in sickness and in health in peace and in trouble in all Adversity and in all Prosperity The Lord be with you with all kind of Aids Helps and Assistances variety of Aids and Assistances we need This is the sence and meaning of this vale dictory Prayer the Lord be with you all The observation that I shall commend to you is this Doct. God with us is a priviledge greatly to be desired and much to be prayed for The Apostle makes this Prayer for the Thessalonians whom he dearly loved who were his hope and joy and Crown of Rejoycing 1 Thes. 2. 19. Could he have thought of a greater mercy he would have wisht it to them In speaking to this great Truth I shall shew 1. That there is a presence of God with his people 2. That this presence of God is a great priviledge 3. That this great priviledge is much to be desired and prayed for 4. The reasons of it 5. And after this apply it 1. There is a presence of God with his people I speak not of the general presence of God whereby he is not far from every one of us Act. 17. 27. For in him we live move and have our being v. 28. not only as we had our being from him at first but we have our being in him as the Beam has its Being in the Sun Of this presence of God you read Psal. 139. from which there is no fleeing v. 7. he is every where v. 8 9 I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Jer. 23. 24. and Isa. 66. 1. Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my Throne and the Earth my foot stool This general presence of God if seriously considered and believingly apprehended would be of great use But 't is the special presence of God that I am to speak to his favourable and gracious presence such as that wished and desired by Aaron and his Sons of old Num. 6. 24 25 26. The Lord bless thee and keep thee the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his Countenance upon thee and give thee peace This blessing is saith Ainsworth expounded by the Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Thus the first branch of the blessing v. 24. The Lord bless thee and keep thee implieth the love of the Father The second branch v. 25. The Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee implieth the grace of the Son And the third branch The Lord lift up his Countenance upon thee and give thee peace implieth the communion with the Holy Ghost Now this Loving Gracious Communicative presence of Jehovah Father Son a 〈…〉 Holy Ghost is that Presence of the Lord which is so great a priviledge and so much to be desired The Lords presence with us to bless us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 1. 3. And to keep us from evil Joh. 17. 15. And to make his face shine upon us that we may be saved Psal. 80. 3. 7 19. And to be gracious to us through Christ Jesus Eph. 2. 7. And to lift up his countenance upon us that Gladness may be in our hearts Psal. 4. 8. And to give us peace that peace which passeth all understanding and that which may guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 7. This this is the presence of God which is so desireable and of which I am to treat That there is such a presence of God with his people appears thus 1. God Asserts it 2. Promises it 3. Hath evidenced it 4. Gods people have acknowledged it 1. God Asserts that there is such a presence of His with his people Isa. 41. 10. Fear thou not saith God for I am with thee And Ezek. 48. 35. The name of the City from that day shall be The Lord is there 2. God hath promised it Ezek. 26. 11 12. I will set my Tabernacle among you and my Soul shall not abhor you And I will walk among you and will be your God and ye shall be my people 3. God hath evidenced it by Preservations Assistances Deliverances and Suâ—cesses vouchsafed to his people What a mighty Gracious pardoning presence oâ— God was with Moses and the Children of Israel in bringing them out of Egypt through the Red Sea and through the Wilderness into Canaan Read the story of it in the Book of Exodus especially the Song of Moses Exod. 15. What a presence of God was with David Spiâ—iting Prospering and Preserving him when hunted like a Partridge upon the Mountains Whence was it that he was not Caught there were Skilful Hunters yet he escaped the Snare for the Lord was with him What a mighty presence of God was there with Daniel He will pray that he will though he be torn in pieces for it He will not cease to make his Supplications to God three times a day though there were a Law made against it Daniel would not fail to be with God and God would not fail to be with Daniel VVhat would Daniel be with God to the Hazard of his life Yes And was not God with him for his Preservation Daniel is cast into the Den of Lions Was he torn or hurt by them No The Lions were muzled their Mouths were shut God shut them Dan. 6. 22. My God saith Daniel hath sent his Angel and hath shut the Lions mouthes that they shall not hurt me Though men will not be obedient yet Lions will touch not my Servant Daniel saith God to the Lions and they are as quiet as Lambs Touch not mine anointed saith God to men and do my Prophets no harm yet men will not obey What a presence of God was there with those three noble Jews when threatned if they would not bow they should burn They will bow to none but God Dan 3. 17 18. They will not loose their interest in God to gain an Interest in the greatest Then the King commanded that they should be bound and cast into the Fiery Furnace v. 20. being cast into it the Fire burned their executioners and the bonds wherewith they were bound but had no Power on their Bodies nor was there a Hair of their Head singed neither were their Coats changed nor had the smell of Fire passed on them Dan. 3. 27. and how came this to pass God was with them What a presence of God had Paul with him At my first Answer saith he no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that it may not be laid to their Charge notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 2 Tim. 4. 16 17. What a presence of God was there with those that had trial of cruel Mockings and Scourgings of Bonds and Imprisonments of Stoning and Sawing asunder of wandering Wants Afflictions and Torments
the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy 2. Rea. Because he is so sutable to our condition therefore is his presence so much to be desired We are in misery we are unworthy we are weak and yet provoking And doth God suit with such with such as are in misery yes for he is merciful and with such as are unworthy yes for he is gracious and with the weak yes for he is strong Doth he suit with such as are provoking too yes for he is long suffering and with backsliderâ— yes for he is a God that healeth backslidings And doth he suit with such as have neither money nor price yes He will love them freely Surely mercy and misery do well agree and so doth graciousness and unworthiness strength and weakness Now hence it is because no person or thing in all the World suits so well with our condition as God doth that his presence is so much to be desired and prayed for 3. Rea. Because God is so useful for us therefore his presence is so much to be desired VVhat say you to a portion is not that of use VVhat say you to an Inheritance is not that of use VVhat say you to the Light is not that of use VVhat say you to a shield in Battel is not that of use VVhat say you to a shelter in a Storm 〈◊〉 not that of use VVhat say you to a Refuge a Rock a Tower when you are pursued is not that of use God is all this The Lord is my Portion saith my soul Lam. 3. 24. The Lora is their Inheritance Ezek. 44. 28. Psal. 16. 5. The Lord is my Light Psal. 27. 1. The Lord is a Sun and a Shield Psal. 84. 11. The God of Jacob is ouâ— Refuge Psal. 46. 11. The Lord is my Rock my fortress and my deliverer my God my Strength in whom I will trust my Buckler the horn of my salvation and my high Tower Psal. 18. 2. Now no wonder the presence of God is so desirable because he is so excellent and so sutable a good and so useful for us 4. Rea. Because God is so lasting a good There are many things that may 〈◊〉 well with us and be very useful to us but they may be of little continuance they may he short lived Husbands Wives whom God hath so suited that none could possibly be suited better must part Husbands do not live for ever with their Wives and Parents do not live for ever with their Children nor one friend with another But God is a lasting good The everlasti 〈…〉 g God Isa. 40. 28. Hast thou not known hast thou not heard 〈…〉 at the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the eâ—ds of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary 5. Reas. Because all other good will do us no good without him The Creature nay all the Creatures are but Cyphers without him The Creature is not Bread you mistake if you think so why do you spend money for that which is not Bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not â—sa 55. 2. The Creatures name is vanity vanity of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanity Eccles. 1. 2. The 〈…〉 is a thing of nought Amos. 6. 13 〈…〉 It is not Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou 〈…〉 thine eyes upon that which is not Sirs how many things is there that have been in your possession of which you must now say they are not My VVife is not my Husband is not my Father is not my Mother is not But will it ever be said God is not Christ is not The Holy Spirit is not No no. Hence 't is also that the presence of God is so much to be desired above all other things because all other things will do us no good without him Jehosaphat a Prince a potent Prince whose Militia was Eleven hundred and threescore thousand besides what he had in Garrisons 2 Chron. 17. 12 c. 'T is said he waxed great exceedingly yet sayes he 2 Chron. 20. 12. We have no might neither know we what to do but our eyes are unto thee This he speaks in reference to God without whom indeed they had no might at all He looked upon all the Forces he had as nothing without God And so are Riches and so are Relations Alas they are nothing without God Reas. 6 Because God alone is enough he is enough without any thing else God needs not the Creature to supply us to support us to refresh revive and comfort us He needs not the Creature to direct or counsel us It pleaseth him to make use of the Creature and to afford it most times but if he deny it he can do it without the Creature It was an excellent saying of that Martyr If you take away my food God will t 〈…〉 e away my hunger Truly Sirs God hath made a little serve the turn many times when others with their much have been in want In the midst of their sufficiency they have been in straights Job 20. 22. Remember that of Habakkuk I wish the same frame of heart to you that he had Habak 3. 17 18. Although the figâ—ree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the vines the labor of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the slock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stalls How then would he be able to live yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation When there is no meat in the fields or stalls there is yet a God in Heaven and he knows how 't is with us and that we have need of these things Matth. 6. 32. and if the Father know that his child wants bread he shall not want it long if his Father be able to relieve him what ever you want if you want not faith it will be well enough O for the skill of living by faith It is nothing with thee to help sayes Asa in his prayer to God whether with many or with them that have no power 2 Chron. 14. 11. God with us is more then all besides 2 Chron. 32. 7 8. I come now to the Application If the Gracious presence of God be so grea a priviledge and therefore so much to be desired Then hence be Informed 1. Happy are they that have God graciously present with them Take your Bible and read Deut. 4. 7. 33. 29. 2 Sam. 7. 23. Lev. 26. 11 12. Happy the Congregations and Habitations that have this Name The Lord is there Ezek. 48. 35. and that may be called the Throne of God Jer. 3. 17. This is matter of rejoycing Sing and rejoyce O daughters of Zion for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith the Lord Zech. 2. 10 11. See also Rev. 21. 3. 2. Miserable are they with whom God is not that want his gracious
presence How was Saul distressed for want of Gods presence 1 Sam. 28. 15 16. Wo wo to such from whom God departs Hos. 9. 12. Use 2. Is God with us so great a priviledge and so much to be desired Then examine Is God with us Are we priviledged with his presence To know take these signs of Gods gracious presence First A praying frame of heart is a sign of Gods favourable presence God is a God hearing Prayer Psal. 65. 2. and prepares the heart to pray where ever he is Psal. 10. 17. and pour's out a spirit of prayer Zâ—ch 12. 10. Jerem. 31. 9. which spirit helps our Infirmities and prayes in us Rom. 8. 26. God sets them with whom he is a praying 1. In all places in the closet and family yea and in the field Ruth 2. 4. The Lord be with you said Boaz to his Reapers in the field 2. At all times in the Evening and Morning at Noon and at Midnight Psal. 55. 17. 119. 62. God was with Moses David and Daniel and they pray with Jabez and he prayes 1 Chron. 4. 10. with Ephraim Jerem. 31. 18. and he prayes with Paul and he prayes Act. 9. 11. and when with us we shall pray also Psal. 91. 15. Secondly A penitent frame of heart where God is there is weeping and mourning for sinning against him How werâ— Joseph's guilty brethren troubled at h 〈…〉 presence Gen. 45. 3. So shall guilty wâ— be at the presence of God we shall loâ—k on him whom we have pierced and mouâ—â— Zâ—ch 12. 10. Jâ—r 31. 9 18 19. where you have an instance of a mourning frame of heart when God vouchsafed his presence Thirdly An humble frame of heart God dwells with such and none but such sa 57. 15. Fourthly An obedient frame of heart inclined to God to walk in all his wayes If the Lord our God be with us he will incliâ—e our hearts to keep his Testimonies 1 Kings 8. 57 58. Where he comes he puts his spiriâ— into them and causeth them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 27. See Joh. 8. 29. Fifthly Strength in the Soul Psal. 138. 3. whom God is with he strengthens Isa. 41. 10. both to do and suffer to do business and bear burdens Psalm 55. 22. Sixthly Warm affections heat and life in the service of God whilst Christ was with and talked with his Disciples their hearts burned within them Luke 24. 32. Seventhly A spirit stirred up to promote the worship and service of God I am with you saith the Lord Hag. 1. 13. And the Lord stirred up their spirits and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts their God v. 14. Eighthly Preservation from evil from the evil of sin especially Oh that thou wouldst be with me and keep me from evil was the request of Jabez 1 Chrâ— 4. 10. where God is he delivers from every evil work 1 Tim. 4. 18. Ninthly Victory over enemies Surely I will be with thee saith God to Gideon Judg. 6. 16. and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man If God be with us enemies will be subdued 1 Chron. 22. 18. world fâ—esh and Devil too will be subdued Through the spirit the deeds of the flesh will be mortifâ—â—d Rom. 8. 13. Tenthly Profiting by afflictions Hâ—b 12. 10. Eleventhly Fruitfulness under means of grace If the spirit come and blow upon our garden the spices thereof will flow out Cant. 4. 16. If Christ be in us and abide in us we shall bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 5. Twelfthly Fixedness unmoveableness from God and his truth God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved Psal. 46. 5. Because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Psal. 16. 8. Because he is with us the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against us Christ our Sampson as one sayes hath flung them off their Hinges We shall not be greatly moved Psal. 62. 2. Use 3. Of Exhortation Sirs get God to be with you Gods gracious Presence is the principal thing therefore with all thy getting get it Gold in the purse or coffer will not stead or avail you like God with you God answers more then money Wealth when gotten moth and rust may corrupt it Thieves may break through and steal it But God is out of the reach of all there is no fear or danger of loosing him when once you have gotten him He therefore is worth the getting Some have found by experience that such and such things have not been worth their getting not worth their sitting up late and rising betimes for them not worth their running and riding and venturing for them How earnest have some been to be possessed of and to enjoy such and such persons and things and having obtained them have they not found them by wofui experience not worth the cost and pains laid out for them But God will over and above make amends for what is laid out for him A shadow is not worth the following but substance is Chaff is not worth heaping up but Corn is Dross is not worth the seeking but Gold is and God much more then Gold And farther you may seek the Creature and never be able to get it You may seek and not find You may wish O that I had wealth and yet never have it and O that I had credit and repute in the World and possibly never have it But who ever sought God and found him not who ever sought the presence of God and was denied it shall any Soul ever have cause to say Lord I did desire thy presence but could not have it I did chuse to have thee with me rather then to have all the World with me and yet I could not have thee with me Do you think there will ever be cause for such a Reflection upon God the God of love shall it ever be said this poor Soul would have had the presence of God but God would not afford it O no! shall any person be ever able to say I would have had God to be my God and to be with me as a Father Friend and Husband but he would not or shall ever any person be able to say I would have had Jesus Christ to be with me as a Prophet Priest and King but he would not I would have had him to be my mediator Advocate Surety and Saviour but he would not I would have had his righteousness imputed to me and his Spirit imparted to me but could not have it or shall any person be ever able to say I would have had the holy Spirit to be with me to convince me of my sin and misery to enlighten me in the knowledge of Christ and to renew my will and to perswade and enable me to imbrace Christ Jesus freely offered to me but he would not be with me to do any of those things for me no for then how should God be the faithful God as he is stiled Deut. 7. 9.
your work on them as you are Commanded Exod. 20. 9. 6. On the Lords day that you may keep it holy and call it a delight The holy of the Lord Honourable not doing your own wayes nor finding your own pleasure nor speaking your own words Isa. 58. 13 14. The Lord be with you All 3. In All places In the closet in the family In the shop in the field In Bed at Board In the Closet to make you serious In the family to make you profitable In the shop to awe you In the field to preserve you In bed to refresh you At Board to satisfie you The Lord be with you All. 4. In all estates and conditions in adversity and prosperity in sickness and health in poverty and Riches In Adversity that you may consider Eccles. 7. 14. In prosperity that you may rejoyce Eccles. 7. 14. In sickness to make your bed Psal. 41. 3. In health to make you thankful Psal. 103. 3. In poverty to make you contented Heb. 13. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 8. In Riches to make you lowly minded Trusters in God rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. The Lord be with you All 5. In all duties of Religion and holy Ordinances in praying reading hearing meditating conferring instructing admonishing exhorting reproving comforting In praying that you may pray fervently Jam. 5. 16 17. In reading that you may read understandingly Act. 8. 30. In hearing that you may hear believingly Heb. 4. 2. In meditating that you may have soul-satisfaction Psal. 6â— 5 6. In conferring that you do it with affâ—ctâ—on In instructing that you may do it convincingly In admonishing that you may do it compassâ—onately Jude 22. In exhorting that you may do it earnestly Heb. 10. 24. In reproving that you may do it wisely In comforting that you may do it mercifully In observing the Sabbath that you may observe it more strictly In receiving the Supper that you may receive it more worthily In fasting that you may do it soul-afflictingly soul-chasteningly Levit. 23. 32. Psal. 69. 10. and life-reformingly The Lord be with you All 6. In all your Civil Imployments and lawful undertakings that in All you do you may make Gods word your Rule Gods glory your end and the credit of the Gospel and Christian Religion your Care The Lord be with you In your Trading and dealing that you may do as you would be done unto Maâ— 7. 12. In buying and selling that you may set God before you buying and selling as in his presence Psal. 16. 8. In working and sitting still that you may be heavenly minded Phil. 3. 20. In your journeying and travelling that you may be preserved and prospered Gen. 24. 21. Finally Beloved The Lord be with you to sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the câ—minâ— of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen FINIS A Catalogue OF Books Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the Sign of the Three Bibles in Popes-head Alley TWelve Books Published by Mr. Thomas Brooks 1. Precious Remedies against Satans devices 2. Heaven upon Earth 3. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ. 4. Apples of Gold 5. String of Pearls 6. The Male Christian. 7. An Ark for Gods Noahs 9. The Privey Key of Heaven 10. A Heavenly Cordial 11. A Cabinet of choice Jewels 12. Loâ—â—ons Lamentations Mr. Câ—llâ—my's Godly Man 's Ark. Christs Communion with his Church Millitant by Nicholas Lockâ—er Sin the Plague of Plagues by Ralph Venning The Accurate Accomptant or London Merchant being Instructions for keeping Merchants Accounts by Thomas Brown Accountant Short-writing The most Easie Exact Lineal and speedy Method that hath ever yet been obtained by Thomas Metcalf Also a Book called a School-master to it explaining the Rules thereof A Copy Book of the Newest and most useful Hands Bridges Remains being 8. Choice Sermon 's by that Reverend Divine Mr. William Bridge heretofore Minister at Yarmouth A Discourse of Christ's coming by Theophilus Gale King James his Counterblast to Tobacco A Brief Description of New York The Shepherds Legacy or forty years Experience of the Weather Venning's Remains or Christ's School consisting of four Classis of Christians viz. Babes Children Young-men and Fathers being the â—ubstance of many Sermons by Ralph Verning Prepared for the Press by himself before his Death A Disâ—wasive from Conformity to the World as also Gods severity against Impenitent Sinners with a Farewel Sermon by Henry Stuâ—s Minister of the Gospel