ent he should
have in this world, that which should swallow up his affections, thoughts,
and endeavours, should be the kingdom of God and his righteousness, which
is clearly expressed in three things: 1. His first and chief care should
be to be at peace with God, and to be adorned with Christ's righteousness;
2. To have the kingdom of God within him, a throne of judgment erected for
Christ to rule the whole man, by his Spirit according to the word; 3. To
be made an heir here, and a possessor hereafter, of the everlasting
kingdom of glory; 4. No man can either be a subject of God's gracious
kingdom here, or his glorious kingdom hereafter, without the imputed
righteousness of the Son of God, and whoever seeks righteousness must also
seek the kingdom of God. These are joined together, and there is a great
opposition between seeking of the world, and seeking grace and glory.
Whoever is careful in these things cannot be diligent here. But rather
seek the kingdom of God (Luke xii. 31) also implies, 5. That whatever a
man be, or his profession be, except he seek this way of righteousness,
and yield himself unto God's kingdom of grace, and unless Christ rule in
him, he is but a pagan, or infidel Gentile, in God's account. We return to
the first of these, namely:

1st. That the Christian is a seeker. This is the ordinary description of a
child of God, Psal. xxiv. 6, Psal. xxvii. 8. Many, at this time, call
themselves Seekers.(484) They profess they seek a true church, and seek
ordinances purely dispensed, but find none. But the child of God, the good
Christian that seeks according to Christ's appointment, seeks not these
things as if they were not, but he seeks God in ordinances, he seeks
Christ in the church, he seeks grace and glory, honour and immortality,
and eternal life. He is in the church, he hath the ordinances rightly
administered, yet he wants the most part, till he find Jesus Christ in all
these. Many seek corn, wine, or any worldly good thing, saying, "Who will
show us any good?" Fie upon such a lax and indifferent spirit, that hath
no discretion or sense of things that are good, that sees not one thing
needful, and no more good than is necessary. But the child of God is a
seeker different from these also, he seeks the favour and countenance of
God, Psal. iv. 6, 7. He seeks wisdom above all things, Prov. ii. 4. He
seeks but one good thing, because there is but one good thing necessary.
The seeking Christian is a want