(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 engaged 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 rejoice in their prosperity, as a pledge of God's presence with them.
2. Even great afflictions, eminent distresses, long per- plexities, may have a consistency with God's special pre- sence. 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 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 trying evils, he gives to them with whom he is.
And this is all that I shall offer for the explication, con-
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firmation, 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 tenour, 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.
(2.) 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 people. The bottom of that stupendous un- dertaking of the Israelites in leaving Egypt, and journeying through the wilderness into Canaan, lay in the promise of this presence of God with them; Exod. vii. 10 — 12. On this one consideration their whole undertaking and affair turned; to this issue it is put by Moses, Exod. xxxiii. 15. ^ If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence :' they will not move one step without him ; and with him they care not whither they go.
Now this presence of God with them, symbolically did consist in, or rather was represented by, two things: [l.JThe pillar of the cloud, and fire, which was with them ordinarily; [2.] The appearance of his glory which they enjoyed on extraordinary occasions.
[I.] The first, with the first use of it, is mentioned, Exod. xiii. 21, 22. ' And the Lord went before them by day in the pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light ; to go by day and night: he took not away the pillar of the cloud by day; nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.' There is mention here as if it were of two pillars, one by day, and another by night; but it seems to have been the same pillar with several properties. For chap. xiv. 19, 20. the same pillar at the same time, performs both these offices, in respect of several persons ; to some it was on the one side a cloud and darkness, to others bright and shining as fire. ' The pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind thera. And it came between the camp of
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the Egyptians, and the camp of Israel ; and it was a cloud of darkness to them, and it gave light by night to these.' After this, when the ark was made, and the tabernacle erected, this cloud, which until then went before the camp, came and covered the tabernacle night and day, as it stood in the midst of the camp, or the congregation ; as a cloud it was by day, and as a pillar of fire by night, Exod. xl. 34 — 38. and there it continued with the people all the while they were in the wilderness ; Nehem. ix. 19. This being the first eminent pledge of the presence of God with that peo- ple, let us consider what was indulged or granted to them thereby,
1st. They had hereby constant direction in all their jour- neyings and undertakings ; they were by this pillar directed in their way ; so at large it is expressed. Numb. x. 33. as also, Exod. xl. God, by this pledge of his presence, was the beginning of all their rest and motion, the guide and director of all their undertakings ; so that they moved, acted, rested, proceeded, according to his will and counsel. He guided them by his eye, and led them by his counsel. Sometimes perhaps they would be forward, they would be up, acting, doing, their hearts are full of desires, and they are impatient of delay. If it be not according to his mind, he will cause a cloud to abide on their tabernacle, or their assemblies and meetings ; a cloud that shall darken them, and distract thera in their consultations, that they shall not be able to take one step forward. Though their desires be great, their inten- tions good, yet the cloud shall be upon them, and they shall not know their way. Sometimes perhaps they are heavy, fearful, slothful, there is a lion in the way, giants are in the land, difficulties and perplexities lie in the way before them in such and such undertakings, they have no heart to them, the way is long, and perilous, better return than go forward. Would God now have them pass on, and engage ? The cloud shall break up, and go before them, they shall see so far on their way, as to go forth with cheerfulness. Only observe this, that when the cloud was taken up, they knew they were to go on in the way wherein they were, and journeyed accordingly; yet they knew not whither they should go, nor what would be the end of their journey. And therefore it is said, that when they journeyed, the ark went before then*