DIRECTIONS, 1. Don't seek slightly. This is the fault of many Persons, intimated, Luk. 13.24. Many seek, and are not able to enter. That is complained of, Isai. 64.7. There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee. Some Men seek, but it is with too much indifferency of Spirit. The Violent take the Kingdom of Heaven by force. Math. 11.12. But many Men are dull in their Prayers; they are not Earnest and Importunate with God; they are not ⟨p. 180⟩Diligent in Reading and Hearing, that they may learn Advantages and take them; that they learn their Disadvantages and avoid them. They don't watch against Temptations; they comply with some Practices that are an hindrance to them: They excuse themselves many times from that which might promote their Conversion. Though they desire Conversion, yet their Hearts are much upon the World; they lay too much weight on worldly Things; their Hearts are divided between God and Mammon. It is no great Wonder that such Men don't obtain; lazy Seekings issue in Disappointments: Lazy Seeking will not conquer Difficulties. Yea, when they seek slightly, they provoke God to deny them. God may say, It will not break their Hearts if they be denied. The Reason why many People seek after a slight Manner, is because they are not much afraid of going to Hell. Either they want a sense of the Dreadfulness of Damnation, or flatter themselves as if they were in no eminent Danger of it. If they were thoroughly scared, they would be more earnest in their Endeavours; Senselessness begets Slightliness. If their Consciences were so wounded that ⟨p. 181⟩they could not bear it, they would be more violent in their Endeavours. The Pretence that they make for their Dullness, is, that they are afraid there is no Hope for them; they fear their Case is desperate, and that weakens their Hearts, and makes them to be dispirited; but the true Reason is not that they want Hope, but they want Fears. If the Terrors of Death did compass them about, and the Pains of Hell get hold upon them, they would not say, There was a Lyon in the Way, but would be forcing their Way through all Discouragements and dark Appearances.
DIRECTIONS, 1. Don't seek slightily. This is the fault of many Persons, intimated, Luk. 13.24. Many seek, and are not able to enter. That is complained of, Isai. 64.7. There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee. Some Men seek, but it is with too much indifferency of Spirit. The Violent take the Kingdom of Heaven by force. Math. 11.12. But many Men are dull in their Prayers; they are not Earnest and Importunate with God; they are not ⟨p. 180⟩Diligent in Reading and Hearing, that they may learn Advantages and take them; that they learn their Disadvantages and avoid them. They don't watch against Temptations; they comply with some Practices that are an hindrance to them: They excuse themselves many times from that which might promote their Conversion. Though they desire Conversion, yet their Hearts are much upon the World; they lay too much weight on worldly Things; their Hearts are divided between God and Mammon. It is no great Wonder that such Men don't obtain; lazy Seekings issue in Disappointments: Lazy Seeking will not conquer Difficulties. Yea, when they seek slightly, they provoke God to deny them. God may say, It will not break their Hearts if they be denied. The Reason why many People seek after a slight Manner, is because they are not much afraid of going to Hell. Either they want a sense of the Dreadfullness of Damnation, or flatter themselves as if they were in no eminent Danger of it. If they were thoroughly scared, they would be more earnest in their Endeavours; Senselessness begets Slightliness. If their Consciences were so wounded that ⟨p. 181⟩they could not bear it, they would be more violent in their Endeavours. The Pretence that thay make for their Dullness, is, that they are afraid there is no Hope for them; they fear their Case is desparate, and that weakens their Hearts, and makes them to be dispirited; but the true Reason is not that they want Hope, but they want Fears. If the Terrours of Death did compass them about, and the Pains of Hell get hold upon them, they would not say, There was a Lyon in the Way, but would be forcing their Way through all Discouragements and dark Appearances.
