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
too much to the dark side of the Cloud and say as the Prophet's man did Alas Master what shall we do 2 Kings 6.15 And the Propher prayed and his eyes were opened and then he saw the Mountains full of Horsemen and Chariots and now he crys out More are they that are with us than they that are against us O thus it is with many young ones they cry Alas what shall we do And are utterly discouraged until God come and open their eyes 3. Take heed you young Seekers under your discouragements of believing diabolical suggestions that shall be cast into your hearts against the ways of God O! Satan will be ever suggesting one thing or other into your hearts that Christ is a hard Master that his Commandments are grievous that the burdens of the command of the Cross are intolerable and that in the way to Christ are Mountains and Hills inaccessible too high for such short breathed Creatures to ascend or travel over And O how many poor souls by such suggestions have been exceedingly discouraged in their pursuits after Christ O but this is dangerous to take counsel of an Enemy would any of you do so in other Cases 4. Caution to young Seekers under discouragements Take heed of giving over seeking because you find not at first what you seek This poor souls are very prone to Why should I wait on the Lord any longer said that King O so say many poor souls why should we seek Christ any longer Pray any longer Hear any longer Solomon advises in this case dig for Wisdom as for hidden treasure and seek her as silver They that dig in such Mines as Gold and Silver do not give over because they find not it first O no! it lies deep and they must search with great pains and patience The poor woman sought her lost Groat till she found it O continue seeking to the far end till you find O it is very dangerous to give over you see the Promise is you shall find 5. Caution to young Seekers O take heed when you are under discouragements you do not murmure against God in your Hearts and say as those poor Israelites did would to God we had never come out of Egypt what was the matter They meer now with great difficulties and discouragements and their hearts fell a murmuring which in the New Testament is called a going back in their Hearts O this doth much dishonour God as if he could not in his own everlasting arms carry poor souls over all their difficulties 6. Caution Let young Seekers take heed of drawing up hasty conclusions against themselves because of present discouragements which they are very prone to do O how many poor souls rashly conclude for their part they are cut off and their hope is lost as David Psal 10.7 11. but he said in his haste all men are lyars so say many poor souls I doubt Preachers will be found lyars and flatterers unto me Alas did not poor Jeremy Jer. 15 18. under this discouragement break out into that sad conclusion against God Wilt thou be a lyar unto me and altogether as waters that fail So say poor young ones alas how should such weak worms as we are get through such difficulties and discouragements and as it is said of the Children of Israel in their Travel to the Good Land so may it be said of young Travellers Their Souls were discouraged because of the way Numb 21.4 2. Vse Is it so that morning Seekers of Jesus Christ meet with great discouragements then it is an Use of Direction what shall poor young Inquirers do under all their discouragements Young Travellers you know stand in need of direction and so do young Inquirers after Christ 1. Direction Under your discouragements be often looking up to Christ Rev. 1.11 as the Alpha and Omega of the whole Work viz. as the Author of it and finisher of it Did you ever understand the Glorious Name and Title of Christ I am the Alpha and the Omega what is the meaning of this it notes out the Deity and Eternity of Christ he is the first and the last so the most Interpreters but there seems to be something more in it it notes also the Stability and Omnipotency of Christ to execute threatnings and perform promises Isa 41.4.44.6 as you may see in the places quoted in the Margin That Christ who hath begun a good work is the Omega of it he will finish it Now do you look up to Christ to this very end under this very notion and title Lord Jesus the work is thine the hands of Zerubbabel as was said in that day hath laid the foundation and the hands of Zerubbabel must finish the building Lord the foundation stone Grace was of thy laying and so must the Top-stone of Glory also Do you thus say to Christ when you look up to him We have the direction expresly given us by the Apostle Heb. 12.2 Look up to Jesus as the author and finisher of our Faith Beza reads the Captain of our faith and looking The word signifies such a looking as calls off the eye from all other objects that represent the difficulty of the race and should not young Souldiers look to their Captain In the greatest discouragements that we can be under we must look to him therefore God sayes he hath given him for a Leader and Commander to the people Isa 55.4 He is called the Captain of our Salvation alluding to Joshua the great Captain of the Old Testament under whose Conduct the children of Israel marcht to the Good Land Well then poor Soul do you look to him for finishing the whole work This made Paul so confident of the poor Philippians 1 Phil. 6. being confident of this very thing that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ 2. Direction to young Seekers under all their discouragements is this Be sure a good foundation be laid if there be not a good foundation your discouragements will sink you or else spoyle all your convictions You know they which built upon the sand when discouragements beat in upon them then the house fell but it was not so with the house upon the Rock Luk. 6.48 why what was the matter the house that fell digged not deep enough to lay the foundation and we read of the Seed that withered because it had not depth of earth Mat. 13.6 O but now a good foundation laid will bear you up under all your discouragments And what is the reason of the Apostasie of young ones who once have been warm in the wayes of God alas the foundation at first was not well laid If it be asked what I mean by young ones laying a good foundation I answer there is a two-fold foundation in this sense First there is a foundation as to state as to the state of an immortal soul and thus Christ is the
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
to an account for all your especial times of finding Christ 2. These especial times of finding Christ are not all persons priviledges He hath not dealt with all people as with you How many parts of the world that never were enriched with the tenders of Gospel-grace as you have been but lie in the rubbish of ignorance and ungodliness Nay how many that have lived under the sound of the Gospel and yet the Gospel is hid to them 2 Cor. 4.3 and such souls are lost And shall your Souls be priviledged above others in the being under these especial seasons and you not improve them 3. These especial times if you let slip you will be hardned and rivetted in your sins After men have sinned away the day of Grace O then they grow worse and worse Then their poor Souls do swim down the stream of all manner of prophaneness Have you not often observed it that after sinners have worn off their Convictions they have been more careless more prophane more resolute in their course of sin 4. These especial times if you let them slip it may be you shall never have such times again My Spirit shall no more strive with man His bowels will be shut up in displeasure against you You may out-live the breathings of the Lord upon your Souls And O if God should awaken you and cause you to reflect upon what hath past betwixt God and your Souls O then it may be you will cry out O that it were with me as in months past O for one of the Motions of the Spirit of God I have sleighted O for one of the Convictions I have murdered 5. These especial times will exceedingly aggravate your sin in standing out against Christ A woe was written upon the head of Capernaum and Bethsaida O when Christ shall say what have you to say for your selves was not I tendred unto you was not I offered with all the benefits of my death but you would none of me O now how will such poor Souls run to the rocks yea be fit to creep into the holes of the ragged rocks for the Majesty of the Lord 2. Word is a word of direction What shall we do by way of improvement of these especial times or how shall we improve them 1. Would you improve these especial finding times Then 1. Lament sensibly over your lost time Lapsed time goes to the heart of a poor convinced sinner nothing doth cut so deep as the consideration of trifling away golden seasons of Grace It was the charge the Lord brought in against Jezabel I gave her space to repent but she repented not O for a poor soul to reflect upon the time that is past then it will cry as Job did in that case O that it were with me as in months that are past O that I might enjoy one of the dayes of the Son of Man that I have so slighted The Apostle tells us of some who for the time might have been Teachers of others but alas they had lost their time If you lose but a tide-time you can fret at that and be impatient O how many tide-times have you lost for Eternity Every appointment of Christ in which the Spirit of Christ breaths is a tide-time O how many market-dayes for Heaven have your Souls lost And can you remember them and not lament over them 2. Would you improve these especial finding times Consider then you cannot mis-improve neglect these but you put a sleight upon Christ O how dangerous is this to put a sleight upon the Lord Jesus when he is willing to be found of you What a sleight was that they put upon Christ when they made all their excuses they could not come when Christ tenders himself and is refused Therefore he complained but my people would have none of me For the Lord Jesus Christ to leave the bosome of his Father the Glory of Heaven and be clothed in and married to our nature and be made a curse for us and after all this to be slighted by a company of poor sinners O what monstrous ingratitude is this Would we slight a Relation a Friend an Acquaintance thus Is not this to be highly uncivil to Jesus Christ O how do poor sinners put their incivilities upon Christ 3. Would you not mis-improve these especial finding times then consider how this grieves Christ When he came nigh the City he wept over it what was the matter this was the consideration that did draw tears from Christs eyes that they had enjoyed an especial time and day of Grace in which Christ was willing to have been found of them O that thou hadst known in this thy day c. We read also of those that refused the tenders of Christ the master of the house was angry at them O take heed of angring Christ poor sinners in this respect Kiss the Sun lest he be angry What if he be Ps 2. ult and you perish from the way When his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are they that trust in him O who can stand before the wrath of the Lamb Yea what can cover us from the wrath of the Lamb O what ingratitude is this to grieve him for loving you to requite him evil for good Is this your kindness to your friend Will you thus requite the Lord O you foolish Souls Do you thus answer his love in coming from heaven upon your errand It is said the Lord Jesus Christ was grieved because of their unbelief and the hardness of their hearts You would not willingly grieve a Relation a Father a Mother and will you grieve Christ 4. Direction Would you not mis-improve these especial finding times then live in the consideration of what depends upon them Upon these times depend your eternal conditions upon on these monosyllables depends eternity upon these Nows these present gales and seasons of Grace We say of some business that we are very solicitous about there is much depends upon it It is a matter of grand importance This is the case thy laying hold of these special times is a business of great moment as much as your immortal Souls are worth O that every time you prayed you might say this is for eternity and every time you heard a Sermon O poor Soul this is for eternity As that great Painter said propter aeternitatem pingo So should every poor sinner say of his duties Write Eternity upon the head of them I have read of one that lived many years in a Cave under the earth among multitudes of Gnats to the wonder of many he was insensible of their disturbances and the reason given is this he was come thither to contemplate eternity So do I say the consideration and contemplation of eternity would make you forget the world and the comforts of it when you make your approaches to God 5. Would you not mis-improve these especial finding times O then live much in the consideration of the worth of your