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]…

The Use of it serveth to show, what a serious or well qualified desire after Covenanting with God is, and wherein it consists: and those things that are marks of it, may also serve for Directions how to go about it aright. First, This Well qualified or serious desire of Covenanting with God floweth from a two fold Conviction, 1. From a conviction of Peoples sin and breach of Covenant formerly, and of their distance from God: whereof we spake somewhat the Last day: we are afraid that many of you think you desire, when yet ye never knew a•ight your guilt in breaking Covenant, nor took up aright the distance betwixt God and you: It's one sort of desire that a whole man hath to speak with the Physician, and another which a sick man hath: it is of the latter that we mean here. Secondly, From a Conviction of the want of Gods Company: These here know now, though they be Abraham's seed, that yet they are nevertheless naturally enemies to God and Christ and without both, and therefore they seek him, and to make a Covenant with him. There are some that pretend to be seeking God and Christ, and yet they have him, they think, always in their hearts: But speak soberly, did ye ever want or miss him? It may be, at the one word ye will say, we hope not, and at the next word, Perhaps, too often: and it is still but a guessing at the best: when the Prodigal came to himself, he saw that he had been (to speak so) in the wrong close. Secondly, This well qualified desire hath a kindly heart softness with it, which is a good, though a very rare thing: They go here weeping, and when they are a saying these words, Come and let us join to the Lord in Covenant, their tears are trickling down: It's a good and hopeful desire, which is expressed with the tear in the eye: proceeding from a suitably affected heart: There ⟨p. 212⟩are Alas! many of our desires that do not kindly affect, neither do they make any change: the heart remaineth dead, stiff and hard under them. Thirdly, This well qualified desire puts on to diligence, and is not like the sluggards desire: therefore they go and seek the Lord: they are eager and earnest in the matter and are taken up with it: This desire will make the man sometimes forget to eat his bread and it may be to Pray seven times a day (what if I had said twice seven times?)

The Use of it serveth to shew, what a serious or well qualified desire after Covenanting with God is, and wherein it consists: and those things that are marks of it, may also serve for Directions how to go about it aright. First, This Well qualified or serious desire of Covenanting with God floweth from a two fold Conviction, 1. From a conviction of Peoples sin and breach of Covenant formerly, and of their distance from God: whereof we spake somewhat the Last day: we are afraid that many of you think you desire, when yet ye never knew aight your guilt in breaking Covenant, nor took up aright the distance betwixt God and you: It's one sort of desire that a whole man hath to speak with the Phsitian, and another which a sick man hath: it is of the latter that we mean here. Secondly, From a Conviction of the want of Gods Company: These here know now, though they be Abrahams seed, that yet they are nevertheless naturally enemies to God and Christ and without both, and therefore they seek him, and to make a Covenant with him. There are some that pretend to be seeking God and Christ, and yet they have him, they think, always in their hearts: But speak soberly, did ye ever want or miss him? It may be, at the one word ye will say, we hope not, and at the next word, Perhaps, too often: and it is still but a guessing at the best: when the Prodigall came to himself, he saw that he had been (to speak so) in the wrong close. Secondly, This well qualified desire hath a kindly heart softness with it, which is a good, though a very rare thing: They go here weeping, and when they are a saying these words, Come and let us join to the Lord in Covenant, their tears are trickling down: It's a good and hopeful desire, which is expressed with the tear in the eye: proceeding from a suitably affected heart: There