Section 1197
I. When, and how long, is the Lord with his people
The answer is, While they are with him. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him.
Here I shall inquire, What it is for the Lord to be with his people; and then, What it is for them to be with him; which is the answer to the question.
First, What it is for the Lord to be with his people. To be with them, is to grant them his presence; but this must be understood, not of his general, or essential presence which is every where, and from which there is no fleeing. Of this we are to understand the Psalmist, when he says, Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, or flee from thy presence? There is no such thing as fleeing from the presence of God, in this sense, because it is every where. He fills heaven and earth with his presence; there is no place that is destitute thereof; for he is not far from every one of us: in him we live, and move, and have our being. He is not only with all his creatures upon earth (and particularly with men) and with the angels in heaven; but even with the devils in hell. If I make my bed in hell (says the Psalmist) lo, thou art there! But this is not the sense in which I understand the Lord’s being with his people. It does not intend his Omnipresence, which reaches to all creatures; and therefore is not peculiar to any persons, good or bad.
Nor do I understand it of his being with his creatures in a providential way; for so is he with all men. He is the preserver of men in general, He supports them in their beings. He upholds their souls in life, and his visitation preserves their spirits. He is the preserver both of man and beast. And not only is he with them to support their beings; but he is with them to supply their wants. The eyes of all wait upon him; and he opens the hands of his providence, and gives them their portion of meat in due season. He is with all to protect and defend them, He is a God at hand, and a God afar off.
Nor is this to be understood of his special presence, in a providential way, with his own dear children. He is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe. This presence of God, in a providential way, Jacob entreated, saying, If thou wilt be with me, in a special manner, in a way of providence. So the Lord promised Joshua, that he would he with him in a special manner, to counsel, help, and assist him, and to give him victory over his enemies. The Lord is, in a variety of instances, in providence, with his people in such a special way as he is not with others. He makes all things work together for good to them that love him, who are called according to his purpose. It is not, however, of this presence, that I intend to treat; but of the gracious presence of God with his people, which Moses so earnestly entreated, saying, If thy presence go not with me; carry us not up hence. That presence of which David, in so importunate a manner, deprecates the loss: cast me not away from thy presence. From the general or essential presence of God, he could not be cast away: nor does he mean his special presence in a way of providence; but his gracious presence as appears by what follows: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
Now to be with God, to enjoy his presence in this sense, is to have the light of his countenance, for which the Psalmist prays, Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. This God graciously vouchsafes unto his people, so that they walk in the light thereof: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. They shall walk, O Lord in the light of thy countenance. That joyful sound, the gospel, leads men into light and liberty: and they, under its influence, when it is comfortably applied to them, enjoy much spiritual peace, and have much of the presence of God. The light of his countenance denotes sensible communion with him. The countenance of the Lord beholds the upright; always beholds them, whether they are sensible of it or no. But to have the light of God’s countenance in a sensible manner, is, to know that God is their covenant God and Father, and that he smiles upon them, having loved them with an everlasting love. Now this is to be with God and to have God with us: in other words, to enjoy his presence. Thus he lifts up the light of his countenance, and indulges his people with communion with himself. Now can there be any communion without his being near, and very near. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Now when the apostle, and those with him, could say this, they had a real internal experience of the presence of God with them; for fellowship with God the Father, is no other than to have his presence; and so with regard to the Lord Jesus Christ.
When persons, in a natural way, have fellowship with one another, they are together in some place, and enjoy one another’s company in eating, drinking, and in conversation. In like manner, fellowship with Jesus Christ, or enjoying his presence, is signified by much the same terms I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).
And such persons also have communion with the Holy Ghost. For this blessing of grace, the great apostle of the Gentiles earnestly prayed, as one of the greatest that heart can desire. These are his words, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14) .
For God to be with his people, and they to enjoy his presence, is for him to commune with them; as he promised to Moses that he would, from off the mercy seat, and to whom he granted his gracious presence in a very remarkable manner. He talked with him, as one friend does with another, in a most familiar way. So God, when with his people, affords them his gracious presence, speaks comfortable words unto them, and brings to their remembrance, and home to their souls, his gracious promises; and a word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Never does a child of God experience the presence of God more than when he is pleased to bring a promise, and set it home upon the heart with power.
For the Lord to be with his people, and grant his gracious presence, is, to manifest his early loving kindness to their souls. Sometimes they are in darkness, and see no light, God withdraws himself from them, as to the manifestation of his love; though he at other times, with great kindness gathers them, by granting a fresh manifestation of his love. He may be said to be with them, when he speaks to the heart, and says, I have loved thee, with an everlasting love; therefore with, loving kindness have I drawn thee: when he sheds his love abroad in their hearts, by his Spirit, or directs their hearts into his love: when they are rooted and grounded in his love, satisfied of their interest in it, and that nothing is able to separate them from it; when be enlarges their hearts to run with cheerfulness in the ways of his commandments; and draws out the desires of their souls to his name, and to the remembrance of him: when he raises their affections, putting in his finger by the hole of the door, causing their bowels to move towards him; and their hands drop with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handle of the lock; that is, when their graces are in lively exercise when it is thus, God is with them, granting his gracious presence. When their faith is in lively exercise; and when they can say with the church, My Beloved is mine, and I am his; when their hope is raised to such a degree, as to say, The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, there will I hope in him. When their love is so strong, as with the Psalmist to say, I will love thee, O Lord, my God; for thou art my rock and my fortress; when they thus abound in faith, hope, and love, through the power of the Holy Ghost; then may the Lord be said to be with them, and they to enjoy his presence. When in ordinances (hearing the word particularly), they have a spiritual appetite; find the word and eat it, to the joy and rejoicing of their hearts; when there is a desire in their souls after the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby, and they feed upon it, and relish it; when they sit under the shadow of Christ with delight, and his fruit is sweet unto their taste; when, while the Scriptures of truth are opened, or the Word of God preached, their hearts burn within them; then God is with them, and they enjoy his presence. When Wisdom’s ways are experimentally ways of pleasantness, and her paths, paths of peace; and the language of their souls is, Lord, it is good for us to be here; God is with his people; his presence is with them at such times. And if we know any thing of God’s being with us, or to have his presence, it is in such seasons as these.
Now it is a most amazing instance of divine goodness, that God should grant his gracious presence to any of the sons of men, frail, mortal creatures; sinful dust and ashes. He that dwells on high, in whom it is wonderful condescension to look on things in heaven: He, whose throne is in the heavens, and the earth is his footstool! It is an humbling of himself to look to him that is of a poor and a contrite spirit. This is grace: but; how much more so, for the High and the lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, and dwells in the high and holy place, to dwell with him that is of a poor and a contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones! It is much he should look on them; but it is far more, it is amazing, that he should dwell, or take up his abode with them. When our Lord spake of such as loved him, and kept his commandments, he said, that He and his Father would come unto them, and make their abode with them. Therefore said Judas, not Iscariot, Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? What reason can he given for it? O, how distinguishing is this favour! This always causes gladness, when it is enjoyed. Lord lift thou up upon us the light of thy countenance; which will put more joy into our hearts, than when corn and wine increase. It is with this, God makes his people joyful in the house of prayer; where prayer is made, the word preached, and ordinances administered. It is the nearest to heaven, of any thing that is enjoyed upon earth. It is this which sweetens all afflictions, and makes us easy under them. The presence of God is like the tree that was cast into the waters of Marah; it made them sweet. If the Lord be with his people, they can cheerfully go through fire and water. If they pass through the fire, the flames shall not kindle upon them; or through the waters, the floods shall not overflow them; If the Angel of God’s presence be with them, they can pass through the wilderness; yea, through the valley of the shadow of death, without fear. For, (says the Psalmist) I will fear no evil. Why so ? for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. This makes every affliction easy; yea, it causes the soul to rejoice; to glory in tribulation; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope.
Of all things in the world there is nothing so desirable to a gracious soul, as the presence of God. Hence Moses says, if thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. I do not care where I am, or whither I go, if thy presence go with me; that is his meaning. So David says, There be many that say, who will shew us any (carnal, temporal) good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. That is the thing he was desirous of. So Job in his afflicted circumstances, says, O that I were as in months past! when the Almighty was yet with me; which made past days desirable to be returned unto him. Of all things that one good man can wish for another, there is nothing greater than to wish him the presence of God. As Boaz said to his reapers (a very unusual salutation for farmers, to their reapers, in our day), The Lord be with you. He could not wish them a greater blessing. And there is nothing greater, for God to give his people, than his presence. He promised Jacob that he would be with him, and was as good as his word. Jacob was greatly thankful for it, as appears when he said, Let us arise, and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. If God grants his presence with his people, it is an antidote against all fear from every quarter. Fear not, I am with thee. Let a man’s case be what it may, he will exult and say, in the midst of surrounding dangers, The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob will not forsake us.
Well, but now the question is, When, or how long will God be with his people ? The answer is, While we are with him. And can we expect it any longer than while we are with him? no; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: while you keep close to him in a way of duty; while you are with him in prayer particularly; while you ply the throne of grace, and keep close to God there; and this is to he done continually. Our Lord spake a parable to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint. The apostle directs us to pray without ceasing; and elsewhere exhorts, that supplication be made for all saints, watching thereunto with all perseverance. Now, if you keep close to God in your closets, in your families, and in public with his saints, God will be with you; but if you restrain prayer before God, you must not expect his presence. Is it reasonable you should, while you neglect to approach unto him? I tell you, you must not expect he will be with you, when he never hears from you. He will be with you, while ye are with him; while you are with his worshipping people. if you desert his assembles, he will desert you? Of Judah it is said, He ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints. While Judah kept close to God, the Lord was with him; he had power with God, and prevailed.
God is with us, while we are with his people; while we have communion with them that fear the Lord. God is with them that fear him; and those that keep company with such persons, may expect his presence. This is what makes conversation with the saints desirable. These are the excellent in the earth, in whom we should delight. Why so? because God is with them. This is the reason given why ten men should take hold of the skirts of him that is a Jew (that is, one inwardly, a spiritual man), and say, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Now being with the saints, is in some sense, being with God. While you are with his people, conversing, or joining in prayer with them, God will be with you. They that feared the Lord, spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them, that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. Saints, when they meet together, may at first be very lukewarm and indifferent; but by degrees, through spiritual conversation one with another, they become lively. Spiritual conversation is like rutting fuel to fire: and prayer is like the bellows which blows up the flame; and, ere long, before they are aware, it is with them, as the church says it was with her, when her soul was made like the chariots of Aminadib.
I persuade myself some of you remember the times in which it hath been thus with you, in Christian conversation. You have come to it coldly; but by degrees have been refreshed, and have comforted one another. God has been with you. Thus it was with the two disciples travelling to Emmaus. They entered upon Christian conversation; began to talk about the sufferings and death of Christ; and while they were thus discoursing, Jesus came and joined them; went on and talked with them; and when he parted from them, they reflected upon what had passed, said, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way ? Thus, while saints are with one another, they are with God. While they are praying for one another, and building up one another on their most holy faith; God is with them, as he was with the first Christians, when the house was shaken, and they were filled with the holy Ghost, and great grace was upon them all.
God will be with you, while ye be with him in public worship, and attend the ordinances of his house. As the primitive Christians experienced, who continued stedfast in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Where God hath recorded his name, he comes and blesses his people. Where two or three are gathered together in his name, there is he in the midst of them. He hath promised to be with his ministers and churches to the end of the world: and while you are with them, he will be with you. But I must proceed to inquire,