The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

2. Hence it is at his liberty to fix the terms on which he will be found by them. If the thing it self be at his liberty, he must needs then have the power of prescribing. Man is a Rebel and an Out law; if God will pursue him to death, and destroy him, he doth him no wrong: and if he will indulge him with a treaty of reconciliation, it is at his discretion to make the Articles of it. Now among the other terms of the treaty this is one, viz. the stating of the time wherein men may come in ⟨p. 312⟩and find him. A Prince that proclaimeth peace, to his Rebellious Subjects, may limit the day, and proclaim, that if they come in by such a day, and she for it, they shall have it; but if they take not that opportunity, there shall be no hope; and it is a very high favour that such an offer as this, though thus bounded, should be ever made to any of the race of sinful men.

3. That except God reveals himself unto men, they may seek, but they shall not find him. There is such a thing as this, Prov. 1. 28. And there is great reason for it. God indeed hath made our seeking of him, the way to our finding him, & made a gracious promise that they who truly seek him shall find him; but it is a promise of Grace, and indeed the reason why any do seek & not find him, is because they do not seek him as they ought. However, God manifesteth himself arbitrarily to men: we may be in the outward use of all the means of grace, and yet miss him, & never meet him there: and it will be so, unless he please to come and manifest himself.

4. That unless God giveth them his Spirit & Grace, they will never seek him so as to find him. There is a so seeking him, as is ever crowned with success, and brings us into his presence, such as that,