(3.) The presence of God meant here is, that presence that he shews in- the time of need, and in his ordinances. He shews a presence in need and necessity, that is a gracious presence to his children, a gracious face. As in want of direction, he shews his presence of light to direct them ; in weakness he shews his strength ; in trouble and perplexity he will shew his gracious and comfortable presence to comfort them. In perplcxit}' he shews his presence to set the heart at large, answerable to the necessity. So in need God is present with his children, to direct them, to comfort them, to strengthen them, if they need that.
(4.) And in the issue of all business there is a presence of God to give a blessing; for there is a presence must be even to the end of things. When we have all we would have, yet God must give a blessing. So you see there is a presence of God answerable to the necessity of man, as it hath reference to this place.
' Thy face will I seek,' to direct me by thy heavenly light when I know not what to do, as Jehoshaphat said, ' Wo know not what to do, but our eyes are towards thee,' 2 Chron. xx. 12. And so in weakness, when we
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have no strength of oui' own, then go to God, to seek the face of God, that he would be present with us. So when we are comfortless, go to God that comforts the abject, 'the God of all comfort;' go to him, for his pre- sence, for help. And when we are troubled in our hearts about success, what will become of such and such a business ; go to God, that gives success and issue to all. Thus we see a presence of God answerable to every necessity of man.
(5.) There is a gracious presence of God likewise in his ordinances. That is the chief presence, next to heaven, the presence in God's ordi- nances ; that is, in the unfolding of the word, in the administration of the sacraments, in the communion of saints. Indeed, in the ordinances God is graciously present. ' AVhere two or three are gathered together, I will be in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii.-20. Therefore in Rev. i. 12, scq., it is said, * that Christ walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks ; ' that is, in the midst of the church. There is a gracious presence of Christ in the midst of the candlesticks. He takes his walk there. Christ hath a special presence in his church in the ordinances ; and that David aims at here too, not only, I will seek thy face in trouble and necessity, when I need anything from thee, but ' Thy face will I seek in all thine ordinances,' to enable me for the other. For it is in vain for a man to think to seek God in his necessity and exigence, if he seek not God in his ordinances, and do not joy in them. So you see where the face and presence of God is to be sought ; in necessities of all kinds, and in the ordinances.
Now, in our seeking the presence or face of God, there is four or five things that I will touch the heads of.
[l.J First of all, seeking implies observance. Seek my face ; that is, observe me, respect me as a God. ' Thy face I will seek,' I will be a fol- lower of thee ; as in English an ' observer ' is a follower, a creature. It is a proud word ; as if man could make a man of nothing. And indeed they are creatures in that kind, they are raised of nothing. To seek a man is to observe him. There is a notable place for it, Prov. xxix. 2G, ' Many seek the ruler's favour.' In the Greek translation, the Septuagint, the Avord is, to observe and respect a man, which is translated seeking (c). Many observe the ruler; but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord. You see those that think to rise by the favour of sUch or such a man, they will be his followers, as I said, and observe him ; they study men; as those that rise by favour that way, they study not books so much as men, what may delight such a man, what he respects. Surely they will serve him at every turn. A base atheist makes a. man his god. That he may rise, he will deny God and the motions of conscience, and honesty, and all to observe the face of a great man whom he hopes to rise by. But a true Christian observes the great God. The greatest preferment comes fi-om him. So it signifies to ' observe.'
In Ps. Ixii. 11, there you shall see the ground of observation is, that power belongs to God. ' I have heard once, nay, twice.' He heard it twice by the meditation of it, by going over it in his heart again. I have heard once, nay, twice ; that is, I thought again and again on it ; that is, hearing of it oft. We may hear a truth a hundred times, that is, by meditating of it. ' I have heard once, nay, twice, that power belongs to God ;' that is, riches and power to advance a man. Atheistical men think all belongs to the creature, but power belongs to God. That is one thing that is meant by seeking, dihgent observing of God, and respect to him and his will and commandments in all things.