of our Lord and Saviour his Counsel Command and Proclamation but let it rather be a principal motive to us to make the Exhortation the more effectual since it is the Counsel of Christ the Wonderful Counsellor who saith Counsel is mine let us with all readiness and thankfulness accept and embrace it as being worthy of all acceptation for it is the Counsel of the most worthy Person most Wise and able to give the best Counsel a Person on purpose sent from God the Father his only begotten Son the second Person in the glorious Trinity made Man and now God-Man for ever in one Person named Jesus Christ he it is that hath given this excellent Counsel to the World namely to seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which is not only his Counsel but Command for all Power is given unto him in Heaven and in Earth to Counsel and Command God the Father hath annointed him to be a Prophet a Priest and King so he was here on Earth and remains such in Heaven for ever A Prophet to give Counsel a King to Command that it be received and a Priest on our behalf to God the Father to make continual intercession for us that his Counsels and Commands may be effectual to us for our salvation and he is actually and effectually the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him in this Command that seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness A Command that can no wayes be thought grievous a gracious command indeed to seek a Kingdom not an Earthly but an Heavenly Kingdom the Kingdom of God Gods Kingdom a Kingdom all of Gâ—â—ce and Glory where he dwells in all his glory Whâ—t Prince that hâ—th many Kingdoms will Counsel and Command a Subject especially a Rebellious one to seek one of his Dominions but our gâ—â—cious Prince and Saviour doth Counsel and Command every one every where to seek the Kingdom of God by way of Proclamation Ho every one that haâ—h no Money come buy Grace and Glory without price Wherefore do you spend Money and Labour for that which satisfieth not Incline your ear and come unto me hear obey and your Soul shall live inviting all â—oâ—â—â—ly by Counsel Command and Poclamation but by Promise for their incouragement Ask and it shall be given you Seek and ye shall find Knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened The experience of all that are in a state of Grace on Earth and in a state of Glory in Heaven that have not lost their labor in seeking should be a powerful motive to every one that is to seek and is at a loss for Grace and Glory to seek that he also may find for he that seeketh findeth even Eternal Life in the Promise which God that cannot lie hath promised before the World began and will be righteous in performing to all them who by Faith lay hold thereof for all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God The General Assembly in Heaven will give in this testimony There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord hath spoken unto us all came to pass whoever turns Gods Promises into Prayer God will for certain turn his Promises into Performances unto them Oh do not lose Grace and Glory for want of asking seeking and knocking Is the Lord God a Sun and Shield Will the Lord give Grace and Glory Will he withhold no good thing from them that seek him â—â—th he â—aâ—â— A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you I will take away the Stony heart out of youâ— flesh and I will give you an heart of Flesh I will put 〈◊〉 spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Staâ—â— and ye shall keâ—p my Judgment and do them yet wi◠〈◊〉 be enquired of you to do all this for you Is this all 〈◊〉 requires to be enquired of Is seeking the way to â—â—â—ing seek the Lord while he may be found Call upoâ— him while he is near the Lord is nigh mâ—â— all them tâ—â—t call upon him to all that call upon him in truth tâ—â— hand of God is upon all them for good that â—â—ek him God never said and never will say to any of the house of Jacob Seek my Face Favour Kingdom and Righteousness in vain But then we must seek this Kingdom of God and his Righteousness right It is not every seeking that will serve turn nor every seeker that findeth true it is that every wicked Man may and must seek first Gods Kingdom and Righteousness It is a Wicked Principle in them who affirm That a Wicked Man may not Pray Because he cannot Pray he may I hope Pray That he may Pray May he not desire Grace I am sure the desire of Grace is Grace in every one common grace at least which is to be Excited Exerted and Improved for special Grace the blessing of God can turn common grace into special to him that hath and improves it it shall be given the right seeking is with the whole heart then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and Pray unto me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart God is for the whole heart My Son give me thine heart they only are blessed that seek him with the whole heart I entreated thy favour with my whole heart saith David The only way to get Mercy Grace and Glory from God is to entreat the Favour of God with the whole heart with the mind will and affections even all the powers of the Soul must be vigorously at work in this spiritual duty in seeking first the Kingdom of God The Members of the Body must be also Instruments herein the strength of the inward and outward Man is to be put forth our Natural strength our Spiritual strength all the power we have and can get from God We had need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to Pray That he would grant us according to the Riches of his Glory even his glorious Power to be strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inner-man since we wrestle not against flesh and blood only but against principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness in high places We have three potent enemies to out-wrestle the Flesh the World and the Devil all combined against us we have God to wrestle with by Prayer and all other holy means for the obtaining of Grace and Glory if we be not Conquerors through Christ strengthening us we lose not only the prize of an incorruptible Crown but by our unfaithfulness and cowardize bring upon our selves an infinite weight of Judgment It is he that
which passâ—th all understanding and as theâ—r Minds and Wills and Consciâ—ncâ—s so their Memories are sanctified they hide the Word of God in their hearts or memories a repository for this heavenly Manna to be laid up and kept in for then are we saved if we keep or hold fast in memory what is Preached unto u and we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we hear lest at any time we should let them slip out of our memory or run out as leaking Vess l and whereas they that like not to retain God in their knowledge or to acknowlede God and therefore are given over to a reprobate mind void of judgment fulfilling the desires or wills of the flesh to do those things which are not convenient being convinced by their own defiled accusing Conscience forgetful hearers deceiving their own selves for which cause God gives them up unto vile affections yet the Sanctified Soul having crucified the Flesh and mortified the inordinate affections thereof set their affections on things above not on things on the earth having their conversation in heaven These are Israelites in whose Spirit Speech and Behaviour there is no guile for he is an Israelite which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the â—pirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God Behold the desire and delight of God is in truth in the inward parts the hidden Man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price these are the upright in heart and life who dwell in the presence of his grace here and in the presence of his glory hereafter those who are holy are just doing as they would be done by and if a Maâ— be just and do judgment and justice that which is lawful ind right hath not lift up his eyes to the Idols of the House of Israel neither hath defiled his neighbors Wife neither hath come near a menstruous Woman h th not oppressed any but hath restored to the Debtor his Pledge hath spoiled none by violence hath given his Bread to the hungry that hath taken off his hand from the poor and hath not given forth upon Usury neither taken any increase that hath withdrawn his hand from Iniquity hath executed true judgment between Man and Man hath walked in Gods statutes and hath kept his Judgments to deal truly he is just he shall surely live with the General Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written or inrolled in Heaven which are the Spirits of Just Men made perfect The Just are good also not good as God or good to God our goodness extendeth not unto him so there is none good but one that is God who is eternally essentially absolutely infinitely and originally good Every good and every perfect gift cometh from above from the â—ather of lights When God had made every thing he saw that it was good but when he had created Man in his own Image then it is said God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good Man at first was made very good he was naturally good before he sinned he was very good through the Image of God upon him and before he is good again this Image of God must be in a supernatural way restored unto him which consists in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Nothing can make our Natures good but the Divine Nature the good work must be begun in us before we can think a good thought speak a good word or do a good work till then we are disobedient and unto every good work reprobate and void of judgment being sanctified we are meet for the Masters use and thereby prepared unto every good work yea throughly furnished unto all good works Let us examine our selves Are we holy as God and his Law are holy God is our only perfect pattern his Word or Law our rule to walk by His command is be ye holy for I am holy God is essentially holy and personally holy the Father is holy the Son is holy the Spirit is called the Holy Ghost The Law is holy the People of God are holy called holy Brethren and a holy Priesthood chosen in Christ before the foundation of the World to be holy and without blame before him in love his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Redeemed and delivered out of the hands of our enemies to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life effectually called out of darkness into marvellous light to be holy in all manner of conversation presented a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Have we then this holiness in our hearts and lives the end of our Predestination new Creation effectual Calling and Glorification which is to love God and hate evil Godliness is Godlikeness Do we as God doth Love righteousness and hate wickedness Are our hearts sound sincere and perfect in his Statutes Have we respect unto all his Commandments Are we negatively and positively holy Do we deny ungodliness and worldly lusts Do we and are we fully and firmly resolved to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and to have our fruit unto holiness then shall our end be everlasting life Are we just both to the just and unjust Do we speak the truth in our heart and act accordingly Do we to all men as we would be done by or Do we go beyond and defraud our brother in any matter the Lord is the avenger of all such Do we desire we labour we to owe no Man any thing but love He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much Do we render to all their dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honor to whom Honor Are you like God without respect of persons just in all your dealings to low and high small and great to the poor that want power to come by their own as well as to the rich Are you just and faithful in matters of Distributive and Commutative Justice to all men in all estates bond and free in all times good and bad prosperous and adverse and that alwayes then shall ye be recompenced at the Resurrection of the just while the unjust whose Damnation is just are reserved unto the day of Judgment to be punished for every transgression and disobedience shall receive a just recompence of reward Every Man according to his Deeds Glory and Honor and Immortality Eternal Life to them who by patient continuance
thereunto with all perseverance for he only is blessed that watcheth and keepeth himself and his garments unspotted from the flesh and the World This Kingdom of God must be sought early that is betimes in our age early or betime in the morning which is the meaning of this Word first seek first the kingdom of God that is early Indeed all our life-time how-long-soever is to be employed in seeking the glory of God and glory with God but the flower of our age and time is to be spent in a more special manner in looking after Spiritual and Heavenly things and making sure of them we have Precepts Promises and Presidents to quicken our endeavors Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth they that seek me early shall find me Christ Jesus was our pattern herein when the Child Jesus was Twelve years old he was found in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions that all that heard him were astonished at his Understanding and Answers and when they saw him they were amazed His custom was to rise up a great while before day to Prayer and after to Preach this kingdom of God by Prayer he sought it for us in his Preaching he offered it to us to this very day in the Ministery he is seeking first the kingdom of God in a way of Prayer and Preaching for us David a Man after Christs own heart was at his Devotion early in the morning O God thou art my God early will I seek thee My voice shalt thou hear in the Morning O Lord in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up There is a kingdom of Grace and Glory and few there be that find it What is the Reason They do not first seek it They do not begin when God would have them begin early young Children under the Old and New Testament were early dedicated to God and were under his command of seeking and serving him betimes and commended for so doing Oh that young ones that have no Worldly fears and cares in their heads and hearts to trouble and hinder them would know the time of their Visitation their best time to acquaint themselves with God and to seek the things of their everlasting Peace How many more might go to Heaven if they would first seek the kingdom of God if they would be every way early at this work hold on and hold out to the end seeking Behold now is the accepted time even the time of youth Behold now is the day of Salvation Oh the infinite advantages that children have for good and godly education If children now while children especially those who are under godly education be not the children of God it may be when they are not children they shall never be the children of God but the children of his wrath for ever I am sure it is the will of God that children while they are children should be his children Christ would have very young ones to enter into the kingdom of God insomuch that when the Disciples rebuked those that brought young children to him that he should touch them he was much displeased and said Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God but then the kingdom of God must be sought primarily and chiefly first before other things first above other things we are alwayes to begin and end with God in our seeking and seeing him and in seeking for our selves Spiritual and Heavenly things are first to be desired and laboured after for we have no command in Scripture to seek other things but a Promise that they shall be added or given in on the by if we first seek the kingdom of God before other things and above other things as the principal and chief matters of our lives There is but one thing necessary which is to get well to Heaven There is but one thing to be desired and sought after the beholding the beauty of the Loâ—d in his kingdom of grace and glory This is the principal thing and principally to be regarded What greater things wholly to swallow up our minds thoughts cares desires and labors than God Christ Grace and Glory which are also to be sought with delight and complacency as the highest object of our delight delight thy self in the Lord is his Command and our sweetest Duty It is not enough to do holy duties except we delight in them not for themselves but for God and the things of God Spiritual and Eternal Here our delight is to be placed as sutable to and worthy of it and all our other delights in other things are but to raise our delight in God What poor things are transitory honors pleasures and riches to delight in that are but for a season in comparison of those true and indurable riches honors and pleasures which are at Gods right hand for evermore We may either want those to delight in or want delight for them however so much as to satisfie they are not Commensurate and Adequate objects of delight as being uncertain and insufficient but these which are Spiritual and Eternal through Gods All-sufficiency are both sure and sufficient which breed satisfaction and delight they that acquaint themselves with God are at peace with him have good from him receive the Law from his mouth and delight in it in the inward Man and lay up his words in their heart that return to the Almighty and put away iniquity from their Tabernacles that have the Almighty for their defence shall also have their delight in the Almighty and the Almighty who delights in Mercy to delight in them What is it to seek the kingdom of God but to seek the greatest delight and Should we not delight in seeking delights especially when our seeking or praying is Gods delight The Prayer of the upright is his delight The kingdom of God and his Righteousness are things full of delight With what delight should we think of them speak of them and seek them till we find them enjoy them experience and tast them Oh tast and see that the Lord is good There is more delight and sweetness in tasting and eating of Honey than in hearing a discourse of its sweetness and seeing it If there be so much sweetness and delight in the word of God What sweetness then in the Word that is God in the multitude of my troublous ragged thoughts within me saith David thy comforts or promises delight my Soul unless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction The delights that are to be found in God and in his Law are enough to sweeten the bitterest condition There is much trouble and sorrow in seeking the Kingdom of God and tribulation to be indured before it be enjoyed but the delights in the right seeking it and the infinite delights there are to be had in the everlasting