The truly blessed man

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, Jer. 29.13. All other is either hypocritical or legal, which is not acceptable to God. Now if any of the Children of men so seek him, they must have the grace from him so to do; it is a work of his Spirit, and till •e give them a new heart, they cannot so do: there must be his drawing, if ever there be their following. Now the drawing of ⟨p. 313⟩the Spirit is at his pleasure: if he see meet to withhold this grace from men, they will never so seek him, notwithstanding all the calls and counsels, and warnings that can be given them; and he hath no necessity lying upon him to bestow this on them.

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, Jer. 29.13