New England's Choicest Blessing

The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our Fathers, let him not leave us, nor forsake us.

AFter I had received the invitation and call to this service, I cannot express the Soul tremblings I had, (indeed sense of my own unfitness at any time to speak before such an Assembly as this, and upon such an occasion; especially in a day so circumstanced as this is,) lest you should be disappointed of that; which you so much need, the best Counsel Heaven can afford. But being satisfied your desire was the Lords Call, I was so far encouraged as to venture upon it, in expectation of divine Assistance: And now humbly beg this may be the wish of this whole Assembly, all the Lords people in it, that God may be with me as he hath been with those who have formerly spoken in his Name, upon the like occasion; that through the help of your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, that which is lacking may be supplyed, and this service may turn to your Edification.

THe words read to you, are part of Solomons blessing of all Israel, who were assembled at the dedication of the Temple, and was after that solemn Prayer he had made, for Gods savour to them in the variety of Cases, and Emergencies might befal them, ver. 55. After all this he stood and blessed all the Congregation. He blesseth them.

1. By declaring them blessed, and acknowledging that favour the Lord had shewed them, ver. 56.

2. By this holy and pathetical wish and desire, as comprehensive of all the particular mercyes before prayed for, God might so be with that Generation as with the former, with the end and effect of that desire, ver. 57, 58.

3. His further desire & wish for them, that what he had particularly mentioned in his Prayer before, might be accepted of God for them, ver. 59. and performed: with his designe, and end, the advancement of Gods glory, ver. 60

4. His holy Counsel and advice to them, how they should carry it to the Lord, that they might enjoy the good desired for them, ver. 61. The Text is the second way by which he blesseth them, wishing all that good to them, that truly will make them blessed, such a presence of God with them, as is comprehensive of all that follows. We bless others when we do wish & truly desire that for them which will make them so; especially, when it is not a bare desire, but with Autority as this was, Solomon being a Prophet as well as a King, and here acting in an extraordinary way, doing that God commanded should be done by Aaron and his Sons, Numb. 6.24, to the end To which he promised the ratifying it, as being done in the way of an Ordinance, and Institution of the Lord. In the words we have Solomons p. 2wish or desire for Israel.

p. 21. The petition it self, exprest, 1. Affirmatively, that God may be with us, amplified and illustrated, 1. By the kind of his presence, as our God. 2. The Degree, as with our Fathers. 2. Negatively, by variety of words to the same sense, not leave nor forsake us.

2. The Petitioner, that is Solomon, a wise man, their Ruler, acting as a Prophet, and in the name of all that People.

3. The Persons for whom it is, all the Congregation of Israel. I shall not spend time in giving you the various readings, or Criticismes about the words; they are well rendred to comprehend the sense of them.

1. The wish, or that is desired, 1. What is meant by the presence of God or his being with us. 2. Our Fathers. 3. As with them. 4. Not to leave nor forsake, and why that is added. These must be a little cleared to make way for the Doctrine.

1. Gods being with them. There is a twofold Presence of God, or he is said to be with any two wayes,

1. By his essential Presence, by which God is alwayes 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.