How hath the Name of God been blasphemed many times by the miscarriages of such And how may it be said of many Young Ones as was said of that Fig-tree Jesus Christ cursed Mat. 21.20 How soon is this Fig-tree withered away Where is your Zeal your Affections your Love your fervency for God for his Ordinances for Duties for Worship that once seemed to move upon your Spirits O consider of it young men that the wayes of God have been evil spoken of by your means And I may say to you as the Prophet to them This hath been by your means Mal. 1.9 3. The going back of such I have observed is a great stumbling-block to others a great discouragement to others to own the wayes of God O say such poor Souls shall not I prove as others have done make a fair flourish for a year or two bear green leaves and promising buds and blossoms but yet for all that brings forth no fruit to perfection And therefore such poor Souls rather sit still seeing so many that have been in a fair way of profession backslide and apostatize before them 4. Many poor Sinners have been hardned in their Atheism Profaneness and contempt of the wayes of God by seeing you fall off after that you have made some progress in the wayes of God Do not they conclude at the sight of such miscarriages that their conditions are good Deut. 29.19 though they walk in the imaginations of their own heart Do not they cry Peace Peace to their own Souls though they walk in Soul-undoing and destroying courses Take two young men One of them falls under some conviction of sin under the Ministry of the Word upon this Conviction he launches out into a visible Profession owns the wayes of God Hears Prays Reads repeats Sermons c. The other of them continues sinning on still senseless of his Soul kicks against the pricks still but he cryes his Companion will return to him again this is but for a fit a little melancholy or to please some party or other Well in a little time it proves thus the Professing young man becomes profane again returns with the dog to his vomit 2 Pet. 2.22 and with the Sow after once washing to her wallowing in the mire returns to his Onions and Garlick again O how this doth now harden the other poor Sinner in his dangerous and damnable state and makes him venture his Soul to live and lye and dye in it 5. I have observed such Young Men that once have tasted some thing of the Word of God and have laid under Convictions of Sin when they have fallen off and lost them they have grown harder after than before they have like the wicked men we read of grown worse and worse 1 Tim. 3.13 Such have out-stripped others in sin As Iron often heated proves harder so it is with such poor Souls and is not this a sad sight to see him a Drunkard a Swearer a Reviler a Scoffer at the wayes of God who once was a praying Young Man One that worshipt with those he now scoffs at and reviles If one had told thee while thou wert a praying a professing Young Man that thy Praying thy Hearing thy repeating Sermons would have ended thus would not thou have said as Hazael did to the Prophet 2 Kings 8.13 Is thy Servant a Dog O but have not a few years produced too many such instances 6. I have observed that as soon as many Young Ones have set forth under Convictions of a need of Christ to seek after him they many times have fallen into erroneous notions When Satan cannot keep poor Souls in profane practices he then will labour to poyson them with pernicious Principles And as the Devil hath his Nurseries to debauch Young Ones in their Practices so he hath his Nurseries to poyson them with pernicious Principles No sooner doth a Young Man become sober and serious but there are persons that are ready to drop their poyson upon them and so many poor Souls are set wrong at the very first setting out 7. I have observed Young Ones to be like foolish Children Hos 13.13 as the Prophet sayes to stay long in the place of breaking forth Especially Young Ones under Godly Education nursed up in Godly Families How long is it often before the work be a through-work upon their Spirits Alas how do their Convictions come and go for months if not for years some times not hearing of them and then another while Conscience being a Boanarges to them thundring forth the terrours of the Lord to them One while they are murdered another while they walk and make a dreadful noise in the Conscience Here poor Soul thou may see thy danger in delaying thy great work of seeking in thy prime and flower of thy youth 8. I have observed a great deal of pride grow up with the Profession of Young Ones O how often hath this been the mortal bane and poyson of many of their Souls How many have upon this Rock split their Convictions their Profession their Expectations with their Souls for ever Have not many poor Young Seekers been over-set by carrying too much sail Vpon their supposition of acquired gifts and parts how have they prided themselves untill as the Poets say of young Narcissus that he fell in love with his own shadow untill he pined away Have not many Young Seekers fallen into a Consumption by self-love and setting too high a price upon themselves Nay hath not this sin caused the Lord to suffer some of them to fall into some visible gross evil that might keep them little and low in their own eyes all their dayes Many have got a halt at the first setting out that they might be kept from self-exaltation 9. I have observed an untractable Spirit grow up with Young Ones to their Superiours and Guides which is a dangerous evil Doth this become young Travellers nay indeed any Travellers to cast off their Guides or to think they can get to their journeys end without observing the Counsels Conduct and the directions of such as are set over them in the Lord Are Ministers set over you to be your Guides are Parents are Masters set over you to be your Guides 1 Pet. 5.5 and will you prove untractable to these This is a great provocation to the Lord which occasioned that Exhortation of Peter's You younger submit your selves to the elder As it particularly relates to Ministers so it may refer to others At what door came in Erroneous Principles Heb. 13.17 at first and Licentious Practices Was it not at this when persons refused to obey and submit to them that were set over them in the Lord 10. I have observed that Satans grand Designs and Engines are laid so as if it be possible to prevent Jesus Christ having a Young Off-spring The Devil would not have Christ have any Nurseries any Young Nurseries where any tender Plants should be
and shall not find me They shall not seek and be disappointed they shall not seek and go without but they shall find me who ever miss of Christ of all the Persons in the World they shall not miss of him O what Encouragement is here to young Seekers of Christ This word in the Text we have rendred thus Job 8.5 If thou would seek God betimes if thou wouldest morning God Shahar diluculare Deum diligenter sedulò magno studio quaerere The Observations are these 1. That young Inquirers after Christ are much upon his heart 2. That Morning Seekers shall be sure and certain Finders 3. That usually in Souls morning lookers after Christ they meet with much discouragement This is strongly implied because Christ gives them this Promise by way of Encouragement We will begin with this last Let us enquire a little what these Discouragements are what are great Hindrances of poor morning Seekers 1. From within there are discouragements 2. From without 1. Discouragements from within 1. Strong Corruptions for as soon as ever the Soul begins to look out and enquire after Jesus Christ then doth Corruption begin to work more strongly than it did before 〈◊〉 corruption is more strong in young ones than in others and upâ—â— this occasion says the Soul Will 〈…〉 poor soul get over this mounâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Jesus Christ Alas there is 〈…〉 Lust betwixt me and Châ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 shall I not one day perish by the hand of Saul Will not these Sons of Zerviah be too strong for me O now says the poor Soul my Enemies are strong and lively as David said and thrust sore at me O poor Soul what though thy Corruptions be strong yet thy Redeemer is strong he is stronger than the strong man armed and that promise answers this discouragement He shall bring forth Judgment unto Victory Isaiah 42.3 though thou be but a poor smoak-ing flax and bruised reed yet thou shalt have the day over all thy Corruptions and will not such a day of Victory call for a day of thanksgiving I have read of a Victory called Victoria Hallelujetica upon this The Saxons here in England being to engage the Britains the Leader of the Britains being a * Germanus who came over from France to subdue the Pâ—lagian Heresie Godly Bishop having his Army in some Dales and Valleys ordered them to crie Hallelujah which they did and through the Eccho of the voyce in the Valleys the Enemy thought there was many more of them than there was and through fear fled O poor discouraged soul thou shalt have such a Victory over thy Corruptions as thou wilt for ever sing Hallelujah in Heaven for 2. Discouragement from within is weakness of Grace O! says the poor soul can such a weak Creature as I ever be able to seek Christ through so many difficulties every sin is too hard for me every duty too hard for me I may as well give over praying and hearing and contending against my sin for I find my self so weak I am ever and anon foyled O poor soul dost not thou know the Promise is made to truth of Grace and not only to the strength of grace bruised Reeds are within the Promise as well as strong Cedars the Lambs are under the Promise of his Bosome the weak of the flock this good Shepherd hath promised to strengthen the days of small things he will not despise weak ones are neither cast out nor cast off because of weakness if they be Children 3. Discouragement is sense of their own vileness and unworthiness O poor young ones at first setting out after Christ they are under their Humiliations for Sin a great piece of which Humiliation lies in the sense of their own Unworthiness thus it was with the poor Prodigal at his first coming home to his Father's House Lord Luke 15.19 I am not worthy to be called thy Son and as the Samaritan I am not worthy thou should come under my Roof O says such a poor soul Lord wilt thou be found of such a wrech as I such a vile wrech as I O poor soul dost thou not know that all sinners that come unto him though vile though wretched though miserable are to be welcomed by him And this as he is commissionated by the Father John 6.37 38. He will in no wise cast out them that come unto him and the strength and stress of all lies here this is the will of my Father Now Christ will be sure to act obedientially and faithfully to his Commission received of his Father Luke 14.21 Poor Souls were not the poor Gentiles who were Christ's Guests vile Hedgeway sinners High-way sinners the blind and maimed yet how doth Christ welcome such Guests to his Table Are you viler than these Alas poor souls you that are under the sense of your own vileness you come right to Christ unworthy of a Pardon of a good look of a good word as they came with Ropes about their necks to the King of Israel he usually accepts and pardons such 4. Discouragement from within is sense of former lost and buried Convictions While we are under Ordinances or we are under Afflictions O how ordinary is this and we are affected with these Convictions But one Temptation or other either within or without meets thee and the Conviction presently is buried the Soul hears no more of it it may be for a year or two but if the Lord have a gracious design upon thee he causes thy Convictions to rise again and walk again and O then the soul is troubled and discouraged Alas this Conviction is come again but will it not die as the last did It will not stay long O poor Soul yet this hath usually been the way of God to cause the second Convictions or the Return of convictions to do their work throughly O how many souls have found it so Though truly it is a wonder of mercies when first Convictions are smothered and extinguished that God ever blows them up and kindles them again 1 Sam. 3.7 God often doth with young Seekers as he did with young Samuel calls him again and again though we lie down and sleep again and again it is said he knew not the word of the Lord for he was young 5. Discouragement is fears of Non-perseverance that young ones meet with from within O say these poor souls what will become of us poor low Shrubs when we see such tall and strong Cedars fall Shall we ever be able to hold on in our way Shall we run and not be weary walk and not faint We shall never be able to continue to the far end to run the Race with patience that is set before us O poor Soul thy Perseverance in the ways of God is Jesus Christs Promise Purchase and Charge 1. He hath promised it Isaiah 40.31 they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength even so as they shall run and not be weary nay if they cannot
Souls You cannot slight the seasons of Grace but you slight your own Souls O that that word were daily before you What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul It is one of the first considerations usually that sets a poor sinner upon looking out after Christ What will become of my Soul if I dye in this condition Am I not eternally undone and then what am I better for all the trash I have gathered together What gaineth it the Hypocrite when the Lord shall take away his Soul 1. Consider your Souls are Heaven-born Souls from above breathed in by God and will you slight them 2. A spiritual being 3. An immortal being 4. A being that cannot be satisfied with any sublunary objects 5. A Soul capable of Communion with God here 6. Capable of the fruition of God hereafter 3. Vse is a word of examination or inquiry Are there some especial times and seasons in which Christ is willing to be found Then have ever your poor Souls found Christ in these times Is not this an inquiry worth following By being found of Christ I mean as the word explains it closed with Christ When Christ and a poor Soul meets a poor Soul takes Christ and accepts of him upon the terms of the Gospel and Christ takes a poor Soul for as there is a taking and receiving of Christ so there is a receiving on Christs side 1. If your Souls have found Christ then you have seen your Souls in a lost and bewildred condition this my Son was lost and is found He was bewildred in his far Country but now his return was his finding time Christ usually meets with the Soul in the wilderness I will allure her into the wilderness and speak comfortably to her Hof 2.14 O how is a poor Soul at its first finding Christ bewildred and lost cannot tell what to make of his condition sees nothing but misery before it sees nothing but Hell gaping upon him cryes out it is undone and without hope 2. If you have found Christ then you will sell all part with all for him Mat. 13.44 You read of the Merchant man that when he had found the Pearl of price he sold all to purchase it Some take it he sold all his sins he so dearly loved before parted with them Some take it he parted with all his own Righteousness which we are naturally as loth to part with as our Sins O thus did Paul when he accounted all things dung and dross in comparison of the excellency of Christ Jesus my Lord. They that have found the Lord Jesus they do not stand with him We read this was that which caused the young man in the Gospel to leave Christ he could not part with all he had great possessions Now you are like to be tryed whether you have found Christ or no. If you have found the Lord Jesus Christ you have not only been convinced of sin and so seen your lost condition but you have been convinced of Righteousness There are many poor Souls that stick at their convictions of sin and get no further and prove like foolish children that stay long in the place of breaking forth but all this while throws and pangs are put upon the Soul to prepare for the birth yet the Soul hath not closed with Christ The poor sinner is but now like a man convinced of his disease and sees his misery but is at an utter loss for a remedy O but now the convictions of the Righteousness of Christ to pardon and freely justifie the sinner this is the remedy A sight of sin without a sight of Christ is no converting work You may be convinced of your sins and dye in them and go to Hell in them When the poor Prodigal was found O then the best Robe viz. Christs Righteousness was to be fetcht forth and put upon him Now poor Soul did thou ever take thy flight to Christs Righteousness to be found in him When the poor Infant we read of was found out in its blood what did God sayes the Text he cast his skirt over it viz. the skirt of the robe of his righteousness 4. If you have found Christ you will now know how you part with him I found my Beloved sayes the Spouse O but it was after long seeking And now doth she hold him with as slack a hand of faith as she did O no I will hold him and will not let him go O now the Soul resolves nothing shall separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus 5. If you have found Christ you will commend him unto others and set him off to others that they may seek him also Thus did the Spouse This is my Beloved and she commends him in every part from Top to Toe And what is the fruit of this setting forth the excellency of Christ We will seek him with thee Lovers will be commending one another O how dost thou speak of Christ doth thy Soul tell others what a Beloved thy Beloved is what a blessed Christ thy Christ is and say this is my Beloved and this is my Friend We are now come to the third Observation It is the especial duty of poor sinners to observe those times in which Christ will be found seek him while he may be found c. There is but in time we say and out of time Mariners will observe their winds and be sure not to neglect them be it night or day if they be present Merchants will observe their Marts and not neglect them that they may buy the Commodities at the best hand Nay we read of other Creatures observing their times to stir up poor careless stupid man The Ant observes her time and in Summer layes up for Winter and the Prophet says The Swallow and the Stork know their appointed times Jer. 8.7 and observe the time of their coming O how doth God complain of man that his misery is great upon him because he knows not his time Eccl. 8.6 By observing of them we are to understand laying hold of them taking these times by the fore-lock and improving them to the utmost advantage for the spiritual good of your immortal Souls We read therefore that excellent Counsel of the Apostles Redeeming the time An allusion to Merchants that observe their Mart-times who will be sure not to neglect them Every poor believer and every poor sinner ought to be observers of the times in this sence They should observe when the Lord strives and breaths with their poor Souls in his Ordinances They should observe how the Lord allures and draws their hearts after himself Therefore it is we have such especial times pointed at by the finger of God that poor sinners might not miss of them God points at them in the word that they may be observed Now acquaint thy self with God There is but a Now for it a present time for it this lost Job 21.22 and thy
sisters and not to the rest of my relations 2. Vse Is it so that the Lord Jesus Christ is the encourager of poor morning Seekers after himself Then it is a word of Comfort to young Seekers Be of good cheer as they said to the blind man for the Lord calleth for the Lord encourages you O all you morning Seekers be of good courage and wait on the Lord and he will strengthen your hearts I say wait upon the Lord. 1. Be of good comfort you are the travail of Christs Soul and therefore he will look after you His suffering was his travail O the pangs and throwes of a travailing woman We say such have hard labour O you poor young Converts inquirers after Christ he hath had hard labour for you O the pangs of his Fathers displeasure that he hath endured My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Here was one bitter pang and his Soul was sorrowful unto death There was another pang and throwes came upon him so fast that he died travailing for the Salvation and Redemption of poor Sinners Therefore we read that sweet word He shall see his Seed Isa 53.10 11. he shall have Seed come out of his sufferings which are called the travail of his Soul And is not this a great comfort He will surely encourage his own travail O poor Souls he hath travailed for you therefore he will encourage you 2. Second word of Comfort to young Seekers is this you are his joy his delight He shall see the travail of his Soul and be satisfied viz. it shall be matter of great contentation and delight to see his sufferings issue in the bringing forth a Seed and Remnant that shall be saved As one delights in his children so doth Christ in his young Seekers Behold Heb. 12.13 I and the Children thou hast given me which is spoken of Christ and quoted out of the Prophets He rejoyces you see in his Seed O what joy was there when the young prodigal returned home to his Father's The whole parable preaches this Doctrine A man delights in his youngest children As a man delights in his nursery so doth Jesus Christ in his garden he hath his young nursery 3. Word of Comfort to young Seekers He hath accommodated Promises to suit with the conditions of such O what a care had Christ of such that he would give Promises on purpose to such As to their weakness in Grace he would strengthen such poor bruised reeds as to the dispensations of God which they fear they are not able to keep pace with He shall carry the Lambs in his bosome they cannot go they are so weak he shall carry them As for the temptations within or without Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings he shall ordain strength to still the enemy and the avenger There is not any condition but you may find a Promise accommodated for that condition 4. Word of Comfort to morning Seekers You are Christs charge Behold I and the Children thou hast given me Heb. 1.13 Spoken of Christ Now upon the Fathers donation and the Sons acceptation they begin to be his charge therefore he is the great Trustee for poor Souls He stands engaged to give his Father an account of them all at the last day and will not Christ be faithful to his trust nay to the trust God the Father hath committed to him Therefore he loses not a soul They pass under the hand of him that tells them again all that God the Father hath told out to his Son the Son tells back again to God the Father 5. Word of Comfort to morning Seekers is this This argues the great love God bears to your Souls to call you betimes to call you while you are young O how many go down to Hell while the milk is in their breasts and marrow in their bones though young in years yet old in sin c. O at what a rate do some young ones sin How expert are they grown in that cursed trade And that thou should'st be called to seek after Christ in thy young dayes O what a comfort is this Here is one taken and another left O but sayes a poor Soul Alas I can get no comfort as yet I am a poor troubled Soul much cast down and dejected They that sow in tears shall reap in joy it is thy seed-time now therefore thou must not expect a crop presently the Seed must lie in the ground Let your Seed-prayers and Seed-tears lie in Gods hand a while Light is sown for the Righteous and joy for the upright in heart O but sayes a poor Soul I am followed with temptations since that I begun to seek after Christ and I know not what to do Poor Soul his rage is great because his time is short now thou art coming out of captivity to him he is pursuing thee to reduce thee to the old house of bondage thy temptations do argue the Lord Jesus Christ is about casting out of Satan therefore he is angry O but I am a poor needy creature Psal 40. ult well but doth not the Lord think of thee O but I am a weak Creature He will perfect strength in weakness out of the mouth of Babes Heb. 5.3 c. O but I am an ignorant Creature Well he can have compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of the way The last Vse is of Exhortation to Young Ones to seek the Lord betimes and make supplication to him If thou seek early after God the Word is Thou shalt find him Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth Job 8.5 The word Seeking we find used in several places Significat quaerere diligenter cum cura Daresh est summo judicio quaerere So Eccl. 1.13 c. Leave all for Christ sell all for the pearl of price Seek him while he is to be found The third Observation we are now come unto from the words is this That morning Seekers shall be sure and certain finders They that seek me early shall find me to be sure such find me whoever miss of me they shall not 1. By morning Seekers is meant Job 8.5 Shahar aurare seu diluculare signifies diligently to seek or rise timely in the morning Prov. 11.27 one that seeks the Lord betimes So Job phrases it If thou seek the Lord and make supplication unto him To remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth Our youth is our morning time to seek Christ in our age is our afternoon now it is not so good seeking in the middle of the day nor in the afternoon as it is in the morning 2. By morning Seekers are meant such as do earnestly seek the Lord Jesus Are there any poor Souls that do more earnestly seek the Lord Jesus than such as give up themselves betimes to Christ Hos 6.15 In their affliction they will seek me early viz. they will seek me earnestly they will seek me in
the morning because what is done in the morning is done with most vigour and fervency O! morning Seekers how vigorously in Soul do they seek the Lord Jesus they do not seek like Solomons sluggard as though they cared not whether they found or no but they seek with all their heart which we read a Promise made to Jer. 29.13 And you shall seek me and find me when you shall search for me with all your hearts 3. By a morning Seeker of Christ is meant a soul that the Lord is visiting with the day of his power The morning is the beginning of the day so the morning is the beginning of the work of Grace Hos 6.3 The morning of a day of Grace we read of the Goings of God prepared as the morning The morning light is gradual so is the dawnings of the day of Grace upon the Soul Pro. 4.18 as that word is The path of the Just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day There is the dawning of the day and the perfect day When the day-star from on High first ariseth in the soul this is the morning Seeker it had not light to seek by until the day-star arose in the heart and now morning light is come in to let the soul see the misery of its dark and undone estate without Christ O now it is a seeker in this light after the Lord Jesus c. 4. By a morning Seeker is meant a Soul waiting for more appearances more arisings of the day-star in and upon the Soul Psal 130.6 As David saith My Soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that wait for the morning more than the watchmen that wait for the morning And thus as soon as poor Babes in Grace are begotten to Christ they are children of the light All young Converts are children of the light they are looking out for more light more light of Grace and more light of Comfort Thus doth a poor morning Seeker wait for light to shine into his dark heart 5. By a morning Seeker is meant a poor Soul that stands upon the watch-tower of Observation taking notice of the first breakin gs in of light as the watchmen waited for the first peep and dawning of the day that they might offer the sacrifice appointed for the morning So a poor morning Seeker is one that observes the first convictions that dawn upon it the first light of the spirit that shines into it and it stands by the crevise and will not away but here is such an Ordinance that God first convinced me by first illuminated me And thus the Soul keeps an observation of the gradual breakings in of light 6. By morning Seekers is meant a poor Soul in its first breathings out of the desires and wants of the Soul to Christ Psal 5.3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Here is the morning a time for prayer I will order my prayer in the morning In the morning of a begun work of Grace O what directing is there of prayer to God A praying Soul is a morning Seeker Alas the Soul prayed not before but now a day of Grace hath visited it it may be said of him behold he prays 7. By morning Seekers is understood a Soul that looks out for some encouragement by way of answer to prayer In the morning will I direct my prayer and look up the word signifies diligently to look out for something that is coming towards us O! a morning Seeker enquires for some answer to prayer some encouragement to animate it in its pursuits after Christ 8. Lastly By a morning Seeker is meant one that seeks with hope and joy that seeks chearfully in expectation to find The Spirits are most chearful in the morning O how it glads the poor weary Centinel to think of the approaching day Thus it is with a poor Soul seeking Christ O thinks this Soul sorrow may continue for a night but joy comes in the morning Reasons why early and morning Seekers shall be sure and certain finders 1. Reason why early or morning Seekers shall be sure and certain finders because such are importunate Seekers and it is importunate praying that is prevailing prayer with God therefore we read that Parable teaching Souls how to seek for his importunity he arose and gave him Luke 11. the word is Impudence there is a holy Impudence that will not be said nay O! this God loves in all Seekers but especially in morning Seekers they are usually importunate 1. Young Seekers have strong corruptions to combate with The corruptions of youth are strong and when strong corruptions meet with strong convictions how should a principle of Grace live in the Soul but by importunate seeking Christ The stronger the corruption the more importunate the wrestling of the Soul under it strong corruptions where there is a begun work of Grace cause the soul to put forth strong crys and supplications 2. Usually morning Seekers are importunate Seekers because they have strong temptations We read of John writing to young men 1 Epist of Joh. 2.14 I write unto you young men because you are strong and have overcome the wicked one Then young Seekers are combatants not only with their own corruptions but the wicked ones temptations Paul when a messenger of Satan was sent him to buffet him what did he do He besought the Lord thrice viz. frequently or importunately Temptations will put upon importunate Seeking the Lord Jesus where there is a principle of Grace in the Soul O are not young mens temptations stronger than others The temptations of young men to vain company O how hard to overcome is this hath not this one temptation been the Rock that many a young man hath split his Soul on for ever Solomon setting out the sinful state of youth being led by the strange woman sayes I discerned a young man void of understanding but where was he Prov. 7.7 The Text tells you amongst the Simple Ones 3. Morning Seekers are importunate Seekers they are in their first love Love will be importunate I remember the kindness of thy youth Jer. 2.2 and the love of thine Espousals Their affections are strong 4. Morning Seekers are importunate seekers their convictions are strong Now where there are strong convictions there will be importunate Seeking morning convictions are strong convictions O now the power of the Lord takes hold of the heart and conviction is born in upon the Soul that it stoops under it Thus Ephraim as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke Jer. 31.19 20. I was ashamed yea confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth O what strong convictions are here and what now doth poor Ephraim do He mourns and prays Turn thou me and I shall be turned 5. Morning Seekers are importunate Seekers their oppositions are greater and stronger than
from seeking Christ because they were never truly numbled for sin In their first seeking him some transient convictions it may be they had but never truly humbled for sin O young ones look to this or else all your affections and desires will come to nothing you will see no worth in Christ no need of Christ if you be not truly humbled for sin Mat. 13.5 6. We read of that ground that had no root and what became of it it withered That house that digged not deep to lay the foundation what became of it Luk. 6. ult it fell and great was the fall of it 2. Many young Seekers go off from seeking Christ because they never see any real worth and excellency in Christ They have had it may be some flashes of affection but they never see Christ to be distinctly precious to their poor Souls Have you ever seen him to be the pearl of price the chiefest of ten thousand Can such souls who have fallen really in love with Christ fall off again Did thou ever see Christ a spiritual Christ It may be thou hast lookt upon him as a carnal Christ and hast known him as the Apostle saith after the flesh made only a notional Christ of him or an historical Christ of him O then it is no wonder if thou fall off from seeking of him 3. Many morning Seekers turn off from seeking Christ because profession grows too hot for them because of the heat of the day O it is fine travelling in the morning but after a while the Sun gets up and then it is with them as with that ground which by and by was offended when persecution arose Travellers take in in the heat of the day so I doubt do many poor young ones that have set fairly out after Christ 4. Many poor young Seekers fall off from Christ because they never truly and really closed with him Alas it is not your seeking Christ but your closing in with Christ will preserve you from falling off Have you chosen the Lord Jesus and received him Closing with him is called Job 1.12 receiving of him to as many as received him A poor Soul may be a seeker of Christ that is not a receiver of Christ 5. Many morning Seekers of Christ fall off again because they come after Christ with some reserve If you will be thus seekers of Christ you shall fall off at one time or other viz. I mean if you will reserve any lust Thus the young man came on to some terms with Christ but the market soon fell when he was told he must sell all and Judas followed Christ with a reserve usually reserves are sinners ruine Turn from all iniquity said the Prophet lest it be your ruine 6. Many morning Seekers fall off again because they seek him for themselves and not for himself and many do thus that are not aware of it this is but to bring forth fruit to your selves as Ephraim is charged with Hos 10.1 Do you see any loveliness in Christ any comliness in him Is he a plant of Renown to you Many seek him for loaves though in a more refined sence than there spoken of for his comforts for his discoveries of love for his smiles Mr. Rutherford I am more taken sayes one with my Lords manifested love than with himself This is to love him for what comes from him for his tokens 7. Many morning Seekers fall off again because they let other lovers in process of time steal away their hearts Many in the dayes of their youth have sought after Christ but after a while the heart hath been strangely and insensibly gone affections lost Christ not in all his thoughts why what is the matter The world it may be hath won in upon the soul or gaming or some other sin and now the Soul falls off as new suiters come on O poor young ones you will have many suiters many will court you and then you will be in danger 3. The next word of Inquiry If that morning Seekers shall be sure finders how comes it to pass the Lord Jesus hath so few Seekers One would think Jesus Christ would be thronged after as in the dayes when he was in the flesh they thronged about the door where he was Alas poor Souls you may throng about Ordinances and Meetings and yet never come near Christ We read of a whole crowd about Christ and yet but one poor Woman touched him to draw vertue from him You may crowd about Christ in an Ordinance and yet draw not one drop of vertue from him 1. Hindrance to young ones seeking Christ they are not convinced of the misery of their distant state from Christ if young ones or old ones were convinced of this if all were convinced throughly of their misery of lying out from Christ O what crying what mourning what running nay what roaring after Christ would there be One poor young man would run up and down crying none but Christ none but Christ Another would run to every Ordinance enquiring with the Spouse saw you him whom my Soul loves And another would run to a poor Minister with this cry Sir I am an undone soul if there were no more souls in the world if a Christ be not my portion Another would cry what shall I do to be saved Methinks I see how the stung Israelites run up and down when the fiery Serpents had stung them crying O where where is the brazen Serpent that I may get a look at him and be healed So would poor Souls convinced of their misery do 1. Poor Soul that lies in thy distance from Christ did thou ever see thy misery First Thy misery of guilt as thou art an unpardoned Soul Is not guilt a miserable thing to lie upon a poor Creatures conscience Ask the Devils and they will tell thee if guilt be not an intolerable burden Ask the damned spirits and they will preach to thee the misery of unpardoned guilt Nay if thou could talk with a despairing Soul O what terrible things would it tell thee of the misery of unpardoned guilt O poor young man hast thou found out the way to a pardon and leave out Christ Angels could never find out such a way Or dost thou think to carry guilt into Glory with thee Must any be saved but such as God hath pardoned If thou didst see the misery of guilt thou would'st be a Seeker and a morning Seeker after Christ All pardons are purchased and drawn up and preached in his name They are purchased we have redemption and remission of sin but how come they in through his blood And they preached Repentance and Remission of Sins in his Name beginning at Jerusalem 2. Poor Soul hast thou seen the misery of thy distant state as thou art under the power of sin as every soul is that is out of Christ And O what a sad sight is a young person in under the power of strong corruption Is it
instrumental to do your souls good and is this your kindness unto them to put them unto shame Disappointments bring shame Make me not ashamed of my hope sayes David O many Ministers had hopes of you and prayed for you and have hoped you would be their Crown and Rejoycing as Paul said and what now prove their shame O how near this will go to the hearts of Godly Ministers Have not they said of you as Paul said of them We live if you stand fast in the Lord. Secondly If morning Seekers be sure and infallible finders then take heed of a discouraged frame of heart in seeking Christ this is Satans work to discourage poor Souls to lay stumbling blocks in their way and tell them there is no hope no Christ will never be found of such as they are hope is perished from the Lord. O take heed I say of this frame of heart you know what they said to the poor blind man Be of good cheer the Lord calleth thee So do I say unto you poor morning Seekers be not discouraged the Lord will be found of you 1. A discouraged frame of heart will open a door to hard thoughts of God Usually discouraged Souls are jealous and suspicious Souls of God and alas this will weaken you exceedingly in your seeking after Christ O what a hard thought was that My God hath forgotten my God hath forsaken 2. A discouraged frame of heart grieves the Spirit of God what seek Christ with a discouraged frame of heart can this be pleasing to the Spirit of God who is the Comforter 3. A discouraged frame of heart opens a door to consult with Satan he loves to be fishing in troubled waters and ordinarily he sits by discouraged Souls helping them to conclude against Christ and their own Souls it is a very dangerous thing to be drawn in to consult with Satan 4. A discouraged frame of heart will weaken your endeavours in your pursuits after Christ the joy of the Lord is a believers strength but discouragements weaken exceedingly 5. A discouraged frame of heart in seeking Christ reflects upon Christ as though he were unwilling to be found of poor sinners This is dishonourable to Christ dishonourable to his design of coming into the world was it not to save Sinners dishonourable to his Promises hath not he promised He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Thirdly If morning Seekers shall be sure and certain sinders then take heed of delaying to seek the Lord Jesus do not put off Christ take heed of this because that you are young and hope you have time before you O this many times is a Rock that splits thousands of Souls they say they will seek Christ at a more convenient time 1. Take heed of losing your morning for the present time is only yours Alas poor Soul if thou layest not hold of the fore-lock of thy present time thou mayest be undone for ever O how the Lord calls on us to improve our present time Work while it is to day and if you will hearken to his voice while it is to day walk in the light while you have the light now is the acceptable time 2. Take heed of losing your morning You young ones you know not how short your morning may be and when mornings are short persons had need be up and doing How many young ones have been cut off in their morning in the prime of their time in the flower of their youth gone to the Grave in a moment while the milk was in their breasts and marrow in their bones 3. Take heed you lose not your morning it will be harder work to seek Christ afterwards when you have delayed time after time after you have lost the forenoon of your lives it will be hard redeeming the afternoon O how rare a thing is it to see a person wrought on in their afternoon not but some have been met with but this is not so ordinary 1. The more guilt there is upon the Soul the harder it will be to seek out after Christ the longer thou delayest the more guilt thou contractest upon thy Soul O what complaints have such Souls uttered O that I had come to Christ sooner but will he now receive me to mercy who have stood out so long Had I fallen in with Christ upon his first offers and tenders it had been more easie to have thought he would have accepted me And thou wilt find this a strong objection upon thee the heavier load of guilt upon thy Soul the heavier thou wilt find it to draw to Jesus Christ 2. It will be harder for you to seek after Christ after you have delayed because the sense of your unkindness to Christ will fill your Souls when you are awakened What stand out against Christ after so many knocks after so many calls after so many offers and invitations Thus it was with the Spouse when she arose to open to her Beloved there was a little myrrhe left upon the handles of the lock and then her bowels were moved viz. She was filled with shame and sorrow that she should use Christ so unkindly 3. The more a Spirit of sloth takes possession on the Soul the harder it is to shake off 4. Take heed of losing your morning for a dark night is fast approaching upon you in which you cannot seek Christ in which you cannot work it is bad seeking any thing in the dark I may say unto you as the Prophet to them Give Glory to God before he cause darkness Jer. 13.16 and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountaion This is the Doctrine that our Lord Jesus Christ preacht himself Work while it is to day for night comes when no man can work 1. Poor Souls what if a night of judicial darkness and blindness come upon you What if God give you over to a dark heart He suffered some we read of to walk in the wayes of their own heart 2. What if a night of temptation come upon you It is ill seeking Christ under temptation 3. What if a night of death come upon thee then thy seeking Christ is at end there is no work in the grave where thou goest What though young men you be now in your morning God can cause your Sun to set at noon-day and bring a night upon you before you are aware therefore lose not your morning 5. Take heed you lose not your morning your morning discoveries and manifestations will be your evening supports and consolations the evening of our lives is our declining time our old age And O what a mercy is this to be laid in with comfort when that comes What a sad thing is that to see one gray-headed and forsaken of God As David prayed many have cause to pray forsake me not when I am gray-headed If you seek him in your youth he will sit by you when you are old O that is a sad Text and the sinner an
If God should prolong your lives your day of Grace may have its sun-set on a sudden and alas what good will your lives do you when you are wrapt up in gross darkness May not you say already Woe unto us our day goeth away Alas there is a night coming when no man can work 3. Seek the Lord early If you have your lives lengthened your means of Grace continued yet you cannot promise your selves any more gales of the Spirit of God to breath upon you And alas what will Gospel Ordinances signifie to you without the spirits influences breathing in them What is the most precious Ministry you can sit under if not influenced from the Lord by the efficacy of his own Spirit 4. Seek the Lord early you have loytered long you have slept much of your day of Grace away already He that sleeps in harvest is a Son that causeth shame but he that gathereth in summer is a wise Son O what a harvest of the Gospel have we slept in O what a spirit of deep sleep and slumber hath fallen upon us O that we may all take that counsel Vp and be doing and the Lord will be with you Up and be seeking Christ early 5. The longer you neglect to seek the Lord Jesus the more difficult it will be for you Your very sloth will take away your hearts the more a man sits still the less mind he hath to stir Sitting is a pleasing posture it is the description of Gentile Sinners they sit in darkness they are pleased with their dark state And it is hard when we have indulged our sloth to stir up our selves to lay hold of God 2. Seek the Lord earnestly as well as early It is said of Christ he prayed earnestly when in his agony and we read of striving to enter in at the strait gate Strive to an agony put your Souls into an agony So we must seek Christ having our Souls in an agony Poor Souls it may be fall under some general convictions of their sins and they are now put upon seeking the Lord but alas it is with a kind of indifferency of spirit as though they cared not whether they found him or not We should seek the Lord with Jacobs resolution I will not let thee go except thou bless me 2 Cant. 1.2 3 4. The Spouse by night sought Christ in a night of persecution some refer it to that night of persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes yet she gives not over seeking but did she find him No she found him not Now she might have fallen under some temptation to give over why should I wait upon the Lord any longer O no but she falls now upon an earnest search and enquiry after him and now she finds him 3. Seek the Lord under the sense of a promise viz. believingly They that seek shall find If we have not our practice bottomed in our seeking of Christ upon some promise we shall have no comfort in it But now when the Soul sayes I will go a seeking Christ but I will carry a promise with me O this is very comfortable Vnto him shall the Gentiles seek and in him shall the Gentiles trust This is the Great Magna Charta of the Gentiles thou must not seek to thy own Righteousness We read of seeking that way Isa 42.2 You must not trust in your selves but in his Name shall the Gentiles trust If you know not where to trust come hither Mat. 12.18 and here place your trust Many Souls seek Christ but their eye of faith is not up to the promise in their seeking of him 4. We are to seek the Lord in a through sense of our lost condition without him Many Souls seek Christ but they do it not in a sense of their undone condition It is the lost Soul that is the right seeker of Christ Christ seeks such Souls and such Souls seek Christ then they are like to meet That which is promised of the Jews Return holds good here Jer. 50.5 Going and weeping seeking the Lord their God c. It will make you seek him weeping if you were but convinced you were lost to all Eternity undone for ever irrecoverably miserable if you find not Christ. The first-step to seek Christ is to be convinced of ones lost condition O now the Soul falls inquiring after Christ If you see him whom my Soul loves tell him I am sick of love 5. Seek Christ perseveringly Thus the Spouse did seek Christ untill she found him as the woman sought her lost groat until she found it The watchmen smote the Spouse and took away her veil from her yet she gives not over seeking her beloved The watchmen either the Ministerial watchmen or the Magisterial upon the City walls they took away her veil viz. a token of subjection to Christ yet she perseveres still seeking Christ Jacob wrestled until the break of day He was a persevering wrestler and then came the blessing 6. We must seek Christ as appointed by the Father to entertain poor Gentile Sinners Therefore we see the Commission of Christ is to carry it tenderly towards poor Gentiles smoaking flaxes and bruised reeds The Father hath put this work upon him to treat with poor Gentiles about their everlasting Salvation and therefore we must seek Christ distinctly under a distinct notion as the Father hath commissioned him Poor Sinners get some confused notions and apprehensions of Christ and upon these notions they seek Christ but all this while they are ignorant of Christs being sent as the Fathers Commissioner to treat with poor Sinners about the things that concern their peace Several words the Spirit of God hath bestowed upon this thing noting to us that it is a matter of such great concernment 1. He hath set him forth to be a propitiation Rom. 3.25 or fore-ordained him to this end and purpose 2. God hath chosen him My Servant whom I have chosen 3. God hath called him Isa 42.6 4. God hath anointed him to this purpose 5. God hath sent him now we should consider all these and seek him as one thus sent by his Father to treat with poor Sinners 7. We must seek whole Christ in all his Offices As you have received the Lord Jesus Christ so walk you in him This is whole Christ as Prophet Priest and Lord. And thus should poor Gentile Sinners seek the Lord Jesus The second Observation is this That there are especial times for Sinners to find the Lord Jesus Christ in Seek the Lord while he may be found We read David pointing out such a time For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time Psal 32.6 when thou wilt be found or in a finding time so we should read it Others read it in a time of hitting when Gods judgements go abroad and the Lord hits the consciences But David had been confessing his sins and the Lord forgives him and the sense of this forgiveness raises