The persons to whom the promise is more espe- cially made, are " those who seek him early."
[Those who seek the Lord even " at the eleventh hour" shall not be cast out" ; but those who in the early dawn of their day are found desirous of entering into the service of their Lord, shall surely be employed by him. The very circumstance of their seeking the Lord while yet they are free from the cares of this life, and before their souls are vitiated with its sinful pleasures, v/hilst their consciences are yet tender, and their hearts open to every good impression, is a strong presuvqition in their favour: we should be ready, without any express promise from God, to say, that such persons " shall never seek his face in vain." But we have an absolute promise in their favour : we can assure them from God himself, that they " shall never fail."]
" They," says our Lord, ^^ shall find me" —
[Yes, he will delight to visit them : they are " the lambs which he will carry in his bosom^;" " the little ones, whom he will never suffer to perish "J." Though they be weak both in knowledge and in grace, " he will not despise the day of small things ^" He says, " Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." And when he sees them flocking around him, he will " take them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and bless
them^" When he saw only " sojne good thing towards
the Lord God of Israel" in the heart of young Abijali, he noticed it with a distinguishing mark of his favour': and how much more will he, when he sees " the babes desiring the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby," and
actually growing in stature up to young men and fathers!
Verily their hosannahs, however despised by men, shall enter into his ears with acceptance, and their prayers shall return in
" showers of blessings" upon their souls" They shall
" find him" here an ever-present help, and hereafter their in- estimable and everlasting portion ]
Address —
1. To the Young People here assembled —
[You are about to be confirmed. But do you know what covjirmation is ? You were consecrated to the Lord in 3'our baptism ; and a solemn engagement was then entered into in your behalf, that you should love him, and surrender up your- selves entirely to his service. This vow you are now going to
o Matt. XX. 6, 7. P Isai. xl. 11.
q Matt, xviii. 14. Luke xii. 32. ^ Zech. iv. 10.
s Mark x. 14 — IG. ' 1 Kincrs xiv. 13. " Luke xix. 40.
770.1 wisdom's address to men. 79
take upon yourselves. And tell me Wliether in my text you have not all the encoui-agenient that your souls can desire? Give yourselves to the world, and you will inherit only vanity : but " seek to love the Lord, and you shall inherit substance-''." Think how happy you will be through life, when you are the
objects of the Saviovir's care and love and think how
happy you will be in death O let me not plead with you
in vain! but " remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, in which you shall say, you have no
pleasure in themy" • " Seek ye the Lord whilst he may
be found ; call ye upon him whilst he is near^" ]
2. To Parents, and those who have an opportunity of influencing the minds of young people —
[This is a favourable opportunity for you to exert your- selves, and to concur with your minister in his labours of love.
Be labourers together with him, with all your might
But do not forget that the glorious truths in our text are to
be experienced by you also And, if much of your day