Jacobs Seed, Title page – Approbation
JACOBS SEED: Or The Generation of Seekers. And DAVIDS DELIGHT: Or The excellent on earth.
By The late reverend preacher of the Goſpel JEREMIAH BURROUGH.
Pſal. 27.8. When thou ſaidſt, Seek ye my face: my heart ſaid unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I ſeek.
Prov. 12.26. The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour.
Printed by Roger Daniel Printer to the Univerſitie of Cambridge. 1643.
To the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
THou art preſented here with a ſmall Treatiſe of this reverend authour, deceaſed; who by his worthy works (as Abel by his faith) being dead yet ſpeaketh, Heb. 11.4. The work is but of ſmall bulk, yet hath many excellent truths contained in it, concerning two of as neceſſary duties as fall within the compaſſe of a Chriſtians courſe. The ſeeking of Gods face, a thing ſo needfull in theſe troubleſome dayes, and yet ſo generally neglected. As alſo concerning the excellency in, and the high eſteem that true ſaints have of their fellow-ſaints, which is ſo rare to find in theſe disjoynted and divided times. The work had come abroad ere this, had not the private ends of ſome been an obſtacle in the way. I am confident that of all the works of this worthy authour that have been publiſhed ſince his death, there is none can ſo juſtly challenge him for the father as this, both for matter, and form, as any one that uſed to heare him may perceive. The former part of this work was delivered by him in two ſeverall Sermons (though now thought convenient to be joyned as one) The former before the Right Honourable the Earl of Warwick, in his own houſe. The latter at Cree-church in London, upon Novemb. 5. the annuall commemoration of our deliverance from the Gunpowder-plot, it happening alſo to be a day of publick humiliation. The laſt was preached in another church in London. Accept the work then with the ſame candour as it is intended there, and that thou mayeſt be furthered in holy walking by it is the deſire of
Thy Chriſtian friend.
¶ The contents of the enſuing Treatiſe.
The firſt part on ISAIAH 65.19.
THe ſcope of the words page 1
Why the people of God are called the ſeed of Jacob page 2
The words opened page 5
Doctrine. When God requires a people to ſeek him, he will make it good to them, that it ſhall not be in vain page 7
I. Evidences that it is not in vain to ſeek God.
1. The great things recorded of prayer page 10
2. What the Saints have gotten by prayer page 11
3. No faithfull ſeeker of God will leave off ibid.
4. Wicked men ſeek him not in vain page 12
5. Godly men have given up themſelves to it page 14
6. Godly men prize the prayers of others page 15
7. God is found of them that ſought him not ibid.
8. God forbids prayer when he will ſhew no mercy page 16
9. Elſe a praying heart were not alwayes a mercy ibid.
II What great things prayer doth.
1. It is the right exerciſe of our faculties and graces page 17
2. It is the performance of our duty is creatures page 17
3. It is a tendring of homage and worſhip to God page 18
4. It ſhews we are on Gods ſide ibid.
5. God accepts every faithfull prayer ibid.
6. God grants every faithfull petition page 21
III. Wherein the efficacy of prayer lieth.
1. God takes pleaſure in doing good page 25
2. God hath made a covenant with his page 26
3. Prayer is Gods own work page 32
4. Right prayer ſeeks God for God page 33
5. It is part of Chriſts purchaſe page 34
6. Chriſt tenders them up to his Father page 35
7. God is a God hearing prayer page 36
8. It is a pouring out the ſpirit to God ibid.
9. The ſeed of Jacob are dear to God page 37
10. It is for Gods honour to heare his people page 38
IV. Objections againſt prayer anſwered.
Object. 1. We have prayed, and find not the iſſue page 39
Anſw. 1. Remember the times of old ibid.
2. God makes good his promiſe on believing page 43
3. God is great, and we muſt wait page 44
4. We muſt ſeek God in prayer page 46
5. God anſwereth not vain prayers page 47
What makes prayers vain page 50
Object. 2. It is in vain to pray page 54
Anſ. God heareth the ſeed of Jacob ibid.
1. Jacob was mighty in prayer page 56
2. He feared God ibid.
3. His heart was looſe from the creature page 57
4. He was of a tender ſpirit page 58
5. He repaired to the covenant in his ſtreights page 59
6. He was of an humble ſpirit page 60
7. He looked to his former condition ibid.
8. He was content with God alone page 61
9. Jacobs poſterity were all of the Church page 63
10. Thoſe of Jacobs ſeed have his inheritance page 68
11. Thoſe of Jacobs ſeed are faithfull in their place page 70
12. They are taught of God page 71
13. They are carefull of their families ibid.
14. They are carefull of the Churches good when they be gone page 72
Object. 3. I am a poore wretched creature page 73
Anſ. God hears the prayer of the deſtitute ibid.
Object. 4. The things we need are great page 74
Anſ. Not to great for God to give ibid.
Object. 5. But I pray in the time of affliction page 75
Anſ. Yet God will heare prayer ibid.
Object. 6. But my afflictions are for ſinne page 76
Anſ. Yet God will heare prayer ibid.
Object. 7. But God hath determined what he will do page 77
Anſ. Yet God muſt be ſought by prayer ibid.
It is not in vain to pray;
1. Becauſe we have had many mercies already page 79
2. God denyes in granting, & grants in denying page 80
3. God delights in a praying as a prayſing voice page 81
4. God ſtayes to bring a great deal together page 82
5. Our veſſels are not ſometimes capable page 83
Application. 1. There are great things that God will do for the Church in theſe latter dayes page 84
2. The honour of thoſe that are the ſeed of Jacob ib.
3. It is a great priviledge to have a praying friend page 86
4. To ſet the crown on prayers head in the mercies we have from God page 88
5. Reproof to thoſe that begin to ſeek God, and continue not page 92
What God hath done of late, and the uſe of it page 93
1. To be humbled page 95
1. For our unbelief ibid.
2. For our murmuring ibid.
3. For being diſcouraged in Gods wayes page 96
2. To love prayer page 97
3. To be reſolute in Gods cauſe page 99
4. To give God reall praiſe page 100
5. Not to let God call on us in vain. page 102
The ſecond part on PSAL. 16.3.
The ſcope and dependance of the words page 105
Doctrine 1. The ſaints of God are the excellent in earth page 108
The doctrine opened page 109
They are excellent,
1. Becauſe they have holineſſe, the image of God page 111
Grace expreſſed in Scripture by foure things.
The image of God page 114
The life of God page 114
The glory of God page 114
The divine nature page 114
2. In regard of ſeparating them for God page 118
3. In regard of their near relation to God page 121
4. In regard of their great priviledges page 122
5. In regard of the actions that come from them page 126
6. In regard of their uſefulneſſe in the world page 129
Uſe. 1. To ſhew the vaſt difference between the godly and the wicked page 131
There will be a time when God will appear for his ſaints page 132
Doctrine 2. A gracious heart takes great delight in the ſaints on earth. page 142
1. Joyntly page 143
Becauſe their communion is moſt comfortable page 144
1. In regard of the beauty of grace ibid.
2. In regard of the fragrancy of grace page 145
3. In regard of their nearneſſe one to another page 146
2. When the ſaints are joyntly together God hath the ſolemneſt worſhip page 149
3. God delights in the ſaints joyntly page 152
God preſent with his people
1. Becauſe he makes himſelf known to them page 158
2. He communicates himſelf among them ibid.
1. He communicates more choice mercies to them page 159.
2. He communicates his mercies more fully page 160
3. More powerfully page 161
4. More univerſally ibid.
4. There is cauſe to delight in them joyntly in regard of their priviledges page 162
5. They are thoſe we ſhall live with for ever page 165
Uſe. To have a high eſteem of the ſaints page 164
What delight there will be in the ſaints in heaven page 173
FINIS.
Febr. 27. 1646.
I have peruſed theſe excellent Sermons on Iſa. 45.19. and Pſal. 16.3. and judging them to be very pious and profitable, I approve them well worthy to be printed and publiſhed.
John Downame.