THE GODLY MANS INQVISITION LATELY DELIVERED IN TVVO Sermons before the Right honourable HENRY Lord MONTAGVE late Lord High Treasurer priuie Counsellor c. and other Gentlemen of Worship at KIMOLTON on their Annuall feast day BY R. PRESTON Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Iohn Bellamie and are to be sold at his shop at the two Grey-hounds in Corne-hill neere the Royall Exchange 1622. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sr FRANCIS STANTON Knight R. P. wisheth to his present prosperitie the addition of many dayes in the fruitfull feare of the Lord Iesus c. RIght worshipfull These two following Sermons being preached before an honored assemblie whereto I was a stranger I could not conueniently dedicate them to any person or particular partie thereof least ignorance of their conditions and want of knowledge and acquaintance should accuse me of presumption and too much boldnesse The remembrance therefore of your selfe of your countenance and fauour towards me became a sudden obiect emboldening me to send them abroad vnder your name because as I am conscious of your pious practises so I haue and doe know you a Patrone of Religion and godlinesse esteeming it your greatest gaine to know Christ Iesus and to be found in him In these Sermons you shall find nothing sauouring of Affectation or inclining vnto ostentation but rather affection to the soules of the Flocke for from the heart-roote in Iesus Christ doe I desire their saluation The subiect of them is The godly Mans Inquisition wherein you shall see the estate of man by reason of sin and corruption layd open viz. that he is a stranger to the Lord a vagrant from the Common-wealth of Israell a lost sheepe in bondage vnto sinne and Sathan without Christ a child of wrath a prodigall c. And because to loose the fauour and countenance of God is of all conditions the most miserable a vassallage without exception I haue in the second place set downe the meanes how to get out which is diligent seeking of the Lord in prayer faith feare repentance holinesse of life Wherein also that the dutie may be the more set forward the place the matter the way the manner the measure the end and time of seeking are in their due places propounded And whereas there be certaine times when the Lord will specially be found and certaine times when he will not be found I haue in the last place laid downe both exhorting all men in the conclusion to take the present day least the ouer-passing of it through negligence keepe them eternally from it and so bring them into euerlasting separation from the presence of God This is an Abbreuiation of the sequents which I haue presumed as shaddowed with your allowance to publish Be you pleased to accept it be no seuere examiner but a mild pervser and also a practiser of the continents and let affection to the matter somewhat mediate with your iudgement to censure not as you see but as I meane I confesse of my selfe that I am vnable to carry the least sticke to the Altar and vnworthie of all others to prescribe either dyet or direction to any that hath but touched the hem of Christs garment yet am I not ashamed to humble my selfe to others view that by the mercie seene on me who haue beene thus sarre led into the secrets of God they may be likewise encouraged to presse within the border of the Mount when the horne of saluation shall be blowne As I am I craue your pardon for my boldnesse and the continuance of your fauour leauing these Sermons to your vse and practise and your selfe to the Lord in whom I rest euer bound vnto you in all humble obseruance Ri PRESTON THE GODLY MANS INQVISITION ESAIAH 55.6 Seeke the Lord while he may be found THe foundation of my speech for this time is grounded on this short line and few words of the Prophet Isaiah and they well resemble that excellent constructure of our SAVIOVR laid downe in his Gospell by Mathew Seeke first the kingdome of God c. Mat. 6.33 Where by first we vnderstand primarily chiefly before all and aboue all things so that God and his kingdome of grace must be sought principally and require the first-lings of all our labours For as all Obligations which runne indefinitely without limitation of time saith the Maxime in Law are presently due Simil â—â—â— so we in the like kinde so we in the like kinde stand bound to God And although in this Text is prefixed no certaine day yet it tells vs that wee are ingaged to euery day and therefore all holy men vrge the present day Ier. 35.15 Gal. 6.10 Turne euery man now from his euill way Doe good while ye haue time While it is called to day Heb. 3.7.13.15 Ioh. 12.35 exhort one another To day if you will heare his voice Walke in the light while you haue the light c. The Mariner sailes while the gale is fauourable The Smith strikes while the Iron is hote The Traueller walkes while it is day and the Lawyer takes his time viz. euery tearme time Now it is alwayes Tearme-time with Christians this present day is our Tearme and so is euery day If then we would haue our cause to be heard Christ to be our Aduocate and God to giue sentence on our side let vs seeke him diligently and betimes Isa 8.13 let vs earely in the morning sanctifie the Lord in our hearts and make him our dread The Prophet hauing set downe in the former part of this Chapter Coherence the sufficiencie and efficiencie of Christ without whom nothing is auaileable to saluation for in him is the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and likewise hauing described the calling of the Gentiles Col. 2.9 and how they should acknowledge Christ and seeke the Lord Here in this verse from the occasion taken from the Gentiles he exhorts the Iewes to emulation Seeke the Lord while he may be found as if he had said seeing the Gentiles are so zealous and so much enkindled to search the Lord why should you Iewes that are the Lords peculiar people be frozen Tit. 2.14 and cold in this dutie Seeke the Lord c. In these words I will obserue these three particulars first Quid secondly quem thirdly quando The interpretation for the first quid is the action seeke And this is taken from the course and practise of men who hauing lost any thing of moment and value betake themselues to diligent enquirie and seeking of the same neuer desisting till they finde So they that purpose to giue vp their names to Christ seeke God diligently neuer giuing ouer their Inquisitions til they be well assured of his presence To seeke God in this place signifieth many things as to labour to be reconciled to God in Christ to turne to him by repentance and humiliation of soule to worship and serue him according to his word to inuocate
his holy name to pray vnto him to make profession of his Religion to embrace him the true Iehovah and as the onely God by a liuely faith c. This large signification of seeking the Lord is not onely thus meant and expounded here but else-where in Scripture Hos 3.5 Psal 24.6 and 27.8 While he may be found These words include the present occasion and time of seeking for according to the time that God will be found we are to seeke Now if we seeke according to certaine rules after prescribed he will be found presently and therefore we are to seeke presently 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the acceptable time now is the day of Grace Otherwise there is a time when the Lord will withdraw himselfe and will not be found though we seeke earnestly as the Prophet did for a Man to execute iudgement Ier. 5.1 and performe righteousnesse in Ierusalem and found him not In few words the meaning is this O yee Iewes by your disobedience and daily transgressions you haue lost the Lords fauour and countenance abused his gracious offers delaying time and procrastinating Repentance and you haue made vnto your selues Idolls that are no Gods Now the Lord once againe offereth himselfe in his mercies to your view neglect not the occasion but serue seeke call vpon and worship him if it come to passe that meanes and time slip away through carelesnesse then all your hopes are in the winde and you may seeke God but he will neuer be found as a mercifull and tender Father but rather as a terrible and a fearefull Iudge Seeke This word presupposeth a former losse Doct. 1. we need not seeke God Sinne is the cause of the losse of Gods fauour vnlesse formerly we had lost God Hence I gather this Theoreme that by corrupt nature and multitude of transgressions we are loosers not seekers of God we are rather strangers and wanderers from him then Inquisitors of and true conuerts vnto him In the corruption of nature we lost the comfortable presence of God which in our innocencie we enioyed by loosing our selues we lost him and secondly in the daily admitting and committing of sin after grace receiued we loose his sight and presence Sinne is a make-bate Reason and a schismatique that rendeth asunder the sacred bond of peace betweene the Creator and his creature it shorteneth his arme and withereth the fresh boughes of his loue It maketh a separation betweene him and vs as the Cloud betweene the brightnesse of the Sunne and vs It casteth vs into darkenesse and thrusteth vs behinde the doore as Iael did Sisera that we might loath to see the face of God as Sisera did the face of Barak and Deborah Iudg. 4.18.19 So long as the Ephesians continued in their sinfull Idolatrie they lost God for it is said Eph. 2.12 that they were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the couenant of promise hauing no hope and without God And so soone as our progenitour Adam had transgressed the Commandement in eating of the forbidden fruit he went and hid himselfe in a bush as if Gods presence had beene too hot for him Gen. 3.8 Adam and his wife hid themselues from the presence of the Lord amongst the trees of the Garden fearefull they were to heare him speake and ashamed to see his face and therefore they seeke starting-holes to hide themselues the further from him In the same taking are all his of-spring to this day if the old serpent get any of vs to plucke an apple from the prohibited tree that is if he winne our consents to sinne he hath his desire and we become vagabonds on the earth and fugitiues from the face of God And euer the more we offend the further we are from God being either like Pilgrimes now wandering vp the steepe Mountaines of pride now downe the low vallies of despaire now through the shadie groues of wantonnesse now through the broad fields of licentiousnesse now through the thornie thickets of worldly cares now through the filthie channels of carnall lusts roouing sometimes here sometimes there without mate and guide the Deuill leading vs whither he list or like Marchant aduenturers imbarkt in the ship of securitie sometimes hoysing vp the sailes of noysome desires sometime filled with the merry gale of vaine and worldly pleasures somtimes delighted with a whistling aire of filthy lucre euer and anon running vpon the Syrtes and quicksands of sinne to the great danger not so much of the losse of life and wracke of goods as the wracke of Conscience which is the greatest shipwracke and the losse of Gods lone and affection which is the greatest losse Thus sinfull men that we are whilest with the Prodigall we become trauellers and Marchant aduenturers to see the fashions of the world abroad we become like to Ionas Ion. 1.3 who fled to Tarshish from the prefence of God There be three things that make men forsake one anothers societie Philo. de profugis Hatred Feare Shame for hatred the enuious man hates the companie of him that prospereth and so doth one enemy hate another Iacob fled from Laban because of his iniustice and Idolatrie he hated them For feare Children will runne from their Parents and seruants from their Masters for feare Iacob fled from Esau and Dauid from Saul For shame the Adulterer keepes his Cabin and is couched in a chamber Gen. 3. and for shame Adam skulted in the groue of Paradise Tell me thou fugitiue sinner for which of these things doest thou seeke to estrange thy selfe from God there is no cause of hatred in him for he is wholly delectable Cant. 5.10.16 the fairest of ten thousand there is no cause of feare in him for he is the Father of mercies and the God of consolation Ephes 2.4 he is rich in mercy especially to them Gal. 4.6 who haue receiued the spirit of adoption to cry Abba Father there is no cause of shame in him Psal 24.8.9 25.3 for he is the Lord of Glorie Nay rather vile sinner be ashamed of thy sinnes and blush at thy transgressions whereby thou hast lost thy selfe and a mercifull God thou by thy wicked life hast turned thy backe vpon thy Master and set thy selfe so farre at oddes with him that thou shalt draw downe no loue from him vnto thee vnlesse thy Repentance and humiliation for thy sinne be as the Loadstone to pull him to and winne him againe Obiect But how can a man wander from God Ob or lose him Wheresoeuer I am God is there present he filleth both heauen and earth Ier. 23.24 Psal 27. Psal 139.2.3.4 he is with me at my sitting rising lying downe in the thoughts of my heart words of my tongue wayes of my feete nay in my reines and bones His presence cannot be auoided who sitteth on the Circle of heauen 1 Reg. 8.27 Isa 66.1 and beholdeth the
He is euery where at one and the same time he fills both heauen and earth Answ In God we must consider two things Sol first Deitie secondly Presence of Grace touching the former God need not be sought so he is alwayes at hand as it appeares Act. 17.27 Wee may feele after him and finde him because he is not farre from euery one of vs. And thus seeing his creatures we see him Touching his presence of grace which is often wanting to comfortlesse Consciences we are to seeke God and are commanded so to doe for he absents himselfe many times from his deare children touching his Grace so much that they desire but the least impression and token thereof and cannot get it whereupon they are much exercised in stirring the scinders to finde some liue-ashes and will not giue ouer searching till they haue gotten some treasure some specialtie of Gods fauour And this is called the seeking of Gods face Psal 27.8 Quest But why should we seeke Gods face Quest Is it not said Thou shalt not see my face for there shall no man see me and liue Exod. 33.20 Ans The face of God is either prima or secunda Sol The first is the face of his spiritualtie of his diuine Maiestie which cannot be seene with the darke eyes of mortalitie Our weaknesse is so great and his Maiestie on the otherside is glorious and transplendent that we cannot behold it without the consuming of our selues no more then the eye can behold and looke vpon the exceeding brightnesse of the Sunne without the hurting and dazeling of it selfe The second is the face of his loue and fauour this with the vnderstanding and the heart may be seene Eccles 1.16 Moses and Iacob saw this face of God and reioyced Vse 1 Vse 1. Is it so that euery one should set himselfe apart to seeke God by one godly helpe or other Vse 1 this then may serue to reproue the intollerable neglect of this dutie For reproofe Some say oh it is an easie matter to be acquainted with God he may be soone found a little seeking will serue the turne but let the industrious carefulnesse continuall supplications and the daily complainings of Gods seruants in the want of God yea then when he is present in their hearts testifie the facilitie and easinesse of this businesse Ob I but Sir tell me did not Christ say Ob Seeke and finde Therefore when or where Math. 7.7 or howsoeuer seeking I shall finde Ans I grant it to be true Sol that Christ did say so to his Disciples and made this promise to them in them to vs that euery beleeuer being in Christ might seeke and finde but not that euery kinde of seeking should obtaine The meaning of the words is this That whosoeuer haue beene first sought and found of God shall seeke and finde God but they who haue not first drawne neare to him shall neuer find God drawing neare to them Secondly another sort of people there is 2. deseruing much blame namely all such as plead a perpetuitie of Gods presence with them in the midst of their wants of him Oh I neuer wanted the Lord and why should I goe troubling my selfe to seeke him Alas for the blindnesse and folly of such men they speake without sence to say they haue that which they neuer so much as once enioyed Where God affordeth his presence of grace there alwayes are other companions of it and such as attend the Spirit As we vse to say Where the King is there is his Court his waiters his attendants So euen so where God is with his Spirit there is his Court and attendants as saith loue obedience feare peace ioy in the holy Ghost worship reuerence prayer Repentance humilitie c His Angels will be about thee his Spirit within thee to helpe thee his Grace to vphold thee his mercy to embrace thee Looke then are these present then their Master cannot be farre off But surely Grace would tell thee if thou hadst any that there is a great want of God that thou maist seeke daily for a supply and that he is the farthest off from such as feele the least want Ob The Lord hath blessed me with his good Creatures Ob he hath giuen me prosperitie and riches I finde no want of them and therefore if the Lord were absent from me those things should be taken away and I should be depriued of their vse Ans A man may enioy many outward blessings Sol and in the possession neither know whether God loues or hates him He may haue his portion in this life Psal 17.14 and his belly filled with hid treasure he may be full of children and leaue his substance to his babes and yet he may be out of Gods fauour and called Rom. 9.13 a man of the world Esau was fatted with the blessings of the earth and yet he was so farre of from the Lords loue towards him that the Lord hated him Secondly the more couetous a miser is the lesse acquaintance he hath with God because he is filled with noysome lusts 1 Tim. 6.9 and enters into many temptations which driues him from God and therefore it was rightly spoken that a Cable might as soone goe through a needles eye as a rich Miser enter into the kingdome of heauen consequently into Gods fauour Lastly 3. another kinde of people deserue equall reproofe with the former namely such as leaue the pure Well and digge Cisternes that will hold no water such as forsake God and employ all their cares in and about the world That seeke worldly pelfe and externall goods and in the meane time haue no regard at all to seeke the Lords good will lost by their transgressions It is now adayes an ordinary matter to see spirituall affaires iustled aside or rather thrust out by the shoulders that the outward man may receiue some contentment and golden opportunity neglected that the occasion of improuement of worldly commodities of tickling carnal delights and of maintaining outward reputation among men may be embraced In a word Matters touching God are so sleightly so seldome so remisly sought after as if they were not worthy talking of And matters touching the world are so eagarly so industriously and with that intention of minde and body followed after as if God had made man for nothing els but to swallow downe goods and greatnesse as fast as possibly he can Oh my Brethren be ye in time recalled from this miserable state of misery and remember how faultie you are in seeking the things of God your care for the earth hath so deuoured the care of heauenly things Gen. 41.20 as if the leane Kine in Pharaohs dreame had eaten vp the fat Consider these things and seeke the Lord in a good time while the way is faire the passage speedie the doore open the day lasts and while he calls Vse 2 Vse 2.
namely Gods protection and enioyment of his Realme and thus they are giuen vp to Sathan 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 Fourthly Others take their horse and trauell uell about worldly businesse vpon the Lords day pretending that they can pray and serue God on Horse-backe in their iourney as well as the best But all these are deluded by the Deuill whom they serue they are cut off from the priuiledges of Gods house 2 Cor. 5.18 Ephes 4.12 Rom. 4.11 Act. 14.27 The ministery of reconciliation the bodie of Christ edified the seales of Righteousnesse which are by faith And the preaching of the word which is called The doore of faith is shut against them And is it not a strange thing that whilest they runne from God from his presence his protection his Church and Congregations they should thinke to meete with God and finde him where he is neuer had I may say assuredly they shall find him in his iust Iudgement and he will meet with them in their hypocrisie to giue them a full reward they may goe on a while but in the meane time God is fetching a stroke against them which like a flaile the higher it is lifted when it fals will giue the greater blow and make the deeper wound Vse 2 Vse 2. The Assemblies of the Saints is Gods first house where he will be found For instruction then should we with gladnesse goe into Bethel for Gods name is there heard Psal 122.1 Christ is there present Mat. 18.20 and the presence chamber is filled with the glory of the Lord. 1 Reg. 8.12 The Prophet Dauid saw and conceiued such speciall and extraordinary benefits comming to his soule by seeking the face of the Lord in his house that he alwayes wished himselfe there Psal 27.4 One thing I haue desired of the Lord that I will require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beautie of the Lord. This was a matter which he desired aboue all things and for the obtaining whereof he was very importunate with God My soule longeth Psal 84.1.2.4.10 and fainteth for the Courts of the Lord blessed are they which dwell in thine house c. Oh that the same minde were in vs to come before the Lord in publique meetings and in them to be partakers of the exercises of pietie then we would say with Iacob surely this place is reuerent whatsoeuer we haue thought of it Gen. 28.16.17 c. It is no other but the house of God euen the gate of heauen This is the first house where God must be sought Secondly A Christian mans familie The second house where God must be sought is the priuate familie of euery Christian It sufficeth not to be diligent in the Church vnlesse a man be the same at home this was holy Iobs care that his family might be Gods house Iob 1.5 as appeares by his daily sanctification of his children And of Ioshuah Iosh 24.15 the Scripture truely relateth That he and his house feared God Intimating that while their houses were receptacles of Gods worship they themselues as they were Gods dutifull seruants so they were serious seekers of the Lords eternall loue and mercie Our Sauiour saith that wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together or consent in any thing in his name he will be there present though it be in a mans secret family Adams house where God was worshipped and sacrifices offered Gen. 4. was Gods house whence Cain complaines he was cast out for euery denomination is from the worthier part therefore make thy house Gods house and so thou shalt haue God neare thee with his sweete fellowship and fulnesse of blessednesse Quest But what might I doe that my house may be the Lords house Quest to the end I may seeke and finde him there Answ To this purpose are required of thee these things Ans 1. If thou wilt make thy house Gods Church and so finde the Lord at home then see that all the members in thy familie be the true members of the Church looke to this with a diligent and heedfull eye if there be but two righteous persons in thy house God will there shew thee his face after a sort but when thy whole familie may be baptized with the name of a Church because there is not so much as a Canaanite or an vncircumcised person in it then it shall be as a sweete sauour in his sight and his glorious countenance will there be most radiant and bright 2. Entertaine none into thy familie but such as the Lord hath first entertained into his take none into thine house which are not of the houshold of Faith This is the sweeping of the house and making faire of the doores gates for Gods entrance Psal 101. The Prophets eyes were to the faithfull of the Land that he might picke out the choicest of them for the Lords seruice and his prayer was for the Israelites that they might be corner stones polished and grauen to make a Princely Pallace 3. After this ground-worke is laid then the housholder must build thereon dealing in his familie as the Pastor in the Church either by way of teaching by words and example or by praying or by correcting First teaching and instructing of the familie is required and that partly in reading partly in deliuering precepts out of the Word It is Gods Commandement Deut. 6.7 To whet the Law continually on our children and to traine them vp euen from their childhood in the Scriptures Secondly Calling them to account for things deliuered by Catechizing is needfull This is the driuing of the nayle to the head this hinders vaine thoughts words and exercises this banisheth much folly and ignorance that is bound vp in the hearts of children and seruants Thirdly Application of Gods workes past or present on our selues or others to moue vnto confidence in God by the workes of his mercie and to feare to offend by the workes of his iustice is also requisite this was holy Abrahams practise Gen. 18.19 for which God would not hide his secret workes from him Fourthly Edification of the family with Psalmes and melodie to the Lord is fit and conuenient Col. 3.16 as the Apostle teacheth vs. Againe as the Master of the house must teach by words so by example like Dauid walking in the vprightnes of his heart in the midst of his house for the eye of the familie is vpon the gouernours thereof as the eye of the Church vpon her Pastor Secondly there must be daily praying in the familie at least euery morning and euening solemnly on our knees making confessions of sins and requests vnto God together with thankesgiuing Euening and morning Psal 55.17 and at noone will I pray and make a noyse saith Dauid And Daniel three times a day prayed and praysed God in his house Dan. 6.10 Lastly there ought to
speciall testimony of his presence there is called the seeking of his face And because he was so specially present there the Iewes in their Prayers must turne their faces towards the Arke and towards Ierusalem And that the Iewes might know where to finde God at all times Exod. 25.8 he told them that he would dwell in the Sanctuary and sit betweene the Cherubins So in the new Testament God hath appointed certaine signes as so many way-markes to finde him out as the publique seruing of him in spirit and truth resorting of Gods Temple and there ioyning in holy worship with the rest of his people is the way to seeke him The offering vp of the sacrifices of prayer and praise Call vpon me in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 and I will heare thee and thou shalt prayse me The frequenting of the Sacraments which represent that to the eye which the word doth to the eare In all which he will be sought and out of these will not be found God cannot be seene or found but by his owne light and therefore he that must seeke him must haue the light of vnderstanding Psal 14.2 The Lord looked downe to see if any would vnderstand and seeke after God Fourthly seeke God in the right way Ier. 6.16 Fourthly as we must seeke God by his owne meanes so in the right way which is called the old way and therefore the good way We must not seeke God that way we lost him for so it is likely we shall neuer heare of him but there is another way though a strait and backe way which soone brings vs to him The familie of Iacob those seuentie soules came downe to Egypt through the land of the Philistims but after fortie yeares circled about to Canaan through the Arabian Desert The three Wisemen that worshipped Christ were warned by the Oracle to goe into their Countrey another way Imitate these Sages thou lost God by transgression seeke him not in that common beaten way but by obedience and humiliation thou lost God by adultery seeke him by chastitie thou lost him by the way of pride hatred wantonnesse wrath ryot seeke him by the way of humilitie loue temperance patience sobrietie thou lost God by the way of couetousnesse contention swearing prophanenesse seeke him by the way of contentation peace honouring his name holinesse of life thou lost him by the way of vaine superstition seeke him by the way of Christian Religion to conclude as thou lost him by the way of sinne so now set on to seek him by the way of repentance and reformation A reformed life is the new way and best way till thou set foote in it thou art out of the right way and soone shalt loose thy way to God enter into it and bid farewell to thy sinnes that thou maist with a quicke dispatch wheele about into thy owne Countrey Fiftly as we must seeke God in the right way Fiftly seeke God in his owne manner 1. Early Psal 63.2 so in Gods manner and that is diuerse sorts of wayes First Earely This was the Prophets practise Early in the morning will I seeke thee That is euery morning the beginning of my worke shall be to looke towards thee I will beginne my duties in faithfull inuocating thy helpe and aid And as in the morning of the day so also in the morning of thy life forget not to seeke God by Repentance faith obedience c. This is the chiefe season Eccl. 12.1 Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth A wound lookt to at first when its freshest is soonest healed A groat newly dropt downe through the fingers if it be presently sought after will soone be found So will God in youth from whence as a friend he hath lately departed by reason of sinne Behold then as euery day of thy life so principally thou owest the prime part of thy life to this dutie when thou art strongest and aptest But many deferre to seeke the Lord vntill the last weeke of their life the last day of the weeke the last houre of the day the last minute of the houre It is an exorbitant course while the ship is sound the tackling sure the Pilot well the sailes strong the gale fauourable the Sea calme to lie idle at Rode carding dicing drinking burning the seasonable weather and when the ship leakes the Pilot sicke the Mariners faint the stormes boysterous and the Sea a turmoile of outragious surges to launch forth and hoyse vp saile for a voyage into farre Countries and yet such is the skill of euening seekers who in the morning of youth and soundnes of health and perfit vse of reason though they cannot resolue to weigh the Auchor and cut the Cable that with-holds them from seeking of Christ neuertheles they feed themselues with a strong perswasion that when their wits are distracted their senses astonied all the powers of the mind and parts of the body distempered then forsooth they thinke suddenly to become Saints at their death howsoeuer they demeaned themselues as Deuils all their life Let vs awake from sinne with Dauid early Psal 57.9 1 Sam. 15.12 Gen. 21.14 Ioh. 8.2 Ioh. 20.1 rise with Samuell early with Abraham send away Hagar early with Christ and his Audience come to the Church early seeking the Lord with Mary Magdalen early Of this point more largly touching the opportunity of seeking hereafter following Secondly 2. Earnestly Earnestly As the husbandman for gold siluer and his earthly Commodities so we must seeke for this spirituall and eternall treasure the former seekes eagarly and instantly and so must we Our desire as it is to enioy so it must be earnest and feruent in the pursuit we ought to neglect no time nor pretermit any the least occasion of finding A loitering man that cares not whether he worke or no Prou. may get for his idlenesse a suit of ragges and he that thinkes to gaine Gods graces with nothing adoe may well goe without them There goes the striuing for masteries before the Crowne a painfull sweating race before the getting of the goale and an industrious diligence notwithstanding all serious thoughts to this purpose before the obtaining of the Lords grace and fauour Seeke painefully not carelesly not ouerly Luke 15. Pro. 2.4 as the woman for her groat seek as for siluer search as forgold The mint of gold lies not in the first spade it lies deeper search with a desire of finding for it s well if after all paines we finde at the last Thirdly Sincerely Thirdly Sincerely with a good and honest heart Quod cor non facit non sit What the heart doth not is not done at all Adams body being newly framed of the slime of the earth lay liueles and breathlesse vntill the breath of life was breathed into it So the action of seeking God with all the circumstances and tearmes thereof is nothing worth in the sight of God vntill
Seuenthly Constantly Math. 24 13. Constantly Continue seeking He that continues to the end shall be saued Gods grace is worth all our seeking though we should seeke it a thousand yeare giue not ouer till it be found Be watchfull to the end and thou shalt haue the crowne of life Reu. 2.10 And 2.26 and he that keepeth my workes to the end to him will I giue power ouer nations What a shame is it then to recoile and fall off from seeking bending backe like a broken Bow Psal 78.57 to begin in the spirit and end in the flesh What a shame is it after thou hast fed on Angels food to lust after the Onions and Garlicke of Egypt After thou hast escaped the filthinesse of the world tasted of the good Word of God Heb. 6.5 2 Pet. 2.21.22 and of the ioyes to come to turne from the holy Commandement and with the dogge to returne to his vomit What did it profit Demas to forsake the Gospell which once he professed and to turne worldling which dearely he loued Or the yong man to haue beene trayned vp in the keeping of the law Mar. 10.21 and afterward to depart from Christ for the loue he had to his possessions and what good shall we reape in seeking Gal. 6.9 repenting praying humbling hearing c. if we faint and giue out before we obtaine the thing sought Like as he that runneth in a race 1 Cor. 9. vnlesse he hold out to the goale obtaineth not the price and therefore sayth Paul I haue finished my course as it auailed not Lots wife to haue gone out of Sodome 2 Tim. 4.7 and after to looke backe So they shall neuer come to the Lord that lagger by the way that are wearie of the dutie vndertaken and runne themselues out of breath before they come to the end of their race And if such as seeke but before the end giue out shall not finde what then shall become of our wicked prophane wretches that neuer seeke at all What shall become of them that seeke onely vanities Which flie not but seeke the corruption which is in the world that care for nothing but backe and belly If God reiect the righteousnes and will of the Iewes what hope canst thou haue which neuer thinkest of God but to blaspheme him Which delightest onely to wallow in abhominable sinnes I must tell thee that ten thousand times thy betters are in hell euen such which haue rapt hard at heauen gates which haue bestowed many houres in prayers much money on the poore c. If such as seeke misse for seeking amisse much more those that seeke not at all or the contrary This may aduise vs to renue our strength as the Eagle to waite on the Lord to runne and not be weary Psal 112.6 to walke and not faint Trees of the Lords planting continue their fruits indeficiently neither doe their leaues drop off Let vs be prouoked to constancie in searching the Lord and hereunto let vs consider motiues and meanes 1. Motiues 1. The end of Redemption is to follow the Lord Luk. 1.75 to serue him in righteousnesse and holines all our dayes Ezek. 18.24 2. Righteousnesse departed from is vaine and forgotten All labour prayers repentance obedience yea all sufferings are lost as the Galathians suffered many things in vaine Gal. 3.4 3. Thou shalt be iudged as thou art found when the Lord comes The question shall not be what thou wast once but what thou art not how thou began to seeke but how thou continuedst in Seeking 4. Perseuerance at length brings home the profit it knits vs indissolublie to the Lord and puts vpon our heads the Crowne of glorie Glory and immortalitie is the part onely of such as by continuance in well doing seeke God Rom. 2.7 And our Sauiour is expresse Luk. 22.28 to you which haue continued with me haue I appointed a kingdome 2. Meanes 1. Get an infallible testimony of Gods fauour arising from the wise application of Gods promises Ioh. 6.40 and the sure witnesse of his Spirit 2. That thy selfe purified make conscience to repent of sinne and respect all Gods Commandements 3. Continue the vse of the meanes of preseruation as hearing reading praying receiuing of the Sacraments c. 4. Ioyne thy selfe with such as daily seeke the Lord. 5. Labour to know the necessary vse and worth of the Lords presence that so thou maist confesse and professe his goodnesse amid humorous opinions and strange oppositions 6. Be not too hote and ouer-hastie at first Nullum violentum perpetuum but meeke tractable sociable for boysterous and hot-spurred natures will not hold long 7. Be euer warie and circumspect to walke on by feare alwayes doubting thine owne weaknesse and suspecting thy strength 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that standeth take heede least he fall Thus of our direction in seeking the Lord. While he may be found There is a time it seemes when God will be found of his seruants that seeke him It is his owne promise and he will not gain-say it The poore shall not alway be forgotten Psal 9.18 the hope of the afflicted shall not perish for euer It makes God yearne within himselfe to see the godly seek him in distresse Times to find God and himselfe to with-hold his presence from them Therefore the first time wherein God will be found is the godly mans exigents and extremitie Deut. 4.29.30 When thou art in tribulation saith Moses and all these things are come vpon thee at the length if thou seeke the Lord he will not forsake thee Dauid called out of the deepe and God heard him Moses cryed at the red Sea and then God was found Abraham three dayes after the Commandement found God on the Mount And after three dayes when the case was hopelesse and the Disciples faith a little preiudiced Christ rose againe Secondly another time of finding God is the time of preaching Gods pure word by it God knockes at the doore of our hearts Reu. 3.20 and desires entrance By it he so reueales himselfe to the congregation that they may spiritually by the illuminated eye of the minde behold him present after an admirable sort among them The time of preaching the Gospell in Scripture is called the Day of visitation Thirdly another time of finding is when we haue vsed all godly exercises heauenly meanes in seeking for to sit still and doe nothing is to want the price The Spouse in the Canticles wanted her beloued when shee would not sollow after him but lay slugging on her bed And when we are like standing Ponds couered with greene and filthie stuffe of idlenesse we are aliens from God But when we fall to enquiring after him among the watchmen in the darke of the night through dangerous streets with a good heart eagarly directly resolutely continually then he comes to vs thrusts in his hand by the hole of the doore
inhabitants of the earth as Grashoppers whose throne is the heauen of heauens and the earth is his footestoole and his wayes are in the great deepe c. Answ It is true Sol There is neither heauen nor hell nor the vttermost part of the Sea neither day nor night light nor darkenesse that can separate vs from God the presence of his God head is no lesse in one place then in another He is well knowne in Iury and his name is great in Israel But yet touching the presence of his mercie and louing kindnesse that is not vouchsafed to the wicked they shall not enioy one iot of it In which respect they may be said to be farre absent from God Secondly God may be said to be found when the kingdome of Grace is much aduanced amongst a people but the vngodly they seeke to subdue it Heb. 10.29 and to trample the precious bloud of Christ vnder their feete which makes them strangers vnto God Vse 1 Vse Is it so that a man by sinne flies the face of God For information this may then let vs see the malice of sinne against our soules It will neuer cease stretching forth an Ishmaeliticall hand til it haue quite parted God and vs yea till it hath diuided vs from our selues for while we are beguiled with the deceilfulnesse thereof irrationall conditions and beastly qualities oppresse vs and with ding-thrifts and Prodigalls it will make vs forsake our Fathers house and change his sweet and fat land for a strange Countrey his daintie cates and dishes of sweet meates for refuse huskes his friends and acquaintance to become fellow-feasters with swine In a word it will so mad vs that we should neuer thinke either of God or the Deuill of Paradise or eternall plagues if the Lord had not left time and meanes that we might returne to our selues and so seeke the Lord. Vse 2 Vse 2. Secondly this Doctrine may teach vs to beware For instruction and to take heed of sinne and as much as in vs lyeth to binde it to good behauiour we haue no greater enemy in the world seeing without our circumspection it will goe about to set God and vs at eares Oh then take the peace of it and seeke to shut it out of the doores of thy heart that it may neuer shut thee out of Gods presence And as Samael dealt with the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15. so deale thou with the members of sinne kill them and then bury them with Iezabells bones in a deepe graue that they may no more rise vp to hang vpon thee this is the next and readiest way to get into Gods fauour and the presence of his grace Vse 3 Vse 3. Thirdly we are here likewise taught to bewaile the great losse of our God To bewaile our losse of God by sinne and to lament the want of his gracious presence this is the practise of euery godly man for if he thinke it the greatest gaine to obtaine the fauour of God then he must needes thinke it his greatest losse to want it If there be any sprinkle of Regeneration vpon thee or sparke of grace within thee it will moue thee to griefe and sorrow in the absence of God and compell thee to seeke him as the Hart doth the waters saying Psal 143.6 My sonle desireth after thee as the Hart after the water brookes and as the thirstie lands after raine Reason 1 The reasons why godly men bewaile the absence of God are specially these two First they know what it is to want God by setting a prise and worth on him while they haue him present in their hearts they know that when by sinne we loose him the soule is dead grace is withered the Conscience tormented and heauen turned into hell they know that the world cannot be so miserable without a Sunne nor the bodie without breath as the soule without God the sunne of his Church and the soule of the soule of euery true beleeuer Reason 2 Secondly if God depart from them for a time in displeasure through their fall into some sinne and then leaue a sense of his displeasure in their soules then their soules find such a want of him that they are not able to sustaine themselues without a present possession In this case godlesse men being sore afflicted will mourne for their wants and therefore much more the godly But alas for all this with the most of vs it is farre otherwise we can easily bewaile the losse of a sheep or a cow or an hogge c. We will take on as a Beare robbed of her Whelpes and tell our neighbours our griefe and the great losse we haue sustained but we seldome or neuer make any moane that we haue lost Gods fauour because we want a sense and feeling of his blessings in his mercies We seldome cry out in his absence Psal 67.1 Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs neither doe we complaine Isa 59.2 that our iniquities haue reared vp a partition wall betweene God and vs and so hid his face from vs that he will not heare neither doe we accuse our selues as lost sheepe Psal 119. last verse that haue long gone astray Oh therefore let vs flatter our selues no more with those that plucke out the eyes of knowledge it selfe Psal 10.4.11 Tush God is gone he hideth his face and will neuer see But rather let vs resolue to seeke GOD when he is wanting and to mourne for the want Let vs not follow our sensualitie too farre nor buy voluptuousnesse with a price but say with the Athenian Oratour when we heare how farre God is from vs by our pleasure Non emâ—m tanti peanitere I will not buy the seeking of God by Repentance at so high a rate Vse 4 Vse 4. Lastly seeing by sinne we loose God here againe wee are exhorted when we possesse him when we haue found him Let vs hold God fast when we haue him when we possesse to keepe our selues there and to hold him fast Let thine eye be continually vpon him and neuer suffer him to be out of thy sight Psal 123.2 Behold as the eyes of seruants looke vnto the hands of their Masters and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hands of her mistresse So let our eyes waite vpon the Lord our God As the child dealeth with his Father he followes him vp and downe and dare not let him goe out of his sight but holds hard on his skirts keepes him with him So deale thou with the Lord turne thy selfe in euery good action vnto him and if thou hast any feare of loosing then sit the closer and hold the faster euer remembring that the second losse is the greater and bringeth more danger to the looser Dauid set himselfe euer in Gods presence 2 King 5.16 so doe thou stand before the Lord continually for this is a signe of thy obedience to the Lord
As this Doctrine may reprooue the offender so it may serue to instruct vs to the obseruation of the point in hand For instruction to seeke the Lord If a child in a crowd hath lost the sight of his tender hearted Father or a waiting man the sight of his kinde Master or if any man hath lost any matter of valuation how diligently will they set themselues to Inquisitions they will goe euery way to the wood as the Prouerbe is they will not cumber themselues with other triuiall matters found in their way but passe ouer them as if they tooke no notice of them So it should be with vs tho many good commodities may lie in our way yet let vs neuer trouble our selues to take them vp for it is a more valuable commoditie then they are that we seeke after Oh let vs be stirred vp on all hands concerning this dutie whet on one another to the performance of it And you that haue beene carelesse herein begin now at last to be better aduised and thinke it not an easie thing to seeke God Seeking requires a care and an endeuour more then ordinary And you that haue bestowed some care this way be perswaded that it hath not beene so earnest so constant so intentiue as it ought to be reamend and double the same Yea let vs all redeeme as much time as possiblie we may for this one thing let vs abridge our selues rather in our outward profits and pursuites of them let vs rather want opportunitie in our sports let all other things goe to wracke rather then this one businesse should not be forwarded Vse 3 For direction Vse 3. This point will teach vs in the third place a lesson of direction where and how to seeke Gods louing face and fauour And therefore if you be affected with the commoditie here mentioned you will be glad to take the time meanes and helpes offered God hath three houses First we will begin with the place where God must be sought for when we are once fully assured of his habitation as I may so speake and of the place where he dwels then we may both boldly and freely seeke him The place we must goe vnto is his house there we must seeke him for as one neighbour hauing some businesse with another goeth not to a strangers house but to his house to seeke him and indeed where should neighbours seeke one for another but at their houses So if the Lord be wanting to any soule in as much as it crieth out Psal 76.7.8 why Lord absentest thou thy selfe so long then let that soule be prostrate before the gates of the Lords house that he may answere the complaints thereof And that it may not long be farre from him Consider that God hath three houses if we misse in one or other yet we shall be sure to find in the third First Church Assemblies The first house where we must seeke God is the Church whereto the godly often are congregated and where also God is present after a speciall manner He is in the midst of such assemblings Math. 18.23 Iohn found the Lord in the midst of the seuen golden Reu. 18.1 Candlestickes that is the true Church The spouse sought and found her best beloued in the tents of the Shepheards Cant. 6.1.2 and in the garden among the beds of Spices that is in the Assembles of godly people where graces grow as Spices vpon a bed in a garden And so if we will finde the Lord our resort must be to the Sanctuarie from vnder the threshold of the doore thereof Psal 63.2 And 73.17 flow forth waters to refresh our soules Thither went the Prophet Dauid in the time of distresse and was comforted and thither went the people of Israell to see the Lords face So that in the Congregation where the little flocke of Christ is folded we may seeke and finde The reason of it is Reason because those meanes which God hath sanctified and set apart for our saluation and for inquisition are there vsed there is the word truely and soundly preached there are the principles of religion for those of a lower forme there are deeper points for exercised wits Heb. 5.14 there are helpes for Magistrates for Ministers for priuate men for yong and old yea whatsoeuer grace is lacking there thou shalt be sure to haue it supplied abundantly there thou shalt see the great Mystery of godlinesse discouered which is 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the flesh c. And as in the materiall Sanctuary the Lord reuealed himselfe to his people so here to those that with Conscience seeke him will he likewise discouer himselfe in the saluation of their soules Vse If God be pleased graciously to afford vs his sight Vse and remembrance in exterior temples For reproofe where godly men are often assembled then this may shew vs plainely the gracelesse courses of vngodly sinners that liue as men without house harbourlesse the blustring world is their lodging roome vncleane birds their fellowes and the houses of strangers their dwellings Not to speake of Separatists who as if our Church had vtterly loft her face because perhaps shee wants some beautie doe flie from our Congregations as if they were cages of vncleannesse Nor of Popish Recusants who because they see not their Images their breaden and woodden Gods in our Temples refuse to come neare the portalls of our Church Luk. 11.42 Act. 20.27 when the Key of knowledge by which might be opened vnto them the whole counsel of God is offered First many others there be who that they may not be thought plaine Atheists doe after a sort ioyne with the Assemblies not for loue to Gods house nor for duties therein exercised for so they cast themselues from the presence of God in carnall lazinesse and prophane contempts but to shew their seruice of the time and the sauing of their purses The Prouerbe is As good neuer a whit as neuer the better It is as good to be absent as to be dull heauie lumpish and without spirit in seeking for God whom they care not whether they finde or no. Secondly Others in stead of going vp to the house of the Lord seeke the vtter desolation of it so ill affected are they with Gods presence they raze the Sanctuarie to the ground Psal 74.7 defile the dwelling places of Gods name burne vp the Synagogues of God Lam. 1.4 that no man may come to the solemne feasts of Sion and all her gates they delight to see desolate Thirdly Many delight to passe ouer Sabboths in the Ale-house and Tauernes being gathered to heathenish consorts Their vsuall speech is this the Church hath enough in it that may goe to God and pray for vs we may stay here well enough These passe vpon themselues sentence of excommunication and like out-lawed persons are depriued of the benefit that belongs to the subiects of heauen
seek with the eye of faith and obedience SEcondly as we must seeke GOD in his owne house so with a spirituall eye as he himselfe is a spirituall substance flesh and bloud cannot see him though they seeke him we can neuer finde him by the eyes of naturall senses but of faith and obedience Gods spiritualtie cannot be pierced with the eye of flesh which seeth nothing but that which is finite materiall visible and circumscriptible as God is not nay if the soule of a man a finite spirit cannot be seene with the bodily eye much lesse the God of spirits who is infinite and of such puritie as the Angels are not able to behold S. Iohn saith No man hath seene God at any time and S. Paul saith God dwelleth in light not to be attained to whom no man hath seene neither can see and therefore concerning the outward sight whereby curious and ignorant men would be glad to see God hardly thinking there is any God when none in this sort can be seene the truth is God cannot be seene Neither are we able to see and finde God by the eye of our mind whilest we are here as it is corrupted the reason is this because all our knowledge is by formes and fashions conceiued in our minde and for the most part floweth from the outward senses but God as hath beene said cannot be perceiued by our senses No man euer saw the glorie of the Lord viz. his Essence and diuine Maiestie no not Moses himselfe neither could he see him expressly with the eye of his minde But thus farre we see the Lord after an obscure fashion we see his loue and mercy and kindnesse to vs in the reuelation of his sonne Christ in his beneuolent gifts of grace in the remission of sinnes iustification sanctification c. But at the last day we shall see him fully in his brightnesse and beautie euen as he is 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we know him in part sayth Paul but then we shall know as we are knowne Grosse are those old Heretiques Vse the Anthropemorphites that gaue to God an humane forme c. The Scriptures speaking after our capacitie giue vnto him the parts of man as feete hands face c. And whereas they alledge some apparitions and visions which the Fathers had as Abraham of three going to destroy Sodome as Lot of two c. I answere that God appeared vnto them not in his nature but in such a forme as pleased him Many saw Sed quod voluntas elegit non quod natura formauit What his will chose not what his nature formed Men saw him when he would in such formes as he would not in his diuine nature wherein he lay hid euen then when he was seene Grosse likewise and ridiculous are our common conceits of God Ignorant people suppose him to be a man in shape and passion like themselues The Epicure who thought there was no happinesse vnder the Sunne but in carnall pleasure imagined God to be of the same sensuall humour and deemed that freedome from busines was his chiefest felicitie And Dauid sayth in the Psalme that the vngodly person who runnes to all manner of excesse ioyning with the theefe and partaking with the adulterer Psal 50.18.21 and opening his mouth with the slanderer thinkes God like himselfe and generally our priuate thoughts touching God are not so holy so reuerent so diuine so full of respect as they ought to be Therefore if we would see the backe parts of the Lord then we must pray to him to open the eyes of our mides to cleere them with the grace of vnderstanding that we may see him now not as he is in his eternall being for that cannot be but as he hath reuealed himselfe mercifully and graciously vnto vs in all his spirituall endowments of grace This is the second thing required in our seeking the Lord namely to seeke him not with the eye of sense or nature but with the eye of grace enlightened and cleered Thirdly seeke God by his meanes Thirdly we must seeke God by his owne light and meanes first by the word in Precepts and Promises This is a Lanthorne to our feete and a light to our pathes by which God may be discerned whom the darknesse of the world cannot comprehend We reade that when God appeared to Eliah before him went a mightie strong winde 1 King 19.11 c. which rent the mountaines but the Lord was not in the wind After the wind came came an earth-quake and after it a fire but the Lord was in neither but then at last of all came a still and soft voice and in that the Lord was And that was it which most affected Eliahs heart for as the Story sayth When Eliah heard it he couered his face with a mantell and went out Whereby the Lord would teach vs that as in the first deliuery of the Law the instrument which God taught them by was a voice he purposely forbearing to present himselfe to their eies in a visible shape least they should stick too much vpon outward shewes so they likewise in following times should trust especially to the same meanes which God as it were by his owne mouth hath sanctified vnto them at the beginning namely a voyce The nature of man rather affects that which offereth it selfe to the eye then the naked and bare instruction of the eare and therefore all counterfeit Religions are full of beautie Images signes and bodily representations wherewith the world is bewitched But the instrument that brings vs to the Lord is his owne word the Lord thought it fitter to informe Moses by the care then to giue him his desire in presenting himselfe to his eye so he doth still hold the same course and hath ordained the sense of hearing to be as it were the pipe by which the sauing knowledge of his will may be conueyed downe into the heart And as for those who will not be instructed by hearing Vse they are sonnes of wrath past all hope of God 's louing presence there is no course though in mans reason neuer so little that is able to recouer them Let it admonish vs if we desire to know God to prepare our eares to the meanes of knowledge Remember what Salomon hath said that it is but the sacrifice of fooles Eccl. 4.17 which all those performe who come into the house of God and are not neare and readie to heare thus much of the word teaching vs that a man desirous to know in some sort or to conceiue the maiestie of God is instructed more largely by the eare then by outward and visible representments A second meanes to seeke God are such signes of his presence as he hath made choice of to reueale his grace in In the old testament beleeuers must seeke him in sacrifices and ceremonies and therein he gaue them gracious answeres The Arke of the Couenant was called the face of God and the seeking of
hunger-bitten beast is death Say now were it not foolish presumption to deferre Repentance vpon hope of long life depending on so doubtfull condition Many yong men are taken away on the sudden before euer they looke or prepare for death Iob. 21.13 And 24.24 They spend their daies in wealth and suddenly they goe downe to the graue and are cropt off as an eare of Corne. Haue we not examples euery day almost of some that goe well to bed at night and are found dead in the morning And of others that drop downe by the high way side and die in the field We may not take vpon vs to determine peremptorily of such Rom. 11.33 because the iudgements of God are vnsearchable and his wayes past finding out Therefore adde not one euill day vnto another Sufficient for the day is the euill thereof Math. 6. yesterday to day to morrow time past present and to come that is all the dayes of our life are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dayes of sorrow 2. Delay is danderous breeds second nature 2. Delay is dangerous and custome of euill whereon God vsually layeth a fearefull commination Reu. 22.11 Let him that is filthie be filthie still And when the soule is invred to an euill habit it is hardly capable of better impressions and vertuous dispositions Ier. 13.23 Can the Black-moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots So hard it is for them to doe well who haue learned to doe euill The Israelites long acquainted with Egyptian bondage were loath to leaue it but the hurt was their owne their losse had beene greater if the Lord had not redeemed them with a strong arme When sinne pleads prescription and Sathan possession the Soule of the Combatant shall finde enough to doe to be rid of it for his bones were filled with the sinnes of his youth Iob. 20.11 and now they will sleepe with him in the dust Reason 3. It is disasterous 3. Deferred seeking is dismall and disasterous He that neglects to day shall haue no time to morrow Ren. 10.6 but shall for his negligence purchase an eternitie of displeasure The rich man Luk. 12. promised himselfe many dayes of pleasure Luk. 12.19 But thou foole saith the Text this night shall they fetch away thy soule And many a man feeds his conceit with an Euening Conuersion and with the Backe to spread his wings of Repentance in the twi-light but that is not Gods houre and therefore his head and heart may ake with crying but shall not be the better for he shall end his dayes in woe this is an approued truth Heb. 12.17 Esan sought the blessing in vaine though he sought it with teares when there was no place for Repentance Math. 25. The fiue foolish Virgins comming too late when the Bridegroome was entred and the doore shut had a fearefull and finall repulse I know yee not When I called yee answered not Prou. 1.28 when I said Returne to me yee sonnes of Adam yee would not returne therefore when you shall call vpon me I will not answere when you seeke me early I will not be found c. Oh therefore let vs not wast away that little light of time left vs in gaming ryoting reuelling drinking dauncing dallying swaggering swearing c. but take present hold on it so friendly smyling for as Christ sayd of Iohn Baptist This is Eliah if yee will receiue him So I say This is the time of our repentance euen this houre this minute this moment Reason 4 For the performance of this speed requiring dutie The precepts and examples of others may moue to this dutie we neither want sufficient Precepts nor examples of others First we haue many incitements and precepts 1. Of Christ Walke in the light while yee haue the light Ioh. 12.35 And 9.4 for the night commeth when no man can worke Ierusalem Ierusalem would to God that in this thy day c. 2. Of Gods Children who all are so nearely conioyned in vrging the present opportunitie that they need not be rehearsed Eph. 5.16 Prou. 23.23 1 Pet. 5. counselling vs in generall to buy the truth but not to sell it to redeeme the time to gird vp our loines c. Secondly we haue store of examples vnto this dutie as 1. of Christ who like a Gyantran his race and as the Sunne in the firmament he went about preaching the word Math. 4.23 doing good and healing all diseases among the people He gaue his eyes no sleepe his eye-lids no slumber nor the temples of his head any rest vntill his Father gaue him his Quietus est Sit thou on my right hand 2. Of the Angels who attend the Lord and doe his heasts and his will at the first command with speed they make no delayes but when the Lords pleasure is to doe his message they runne 3. Of holy and godly men to whom as soone as the Lord sayth Seeke my face they forthwith addresse themselues to it and shape this answere Luk. 19.6 Thy face Lord will we seeke Zacheus being bidden to come downe from the tree came downe hastily and receiued Christ ioyfully Gen. 31. When God charged Iacob to returne into the land of his Fathers and to his kindred he protracted no time but informing Rahell and Lea of the necessitie of his voyage he suddenly departed without taking his leaue of Laban and the prophet Dauid sayth of himselfe Psal 119.60 I considered my wayes and turned my feete vnto thy testimonies I made haste and delayed not the time c. Againe we are taught from the vnreasonable creatures to obserue our time Ier. 8.8 The Storke knoweth her appointed time the swallow her season Why should we that are endowed with reason neglect the gracious time why stand we idle Math. 20. or sit we gaping one on another Gen. 42.1 Let vs put on the shooes of the preparation of the Gospell on our feete and let vs take the staues of trauellers in our hands that so we may make hast to him who will crowne our righteousnesse imputed by Christ with glory and immortalitie Vse 1 This Doctrine makes against all such as haue a iust opportunitie of Repentance and yet driue it off Some are visited with the weightie hand of God through sicknesse infirmities losses c. One would thinke this time would wholly presse their Consciences with this so good a dutie and vrge a perseuerance of humiliation but yet behold no sooner is Gods hand remoued from them but like Horses well fatted and pampered they kicke against their maister and fall to tumbling in their out-casted dung Others vnder the painefull Ministery and while the zeale thereof seemes to touch them are all on the spurre they will cry and take on as if they were vtterly destroyed they will seeme to reforme all whatsoeuer hath beene done amisse but like stubborne and deceitfull seruants that stand silent and
mute before their masters they will laugh and spend time idlie and lasciuiously when they are departed from it they forget the word yea themselues and so with the dogge they returne to their wonted vomit 2 Pet. 2.22 Others are in strength of bodie and soundnesse of the members and they need not returne to God till they waxe wan and weake and feeble and then they say is their time But let me frame such an opponent and times-enemie this answere if thou doest not forsake thy sinnes and turne to God till thou be weake and feeble then thy sinnes will forsake thee and not thou them What thankes is it for a drunkard to giue ouer his drunkennesse when he is not able any longer to goe to the Alehouse Or for the Whoremaster to leaue his whoredome when he hath no strength for the performance and execution of his filthie desire A man should willingly part with his sinnes euen while he is able to commit them and not by constraint when there is no remedie Secondly the time of weaknesse dotage c. is not Gods appointed opportunitie If a man would then he cannot soundly turne to God for all the parts of bodie and powers of soule will loose their vertue and neither part nor power can performe their office Eceles 12. The brawne of the armes they fall away the keepers of the house that is the hands which defend the bodie tremble the strong men that is the legges that should carry the bodie doe bow themselues and waxe faint the eyes that looke out at the windowes are darke and obscure the Grinders that is the teeth fall out of the head the doores of the lips are shut the iawes fallen and the daughters of singing that is the eares are abased being vnable any longer to heare the sound of Musicke the memorie is dulled the vnderstanding darkned c. And further least a man should thinke the time of dotage and of weaknesse the most conuenient time to seeke the Lord Salomon brings in that decrepit age deafe blind lame halt short winded full of aches in his bones cramps in his ioynts and sundry diseases in his bodie trembling on a staffe with shaking lips and almost robbed of all senses as if he might say Now looke and tell me whether this weake time this feeble age be the acceptable time and day of conuersion When this age oppressed Barzillai then could he say Can I discerne betweene good and euill 2 Sam 19.35 Haue I any taste in that I eate or drinke c. He confessed that his weaknesse was so great that both bodie and mind were disabled from attending on the King much more from attending this worke of grace Others also are readie to plead the mercifulnesse of God to giue toleration to presumptuous procrastination Oh God is mercifull hereupon the yong man is loose the drunkard ryotous the rich man cruell the swearer blasphemous the adulterer vicious and each man adulterate and beastiall in his kinde But let such bold flinder-mice know withall that God is as speedie in iustice to punish the euill and vngodly men as he is full of mercie for the vse and reward of his owne dearelings The hope of the wicked is hopelesse the Lord hath said it Psal 18.26 Prou. 1.28 34. he will visit their iniquities and laugh at their destruction and they shall finde that true for all their presumptions which the Apostle relateth Heb. 10.32 And 12.29 Rom. 2.4 viz. that it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of God who is a consuming fire The mercie of God should lead men to repentance and make preparation for the day of grace Others are forward to excuse their delay I pray you did not the theefe on the Crosse seeke the Lord by Repentance at the last houre of his life and found him to his comfort I grant its true but it followes not thereon that euery one so seeking shall partake of GODS fauour This example was extraordinary and giuen of God that sinners should not presume and that true paenitentiaries should not despaire It is folly and great madnesse to deferre vntill the last in regard of this one patterne and example it being left without precept Fie on this slaggering and staggering of Christians who gape after Meteors in the aire cast beyond the Moone and are doubtfull when they hazard nothing but vanitie which would hazard their soules They murmure at present conuersion and say with the Disciples This is an hard saying who can beare it Ioh. 6. Or else they seeke to shift it off as they did who were called on to re-edifie the Temple and answered It is not yet time to build Hag. 1.2 c. Vse 2 Secondly this Doctrine may likewise serue for Instruction For instruction God biddeth and it is our dutie to hold opportunitie by the fore-locke by a little staying behind it will slip away and we shall not be able to catch hold of it Now the Lord will be found but anon he is gone and will absent himselfe as the Prophet tells vs Hos 5.6.7 They shall goe with their sheepe and their Bullockes to seeke the Lord but they shall not find him for he hath with-drawne himselfe from them Oh therefore when God putteth any good motion into our hearts of seeking let vs forthwith addresse our selues vnto it as Abrahams seruant that was sent to prouide a wife for his son Isaac when he had had good successe and well effected the businesse which he came for hasted home to his Master And when Rebeccaes friends requested him to stay ten dayes because they were loath to part with her on the sodaine he would not yeeld at any hand No hinder me not saith he Gen. 34.54.55.56 seeing the Lord hath prospered my iourney but send me away that I may goe to my Master So should we suffer nothing at all to hinder vs but euen make hast to turne to the Lord vpon the first motion There is a good saying to this purpose in the booke of Ecclesiasticus Chap. 5.7 Make no tarrying to seeke the Lord and put not off from day to day for sodainly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy securitie thou shalt be destroyed Ob But it will be said Ob Hast makes wast faire and softly goe farre soft fire makes sweet Malt the hastie man neuer wanted woe Ans All these be true Ans and good often in temporall affaires yea and sometimes also in businesses touching the soule Esay 8. Let not him that beleeueth make haste be not too credulous of euery thing without triall But in this case of seeking the Lord these Prouerbes hold not true we haue no larger bounds then the present the instant the moment If we slacke our zeale neuer so little euery baite of drunkennesse obiect of couetousnesse presented glance of wantonnesse will offer it selfe as a temptation to alter or at least to hinder our intended Conuersion And albeit they say as the Deuils said to Christ Math. 8. Why tormentest thou vs before the time Yet brethren the time is alreadie come and now is wherein God conuerseth with vs most graciously by his Spirit and most familiarly by his word let vs therefore gather Manna early in the morning before the Sunne melt it away and let vs walke in the light while we haue it then shall our darkenesse be turned into light our sorrow into ioy our baldnesse into beautie and for sack-cloath we shall be decked with garments of gladnesse then shall heauen and earth Angels and men and all creatures else clap their hands for ioy of our Conuersion all meeting in this cloze Praysed be the Lord who hath such pleasure in his seruants that he will be found of them to their Saluation Amen FINIS
thy Master to stand before his face and not to shrinke from his presence Thus much of the Supposition Now of the Position Seeke the Lord Hauing laid downe how that by sinne we are out of Gods fauour and lose his presence of grace it remaineth to speake of the meanes to finde the Lord and to get into his fauour and that is here said to be Seeking whether it be by prayer Repentance obedience or hearing of the word daily and diligently c. Doct. 1. God being lost by sin must be sought by all holy meanes And the Point is this that hauing lost the Lord by iniquitie we are to seeke him againe by all godly helpes and meanes we must not stand vpon arguments but resolue present diligence to seeke when God seemes to leaue the Cabin of our hearts and begins to write bitter things against vs. The seruant put out of his Masters seruice knowing the profit by it will not stand vpon his termes My master did me wrong why did he thus but he seekes all meanes to procure his masters wonted loue and affection neither doth it become vs Gods seruants to argue vpon points without ground but rather we should seeke Gods face when he calleth vpon vs to that purpose saying Psal 27.8 Hos 5.3 Seeke ye my face Thus did the men of Israel they sought the Lord and he was fauourable gracious vnto them God sends not his workmen away without wages nor those that seeke him by Repentance in faith c. without a reward Dauid saith Psal 34.4 I sought the Lord and he heard me He did not so much vse his bodily feete to runne after the Lord as the good temper of his affections to take delight in the Lord. Neither did he say I prayed and was heard but I sought and was heard 2 Chron. 20.3 and thus Iehosaphat fearing God set himselfe to seeke the Lord And why are all the Elect of God called a Generation of seekers but in respect of their enquiries after Gods fauour Psal 24.6 according as it is the brand of the vngodly that they seeke not God And surely Reason if either the comforts and ioy we may reape by Gods presence or the necessitie thereof may be of force to perswade inquirie and to stirre vp our care neither of them is wanting in this so weightie a matter for comforts and ioy what thoughts are able to reach to the excellency of them Eye hath not seene nor eare heard 1 Cor. 2.9 nor heart conceiued the multitude and worth thereof the presence of great men will astonish and amaze their inferiours it will make them fearefull to behold their faces Math. 5.8 but such is not Gods presence his face and countenance is delectable and at his right hand is pleasure for euermore Psal 16.11 and the more we can behold it the lesse is our feare and the greater our reioycing 1 Sam. 6.13 when the Arke was restored the men of Bethshemesh exceedingly reioyced when the publicke teaching of the Law which had a long time beene discontinued was againe established Nehem. 8.12 the people of Ierusalem were much comforted But how much more will the Children of the marriage Chamber reioyce Math. 9.15 when the Bridegroome is among them This ioy arising from Gods presence concerneth either the qualification of the Conscience or the fruition of Gods fauour in the estate of glory for the conscience when after many skirmishes and secret terrors it begins to gather heart as we say and to feele euidences of grace then there is much ioy yea such ioy 1 Pet. 1.8 as Peter calls it glorious and vnspeakeable Touching this Ioy looke vpon Dauid boasting in the ioy of heart which was giuen him by the Lords lifting vp of his countenance vpon him Psal 4.7 Looke vpon the Eunuch going on in his way reioycing Act. 8.39 because he felt how faith in Christ was wrought in his soule and that was Maries Ioy reioycing in spirit Luk. 1.46 that she knew God in Christ was become her Sauiour For the fruition of the state of glory hereafter it may well lift vp the beleeuers heart with comfort Reu. who shall stand before the lambe accompanied with 24. Elders singing and reioycing he shall be where God is for euer Ioh. 14.16.17 1 Cor. 13.12 and shall see him face to face If this glimmering light of heauenly knowledge when we see but as in a glasse darkely be so delightfull what shall it be to see and know the Lord as he is If the communion we haue here with Christ in his word and Sacraments be so ioyous what shall it be to enioy the immediate presence of God our Father Christ our Redeemer the holy Ghost our Comforter Now shall not such excellent comforts springing from the enioyment of Gods presence be reputed worthie our inquiries What doe many vulgar people oftentimes to see the Kings face or at least his person Strange things are done out of the desire thereof As earnest should we be to get a sight of God Thus I haue briefely pointed you to the ioy of the Saints in their apprehensions of God and the beholding of his bright countenance Now let me shew you the necessitie too the necessitie in a word is such that without God and the presence of his grace there is no possibilitie of admittance into heauen for vpon all those that are without the pale of his fauour shall be executed that sentence passed vpon the man without the wedding garment Mat. 22.13 Binde them hand and foote and cast them into vtter darknesse where shal be neither comfort nor light nor yet hope of either To be in a darke Dungeon where is no penetration of light nor any consolation is great paine and misery 2 Thes 1.9 but to be excluded from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power is euen to be punished with euerlasting destruction As is the world without a Sunne a pining child without a Mother a distressed land without a gouernour euen so is the soule and body without the blessed and glorious presence of God nay they are in a thousand times worse taking for their exemption shall be perpetuall and easelesse their eye-sight shall onely be of Gods wrath and his eternall furie They shall feed his Iustice while they are burning in fire and brimstone Reu. 21.8 which is the second death Looke then of what necessitie saluation and happinesse and life eternall is of the same is the fauour and louing countenance of the Lord. If it be necessary for a man to seeke to be saued it is necessary to seeke the present and future good of his soule by seeking a conioyning to the Lord by meanes of his grace What can deserue the very best and as it were the very quintessence of our care if not this Ob But it will be sayd Ob Why neede we seeke God