God's soveraignty displayed from Job 9. 12. : Behold he taketh away, who can hinder him? &c., or, A discourse shewing, that God doth, and may take away from his creatures what hee pleaseth, as to the matter what, the place where, the time when, the means and manner how, and the reasons thereof : with an application of the whole, to the distressed citizens of London, whose houses and goods were lately consumed by the fire : an excitation of them to look to the procuring causes of this fiery tryal, the ends that God aims at in it, with directions how to behave themselves under their losses / by William Gearing ...

SECT. II.

In the second place I will shew you, wherein this seeking doth consist.

1. It consisteth in an earnest enquiry after the way to heaven. Isai. 55.6.* 1.1 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; the word in the original signi∣fies, quaerere interrogatione & verbis, to seek by words and interrogation; as a wandring traveller will be enquiring of all he meeteth the way to such a City: So they who seek after this Ci∣ty that is to come, they will be very en∣quisitive about the way to heaven, very desirous to be directed in the right way. How did divers persons come to Christ, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? What shall I do to be saved? O that my feet were di∣rected into the wayes of thy testimonies, saith David: The greatest fear of ho∣ly men, is, lest they should be out of the way; therefore none more scrupulous and less confident than they; none ful∣ler of holy doubts than they, and more frequently putting forth holy que∣stions. Usually men are very confident

that they are in the right way to hea∣ven, therefore they never seek out after it: It vexeth them very much, when they are put to the question; are ye sure that ye are in the right way to hea∣ven? I know not any thing in all the world, wherein the generality of men are more contentedly cheated, than a∣bout their state of Grace, and their ti∣tle to Heaven, few there be who have a care to buy gold tryed in the fire.

2. It consisteth in a diligent and in∣dustrious application of our selves to the use of all appointed means leading and directing us to this heavenly City: He that diligently prayeth, diligently seeketh heaven: he that diligently hear∣eth the Word, diligently seeketh hea∣ven▪ Hence in the New Testament the Gospel is often called the Kingdome of Heaven, and seeking God is frequent∣ly put for the worshipping of God: Gods Ordinances are a Jacobs Ladder, the top whereof reacheth to heaven, though the foot thereof be on earth; for by it we scale heaven: The Ministery of the word are a light and a Lanthorn to our steps, to guide our feet in the way to heaven: God hath set up the Ministery as way-marks to direct Tra∣vellers

in the right way; those that neglect Gods faithful Ministers, do neglect the seeking heaven. Take this rule or caution; when you come to Gods Ordinances, make heaven and salvation, and seeking God the end of your coming to them, Psa. 42.1, 2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, when shall I come before God. i. e. To enjoy God in his Ordinances; seek not so much the enjoyment of Or∣dinances, as of God in them.

3. It implies an application of our selves to an holy and heavenly conver∣sation: An holy life is the strait way which leadeth to heaven; heaven is the reward of an holy and heavenly Con∣versation; it is not every foul dog with his soul feet that shall tread upon the pure pavement of the New Jerusalem: He that doth not seek holiness, doth not seek heaven; heaven is to be sought for in an heavenly manner; heaven is a City hard to be won, the righteous wil scarce∣ly be saved; hell is prepared for unholy persons, forus canes, without ate dogs.

4. It consisteth in a constant use of all means, all holy duties, without faint∣ing or desisting, until you have found a title, and obtained a claim to heaven.

The woman in the Parable did not de∣sist from seeking, till she had found her groat; and the Spouse in the Canticles never gave over seeking Christ, till she had found him whom her soul loved: He that is slothful in seeking, may never find heaven.

5. It consisteth in an early and time∣ly seeking; begin to day while it is called to day: The greatest part of the world do but play with Religion, they think it an easie thing to be a Chri∣stian, and that to seek God and heaven is at the next door, and that they will be found at any time: No, no; the foolish Virgins lost heaven by seeking it too late: Many do eternally lose hea∣ven by delay of seeking. I make no doubt, but all do desire heaven, nor do I make any question but all or most of us do purpose to set some time apart to seek heaven: Why then not presently? who knoweth what a day may bring forth? who knows how soon death may arrest him? heaven is not easily found, it is not gotten with a few words or faint wishes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Qui qua∣rit, vult scire, aut obtinere. Lamb. in Plaut.