And it seems reasonable, to understand the Phrase, seeking the Lord of Hosts, in this Sense here; and not as merely signifying the same Thing with praying to God: Not only because the Expression is repeatedly added to praying before the Lord, in the Text, as signifying something more; but also because the Phrase, taken in this Sense, is exactly agreeable to other parallel prophetic Representations. Thus God's People's seeking, by earnest Prayer, the promised Restoration of the Church of God, after the Babylonish Captivity, and the great Apostasy that occasioned it, is called their SEEKING GOD, and SEARCHING for Him; and God's granting this promised Revival and Restoration is called his being FOUND of them. Jer. xxix.10,—14. For thus saith the Lord, that after seventy Years he accomplished at Babylon▪ I will visit you, and perform my good Word towards you, in causing you to return to this Place. For I know the Thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, Thoughts of Peace, and […] of Evil, to give you an expected End. Then shall ye go and call upon me, and ye shall […] and pray un•o me, and ⟨p. 8⟩I will hearken unto you; and ye shall SEEK ME and FIND ME, when ye shall SEARCH FOR ME with all your Heart; and I will be FOUND of you, saith the Lord, and I will turn away your Captivity. And the Prophets, from Time to Time, represent God, in a low and afflicted State of his Church, as being withdrawn, and hiding Himself. Isai. xlv.15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self, O God of Israel, the Saviour. Chap. lvii.17. I hid me, and was wroth. And they represent God's People, while his Church is in such a State, before God delivers and restores the same, as seeking Him, looking for Him, searching and waiting for Him, and calling after Him. Hos. v.15. I will go and return unto my Place, 'till they acknowledge their Offence, and seek my Face: In their Affliction they will seek me early. Isai. viii.17. I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his Face from the House of Jacob, and I will look for Him. And when God, in answer to their Prayers and succeeding their Endeavours, delivers, restores and advances his Church, according to his Promise, then he is said to answer, and come, and say, Here am I, and to show Himself; and they are said to find Him, and see Him plainly. Isai. lviii.9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer;
And it seems reasonable, to understand the Phrase, seeking the Lord of Hosts, in this Sense here; and not as merely signifying the same Thing with praying to God: Not only because the Expression is repeatedly added to praying before the Lord, in the Text, as signifying something more; but also because the Phrase, taken in this Sense, is exactly agreable to other parallel prophetick Representations. Thus God's People's seeking, by earnest Prayer, the promised Restoration of the Church of God, after the Babylonish Captivity, and the great Apostacy that occasion'd it, is called their SEEKING GOD, and SEARCHING for Him; and God's granting this promised Revival and Restoration is called his being FOUND of them. Jer. xxix.10,—14. For thus saith the Lord, that after seventy Years he accomplished at Babylon▪ I will visit you, and perform my good Word towards you, in causing you to return to this Place. For I know the Thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, Thoughts of Peace, and 〈…〉 of Evil, to give you an expected End. Then shall ye go and call upon me, and ye shall 〈…〉 and pray un•o me, and ⟨p. 8⟩I will hearken unto you; and ye shall SEEK ME and FIND ME, when ye shall SEARCH FOR ME with all your Heart; and I will be FOUND of you, saith the Lord, and I will turn away your Captivity. And the Prophets, from Time to Time, represent God, in a low and afflicted State of his Church, as being withdrawn, and hiding Himself. Isai. xlv.15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self, O God of Israel, the Saviour. Chap. lvii.17. I hid me, and was wroth. And they represent God's People, while his Church is in such a State, before God delivers and restores the same, as seeking Him, looking for Him, searching and waiting for Him, and calling after Him. Hos. v.15. I will go and return unto my Place, 'till they acknowledge their Offence, and seek my Face: In their Affliction they will seek me early. Isai. viii.17. I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his Face from the House of Jacob, and I will look for Him. And when God, in answer to their Prayers and succeeding their Endeavours, delivers, restores and advances his Church, according to his Promise, then he is said to answer, and come, and say, Here am I, and to shew Himself; and they are said to find Him, and see Him plainly.
