These things being premised, I shall give the proposition some confirmation, and so descend to the due improvement of it.
I suppose I need not go for proof beyond the obscn-ation of the constant tenor of God's proceedings Avith his people of old. When did he not deal thus with them ? What instance can be given of transgressing this rule ? Is the whole story of the nation of the Jews any tiling but the ilhistration of this proposition ? Some ruled well, and sought the Lord ; and the Lord was with them, and prospered them in all their ways; — some fell from him, and walked according to their own imaginations; and the Lord cut them short on that account; — yea, sometimes the same man, as Solomon, Asa, Uzziah,
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experienced both these states and conditions. Hath not the state of all nations, since they came into the power of men professing the knowledge of him, been the same ? Look on the Roman empire ; did it not flourish under the hand of men who ruled with God, and were faithful with the saints ? Is not the present distraction of it, under the fury and cruelty of Turk and Pope, the issvie of the violence, un- righteousness, idolatry, luxury, and persecution of ill governors? Doth not the demonstration of all God's people in the world — the consideration whereof, in particular, might be insisted on as the ground and reason of the truth insisted on — require that it should be thus ? Lev. xxvi., and almost the whole book of Deuteronomy, are sermons on this text; and every verse, almost, in them would afford a new con- firmation of the truth in hand. I shall need rafhev, then, to caution from mistakes, than farther to confirm the proposition. For this end, take these ensuing observations: —
1. All outward flourishing or 'prosjjerity of a people doth not always argue the special presence of God with them. There are sundry things required to make success and prosperity an evidence of the presence of God : —
(1.) That the people themselves prospered be his 2'>eople, — his pecu- liar. How many wicked nations are there in the world, that for a long season have received blessings (as it were) and success in their under- takings ! Is the Lord amongst them by his special jjresence ? Not at all. He is using them, indeed, for his own end and purposes, — to break others, or fill up the measure of their own iniquities, that their destruction may be an evident demonstration of his vengeance and righteous judgment to all the world; but present with them in the sense contended about, he is not. The case is stated, Hab. i., ii., as you may see in those chapters at large. It is the same case with the Anticliristian and Mohammedan nations in the world at this day. Their prosperity is no evidence of God's presence, because themselves are his enemies. Other bottoms, reasons, and gi'ounds there are of their successes ; — God's owning of them is none of them.
(2.) That the whole work be good, and have a tendency to God's glory, wherein they are engaged, David's counsel for the killing of Uriah prospered and took effect ; yet was not God with him therein. The work eneasfed in must be according^ to his mind. And, —
(3.) Made useful and subservient to his glory. When the hearts of a people can secure themselves in these things, then may they re- joice in their prosperity, as a pledge of God's presence with them.
2. Even great afflictions, eminent distresses, long perplexities, may have a consistency with God's special presence. Though the wheel goes on, yet it may have a cross wheel in it, that may cause rubs and disturbances. The rule of God's acting in his presence, is his own
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wisdom, and our good in the issue, — not our partial, self-destroying desires. Had the best people in the world all their own desires, they would be every way ruined. When God is nigh to us, he knows what is best for us. Security from destroying evils, not [from] trying evils, he crives to them with whom he is.
And this is all that I shall offer for the explication, confirmation, and cautioning of the proposition insisted on; what remains farther to be opened will fall in under the uses of it, which now ensue.
Use 1. This special presence of God being, as you have heard, the great and only concernment of any people, — the tenure or condition thereof being our abiding with him, — let our first use be to instruct us particularly, — (1.) What this special presence of God is, and wherein it doth consist; (^1) What it is for us to abide with God, so as we may enjoy it.
(1.) For the full discovery of the first, I shall consider it in that eminent instance wherein of old he did grant his presence to his peo- ple. The bottom of that stupendous undertaking of the Israelites in leaving Egypt, and journeying through the wilderness into Canaan, lay in the promise of the presence of God with them, Exod. iii 10-12. On this one consideration their whole undertaking and atfair tm'ned ; to this issue it is put by Moses, Exod. xxxiii. 15, " If thy presence go not [with us,] can-y us not up hence;" — they wiU not move one step without him; and with him they care not whither they go.