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and exhibited in it. But neither is this the presence of God here intended; though this be something that flows from it, and does attend it. For,
(1.) That presence of God with his people hath not such a conditional establishment, as this here mentioned ; it stands on other terms, and better security, than that here proposed ; it hath received an eternal ratification in the blood of Christ, is founded in the immutable purpose of grace, and is not left to the conditionality here expressed, as we shall see afterward.
(2.) The presence here mentioned respects the whole body of the people, all Judah and Benjamin in their national state, and consideration, unto whom, as such, the effectual covenant of grace was never extended : for they were not all Israel who were of Israel.
(3.) The presence here promised respects immediately the peculiar end of blessing the whole people with success in their wars and undertakings, so the occasion of the words, and the context, with regard to the following dis- course do undeniably evince. It is not then this presence of God only that is intended, though, as it will afterward appear, it is not to be separated from it.
4. There is a presence of God in respect of providential dispensations. And this is twofold:
(1.) General; ordering, disposing, guiding, ruling all things, according to his own wisdom, by his own power, unto his own glory. Thus he is also present with all the world ; he disposes of all the affairs of all the sons of men as he pleaseth ; sets up one, and pulls down another; changes times, seasons, kingdoms, bounds of nations, as seems good to him. The help that is given to any, he doth it himself. The shields of the earth belong unto God, he works deliverance in the earth, even among them that know him not. And the evils, desolations, and destruction, that the earth is full of, are but the effects of his wrath and indig- nation, revealing itself against the ungodliness of men. He is thus present with every person in the world, holds his breath, and all his ways in his hand; disposes of his life, death, and all his concernments, as he pleaseth. He is pre- sent in all nations, to set them up, pluck them down, alter, turn, change, weaken, establish, strengthen, enlarge their
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bounds, as he sees good; and the day is coming, when all his works will praise him. Neither is this here intended: it is necessary, and belongs to God, as God, and cannot be promised to any; it is a branch of God's natural dominion, that every creature be ruled and disposed of, agreeably to its nature, unto the end whereunto it is appointed.
(2.) Special; attended with peculiar love, favour, good- will, special care towards them with whom he is so present. So Abimelech observed that he was with Abraham, Gen. xxi. 22. 'God is with thee in all that thou doest:' with thee to guide thee, bless thee, preserve thee, as we shall see afterward. So he promised to be with Joshua, chap. i. 6. And so he was with Gideon, Judges vi. 12. to bless him in his great undertaking. And so with Jeremiah, chap. xv. 20. This is fully expressed, Isa. xliii. 1, 2. 'I have re- deemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the water, I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.'
And this is the presence of God here intimated : his pre- sence with the people, as to special providential dispensa- tions, as is manifest from the whole discourse of the pro- phet; and wherein this consists, shall be afterward at large declared.
Secondly, What is a people's abiding with God?
There is a twofold abiding with God:
1. In personal obedience, according to the tenour of the covenant. This is not here intended, but supposed. There is no abiding in any thing with God, where there is not an abiding in this thing : yet this, as I said, is not here prin- cipally intended, but supposed; something farther is in- tended : for as hath been declared, it is national work, and national abiding, that is intended. So that,
2. There is an abiding with God in national administra- tions: this is a fruit of the other, in those who are called to them. And that this is principally here intended, is evident from that use that Asa made of this information and exhort- ation of the prophet. He did not only look to his personal walking thereupon ; but also immediately set upon the work of ordering the whole affairs of the kingdom, so as God might be glorified thereby. How this may be effected shall at large afterward be declared: what hath already been
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spoken may suffice for a foundation of that proposition, which I shall this day insist upon : and it is this :
Observation. The presence of God with a people, in spe- cial providential dispensations for their good, depends on their obediential presence with him, in national administra- tions to his glory.
For the explication of this proposition some few things are to be premised.
1. The presence of God with his people as to special grace in the covenant, and his presence with them as to special assistance in providence, proceed on very different accounts.