278 Religion, ourfirli and great Concernment. Vol. I. 3. Seeking the Kingdom ofGod and his Righteoufnefr, does further imply zeal and earneftnefs in the purfutt of this Defign : And this is a degree above dili- gence; for zeal is an ardour and fervency of Mind in the profecution of a thing for which you are greatly concerned, and which we vehemently defire to ob- tain ; it is the hotteft and molt intenfe degree ofour affection towardsany thing, of our delire and love, mixt with anger at every thing that ftands in our way and hinders us from obtaining what we Peek after; fuch an heat as Ambition does commonly infpire Men withal, in the purfuit of Power and Preferment. Such ought tobe the temper of our Minds, and the edge ofour Spirits, in feeking the Kingdom of God, as does ufually poffefs Men in feeking the Kingdoms of this World, and the Glory of them. We mutt remember, that it is aKingdom which we Peek for, and afpire after ; not like the unflable and tottering Kingdoms of this World, but a Kingdomwhich cannot befhaken, as the Apòftle calls it. So that the greatnefsof the Defign, and the Excellency of what we Peek after, will juftífie and warrant the higheft degreeof a difcreet zeal and fervour in the profecution of it ; and therefore no wonderthat the Scripture in this matter ufeth words that importthegreate(t vehemency, and earneftnefs, bidding us tofirive to enter in at theflraitgate, to labour and watch, to run, and wrefile, and fight, and, in a word, to give all diligence, to make our Calling andEletlionfire. Laftly, Seeking the Kingdom ofGod, and his Righteoufnefs, does imply pati- ence and perfeverance in our endeavours after them, and that we never ceafe our purfuit ofthem, 'till we have obtained them ; and this, notwithftanding all the difficulties and difcouragements, the oppofition and perfecution that we meet withfor Righteoufnefs fake : For this we mutt expect, and reckon upon before- hand, to encounter many difficulties, and find many difcouragements in theways of Religion; forfirait is thegate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, as our Lord himfelf hath told us : nay we mutt count to be grievoufly perfecuted for Righteoufnefsfake, and, if God fee it good for us, to pats through many Tribulati- ons, before we (hall enter into the Kingdom of God ; and therefore we had need tobe armed with agreatdeal of .Patience, and a very firm and obftinate Refole- tion, to enable us to bearup, and to hold out againft all thefe; for this is a ne- ceffary qualification for ourfeeking the Kingdom ofGod, and hisRighteoufnefs. So our Lord hath told us, Mat. t o. 22. he that endureth to the end, (hallbe faved ; if we hope to receive the Crown ofLife, we mutt be faithful to the death, Rev. 2. to. And to the fame Purpofe St. Paul declares, Rom. 2. 7. that they only thall be made partakers ofEternal Life, who by patient continuance in well doing, feek far Glory, and Honour, and Immortality. You fee what is meant by feeking the KingdomofGod and his Righteoufnefs; it remains briefly tobeibewn, in the Second place, what is meant byfeeking thefe firfl; feekyefir/i the Kingdom ofGod, and his Righteoufnefs ; that is, let this be your main and principal Defign, foas to take placeof all others in your etteetn and Affe&ions, in your aim and endeavour; in companion of this, mind no- thingelfe, not the Comforts and Conveniencies, no not the Neceffaries of Life, what ye (hall eat, and whatye(hall drink, andwherewithal ye(hall be cloathed. Thefe you fee our Saviour in(tanceth in before the Text, as not to be regarded and ta- ken care of, when they come in competition with the Kingdomof God, and his Rigbteoufnefs. And our Saviour tells us elfewhere, that not only none of the Comfortsand Neceffaries of Life are to be valued againft him, andhis Religion; but that even this Temporal Lifeit felf, asdear as it is to us, is tobe parted with- al, and given up, rather than to quit the profeffion of his Truth and Religion, Mat, to. 37, 38. He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that lovethSonor Daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. He in- ftanceth in the neareft Relations, thofe towards whom we have the molt tender and relenting affe&ions, and yet he tells us, that the Confideration of his Truth and Religion ought to take place of thefe, nay even ofLife it felf ; for fo it fol- lows, and he that takethnot his Crofs, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. St. Luke expreffeth it more ftrongly and vehemently, Luke 14.26. If any Man come to me (that is, take upon him the profeWon ofmy Religion) and hate not his
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