infinite wisdom he is pleased to make effectual for their guidance. It suffices, that in the use of means, through patience and waiting upon him, they shall be directed to that which is pleasing to him; so is he with them.

2dly. The second use of this pillar was, to give them protection and defence in their ways: so Exod. xiv. 19, 20. 24. This protected them from the Egyptians, and from thence God troubled their enemies, out of the pillar, that is, from his especial presence. This use of it is insisted on, Isa. iv. 5, 6. The cloud that was as smoke by day, and as fire by night, was also a shadow, a place of refuge, and a covert; in one word a protection, or a defence.

And this is a second thing which is in God's special presence; he will protect or defend them, with whom he is so present. He is their dwelling-place, Psal. xc. 1. then when in this world they have none; their refuge in the time of trouble: so Isa. xxv. 4. xxvi. 1. xxxi. 4. Promises and instances to make this good abound, are known to all; the time would fail me to insist upon them. I might go over all the causes, means, and ways of the fears, dangers, ruins of such a people, and shew you how a defence is provided against them all. Are their fears from themselves, because of their folly, weakness, and division; or from pretended friends, because of their envy and desertion; or from open enemies, because of their power, cruelty, malice, and revenge? A defence is provided on every account, heat, rain, tempests, storms, adversity, prosperity, all are provided against, where God is present; Isa. xxxii. 1, 2.

And if any people in the world have experience of this truth, we have it this day. Had not the Lord been with us, who had not destroyed us? Enemies, friends, abroad, at home, our own follies, all, any of them had done the work, had not the Lord himself been with us.

Only observe, that the presence of God, as to these effects may sometimes in some particulars be eclipsed, and the effects themselves for some season be entangled, though there be not an utter breach between him and his people. How often did the Israelites attempt things without his direction? How often did he break in upon them to their woe and sorrow? Yet for the main he forsook them not, until the great work intended by them was accomplished; Nehem.

ix. 19. It is not every entanglement, every disappointment, every defeat, that argues God's departure, as to his special presence. It may be good for us sometimes to be in such a condition; and then that desertion, that carries into it, is from the presence of God. We are now grown to that, that if every thing immediately surmount not our imagination, say some, God is gone from them; not because it is so, but because they would have it so. But he is merciful, with whom we have to do, and will not cast off his people for

ever.

[2.] The people with whom God was, had the glory of Jehovah, as a pledge of his presence with them. This appeared only at extraordinary seasons; so it did at the giving of the law, Exod. xxiv. 16. so also at the setting up of the tabernacle. It differed from the cloud; for when the cloud was upon the tabernacle, the glory of the Lord filled it. It appeared again to all the people; Levit. ix. 23. I shall not now inquire, what was this visible representation of the majesty of God; it sufficeth, as to the purpose in hand, that when God gives his presence to a people, at extraordinary seasons, he affords them extraordinary manifestations of his glory. So in Ezekiel's vision of those dreadful wheels of providence, the glory of the Lord is said to appear in the temple; and as his especial presence departed from the temple, and the city, so the glory by several degrees departed also; chap. ii. 10. 18, 19. xi. 23.

Eminent and glorious appearances with and for a people in extraordinary seasons, is then another thing that accompanies God's special providential presence with them; when they are at an utter loss in their counsels, at a stand in their motions, disappointed in their undertakings, deserted in their enterprises, pressed on every side above measure, or called to some extraordinary work, so that their ordinary direction and protection will not carry them on, nor bear them up; then will God relieve them by some especial appearance of his glory. In the mount will the Lord be seen.' This will give a relief when all is at a loss. And in this lies the most discriminating evidence of special providence. Glorious appearances in great straits are eminent testimonies of God's regard.

Could I now insist on some of the instances that might

be given of this kind of dealing with us in England, in the pursuit of the cause we have in hand, it would make us ashamed of all our unworthiness, carnal fears, and unbelief.

This is the second evidence of God's presence. He is with a people to direct them, to protect, to manifest his glory amongst them; his glory in balancing the issues of providence one in respect of another, so that all shall acknowledge, that of a truth the Lord is amongst them. 'Blessed is the people that is in such a case; yea, blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.' What would you have more? Here is ease of all cares, a remedy for all sores, security in the midst of troubles, rest, and peace, and assured dwelling-places, though the Assyrian should be in

the land.

Thus you see what is this great concernment of any people.

(2.) Let us now consider the tenure of this blessedness, on what account it is to be obtained, or enjoyed. Now this is, our abiding with God. This then is nextly to be considered, what it is for a people, what it is for you, and us, so to abide with God, as that we may in all our affairs enjoy his presence in the ways before described.

Now something is hereunto previously required: something it consists in.

[1.] That we may abide with God, this is indispensably required: That we may have peace with him in Jesus Christ. If we are never with him, we cannot abide with him; no man can abide where he never comes. The acceptance of our persons lies at the bottom of the acceptance of our duties. As the special presence of God with any is in and by Christ, and no otherwise; so is our abiding with God in and through him. God with us' is the name of Christ: our being with God is in him, who is our peace. 'Two cannot walk together, unless they be so agreed;' Amos iii. 3.

Now because this is not to be expected from all the individuals of a nation, yet this thing is to be endeavoured: That the rulers of it be such as have this interest. I do not divest of a share in government those, who have no share in Christ, if lawfully called thereunto. But, I say, when God

gives governors, whom he intends to make a blessing unto a people, they shall be such as are blessed of him in Christ. And if ever the government of this nation, in this present constitution, suppose it the most exactly framed, and balanced, in the several parts of it, for the furtherance of public good, be devolved into the hands of men not interested in God by Christ; though the constitution may be absolutely good, yet the governinent will not be blessed, and the nation will be ruined: for God and his glory will depart; Micah. v. 5, 6. It is Christ that is our peace, even in outward troubles. They are seven shepherds under him,' and 'eight principal men' accepted with him, that are to be our relief.

It is true, for some particular actions or works a wicked man may be anointed particularly; as Jehu, and Jeroboam the son of Joash. But you have no instance, that ever God was with a people to bless them indeed, in a course of special providence, when wicked men by their own consent were their rulers, where the union and relation between them and the people is considerable. I confess unto you, I never think of the state of England, but my heart trembles at this thing; namely, that those who have, and it is fit should have, so great a share in the government of this commonweal, should have their rise from the body of the people, that is dark, and profane, and full of enmity against the remnant. Did not God overrule men, contrary to their own inward principles and lusts, how soon would ruin and desolation break in upon that hand? And give me leave to say, that God in his sovereign providence, having called so many at this time to the place of rule and authority, who indeed (as we believe) love the Lord Jesus in sincerity; it seems to me to look as your duty, to consider all ways and means, whereby the power of these nations may be in succeeding seasons devolved on men of the like spirit and condition.

I shall not interpose in that, which by some is so much spoken of, the reign of the saints. I am sure the means used, and attempted by some, to set upon, and to set up such a rule and dominion, have not become sober men, much less saints of Christ. Yet this I must say, and in the saying of it, I dare say, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah, and Benjamin;' if ever God cease to call saints, that is,

men interested personally in Christ, to places of chief authority in this nation, or commit the power of it into other hands; and when those called to power, cease to exert it in a subserviency to the kingdom of Christ, for the true spiritual advantage of his people, there will be an end of England's glory and happiness. I say, Hear ye this, all ye people. This I have delivered long ago, and many times in this place; this I say still, and in this persuasion hope to live and die. The Lord guide you in this thing: however we shall live on the good providence of our God, who hath hitherto taken care for us.

This then, I say, is pre-required, as a qualification of any person to the performance of this duty of abiding with God. It is the psalmist's advice, Psal. ii. 11, 12. Let this principle be always owned amongst you, by it honour Christ in the world, give him the pre-eminence, it is the Father's will he should have it in all things. Expect not the presence of God, but upon this account. Bear testimony herein against the world of profane men, who despise these things. Seeing then it cannot be expected to have this qualification diffused universally, as yet, through the body of the people; let the rulers take care, that they be not the cause of God's departure from us.

[2.] What is it now for such persons to abide with God, so as they may expect comfortably the continuance of his presence with them, which is their all, that they need or desire? I shall name some few things that are signally required thereunto.

1st. That they inquire of God, ask counsel at his hand, look to him for direction in all their affairs. He is present with them to give them direction: not to seek for it at his hand, is exceedingly to despise him. It must arise from one of these two apprehensions; either he cares not for us, or he knows not how to direct us. When he gave direction by the cloud on the tabernacle, the people being reproved for their carnal fears, and unbelief, upon the return of the spies, some of them would needs instantly into the mountain, and fight with the Canaanites: but says the Holy Ghost, the ark abode in the camp;' they went without God's direction, and prospered accordingly. With what contempt doth God speak of the wisdom and counsels of the sons of