possibility or hope of

with respect to this:

finding Christ, we should not be called upon For the calls and invitations of the gospel are not in jest, but in earnest, not compliments, but serious and real, not to delude us, but to point us to a way of safety and happiness. I shall dismiss this also with making one reflection.

Reflect. What matter of lamentation is it then, that so many sit still and rest satisfied without Christ. Thus do the most, and in doing thus, they discover themselves more careless about things of a spiritual, than of a temporal nature. When persons hear of this or the other worldly thing to be obtained, houses or lands to be disposed of, how ready are they to seek to be possessed of them? And yet though they hear from day to day, how that the Lord Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price, is offered in the gospel, and they may have a real interest in him, which is enough to make them happy forever, How few are affected with this? Persons for the most part are more solicitous and careful, about uncertain and perishing riches, than about the true riches; than they are about finding the Lord Jesus Christ, with whom is riches and honor, yea durable riches and righteousness? Shall not the consideration of this rouse up sinners to an inquiring after him, to a right seeking of hin?

Prop. III. There are some who are under very peculiar encouragements as to finding of Christ. Though all ar to be encouraged with respect to this, who live under the gospel, yet there are some, who in an especial manner are under encouragements hereunto. I might be large in showing who these are: Let it suffice to say, that such are in an emphatical manner under encouragement, with respect to this, who are descended of the truly godly, and are in covenant with God: Such as are the children of the true fearers of the Lord, and have been dedicated to him by baptism. As there are exceeding great and precious promises referring to such as these in the word of God, so these may plead those promises; may indeed say with David, Ps. cxvi. 16. "O Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid." Such may expostulate with God and say, Lord, hast thou not said, that thou wilt "circumcise the heart of thy servants, and of their seed," Deut. xxx. 6. "That the seed of thy servants shall serve thee, who shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation," Ps. xxii. 30. That "the children of thy servants shall continue, and that their seed shall be established before thee," Ps. cii. 28. "That the man is blessed that feareth the Lord, his seed shall be mighty on the earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed," Ps. cxii. 1, 2. "That thou wilt pour thy Spirit upon the seed of thy servants, and thy blessing upon their offspring," Isa. xliv. 3. As this is a great

matter of encouragement to parents to seek to Christ for their children, so also to children to seek Christ for themselves. Though children are not to rely upon the piety of their parents: "Think not to say you have Abraham for your father," Matt. iii. 9. It is not your parents' seeking to God for you, that will interest you in Christ, and save you, unless you seek him yourselves. Yet the children of godly parents may in their prayers to God, plead the promises which God has made to the children of the faithful. Such may come before the Lord, and say, "Lord, hast thou not promised to give thy grace, thy blessing, yea eternal blessings unto such as are the posterity of them that fear thy name; I am the offspring of such, why may I not partake of those blessings? Bless me, even me also, O my Father."

Reflect. Hence, how inexcusable will all such be as are thus advantaged, if they go without Christ. If they do not find Christ, who have had these encouragements, as to this: It will be sad for any who live under the gospel to miss of a Christ: (It had been good for that man if he had never been born :) But especially for those who have been eminently advantaged, as to the finding of him; whose condition shall be more sad than theirs? Who have had a glorious price in their hands to get wisdom, but made no improvement of the same; who did not know the time of their visitation; who did not mind the things of their peace in their day. Oh! how does it concern us seriously to be considering the opportunity, advantages, encouragements, which we have had to seek Christ! and what heart we have had thereto ! and to be deeply humbled for our short comings, and to reform for time to

come.

Prop. IV. As there are some who have very peculiar encouragements as to finding of CHRIST; so an early seeking of him, has an abundant encouragement as to this.

Here in speaking to this, there are two questions which might be briefly discussed. First, What it is to seek Christ early? Or, When may persons be said thus to seek him? Secondly, How does it appear, that this early seeking of Christ has an abundant encouragement with respect to the finding of him?

Quest. 1. What is it to seek Christ early? Or, when may persons be said thus to seek him? And there are more especially two things which this carries in it.

1. When persons do not procrastinate this matter, but set about it in their youthful and tender years. Our text may be read, They that seek me in the morning, shall find me. The original word signifies, to seek timely in the morning. Then do persons seek Christ early, when they seek him early in the morning of their lives; when they do it in the days of their youth, as we are

enjoined to remember God, Eccl. xii. 1. An early seeking of Christ, is a youthful seeking of him. When persons are like Josiah, concerning whom we read, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 3.. "That while he was yet young, he began to seek the Lord God of his fathers." When they do this from their youth, as Obadiah speaks of his fearing the Lord, 1 Kings xviii. 12. When this is attended by them from their childhood; as Timothy is said, to know the holy Scripture, 2 Tim. iii. 15. When persons do not attend to this in the morning of their days, but put it off till they come to years, or the sun of their lives is almost setting, the shadows of the evening are almost upon them; they cannot be said to seek Christ. early. And if such should haply find him, (which is not frequent, but rare, for God usually influences such to a seeking him betimes, whom he has had thoughts of love and mercy for from eternity,) yet may they indeed say with the apostle, as in 1 Cor. xv. 8. "Last of all he was seen of me, as one born out of due time."

2. When persons attend to this matter with the greatest earnestness and affection. To seek Christ early is to seek him as first in time, before other things; so first in affection, above other things. The word in the original signifies, to rise early in the morning, and diligently to seek. So, Ps. Ixiii. 1. "O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee :" i. e. with greatest diligence. Prov. i. 28. "They shall seek me early; or, with the greatest earnestness. Hosea v. 15. "They will seek me early;" or, with fervency. So, Isa. xxvi. 9. "With my soul have I desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me, will I seek thee early." The Hebrew word signifies, both an early and an earnest seeking: As in the morning men are wont to be most quick, lively, and fit to attend to their duty. To seek Christ early therefore is to seek him betimes, and this not in a cold and dull, but most active and industrious manner; with sincere affection, exceeding diligence, and above all other things whatsoever. Our Lord has told us, Matt. x. 37. "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: And he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." Accordingly the early seeker of him has a most high esteem of him; can say, as Ps. lxxxix. 6. "Who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?" And as he has a most high account of him, so he is a most diligent seeker of him, can most truly express that language with respect to Christ, which she did falsely with respect to that young wanton, Prov. vii. 15. "Therefore came I forth to meet thee diligently, to seek thy face." Quest. 2. How does it appear that this early seeking of CHRIST, has a most abundant encouragement with respect to the finding of him?

I shall only say two things here.

1. An early seeking of CHRIST has the promise of finding him. Our text is such a promise. The prophet tells us from God, Isa. xlv. 19. "I said not to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain ;" No, God has said, if we seek him aright we shall find him: See, Deut. iv. 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart, and with all thy soul." 1 Chron. xxviii. 29. "If thou seek him he will be found of thee." Jer. xxix. 13. "Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." And a multitude more of exceeding great and precious promises, we have in the word of God of this nature. And since there are so many promises of finding Christ, to those that are early seekers of him; this must needs be abundant encouragement with respect to finding of him. What can we desire more than the divine promise to encourage and animate us to our duty? The promises of God will most certainly be performed. "He is faithful that hath promised," Heb. xi. 11. "God that cannot lie hath promised," Titus i. 2. "There shall not one word fail of all his good promised," 1 Kings viii. 56.

2. An early seeking of CHRIST has always been attended with a finding of him. As there are promises that such shall find him, so such have been wont to find him according to the divine word and promise. It is said, 2 Chron. xv. 15. "That they sought him with their whole desire, and he was found of them." There are none who have sought him with their whole desire, but have or shall find him: To be sure, if they persevere seeking of him. There are none that shall miss of Christ, who have sought him early and with their whole hearts. Ps. cxix. 10. And is not this most abundant encouragement with respect to finding Christ, to those that are early seekers of him. If the promise do not afford encouragement enough, (though that indeed is enough,) yet the performance of it certainly does : If the bare word of God does not satisfy us in the matter, yet the fulfilment of his word must needs be assurance sufficient: So that it is most full, plain and clear, that an early seeking of Christ, has a most abundant encouragement with respect to finding of him. Such a seeking of Christ hath the promise of finding him: And such a seeking of Christ has been always wont to be attended with a finding of him.

I proceed to make some brief improvement of the doctrine, in two USES. First, by way of examination. Secondly, by way of exhortation.

Use I. By way of EXAMINATION.

Let those who are in their early days, examine and see whether they have sought or do seek the Lord Jesus Christ. The most

of my hearers are in their youthful time: Young persons. You are early in seeking the world, very solicitous how you may have an outward subsistence; but are you early in seeking Christ, and Heaven? Though the former may and ought to be done, yet this latter ought not to be left undone: Yea this latter is to be sought primarily, and in the first place, Matt. vi. 33. Well, how is it with you, young people, as to this? Have a care of deceiving yourselves; multitudes do so, with respect to this momentous affair. That you may not, but may make something of a judgment with respect to this matter; let me propose a few things very briefly to your consideration.

1. Have you been made sensible of your need of Christ? You are by nature (as has already been said) without him, at a distance from him: Have you not only been convinced of this, but of the necessity you are in, of a real interest in him? I know some of you have been under considerable convictions: And I tell you all, that unless you have had a sound and thorough conviction of Christ, his being the one thing needful, your seeking of him, (whatever you may pretend to) has signified very little. Persons are not wont to seek that which they have, or which they think they are in the possession of; or which they think they do not want; nor will persons seek the Lord Jesus aright, till God by his Spirit make them sensible of their undone circumstances without him.

2. What are your desires and longings after Christ? Is this the language of your souls, None but Christ! None but Christ! Do you often express yourselves with the holy Psalmist, Ps. lxxiii. 25."Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee." If this be not the frame and temper of thy soul at least in some measure and degree, your seeking of Christ (however you may please yourselves therewith) can never come under the denomination of an early seeking of him. But if the desire of thy soul be indeed after Christ: To him and to the remembrance of him," as the expression is, Isa. xxvi. 8. This is a seeking of him. A mourning and a lamenting after the Lord, is a certain token of integrity and uprightness. 3. How are you in the use of those means which tend to bring you to Christ? We read, Mark vi. 32, 33. "That when our Lord departed privately by ship to a desert place, the people that knew him, seeing it, ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent the ship and came together to him." So, if thou hast a right knowledge of him; if thou dost aright seek him, thou wilt endeavor to follow him from one duty and ordinance to another; as the zealous multitude followed him from place to place. How is it then with thee? Dost thou seek him "in secret?" Matt. vi. 6. Dost thou seek him in "his house," when thou repairest