The coherence . Touching the dependance of this vse on the former , it may bee conceiued as a further reason , and so a newe stroake driuing the same naile , disswading their preposterous seeking earthly things , It is a new ●eason . which was the point the former reasons did enforce : And then the argument concludeth thus : These things , which while you bend your selues after heauenly maters , will flowe in vpon you of their owne accord , those you need not seeke so eagerly ; but if you seek Gods kingdom , these things shall be cast you in ouer & aboue . Or rather a new precept . Ergo &c. Neuerthelesse , because of this particle ( but ) which maketh opposition , I doe not take it to be a farther reason , but a new precept prescribing a contrary exercise , by which the disease now sufficiently discouered might be healed in them .

The parts . The parts are two : 1. The duety required ; 2. the reason . In the duety there are three things . First , The acte to bee donne , Seeke : 2. The manner , Seeke first . 3. the matter or obiect , Seeke first Gods kingdome and his righteousnes . In the reason which is ab vtili , 3 things likewise are obserueable : 1. the things should be giuen them , and these things , viz. aboue-named , 2. the quantity of them , and all these things , 3. the manner of bestowing them , in that last word , shall be added vnto you . Now for the more full explication of this Scripture , The explication . What seeking is . wee must knowe , that seeking is an action of diligence and care , endeuouring to finde some good , which , after possession once had , is lost of vs , or to obteine som good thing which we yet neuer enioyed . See how Mary and Ioseph sought Iesus when they missed him in their returne from Ierusalem , Beholde , ( saith his mother to him ) thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy harts , Luke 2.48 . Seeke first , that is , in time , before other things , and with your principall strength & care . Gods kingdome is put sontime for that state of grace through which God ruleth in the harts of his people , as , Rom. 14.17 . Gods kingdome is of grace , The kingdome of God is in righteousnes , and peace , and ioie in the holy Ghost . or But from this standing in righteousnes , peace , &c. it is heere distinguished , and seemeth therefore to be taken for that heauenly kingdome of glory ; of glory . in which wee must consider first , the place and glorious mansions , in which as euerlasting tabernacles we look to dwell hereafter . For heauen is a place , yea , a bodily place , whose place is bodily . which shal properly receiue and measure our bodies glorified . If it be called a sp●rituall place , it is to be vnderstood respectiuely , as the body is cald spiritual , so far forth as spirituall is opposed to natural , not to corporal & substantiall . This heauen is not like these naturall and aspectable heauens , which we now see , yet is a space proportioned to such bodies as are to be receiued and conteined in it . Secondly , Glory is 1. in the endowment of soule and body . wee are to consider the glorious estate which shall there be reuealed , which standeth 1. in the glorious endowments of soule and body . For the glorious light of the soule shal make the body lightsom and glorious , as the candle doth the lanthorne in which it is carried . 2. 2. in our communion with God . In our communion which we shall haue with our God himself , whom we shall see as he is , thogh we cannot throughly comprehend the infinitenesse of him . which is the chiefe . And this is the height of our happinesse . For looke as a bride is nothing so happy in her bridall apparell and ornaments , as in her husband to whom shee is hand-fast : so shall it bee with vs , our glory shall bee nothing to vs in comparison of our God .

Gods righteousnesse is that in Christ by faith apprehended . Seek his righteousnes : Gods righteousnes is somtime put for that righteousnes that is in Christ our great God and Sauiour , and is by faith laid holde of by vs . Thus it is vsually taken , Rom. 1.17 . For therein is the righteousnes of God reuealed from faith to faith . And Rom. 10.3 . For they being ignorant of Gods righteousnes , and going about to establish their owne righteousnes , haue not submitted themselues to the righteousnes of God : Sometime for that righteousnes which God commandeth in his law being spirituall , Or that wrought in vs by the spirit . and which God workes in vs by his spirit , when now through faith wee haue vnion and communion with Christ . Now the lawe of opposition doth lead vs to vnderstand the righteousnes which is wrought in vs . For as those heauenly things next before vnfolded are most directly opposed to earthly : so to their distrust in Gods promises , vnweanednes , earthly mindednes , the contrary graces inhaering in vs stand in most direct opposition against them . Now the things which l●●e are vniuersally promised , are those things which 〈◊〉 naturally seeke , Earthly conforts promised . or all those things which God kno● 〈◊〉 we need , whether absolutely , or in respect of dece●● and conueniency , all things needful to our being or 〈◊〉 being . Shall be added vnto you : that is , shall bee giuen you as a vantage , as a vantage . ouer and aboue those heauenly things after which you endeauoured . For the word is taken from those additaments which by surplusage are cast in to some full number . The summe is , as if he had said , The summe I haue disswaded you from inordinate pursuing these outward things ; now I prescribe you a contrary practice : Seek before all things , & with your principall strength , those things aboue kept in the heauens for you ; endeauour your selues to get you harts stablished with true righteousnes , such as God commandeth in his spirituall law , and worketh by his spirit : do thus and you shall bee no loosers ; For all things which are needfull for your being & wel being shal as a vantage be cast on you through the faithfulnes of your heauenly father who careth for you .

Now wee come to the instructions . Instructions First , wee will consider of the duty required , Seek Gods kingdome , seek his righteousnes : Secondly , the manner of perfourming , Seeke first : From the first obserue here , 1. doctrine . Christians ought to seeke heauen . that true Christians must here on earth set themselues to seek heauen and heauenly glory : Seeke Gods kingdome . So Col. 3.1 . If ye be risen with Christ , seek the things that are aboue ; and againe , Philip. 3.20 . Our conuersation is in heauen , from whence we looke also for the Sauiour , the Lord Iesus , who shall change our vile body , &c. Abraham , Heb. 11.9.10 is set before vs as an example of this thing , who did count euen the land of promise a strange country , looking for & seeking after a city which hath a foundation , It is their place and country . whose builder and maker is God . For that kingdome aboue is their proper place and natiue country , 2. Cor. 5.2 . and they are but strangers on earth , Psal. 119.19 . Th●y haue ●n inclination toward it i● born a●ew An inclination & affection therfore toward heauen is giuen to euery Christian , when now he is once begotten and borne anew to God : Like as when any heauenly body is engendred heere belowe out of the proper place of it it hath begotten with it an inclination to rise vp to that place to which it belongeth : as the fire , A● fire to it's spi●●●e . which here we kindle , and is engendred belowe here on earth , it being no earthly but a heauenly body , hath from the first being an aptnes and inclination carrying it toward the sphere of fire which is the proper place of it : so from what time we by Gods calling are begotten heauenly creatures here on eatth , we haue produced in vs an inclination which doth make vs moue toward heauen and heauenly glory , the proper place & condition which belongeth to vs . Would not an English man , Or an exile to his country . ( by any case exil'd ) much long to smell the smoke of his natiue country ? Thus , if we be heauenly creatures , we cannot but in desire aspire thither while we are here on earth as exiles and pilgrimes from our heauenly father .

But before we come to the vse of this poynt , we will more at large branch forth this duety of seeking Gods kingdome , Gods kingdome is sought . by poynting forth the meanes and respects in regard whereof wee may performe this duety of seeking , here enioyned .

1. by seeking diuine knowledge of it ▪ chiefly from the ministery of the word . The first respect is , when wee seeke to get our selues informed in those things which it becommeth vs to know and to doe about this kingdome . Now wee doe this , when we come forth to be instructed by the word of God which is the word of the kingdome . Looke as a man seeketh earthly things , when he goes out to the Crier to learne of them : and , look as clients seeke their earthly inheritances , when they go forth to aduise with their learned counsell ; thus , when we go with diligence to the ministers , proc●nes . who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Ro. 10.14 that is , Criers by office , who proclaime the bringing to light of this kingdome by Christ : and when wee waite at the posts of Wisdome her gate , Pro. 8.33 . like as clients doe , attending on Gods ministers , who are to know the lawes of this kingdome , that men may seeke them from their lips .

2. 2. By getting euidence to shew for it , whi●h are the promises thereof beleeued on We may seek this inheritance of Gods kingdome in getting something which we may shew for our right and title to it : Now , this we do by exercising our faith in some promises , by which God doth freely passe it vnto vs : as Feare not little flock it is your fathers will to giue you a kingdome , Luke 12.32 . If we be sonnes wee are also heires ; euen heires of God , & ioynt-heires with Christ , Rom. 8.17 . God gaue his son , that whosoeuer beleeueth in him , should haue euerlasting life ; Iohn 3.16 . We are begotten by the resurrection of Iesus Christ vnto a liuely hope , euen vnto an inheritance immortall , vndefiled , and which fades not away , reserued in the heauens for vs , which are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation that is ready to be reuealed in the last time , 1. Peter 1 , 3 , 4 , 5. Thus men seeke their earthly matters whilst they gette good copies for that they holde . Now , the promises of GOD laid holde on are the onely deed and instrument which can be shewed for title vnto eternall life .

3. 3. By entring possession of it in a sanctified life . We may seeke this kingdome in regard of getting our selues possessed of it : which wee do by this meanes , while we labour by a sanctified course to drawe nearer it and enter it heere on earth . Men will not onely gette right vnto the things they seeke , but they will endeauour to be possessed , to dig their turfe in that land they purchase . The more the Israelits did subdue the Canaanites , the more they were possessed of Canaan . Sanctification is an entrance into glory . Thus the more we ouercome our sinnes , growe in graces , the more we growe seized of our heauenly Canaan . Ioyne ( saith Peter 2. ep. 1. cap. 5.6.7 . ) vertue with your faith , and with vertue knowledge , & with knowledge temperance , and with temperance patience , and with patience godlinesse , and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse , and with brotherly kindnesse loue : For as it after followeth , ver. 10.11 . If these things be among you , ye shall neuer fall ; For by these meanes an entring shall be ministred vnto you abundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ . The further that one did goe vp into the porch of the temple , the nearer he did come vnto the holy of holies ; the further one goeth vp in the suburbs of a city , the neerer hee approcheth the citie it selfe : Thus it is herein the visible church , our state in sanctification hath it selfe to glory in the same proportion that our beeing in a porch , or body of a church , to our beeing in the quire ; or our beeing in the suburbs to our entring the city it selfe .

4. By procuring it assured to vs . 4. We may seeke it in regard of getting our title and possession made sure to our consciences . Thus we seek earthly inheritances , not only to be seized of them , but by strengthening our selues in them . Hence it is , that we will sue out fines and writs , which may in a manner after a certaine time put an end to all claimes which may bee made by any , some few persons on iust ground excepted . So we must giue all diligence to get these things ascertained vnto vs ; From the promise of Gods protection . which wee doe chiefly , while wee faithfully lay hold on Gods promises , which promise our protection : as , that hee is our God , who will keepe vs from euery euil work to his heauenly kingdome ; 2. Tim. 4.18 The witnes of the spirit while wee get the Spirit to witnesse to our spirits this gift of perseuerance which is bestowed on vs ; while we learne to dye by faith ; Christ , Faith in Ch●ist pre●●ruing and ●ais●ng vs , & God keeping to by his power . as the authour & finisher of our faith , and raiser of vs vp at the last day : and the Father , who is stronger than all , keeping vs in his hand euen by his almighty power , as in a strong tower vnto saluation . Wee can neuer be sure enough of earthly things ; we desire to see the bird in the cage , and haue all things so settled as there may be no question . How much rather should we not content our selues with vncertaine hopes of our heauenly inheritance , but trauaile to haue it settled on vs and throughly assured to our soules .

Finally , 5. By praier for all help● vnto it . wee seeke the kingdome of God in all these respects ioyntly by making petition to him . Euen as subiects by making requests get many things from their Soueraignes : so do we , who haue no way of getting any good thing , but by flying vnto his grace in Christ . Thus Christ taught vs to seeke . Lord let thy kingdome come . Mat. 6.10 . Thus , The Spirit helps the faithfull with sighes and groanes that cannot be vttered . Rom. 8.26 .

The vse of this is to rebuke most Christians , Vse . The reproofe of the worldly minded who dot● on earth . who indeed liue as Heathens . For , what doe they seek after , but such things as Turkes and Pagans seeke after ? Many say , Who will shew vs any good ? Psal. 4.6 . Many there are , saith Paul , Phil. 3.18.19 . of whom I haue told you often , and now tell you weeping , who do minde earthly things : but the matter of Gods kingdom lies by a● a refuse thing quite forgotten . It is the wise merchant only , Neglect ●ods kingdome . For want of true wisdom who seeketh precious pearles , Mat. 13.45 . Worldly men wanting that wisdome from aboue are no more affected toward this heauenly inheritance , than those who are born destitute of ciuill wisdome are toward earthly . These we see , not hauing ciuil vnderstanding wherby to discerne the worth of their hopes , they neuer set their mindes vpon the faire possessions they might haue , but vanish away in trifles correspondent to their weakenes : so do al natural men , who vnderstand not the things of God ; they are carelesse of this kingdome of God , and glorious inheritance , being wholly taken vp with a common wealth fitting their kinde , the halfe-penny transitory things of this present life . And as the poore Israelites were scattered ouer al the land of Egypt to gather stubble and picke strawes , Exod. 5.12 . so doe these range all the country , and are dispersed all abroad to picke & gather vp worldly things no more in comparison than stubble and strawes . Wherefore let vs not bee in the number of these fooles , worse than any who are vsually begged ; let vs set our harts on this heauenly inheritance ; We are to se●ke out ●e●u●nly inheri●●nce . By ●ll good cou●s●s . let vs seeke to be informed about these things ; let vs get sure conueiances ; let vs by the conquest of all spiritual enemies enter this heauenly Canaan ; let vs labour to get our consciences ascertained , that we shal be kept safe in this grace in which wee stand in the hope of glory . If wee haue right vnto and hope of earthly matters , V●l●sse we wil● be more earn●st for earthly things th●n it . we will not faile to seeke after them ; yea , ( though we be poore , and they that detaine them mighty , ) wee will sue in forma pauper is , but wee will recouer them ; nay , if we haue lost but trifles , if any silly beast be straied from vs , we will aske and enquire after them : And is ther any thing more worth thy care & pains in looking after , than gods kingdom & thy eternal saluation ? can a man bee perswaded that he hath great & goodly possessions befallen him though in remote parts , S●●w ●ur v●b●●●●● conce●●●●g ●t . but his mind wil run much on the matter ? his desire will be to heare and speake of it , to make a iourney to see it : Can wee then bee truely perswaded , that an heauenly kingdome is giuen vs , but our thoughts will be vpon it ? & we shall desire in Gods good time to see it . Where your treasure is , there will your heart bee also , Mat. 6.21 . Women haue in their wombes not onely liuing births , but sometime also dead : An●●●●ifes●e●●e●●es to be ●●●d Ch●is●●●●s . now the former cannot liue alwaies pent in the womb , but it wil striue for greater freedom ; whereas the other haue no motion in them to come forth : thus it is with the church . She doth beare in her womb and trauaile of som liuing some dead births : the liuing , they will in their time striue to come forth , crying : Oh , who shall deliuer mee from this body of sinne ? Rom. 7.24 . And , I desire to be dissolued , and to be with Christ , Phil 1.23 . whereas dead Christians they could be content to liue here alwaies , and sing their Requiem heere on earth : if they may still sit in the warme sunne , and haue wherewithall , they can easily forbeare all further happinesse .

Now , the second matter we are to seek after , 2. Doctrine . Gods kingdome cannot be sought ●i●●o●● Gods righteousnes . is Gods righteousnes : Seeke his righteousnesse . Where obserue , That all true Christians , yea , all who truely seeke the kingdome of GOD in the world to come , must seeke sound righteousnesse in this present world . These two God hath ioyned , and they may not bee seuered . For sound righteousnes is though not the cause of reigning , It 〈◊〉 th● 〈◊〉 to the k●●gd●● yet the way to the kingdome . Neither can any bee said truly to seek that he may come hither or thither , when they doe not set a foote in the way which leadeth to the place they would come to . He that hath this hope , saith S. Iohn 1. Ioh. 3.3 . in him , purgeth himself euen as God is pure . And so holy Dauid , Psa. 17.15 . As for mee I will behold thy face in righteousnes . Hee knew no other way to come to the view of Gods blessed face , but by righteousnes .

Now , fully to open this , two things are to be considered : 1. what this righteousnes is , or what it standeth in : 2. the quality of it . This righteousnes is simply inherent righteousnes , and standeth partly in putting off the corruption of nature ; partly in getting the grace of Gods Spirit strengthened and increased ; It standeth 1. in putting and last of all in the integrity & perfection of spirituall actions . These three dueties are required of the godly : 1. In putting off all sin . 1. The first we are exhorted vnto , 2. Cor. 7.1 . Hauing therefore such promises , beloued , let vs clense our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit , growing vp vnto holinesse in the feare of God . For like as light cannot enter further than darkenesse is chased , nor health returne in further degree than sickenesse is remooued ; so wee cannot for measure further growe in grace , Without which is no place for grace . Chi●fly natures corruption . And our actuall reigning sins . 2. In grace strengthned & increased . than we finde corruption decreasing in vs . And here we must labour chiefly against that sinne that dwelleth in vs , as the roote and fountaine of all sinnes , to which by custome , complexion , company , age or any other way we feele our selues most enclined .

The second thing we are exhorted vnto , 2. Pet. cap. 3. verse 18. Growe in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ : wee must neuer stint our selues to a measure of grace , but bee euer comming on and growing forward .

The last thing Dauid sought , 3. In the soundnes of our action● whilst he praied God to enlarge his heart , that hee might runne the way of his commandements , Psal. 119.32 . And this flowes from the former . For , looke as in the eye the more euery hurtfull humour is remoued , and the more the visiue power is restored , the more perfitly and easily it seeth : so it is heere : the more sinne is purged out , and grace increased , with the more facility and perfection wee are occupied in euery good and spirituall word and worke .

The quality is to be gatherd from that which here is added ; his righteousnes : that is , Gods , It is supernaturall and spirituall . such as God supernaturally worketh in vs , such as Gods spirituall law enioyneth ; not such as nature produceth , standing in equity & other morall parts , Not morall nor yet such as hath a tincture of religion , Not formal . Which is but counterfeit . I meane a profession of an outward forme of godlinesse voide of power : for this is but a Pharisaicall righteousnes , which shall not inherit the kingdome of God , Mat. 5.20 . and is but like a beautifull picture , which hath nothing in it but an externall appearance . This thus opened lendeth light to conceiue the reason of this truth propounded . Euery thing that receiueth being , nature doth giue it such an instinct , that it seeketh to preserue and bring on to perfection that beeing it hath receiued . It is the being and life of a Christian True Christians hauing in their regeneration receiued a supernaturall being , euen the diuine nature or image which standeth as in knowledge and holinesse , so in the righteousnes here expressed , Which he cannot but seeke . they cannot but endeauour both to continue and take increase in this righteousnesse begunne in them . I say more , a Christian cannot but seeke this righteousnesse more than heauen it selfe . Y●● m●●● 〈…〉 . For euery thing doth more seeke that which sustaineth the beeing of it , and more declineth that which threatneth destruction to it , than it seeketh any thing which only conduceth to the more happy estate of it . Man more seeketh necessarie sustenance for his life , more laboureth to expell some deadly disease , than in following wealth , honour and the rest , which respect onely the well-being of it : thus heere it is ; this righteousnes is as it were the very being of a Christian , heauenly glory is but his blissefull being , whence it is , that hee doth more seeke to get himselfe healed of sinne , the soules deadly sickenesse ; more seek to haue grace sustained and increased ; more seeke to haue integrity and soundnesse in those actions in which hee is exercised , than he seeketh heauen it selfe and that heauenly glory which is reserued for him . It is the speach of Anselme well agreeing to this purpose . If I had sinne set on this side of me , and on that side hell , so that necessarily I must bee plunged into one of them , I would rather cast my self into hell than commit any sin : And if I had on one hand righteousnes offered vnto mee , and on the other Heauen , to take one without the other : I would much sooner make choise of righteousnes than heauen .

The vs●s 〈◊〉 . to shew their vanity who 〈…〉 this 〈…〉 .

N● , ●ho●●●●●ers o●●t .