B02840:323
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 unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and through [sic] him. Diligently searched into, clearly unfolded, and comfortably holden forth, in fourteen rich gospel sermons preached on several texts, at communions, in Glasgow. / By the late pious & powerful gospel-preacher in that city, Mr. James Durham.The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and thorow [sic] him. Diligently searched into, clearly unfolded, and comfortably holden forth, in fourteen rich gospel sermons preached on several texts, at communions, in Glasgow. / By the late pious & powerful gospel-preacher in that city, Mr. James Durham.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1685
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The First Use of this point serves to give you another Mark for Trial, if things be right and in good case with you, for Covenanting with God: and as the upshot of all, to commend such a desirable frame as thi• to you: would ye know the• further, what is a right frame for Covenanting with God? Here it is, even to have a heart melting within, to have a soft tender and mournful disposition of Soul: and would ye know what this is? We think that from the words it may be gathered to consist in these five or six things that concur to it. First, There are some pricking challenges for sin and wrongs done to God: they humbly acknowledge, take with and are made sensible of these. Secondly, There is some missing and sensibleness of the want of Gods presence, and of the want of Communion and Fellowship with him: •hey know not well where he is, but they are a king after him. Thirdly, There is an ardent affection and serious desire to be at him and in Covenant with him, a heart filled with love to God, whereby it is softened and made to flow down, as wax by the fire is melted, and the hardest iron made soft. Fourthly, There is a Holy fear and carefulness, whereby the heart is kept from growing cold and indifferent as to this condition, and from settling and sitting down in it; such a fear and trembling as old Eli had, 1 Sam. 4. for the Ark, whereby he was kept in a fright: here is going and weeping, with a Holy fear lest the Covenant be again broken. Fifthly, There is a self loathing, kindly humiliation & exercise of Repentance, which especially ⟨p. 237⟩appears in this weeping: when serious looking into the persons own Condition so affects the heart, as it fl•ws, either in tears without, and in sighs and groans within, or in the latter without the former. There is a Holy indifferency as to their external lot, and an absolute submissiveness to the will of God to be dealt with and disposed upon as himself thinks fit: If so be they be admitted into a Covenant with him, they are sweetly Submissive to the terms, let God do with them what he will, they know it will be well, if they get once within the bond of his Covenant, and that it will never be well with them, if they be without it: Though this be somewhat general, yet it will be found to be a near yea a narrow trial: If softness of heart bespeak a good frame and fit for Covenanting with God: Ah! where is it?