I desire you to remember these directions, and be encouraged to seek to God. Joinjthe seeking in extremity, with the seeking him in his ordinances. If we do not seek him in his ordinances, in the time of peace, let us never think he will be so familiar with us in the time of trouble. If we be not acquainted with him in his ordinances in prosperit}^ in extremity he will be far off. Therefore ' seek the face of God' now, in all his ordinances. That is the way to have pro-vision of strength against all other extremities whatsoever. It is a great comfort in extremity to one that hath sought God in his ordinances before. Foolish atheistical men seek not the wisdom of God in his ordinances. God cries to them and they regard it not. But then th^y cry to God, and God will not answer them, but ' laugh at their destruction,' Ps. xxxvii. 13. And as it is in Zechariah, you cry, ' and I will not hear, because I cried and ye would not hear,' vii. 11. When God speaks and we regard it not, we shall cry and he will not regard it. There- fore, as we desire his presence in the evil day, let us labour to hear him now. Let us search his will, what he requires of us, and what he will do for us, and labour to be armed with obedience against the time of distress.
And let us seek him hetimes. Now presently seek the favour of God, you that are young. ' In the morning early will I seek thee,' Ps. Ixiii. 1. In the morning of your years, in the morning of the day, it is good to seek God, before the heart be possessed with other business, that he may bless all our affairs. Seek his face, that his blessing, and direction, and strength may be upon all. Let us set upon things in his wisdom and strength, and hope on his blessing.
And in the morning of your years, early, put not off. For here is the mischief. If we seek not God early, betimes, the heart will be hardened, and will grow worse ; to-morrow we shall be more unfit than to-day. Then those that seek in their sickness, and at the hour of death, that is self-love. It is grace to seek God for himself, out of old acquaintance and love. But to seek him in sickness only, and to neglect his ordinances, it is merely self-love. As a malefactor that carries himself ill in prison, and then seeks the judge's face at the bar ; when God arraigns a man at the bar, then to seek him, it comes from self-love. But that obedience we owe to God is to seek him out of a new nature, out of love of God's goodness and grace. When we seek him in extremity, not out of the love of grace, but to escape the danger of hell and damnation, such seeking seldom proves good. Many make a great show of I'epentance and turning to God, many of those prove false. He that is good in affliction only is never good. Therefore put not off seeking God's face, by prayer and the use of all good means. Many men first settle their estates, and then send for a physician, and
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the divine last of all, when they are sick. Oh but seek God first, and above all things in the world, or else we have adulterous, idolatrous hearts, to make the face of man our idol, or health our idol. We should seek God's face above all.
The Scripture sets him out sweetly to us. Therefore one way to encourage us to seek to God, is to present to our souls God, under those sweet terms. He is a rock in the midst of the waves ; he is a habitation in the midst of a storm : ' Thou art our habitation,' Ps. Ixxi. 3. He is called a hiding-place, he hath the shadow of his wings to cover us ; let us fly under the shadow of his wings. He is presented sweetly to us in Christ. Therefore let us have recourse to him upon all occasions ; and now, now that we may be familiar with him, that we may be acquainted with him now, in the days of our youth, and he will know us in age and sickness. If we be not acquainted with him now, he will not acquaint himself with us then. Therefore seek his face now, and above all things seek it.
And can we have more encouragement ? There was never any that sought the face of God that went away sorry. It is said of some good emperors, that never any man went sorry out of their presence ; either they had the grant of their suits or good words (d). God sends none sorry away. There are none that come into the presence of God but they are the better for it. They go away more cheerful and more satisfied. Their consciences are quieted when they pour out their souls to God. There ia ' the peace of God which passeth understanding, preserves their soul,' as it is Philip, iv. 7. ' In nothing be careful : but let there be thanksgiving for favours received, and let your requests be made known to him ; and the peace of God shall preserve your hearts and minds,' Philip, iv. 6. You shall not despair and be over much cast down, peace will preserve you.