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]…

That which we would say further on this point shall be a word of Application in these Two or Three Uses. The First whereof serves for Instruction; would ye know what is required of you as a direction to duty at this time; And would ye know if things be right in your preparation for the Communion? This maybe a Mark to discern, and a direction on the matter; even to be serious, and to make it an uptaking business, your One thing, to be about it, as such an occasion and work calls you to be. And if ye shall ask, wherein consists this Seriousness and uptaking exercise, in Covenanting with God? I shall Sum it up to you in these Four, which comprehend it. First, The man is taken up, in ⟨p. 228⟩respect of exercise in his Conscience; convictions become fresh, Challenges are put home, he is pricked less or more at the very heart; there is something within him that gives him a Conscience-alarm, that puts in his hand a Libel, and assures him of an appearance before Gods Tribunal: and indeed unless some thing of this be, men will not be in earnest; and it is clearly implied in the Text; For there are here sharp Challenges, that make this People weep, and that extort tears from their eyes. Secondly, There is a seriousness in respect of the work that it hath on Peoples hearts and affections; there will be a kindling of desires to have Covenanting with God at a point, with a holy fear, lest they miscarry in the doing of it; and these put together do much take up the man, and make him seek after through acquaintance with his own Spirit, which he finds to be so fickle, inconstant and back-sliding; and thus, apprehending the work to be great and difficult, he is put in Holy fear and Jealousy over himself, lest he mar the matter and make it worse with himself; as it is said of Godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7.11. What carefulness, what fear what indignation, what vehement desire, what zeal, what revenge it wrought in them: Now when these are tumbling (to speak so) through other in the man, and he hath an inward wrestling to have the work secured, and is afraid lest it miscarry; Is it Possible, but he will be serious and much taken up? and this is also implied in the words; Come (say they) And let us join to the Lord in a Perpetual ⟨p. 229⟩Covenant; There is a desire to have the Covenant at a point, and they fear it slip, while they are casting the knot;