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A23635 New-Englands choicest blessing and the mercy most to be desired by all that wish well to this people cleared in a sermon preached before the court of election at Boston on May 28, 1679 / by James Allen ... Allen, James, 1632-1710. 1679 (1679) Wing A1028; ESTC W13883 18,844 19

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with the creatures wherever they are or whatever their state is Psal 139.7 8. So fills heaven and earth Jer. 23.24 Comprehends all things places contained of none none can hide from the knowledge nor fly from the power of it 2. His providential or voluntary Presence that is either common or special 1. Common and that ordinary or more extraordinary Ordinary Act. 17.18 Extraordinary when the Lord raiseth and enables any that know him not to doe some notable thing in the world for the service of the Church Isa 45.1 2 3 4. so sometimes as afflictive to his people as Nebuchadnezzar 2. Special and that is either 1. A gracious Presence 2. Glorious that with Saints and Angels in heaven that is the complement of their happiness Psal 16. ult Its Gods gracious presence here meant with his people on earth as their Covenant God that we may call his new-Covenant Presence Let our God be with us This gracious Presence imports two things 1. Conferring all good his vigilant and efficacious providence for their good 2. Delivering and defending from all evill both these are Covenant mercies Gen. 15.1 by which he encourages Abraham tells him what he might expect from his being in Covenant with him to be his shield and exceeding great reward And the signs of Gods Presence with Israel were the Pillar of Fire and Cloud the one for day the other for night which was to guide them in the way and defend them from and stand between them and danger Exod. 14.19 20. In allusion to this the Psalmist 73.24 comforts himself in having the Covenant presence of God with him He shall guide me by his Counsel and afterwards bring me to his glory Ps 84.11 he is said to be a Sun and a shield which first is expounded to be his free communication of all good not witholding it i.e. powerfully conveying it And all know what the benefit of a shield is that intimates his with-holding all evill This is promised to the reforming Jews and converted Gentiles who were brought into Covenant with God Isa 4.5 6. 2. By Fathers are meant godly Rulers and Teachers of the People of God who are often so called in Scripture as well as natural Parents those in the generation before them or long before with whom God was most eminently present Psal 44.1 2 3. Of those of old but especially here is intended those in the former Generations for though the Lord was eminently with his people of old in Moses and Joshuahs time and the Judges God raised up extraordinarily to be their Saviours yet in no Age was there a more gracious presence of God then in the Age before Solomon 3. As with our Fathers that is see Isa 63.12 11. Ps 44.3 4. the presence the Church desires that had been with their Fathers or such a presence 1. In wonder-working and as gloriously as for them as in the success David had over all the Enemies of Israel 1 Chron. 11.9 2 Sam. 8.6 14 15. 2. That presence or be so with us as with our holy Ancestors by his gracious communications of himself to us in the wayes of his Ordinances Psal 63.2 filling us with his glory even in those signs of his presence as in those best times ver 5 6. as David found it when he fetched the Ark to his place 2 Sam. 6.12 13.14 15. as to their Communion with so right knowledge of the things of Gods house and that converting Presence of God there Isai 54.13 made David say Psal 84.11 one day there was worth a thousand else where As also in civil order Ezek. 48.35 was said of them so might be of us this may be the Name Jehovah Shammah the name of our Courts and Churches be with us as with them in these respects 3. In-dwelling presence such a presence of God in our hearts as was then in theirs filling us with his Spirit strengthening unto duty 2 Cor. 6.18 As God promises those that seperate from the world 1 Cor 15.10 Paul he acknowledgeth he had it whence he did so much work in such a manner Act 14.1 they so spake many did believe whence was it that those before us were so powerful perswasive not by excelling in common gifts above many that come after but having a fuller presence of God there was a more full pouring forth of the Spirit Zec. 12.8 that which will make the feeble as David David as an Angel of God It may be enquired why it is said as with our Fathers it seems to be a limitation of it when as one generation may need more then another and usually in some respects a succeeding generation to any special reforming generation doth And therefore Elisha 2 King 2.9 he asks a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah not only to what the other Prophets had but what Elijah himself had as being to meet with harder work a more sinful and unreformed People Answ As 1. Imports that kind of presence they had sometimes the similitude and not the degree 1 Pet. 1.15 2. It doth not alwayes limit the measure a great degree of Gods gracious presence is here meant but not just so much is intended so much as and as much more as the Lord saw good so much as might carry them as well through their duty and work in their generation as those in theirs 3. The People of God are wont to gather upon God by his grants that is vantage ground to Faith and Prayer Exod. 33.13 14 15 17 18. upon every grant Moses gets in with the Lord and asks yet greater so it should be here we shall be in better frame to ask more when we have obtained so much and in better hope to prevail 4. Let him not leave us nor forsake us These are only amplifications and shew the weight of what he did desire by abiding on it not leave to others nor to our selves not quit the care of his People Jer. 14.9 that he deprecates on the behalf of the Church not take away signs of his presence nor his own presence from them Solomon his commendable practice is for our imitation Hence the Doctrine from the words is Doct. The obtaining and continuance of God's eminently gracious Covenant presence with his People ought to be sincerely mainly desired by those that truly wish their happiness and prosperity 1. That it should be 2. Why it should be Reas 1. Because it is the best blessing and favour can be desired for them 1. It ought to be so it is that they have done which had the greatest love to Israel as Moses Exod. 33.15 Let thy presence go with us or carry us not hence So David desired for Solomon and the People under him 1 Chron. 22.11 18. So Solomon here when he blesseth Israel and it was the usual Salutation among the Jews Ruth 2.4 1. It is the most necessary blessing nothing else is absolutely necessary but the presence of God we may be happy without Creatures the