Three treatises, being the substance of sundry discourses

CHAP. IX.

Christians ought to clear their hopes from Un∣certainties. Beleevers doubt through their own fault. They that seek God, must pursue their end.

THat which follows next is Exhorta∣tion, That you would not only seek this Interest and get it, but that you would seek to know it, and to be satisfied that you have indeed an Interest in God. Live not upon hopes mingled with uncertainties and anxieties: Let not this suffice, It may be God is my God, or I hope he is; but put it out of doubt. Give all diligence (saith the Apostle) to make your Calling and Election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. Sure, as firm ground, that you may so know it, that there may be no trembling of heart about it, that it may be a certain con∣clusion made up in your own spirits, that you are the called and chosen of God. For if you do these things (saith the Apostle) you

shall never fall, but an abundant entrance shall be administred to you into his Kingdom: You shall never fall; or as it is sometimes ren∣dered, you shall never offend: So the Apo∣stle James, Chap. 2.10. He that Offends in one, is guilty of all. Indeed the sight of Inte∣rest in God carries a man with more even∣ness and strength in his way, and keeps him in more compliance with, and conformity unto God. Sometimes the word is rendered [stumble;] Rom. 11.11. Have they stumbled, that they should fall? If a man know God to be his God, he walks with a more even and steady foot, all his ways are more plain be∣fore him, mountains of difficulty and dan∣ger will be layd level, there will be nothing to dash his foot against, to hinder him in his race; and an entrance in abundance will be administred to him into the Kingdom of Heaven: Fears and doubts straiten our way, and hinder our passage to the Kingdom of God. Suppose a man were to go into an house where he fears he shall not enter, this would very much hinder his endevor: But when a man shall have a blessed pro∣spect into Heaven, and see his place there, that must needs further his more abundant and free entrance into it. But more parti∣cularly, that I may perswade you (if God will) to be very serious in this thing, to make

your Interest in God more certain, let me tell you,

In the first place, That no man that be∣leeves in Christ wants it, but through his own fault; I say, it is a mans own fault, if he be not able to say that God is his God. I speak now according to the ordinary course of God demeaning himself to his people. There is nothing of greater concernment, either to his peoples welfare, or the advance∣ment of his own design which he hath upon them, then the manifestation of his Love, and the satisfaction of their spirits, in that great Question, Whether God be their God. And that Spirit, upon whom lies the Office of bringing from darkness to light, hath this Office also, of refreshing and reviving the spirit, and therefore bears that name, the Comforter: He not only espouses us to Christ, but maintains a perpetual entertain∣ment; that is his work: He is not only the bond of our Union, but the light of it, by which we see our selves one with Christ, and so one with the Father. Many com∣plain, they find not God to be their God; but it is not because God is not willing to shew himself what he is, but because they are wanting to themselves. There are two great faults that oftentimes wrong us, and keep us in the dark, and make that seem a

secret, which otherwise might lie open to our eyes.

One Error concerneth seeking: Some seek not at all, and never put the question, whether God be their God, but run the ha∣zard, live and dye venturing their Souls to Eternity. Others complain, they seek, but they cannot find; fain they would be satis∣fied in this thing, but they cannot: Now I say, the complaint must fall upon our selves, there is perhaps a fault in our seeking. This is the word that must stand fast for ever, God will be found of them that seek him: In Jer. 29.13. Then you shall find me when you seek me with all your heart. To seek with all the heart, is not only to seek truly and sin∣cerely, (some seek but in words only, making verbal prayers without any inward sense,) but to seek him strongly above all things; and not only from an ardent thirst of spirit, but to seek him without ceasing, till we find him. In due time we shall reap, if we faint not, Gal. 6. The Rule of Scripture you know is this, that we pray incessantly, 1 Thes. 5.17. Mark that in Hos. 6.3. After two days will he revive us, and in the third he will raise us up; Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morn∣ing, and he shall come unto us as the rain; as the former and latter rain unto the Earth. If

you follow on, if you follow the business, you shall obtain: God hath appointed his go∣ing forth as the morning; that is, as the Sun riseth and fails not, as the Sun goes forth in its light, and grows; so will Gods appear∣ance to his people be: And as the rain comes upon the thirsty Earth, and causeth all things to spring afresh; so shall the manifestation of Gods love be to those that seek him with∣out ceasing. What if God appear not pre∣sently, and you have not that full answer to your desires? Though he come slowly, yet he will be sure to come; his staying is not a denyal; and his not shewing himself, is not an hiding himself; He is uncovering him∣self, and making way for the appearance of that which you would fain have a sight of; He stays a while, to make his love the more visible afterward; by his absence he raiseth the mind, and enlargeth the heart, to desire and long after his presence; and then his manifestation will be fullest. God is as rea∣dy, nay more ready to open, then you are to knock; he loves that thirst in you, which is after himself; he loves to be loved: let him be pleased as well as you. It may be seeking Christians are not so ingenuous as they should be: We are not to seek him only, but to please him. Psal. 119.2. Blessed are they that keep his Testimonies, and that seek him with

their whole heart: That seek him, and his Love, and keep his Law. Or it may be offences have been, but not bewailed: Im∣potency is the continuation of sin; You are ever doing that evil which you have not been humbled for; nothing nulls it but re∣pentance, and humbling your selves in the sight of God. With what face can you say to God, Let thy love, O Lord, be upon me, when as you cannot say to God, Lord, I love thee? That man cannot say he loves God, that desires not to please him. Can he say his heart is with God, who suffers his heart to go out after other things? Why should he desire so to impose upon God, that God should love him, whom he desires not to love and please? it is unreasonable. What father would be so dealt with, that the child walking in stubborn courses would have his father shew nothing but clearness of coun∣tenance and love to him? David, all the while he was under clouds of guilt and sor∣row, wished that God would shew forth the light of his countenance to him; but he suf∣fered many wrackings in his Soul till he confessed his sins, Psal. 32. What God hath said, he will have fulfilled. Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but not one tittle of his Promise. If he hear not, it is not because he is not a God hearing prayer, but because you

hear not him. Isai. 45.19. I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right: I speak as I mean, my words and my heart agree in one. What ever our of∣fences have been, if we be ingenuous in our approaches to God, God will not look upon our offences, but upon our persons: In 2 Chron. 7.14. you have this promise, If my people that are called by my Name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their Land. If thy Soul be sick, and thou mournest after God that hideth himself from thee, and humblest thy self, and re∣pentest of thy sins with abasedness of spirit before him, he will hear.

Notes

• Some ne∣ver put their Inte∣rest in God to the question.