our endeavours, that so many of us seek him throughout our lives, and never obtain a saving " acquaintance with him." We must also seek him in and through Christ: for it is by Christ only that we can ever come unto the Father"1.]
III. There is a time coming, when, though we should seek him, he will not be found of us —
[This awful truth is strongly intimated in the text ; nor ought it to be concealed from our view. We all know that, at the time of death, our opportunities of seeking God will be for ever closed". However earnestly we may implore the Divine favour0, or even the smallest expression of itp, we shall ask in vain. But our day of grace may also be terminated on this side the grave. The Jews in the wilderness*1, and those who rejected our Lord's wordr, and the greatest part of the Jewish nation at the time of his death % were given over to final impenitence, even while they continued in the full enjoyment of health, and of all outward privileges. And we have reason to fear the same dreadful judgments, if we persist in slighting God's warnings, and in deferring our repentance4. How earnestly should we improve the present hour, if we duly considered this!]
IV. If we would seek him now, he would be found of all of us —
[This is the accepted time ; this is the day of salvation". God "is near" to us at present, both in his word and ordi- nances, and he is willing to be found of every sincere worship- per. If indeed we have determinately set ourselves against him, and resisted all the motions of his Spirit, till he has ceased to strive with us, it is possible that we may be already given up to final obduracy -\ But if we feel any desire after God, then we may be sure that he has not yet cast us off: that xevy desire is, if we may so speak, a knock at the door of our hearts, whereby God intimates his willingness to take up his abode with usy. Only let us cherish the latent spark; and we may be assured that he will not quench the smoking flax2 ; he will not despise the day of small things4.]
We will not conclude this address without a more particular application of it to different persons.
m John xiv. 6. " Eccl. ix. 10.
" John ix. 4. Matt. xxv. 11, 12. and vii. 22, 2:3.
P Luke xvi. 24, 26. i Ps. lxxxi. 11, 12. and xcv. 1 1.
r John viii. 21. sLukexix. 42. * Prov. i. 24 — 3 1 .
" 2 Cor. vi. 2. * Gen. vi. 3. > Rev. iii. 20.
'■ Matt. xii. 20. a Zech. iv. 10.