The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and through [sic]…The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and thorow [sic]…

Thirdly, There is here their sensibleness of both these, 1. That they had broken Covenant. 2. That God bad separated himself and withdrawn his Presence from them for their breach of Covenant; though sin be very evil, and the want of Gods Presence very sad; yet they had this good, that they were kindly sensible of both: whence we may Observe, That Conviction of by gone wrongs done to God, and kindly resenting of his absence, are the first rises and springs of Repentance and turning to God; or they are the first steps of Conversion: What is it, I pray, that all this business and stir among this People flows from? Here it is, First, They apprehend a quarrel betwixt God and them, And next they apprehend a distance: & this puts them seriously to mind turning to God with weeping and supplications, and to renew their Covenant for recovering of Gods presence: this same is the Spirits Method, John 16 I will (saith the Lord Christ) send the spirit, and the first thing he doth is this; He convinceth the world of sin: so Acts 2.37. the first thing that ever (to speak so) turned the chase in Peters hearers was, that they were pricked in their hearts for sin; and this did put them to an advisement, ⟨p. 189⟩and to cry out, Men and brethren what shall we do? And indeed there is a necessity of this, Considering the Lords way of administering his Grace; for so long as persons are not convinced of their sin, they are not apprehensive of a quarrel; but conviction of sin makes them apprehensive of it, and to think, that they would be obliged to any who would relieve them out of that sad Condition: and while God is absent and not missed, they sleep on; and though he be absent, yet they know it not, as Samson knew not that God had left him, till he went out to shake himself: But when Gods departure becometh sensible, it will make a wicked Saul to howl, and will make a gracious tender Soul to take the Alarm hot; and we see, Cant. 3. and 5. Where the Bride missing Christ, is put to seeking, and still missing him, her heart is kept fluttering and on wing in Pursuing after his presence, till she recover and find it.

Thirdly, There is here their sensibleness of both these, 1. That they had broken Covenant. 2. That God bad separated himself and withdrawn his Presence from them for their breach of Covenant; though sin be very evil, and the want of Gods Presence very sad; yet they had this good, that they were kindly sensible of both: whence we may Observe, That Conviction of by gone wrongs done to God, and kindly resenting of his absence, are the first rises and springs of Repentance and turning to God; or they are the first steps of Conversion: What is it, I pray, that all this business and stir among this People flows from? Here it is, First, They apprehend a quarrell betwixt God and them, And next they apprehend a distance: & this puts them seriously to mind turning to God with weeping and supplications, and to renew their Covenant for recovering of Gods presence: this same is the Spirits Method,