ad… ment, yet God can give you a new and a ſoft one, Ezek. 11. 19.

4. Their reſiſting of the means of Grace. If upon the firſt report of Salvation they had embraced … there had been hope, but they have been brought up under a faithful Miniſtry, and under careful Parents, who often told them of their ſin and danger, who ſolemnly warned, and importunately entreated them to think of it, and ſeek to God for mercy, but they deſpiſed all: and can the… be any hope for them? Truly the caſe is lame… table, but yet not deſperate. God can bring ſuch a Prodigal home to himſelf, and make him … turn to his father, and if he do, he will m… p. 339and embrace him. Luk. 15. 17, 20. was not Ephraſm ſuch an one, and yet ſee how it was, Jer. 31. 18, 19.

5. The former ſtrivings of the Spirit with them. Time was when the Spirit was wont to come in with the means, and apply to their conſciences; and many a time they confeſſed their ſins, and promiſed amendment; but they out grew theſe, quenched the Spirit, gat carnal quiet, and forgat all their purpoſes and promiſes; and now they can ſit under the moſt awakening Ordinances, and be nothing affected with them; or at moſt they are but faint and languiſhing motions that are on them: and this ſaith to them, their time is paſt. To ſuch let me ſay, it is a righteous thing for the Spirit to withdraw his ſtilvings, when ſuch affronts are offered him, and your danger is hereby encreaſed: but if he now … this home upon you with deepeſt reſentments, it ſaith that he is come again to try what you will do, and if you take the hint, and rightly improve it, there is a good hope ſet before you.

6. The near approaching of their diſſolution. They are ſpent all their time in ſinful neglects of God, and are grown old in ſin; their ſun is ſetting and they ready to drop into the grave, all their ſtrength hath been devoted to ſin and Satan; and will God, accept of the dregs of their time, …hen they are ſit for no Service? Truly, it would … a righteous thing for God to reject ſuch as …he ſo late, and have withſtood his invitations long: and there are but few of theſe that p. 340truly return to him. Yet if God pleaſeth to awaken ſuch to look about them, he can magnifie his mercy upon them. To ſee an old Sinner going to Eternity without any thoughtfulneſs, is a tremendous ſight, but to hear ſuch an one crying out of his miſerable loſs of time, and the wretched courſe he hath led, falling down before God, and giving him glory, is an encouragement: for if God give repentance, he will give remiſſion; and there are ſome who are born out of time, to be the monuments of the admirable patience and grace of God. Fly then to Chriſt, and believe that he is able to do this for you. In one word, let none deſpair, who are under awakenings, but hearken to Gods counſel, and ſeek mercy of him, and you ſhall find him merciful and gracious.

USE II. We here ſee a reaſon why it is more hard for ſome to find God, than for others. God doth not ſo readily reveal himſelf to ſome that ſeek him, as he doth to others. Some receive an anſwer as ſoon as they call, others bemoan themſelves that they have ſought him and cannot find him; they have been ſighing and groaning a…ter him, but there is no voice or anſwer: and though his Soveraignty is in this to be adored yet there may often be a reaſon given for i… from the thing under conſideration;

Obſerve then,

1. There are ſome who have put off their he… ſeaſon of finding him. He hath often come t… them in his Word by his Spirit, and preſented p. 341them with alluring invitations to come to, and accept of him; and poſſibly ſometimes they have b…en almost perſwaded: but their vain minds have recoiled, and inſtead of opening to him, have ſhut the door faſter againſt him, whiles they have entertained other lovers: He came to them in their Childhood, but they delayed him, and put him off till afterwards; he repeated his calls in their youth, but they were wedded to their follies, and obſtinately refuſed him: He came again to them in their riper years, but they had their worldly buſineſs to attend, and craved his excuſe; but after all they begin to bethink themſelves of their former wickedneſs, and reſolve now to ſeek after him, which is wrought in them by a more effectual and irreſiſtible touch of his Spirit on their hearts.

2. It is a wonder of his mercy that ſuch as theſe ſhould find him at all It is rich Grace that he ſhould once offer himſelf, and accept of thoſe that embrace that firſt offer; this is a favour which none of the Fallen Angels ſhare in. But that after ſuch Grace hath been ſo often ſlighted, he ſhould bow ſuch an heart to ſeek him; and after never ſo long a tarriance, at laſt lift up the light of this countenance, and ſignalize his love to him, and receive him into his arms, is matter of admiration, that the Great God ſhould deal ſo by a vile man, is an aſtoniſhing thing: Paul thought it ſo, 1 Tim. 1. 16.

3. It is fit that God ſhould make them ſmart for their folly. Though his Grace be free, it is not p. 342fi… that it ſhould be contemptible: it is ſuitable that Sinners ſhould know that he reſents their unworthy carriage, and that they have a deep ſenſe of the contempt they have caſt upon him, and his Salvation. God will have his people find the bitterneſs of their rebellion, Jer. 2. 19. And hence as they have made him to wait long on them; ſo that they wait ſome ſeaſon upon him for his evidencing of his love to them.

4. They have been greatly hardned by theſe carri… ges. Every reſiſtance made to the Spirit of God hardens men more: there is a contracted hardneſs which corroborates that which is natural. Hence they need more terrifying, breaking and humbling diſpenſations, to bring them down to the foot of God, and make them apprehenſive of their evil ways, and doings; if the Prophet betr… an old barlot, he will make her tarry for him … days, Hoſ. 3. 3. Let not ſuch then murmur at Gods ſo dealing with them, but remember their … riage to him, and juſtify him in this, and ſay, w… deſerve not only this delay, but utter rejection… nor yet be diſcouraged, but acknowledge Gods wiſdom in it, and wait with humble ſubmiſſion hoping in his Grace, and reſolving, if ever he come it will be admirable favour.

USE III. For awakening to all to improve t… ſeaſon of Grace. Are there ſuch ſpecial ſeaſons … Grace? Let the conſideration thereof call eve… one to make the uſe of them, and uſe utmoſt d… ligence, not to ſlip ſuch an opportunity: and p. 343we have heretofore been negligent, let us be more careful of that which is in our hands, acknowledging Gods wondrous benignity in renewing them to us after ſo many provocations given him to depart: And let me apply this in the former reſpects mentioned in the explication.

1. Let it call them that are young now to ſeek God. Oh that Children would be perſwaded to Remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth. You think there is no ſuch haſt, it looks like a work too rigid and ſevere for you to mind, you are loth to forgo your vain company, and mad mirth; but do not raſhly reject the motion that i… now made to you. What a comfortable thing would it be to ſee young ſolks in good earneſt …ting themſelves to ſeek and to ſerve God? What …oken would it be that God hath mercy in re…ve for a ſinful Land? Children, you are our …, and you are our fear: how chearfully ſhould we leave the world; could we but ſee you in …ood earneſt enquiring after the Lord, and devoting your ſelves to him? How would it remove thoſe ſad reflections that are ſometimes ready to …ink us? How glad ſhould we be to ſee good …opes, that when we are gone, you will ſtand up for Chriſt and his ways; and that we ſhall …eet you in the Great Day at his Right hand? …et me addreſs you in his words, 1 Chron. 28. 9. My Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and ſerve him with a perfect heart, and willing mind; if thou ſeek him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forſake him, be will caſt thee off for ever: To move you, Conſider,

p. 3441. You owe your Childhood and Youth to God. He deſerves of you that you ſeek him now. Sin and Satan can lay no juſt claim to this age of yours, but God can and doth: He requires your youth to be devoted to him: the God that made you challengeth it, and can you deny him? Shall the Devil and your luſts have your prime and ſtrength, and only the decays of your lives left for God to be put off withal? He hath laid you under innumerable obligations to conſecrate your young time to him; He kept you in your Mothers belly, and made the knees to prevent you: He hath preſerved your lives, and provided for you ever ſince. And may not heaven be aſtoniſhed to hear him complain, I have nouriſhed and brought up Children, and they have rebelled againſt me, Iſa. 1. 2, 3. He hath ordered you to be born where his Goſpel is diſpenſed, in which he pleads with you to take him to be your God now and will you deny him? Yea, your Baptiſm declares you to be devoted to him; it ſaith that you were dedlcated to him from your Infancy; and every day wherein you neglect to inquire after him; you do violence to that Covenant, whereof this is a Seal

2. This is your proper ſeaſon to ſeek to God in; and whether you ſhall ever have another you know not. Yo… have all advantages now, but how long you ſhal… have them, God only can tell. You are now alive, but you know not how ſoon you ſhall go to the Grave. Do you not ſee that young ones dy a… well as the old? Go to the Sepulchers, meaſure th… monuments, ask who lies here, and you ſhall fin… p. 345multitude who lived not to ſo many years as you …ave: and now reflect and ask, Have I found God? … my peace made? If I ſhould now dy, have I made ſure … a Jeſus to receive my Soul? Now Gods word is …reached to you, now Godly Parents and Friends …all upon and counſel you: God knows how long …t will be ſo. You are not now encumbred with …he troubleſome cares of this world: you are now …n your ſtrength, and do not know what the Evil days mean, of which you muſt ſay, you have no plea…ure in them. Oh! that you knew your time, if you let it ſlip, you will not find it again.

3. You are born strangers to God, and if you ſo dy, … are undone for ever. You derive from the curſed …tock of fallen Adam, of whom it is ſaid, 1 Cor. 15. 22. …n Adam all dy; you are Children of wrath by nature, Eph. 2. 3. The Guilt of the great Tranſgreſſion lyeth on you, for which you are condemned to ever…aſting deſtruction. You are enemies, you are afar off from God, and if you do not get out of this condi…ion, and get into Chriſt before you are taken away, God will deſtroy you for ever, Pſal. 73 27. You muſt be New born, if ever you inherit the Kingdom, Joh. 3. 3. Your Covenant intereſt, your Baptiſm, …our Parents piety, all your Goſpel priviledges will …lot ſave you; it will not avail that God is your fa…hers God, if he be not your God too.

4. Think how welcome Chriſt will make you, if now …ou ſeek to him in good earneſt. As his Spirit is griev…ed every time you deny him, ſo he will be exceed…ngly pleaſed if you now open to him. He is de…ighted to ſee young ones ſet themſelves to read his p. 346Word, to wait upon his Ordinances, to pray to him, and obey their Parents in the Lord. He hath ſaid, Prov. 8. 17. They that ſeek me early ſhall find me. Nay, in all likelihood, he will uſe you in ſome eminent Service for him, and put ſome ſpecial honour upon you here; or at leaſt, will make you ſoon ripe and fit for glory: and probably you ſhall have the moſt joyful communion with him in this world.

5. You will thus prevent abundance of Repentance and Sorrow. If now, without delay, you will forſake all vain things for Chriſt, and ſeek him with your whole heart, you ſhall never repent of it, but rejoyce in it. You never heard of a ſincere convert that complained of making too much haſt, … was ſorry that he took not a little more liberty in his ſinful ways: but on the contrary, if ever … be truly converted, who hath loſt his youth in p… ſuit of ſin, he will bitterly bewail his former times, together with celebrating the Grace which appeared in bringing him home to God at laſt. How doth he cry our, how much time have I loſt? what opportunities have I ſlipt? how miſerably have I conſumed my days? Beſides, there is abundance that old Sinners lay in for repentance; which will make the pangs of the New birth very terrible which by this may be prevented. Can you thin… to go on in ſin, and not ſmart for it? and truly there is enough already to make the New birth ſharp and ſevere; be wiſe then, and add not to … by delays.

6. If you will not be perſwaded to ſeek God now, … p. 347may be you ſhall never find him. When God begins early, he often leaves off early, if reſiſted. How many that bad fair in youth, have out grown all, & fallen into debauoheries & vileſt abominations, & been left to dy in their impenitency? they would have their own courſes in deſpite of calls and counſels, and God hath cut them off in their ſins, and let them for examples: and it is a righteous thing for him ſo to do. See how God complains of ſuch, Jer. 2. 30. 5. 7. Ezek. 20. 21. And how fearfully he threatens them, Jer. 6. 11. 9 21. 11. 22. 18. 21. And God hath been calling a loud to young men in his providence, by many Judgments, in which the flower of our youth have been immaturely taken away; and what doth it ſpeak to their ſurvivours, but that they take heed of putting off Repentance, & provoking a jealous God againſt them. And if … will not take warning by others, how ſeen may you be made amazing warnings to others? Accept then of the Exhortation, and reject all the ſollicitations of your curſed companions, and make haſt to ſeek God. Let me addreſs you in the words of the wiſe man, Prov. 23. 15. My ſon, if thine heart … wiſe, my heart ſhall rejoyce, even mine. But if you reject this counſel, let me leave that memento with you, Eccl. 11. 9. Rejoyce O young man in thy youth, &c. but know thou that for all theſe things God will … thee into judgment.

2. Let us all take hold of the opportunity wherein the Goſpel is freely diſpenſed to us. I believe, the Goſpel truths have been as fully and ſoundly Preached in this land, as in any part of the Chriſtian world; p. 348and that God hath thruſt forth ſuch Laboure… into his Harveſt, as have made it their buſineſs to feed his people with knowledge and underſtanding; and though he hath by manifold Judgments been pleading his Con…roverſy with us; yet he ha… not brought a famine of hearing his Word, but … eyes ſee our Teachers: and by this he teſtifyeth that although he is angry, he yet waits to be gracious and it is ſtill a finding time. Let us then ſo improve it; Conſider therefore,

1. How great a price there is in our hands, … ſhall we not improve it? We ſhall ſhew our ſe… notorious fools if we do not, Prov. 17. 16. Here by we have all directions, encouragements, quicknings to this duty; by theſe God is calling and inviting us to ſeek after him, ſhewing us the w… in which we may find him, which the beſt improvement of the light of nature would not have diſcovered. Herein he lets us know that he … not departed from us; thus heavens market … kept open, and everlaſting mercies are waiting … on us. Why then do we ſit ſtill, and not regard them? Can we promiſe our ſelves ever to have … fairer ſeaſon? This is certainly a day of grace why then ſhould we ſit idle all the day, and … nothing.

2. How fearful a thing would it be, if it ſhould … otherwiſe with us? God can eaſily order it to … ▪ The Goſpel means and Miniſters are his gift he can put out the Lights in the Candleſticks when he will: and nothing will more readily provoke him to it, than not to walk in the light while w… p. 349enjoy it; he can take away the Shepherds, and ſuffer grievous Wolves to come in their ſtead, who …hall devour the Flock. How many places are …here in the world, where the Truth once flouriſhed gloriouſly, are now turned aſide to lies? and though they bear the name of Chriſtians, yet are ſed with husks inſtead of bread; where ignorance, error, formality, neglect of feeding the Flock, and woful debaucheries prevail; and the … lead the blind; this is a fore calamity; and …ould it be our lot, it would make an amazing change among us; and what would you give then for ſuch an opportunity as you now deſpiſe?

3. What grounds there are to fear leſt corruption in Doctrine and Manners ſhould come upon us a a flood. … avert the Omen: but methinks there are ſad ſymptoms of it. They are the laſt and perillous times, in which we are told that ſuch things ſhall …, 1 Tim. 3. begin. The woful ignorance of fundamental Truths that many labour of, and the …oo general neglect of inſtructing Children in Goſpel principles; the giddy ſpirit that many are infected withal, that love to run after novelties; that awful contempt of the Goſpel Miniſtry, attended with the little regard in many, whether they enjoy it or no, looking upon it as a burden; the little apparent ſucceſs of the Goſpel, and how fearful a threatning is out againſt ſuch? 2 Theſ. 2. 9, 10. Add to this the unſucceſsfulneſs of Gods other Judgments, which hath a moral tendency hereto; for if God ſtrives in Judgment, and men will not be perſwaded, he is wont to p. 350give them up, Hoſ. 4. 17. All theſe things ſpeak ſadly to conſiderate Souls.

4. What if God ſhould take the Goſpel away from you? This alſo is a Judgment threatned, Mat. 21. 43. Rev. 2. 5. And God is wont to execute it, when other means fail, and an Apoſtatizing people will not be reclaimed. How many famo… Churches have there been in the world, which are utterly ruined, and ly in rubbiſh, or ſwallowed up in Paganiſm or Mahome…aniſm? Nor are we m… ſecure! How doleful a thing would it be, to … the whole face of a Church altered, all the me… of grace loſt and gone, God forſaking his houſe, and removing from us? if ever it come to this, it will be becauſe we did not know the things of … peace in the day of them. Let the very thoughts of ſuch a thing put us upon improving the pre… precious ſeaſon.

3. Doth the Spirit ſtrive with any of you? Take heed that you do not reſiſt him; are there any inward ſtrivings of Conviction; ſhakings of contrition, ſharp prickings of compunction, ſec… perſwaſions to hearken to the concerns of your Souls? Doth the Word take how of you, awaken Conſcience, and put you upon ſerious thinking? Theſe are inward addreſſes of the Spirit, and ſay he is near, be ſure to ta…e the opportunity; put him not off; To quicken you, Conſider,

1. If he ſhould ceaſe thus to ſtrive, the means would do you no good. He hath choſen the means to come in, and apply his grace to our Souls, and we are diligently to attend on them for this end: p. 351and the neglect of ſo doing is an affront put upon the Spirit. However, all the ſaving efficacy of it …pends on his influencing them: if he apply them with power, we are ſavingly benefited by them, if he withold that from them, there will he no ſuch bleſſed effect flow from them; it is not Pauls Planting, &c. God often affords as emi…ent means to a declining people, as to thoſe that flouriſh in a profeſſion: but they have not the …e effect, becauſe he comes not in them with … if then you ſend him away, you hinder your own profiting. What a ſad remark was that of Moſes? Deut. 29. 2, 3, 4.

2. Nay, on his witholding, the means have a con…y operation. Inſtead of ſoftning, they will harden; inſtead of drawing you nearer to God, they will put you at a farther diſtance from him. There are two contrary effects of the means on men, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. And where the one is not, the other is. God by the ſame means ripens …e for ruine, by which he fits others for glory. Not that it is the natural tendency of the Goſpel, but the Judicial Diſpenſation of God towards men who deſpiſe his Spirit, ſtriving in it, who for this …ves them to their hearts luſts, to their hardning in …, and encouraging themſelves in their wicked courſes, and by preſumpion to put from them the fear of God, and the aw of his Judgments, and ſo to heap up wrath againſt themſelves; and in ſuch a … ſoil, to ripen the faſter for deſtruction.

3. If we reſist him, it will be the way to have him …e gone. The Spirit of Chriſt is a tender Spirit: p. 352Gods own Children in whom he dwells, if they take not heed, may grieve him; and if they do, he can and will withdraw from them to their great ſorrow; the Spouſe found it to her coſt, Cant. 5. We are therefore warned to take heed of grieving him, Eph. 4. 30. And there is a ſinful diſpoſition in unconverted ſinners to reſiſt him, Acts 7. 51. And this is done when we regard not his application of himſelf to us, when we turn away his awakenings, and refuſe to ſubmit to them, and chuſe to hearken to the ſollicitations of our vain minds, and ſuggeſtions of Satan.

4. Nay, do not his ſtrivings begin to be more l… guid? Do you not begin to grow Sermon proof, warning proof, and threatning proof? Time was when the word affected you, you trembled at the awful truths of it, you were afraid of Gods, Judgments, and could not ſoon get off the impreſſion of an awakning Sermon: but now you find very faint and eaſy motions on your Spirits; though not altogether ſtupid & ſenſeleſs. Be afraid; the happy …aſon begins to decline, and if you trifle a little longer, it may be gone.

5. If he hath ſometimes ceaſed, and now comes again take heed to your ſelves. You had reſiſted him, ti… you were grown remorceleſs, but he hath ſent hi… Spirit again, and put you into fear about your everlaſting ſtate; tremble to think of the iſſue of this you have a new price in your hands, uſe it right, and all ſhall be well: but if you treat him as you di… formerly, it may be one of the laſt offers that h… will make to you; if you quench him now, it i… p. 353likely that he will come no more, ſee, Gen. 6 2. Pſal. 81. 11, 12. Dread then the terrible Oath, Pſal. 95. 10, 11. Though God proceeds ſlowly to this, yet he may be provoked to come to it at laſt, Ezek 24. 13. And what a fearful condition will that be? God is not a man that he ſhould ly. If Chriſt ſay, never more let fruit be found in this Fig tree, it withers up preſently. No rains or dews of Ordinances will ever fetch you to life, but dry you up, and fit you for everlaſting burnings. Oh then improve this finding time with fear and trembling.

4. Let the Judgments of God that are upon us, rouſe you to ſeek him. God afflicts us, it may be to prevent his deſtroying of us: and he is certainly near his people, as long as he is uſing his rod upon them; there is a gracious deſign in ſome fore afflictions, Iſa. 27. 9. By this ſhall the Iniquity of Jacob be purged, &c. And he would have his people prepare to meet him, Amos 4. 12. And to move you, Conſider,

1. What danger you are now in, who are ſtrangers to God. True, a Chriſtleſs condition is a milerable condition at all times, the man that is in it is never ſafe, having God for his enemy; but when God brings his waſting Judgments on a Land, to plead the quarrel of his neglected Covenant, there is reaſon for all to be afraid; Gods own Children will feel the ſmart of the rod; David ſaith, Pſal. 119. 120. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments; but yet they that fear God have ſomething to ſupport them; God is their Father; and though he chaſtize, he will p. 354not caſt them off. But as for them that are ſtrangers to God at ſuch a time, what can they expect, when they ſee the arrows of his anger flying about, but to be ſlain by them? You may tremblingly look every moment, not only to be cut off from the earth, but ſent down to the place of endleſs miſeries: as you have no ſecurity for this life, ſo no ground to expect a well being in another.

2. You are more peculiarly concerned in theſe Judgments. If a reaſon be asked, why God brings his Judgments on a profeſſing people, the anſwer is ready, becauſe they neglected to improve the means of grace aright: it is becauſe they who have the title of Children, do not anſwer their title; Deut. 32. 19. And though every one ought at ſuch a time to ſay, What have I done? yet ſuch as you have ſpecial reaſon to confeſs, theſe Judgments come for our ſakes: and ſhould not this put you an enquiring how to obtain peace, and the turning away of Gods fierce anger? nor is there any other hope for this, but in your ſerious ſeeking of him.

3. You may expect that if you will not hearken to the Word and Rod, God will have a Sword to cut you off God is in earneſt when he takes this courſe, and he will be glorified by it in the iſſue; it is his mercy, that when angry, he maketh oventures of peace, and happy they that comply with him: but if Sinners are ſo fooliſh and obſtinate, as not to give him glory at ſuch a time he will ſtrain for it, and certainly recover it p. 355if you will not be reformed by the Rod, he hath a Sword to cut you off, and what elſe ſhould he do with ſuch? Hence that warning, Jer. 4. 4. And that threatning, Iſa. 27. 11.

4. Gods Judgments, added to his warnings, are wont to be his laſt eſſayes with men to reclaim them. Hence, when theſe have been tried, and repeated, and due patience uſed, and no good comes of them; God, ſpeaking after the manner of men, now ſeems to be at a loſs, Hoſ. 6. 4. What ſhall I do unto thee, &c. Iſa. 1. 5. Why ſhould ye be ſmitten any more, &c. Hence he either cutteth ſuch off in his anger, or elſe abandoneth them to their own …arts lusts, till they are ripe for the more aſtoniſhing ruine. True, there is a prerogative mercy that God reſerves, when all means fail, to ſhew his Soveraign Grace, Iſa. 57. 17, 18. But let not bold Sinners preſume on this, leſt they rue it, But if any are awakened by theſe Judgments; and tremble at the fearful prognoſticks of them; let it be an argument of encouragement to them; there is hope in Iſrael, and this is a good Omen that God will yet return and have mercy on them, and that they ſhall both ſeek and find him,

USE IV. This truth affords a loud cry to old Sinners to make haſte. Such as have hitherto lived under Goſpel means, ſtrangers to God, at a diſtance from him; have had many invitations and withſtood them. God came in their youth, and beſpake them, but they regarded him not, and ſince he hath addreſſed them many a time, p. 356but nothing hath moved them: as they grew, in years, they grew more vile; yoked themſelves with vain companions, neglected reading the Word and praying to God, addicted themſelves to drinking and gaming, and other lewd courſes: they have been often told of it, have ſeen their aſſociates hurried out of the world by their intemperance, and God hath viſited them alſo with afflictions, but they ſtill go on: and now the bloſſoms of the grave are on their heads? Let me beſeech ſuch to beware that they deſpiſe not this advice. To quicken you, Conſider,

1. You have had a long day of Grace, and muſt anſwer for it all. Though you have forgotten, God hath not: Your ſins are written with a pen of iron, & the point of a diamond. All the endeavours that have been uſed with you are upon record; God hath them in his book, & there is a day of reckoning when he will ſet them in order before you: and how terrible muſt it be? when you ſhall be called to a very uncomfortable repetition, and told of every Sabbath you prof…ned, every Sermon you regarded not, every check of conſcience you ſtifled, every mock you made at the ſolemn warnings given. you, every neglected purpoſe, forgotten or violated promiſe; every vain meeting with your accomplices in ſin, every curſed drinking bout you had where you ſcoffed at Godlineſs, and hardened one another in ſin: the time when, the place where, and every other circumſtance: your memories refreſhed, and conſcience made to do its office. Would you prevent this fearful reckoning? Now ſeek God.

p. 3572. Your ſeaſon is certainly almoſt over. It may be ſo with the youngeſt Sinner, but it is undoubtedly ſo with you. Young ones may feed themſelves up with fond hopes by reaſon of youth, health and vigour; but you have every thing putting you in mind, that the Graves are ready for you, where there will be no working. Not only is your beſt ſeaſon gone, but your whole ſeaſon is on the turning point: you are juſt leaping into eternity; you are ready to ſhake hands with time, and to have done with it for ever.

3. You are not yet out of hope. You have yet one offer of a treaty left you, before you go to the Dead: and though you have grievouſly provoked God to forſake you, he is yet gracious and merciful. Chriſt's Blood hath vertue enough in it to expiate the guilt of all your ſins; his ſpirit wants not for power to break your hard hearts, and give you repentance: and after ſo many thouſand denials, he again accoſts you; and know it, that if after this call you periſh, it will be a witneſs againſt you, and aggravate your Guilt in the Great Day.

4. You have a great work to do, and but little time to do it in. If ever you hope to find God propitious, you muſt break off your ſins by Repentance, forſake your evil ways, relinquiſh your curſed companions; turn to God, believe in Jeſus Chriſt, mortify your luſts, and endeavour the perfecting of holineſs. You muſt give glory to God, before your feet ſtumble on the dark mountains; and how ſhort a time have you for this? yet deſpair not: it may be done by Gods p. 358h…lp, only it concerns you to make haſt: for;

5. A little more delay will be your utter undoing. It is not for you to ſay, go away and come to morrow: a few moments more, and your caſe will be determined unrepealably. You will never have an offer of Grace more, when gone to the Grave, and you are upon the brink of it: the treaty will be over, the day of Grace finiſhed, God forever departed, your Souls laid up in the Priſon from whence there is no delivery: and then you will mourn bitterly, and ſay, Oh! that I had hearkned to Counſel, and received Inſtruction! Come then juſt now; forſake your lies, and betake your ſelves to him this moment: if ſo, all ſhall be well; if you will not, God knows whether ever you ſhall have ſuch another invitation made to you, before you drop into everlaſting burnings.

Prop. 2. I ſhould now have proceeded to the Second Propoſition in the Doctrine, viz

That if we would ſpeed in our Prayers to God for forgiveneſs, we muſt take this time to ſeek it in. But this hath ſuperſeded in the Diſcourſe on the former. That we all ſtand in need of dayly forgiveneſs, hath been before evidenced; and that if we hope to obtain it, we muſt ſeek it of God in the way of Prayer. It is not then a matter of indifferency when we ſo addreſs. him; but we muſt take the finding time to do it in. There are three Concluſions which reſult from the premiſes, which give us the confirmation of this Propoſition, viz.

1. That it is vain for any to pray for forgiveneſs p. 359after this life; who did not ſeek and obtain it in this life. If this be the only finding time, needs muſt it be ſo: it is now that God and we are in the way, which our Saviour aſſures us is the proper time for us to agree with him in, Luk. 12. 58, 59. We are given to underſtand that there will be ſome who will at laſt be importunate for admittance & acceptance, but all in vain, Luk. 13. 25, 26, 27. Chriſt, who is now ready to hear prayers, will then have no ear to …end to them, nor be any whit moved by loud entreaties.

2. That Sinners may, in this life, put God off ſo long, till he reſolves to have nothing more to do with them in way of ſpecial favour. It is a truth, that at what time a ſinner truly turns, God will ſhew him mercy; but yet men may ſin themſelves into deſertion and dereliction, ſo that God will not give them repentance, and if ſo, he will not afford them forgiveneſs; for they are inſeparable, Acts 531. And yet there may be ſuch horrours and remorces, as will make them to cry fearfully for pardon; but they ſhall not be heard; hence ſuch warning, Prov. 1. 28. And that reaſon, Verſ. 24.

3. That Gods own Children may, by miſſing the opportunity, pray a long time before God will let them know that he hears them. God makes them tarry long before he pours the balm of comfort into their Souls. Hence their complaints, that they are not heard though they cry, that they ſeek, and cannot find him; and their Sins mean while oppreſs, and almoſt ſink them; ſee, Pſal. 31. 9, 10. 38 begin. If when a Child of God hath been trepan'd into p. 360any ſin, he preſently reſents it with Godly ſorrow, and maketh haſt to the throne of Grace, humbling himſelf, and imploring forgiveneſs; how readily will he be accepted? whereas, how often are we remorceleſs, ſtupid, ſeek to cover our ſins, and keep ſilence; and ſo ſuffer our wounds to feſter, and grow corrupt? Now we begin to deſpond, and are afraid to come to God and ſo ſtill hide: this provoketh him, and he will make us to know our folly, and accordingly to wait a great while before he will give us an anſwer of peace.

USE. Let then the conſideration of this be for our admonition. Let us be rouſed hereby to take heed to our ſelves, how we dally in this affair. Let us not only ſeek God, but ſeek him early; that is the way to find him quickly. Let Sinners do it, and let ſinning Saints do it. And for our quickning, let us call to remembrance, and be affected with all the conſiderations urged under the former Concluſion: It is the way to prevent, not only the hazard of never being forgiven, but the danger of being left under long darkneſs and diſtreſs, roaring out of our wounds, and finding no eaſe.

But I paſs to the next thing.

2. We have the priviledge of all ſuch as pray for forgiveneſs in a finding time: Surely in the floods of great waters they ſhall not come nigh unto him.

Here obſerve,

1. The aſſeveration introductory, Surely: the Hebrew word is a diminutive, and ſignifies, at leaſt; q. d. whatſoever he wants, he ſhall have this privi…edge: p. 361intimating that there are great benefits belonging to ſuch an one.

2. The time when they ſhall enjoy this benefit, in the Floods of great waters. The word Blood, ſignifies a Torrent, or that which breaks in impetuo…ſly, bearing all before it: and the word great ſignifies, both great and many. Waters in Scripture language are uſed to ſignifie ſore afflictions, Pſal. 69. 1, 2. Ezek. 26. 19. Pſal. 124. 4. David here points us to a time of ſore diſtreſs, whether by outward …alamities, or inward temptations: and ſuppoſeth ſuch a time may fall out.

3. The priviledge it ſelf, they ſhall not come nigh …im, the word ſignifieth,

1. To approach.

2. To touch.

3. To ſmite.

4. To hurt. In ſumme it intends that they ſhall have no real harm by any of them. Hence,