The Way of Israel's Welfare

The Lord is with you while ye are with Him.

TO make a little way to to these Words, with what is intended in and from them, I will only mind you of some Remarkables the holy Story mentions, concerning Asa King of Judah, viz. (1.) That he was sincerely godly, a perfect and upright man: though he had his faults (as there is no man that sinneth not) and fell sadly sundry wayes, towards the close of his time, as may be seen, Chap. 16.1, 10. Yet it is said of him in way of commendation, Chap. 15.17. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his dayes: not only he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, Chap. 14.2. but he did it like a Saint, as did David his Father, 1 King. 15.11. And thence also it stands Recorded concerning Jehosaphat his Son and Successor, That he walked in the way of Asa his Father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord, Chap. 20.32. (2.) That as an effect and evidence of Asa's sincerity, he was engaged in that good work of Reforming Church and State, or a diligent endeavour to mend what was amiss p. 2in Religious or Civil respects, Chap 14.3, 8. fot he took away the Altars of the strange gods, &c. (3) That he met with disturbance by the endeavours of some of his evil-minded neighbours, Chap. 14.9. The Arabians, that were near borderers upon the land of Canaan, made War against him. (4.) That a famous and even full victory was given him against that multitude of enemies, by the power and goodness of God, Chap 14.10, to the end. (5.) That in their return from the vanquishment of those adversaries; there was a solemn and incouraging message sent them; Wherein may be minded,

1. By whom the message was sent, Chap. 15.1. God (the spirit of God) was the Author, and Azariah the hand that conveyed it.

2. To whom the Message was delivered, ver. 2. Hear ye me Asa and all Judah and Benjamin; The Leader and the People, &c. the Chief and his followers.

3. The Message it self, or matter of it, which is summarily presented in the remainder of the second verse, and then is further illustrated and inlarged to ver. 7. In this second verse, we have the main sum of the message that was sent: and therein First, a general proposition set down. The Lord is with you while ye are with him. Secondly, That general is explained and amplified by two particulars presented, the one in way of promise, If ye seek him he will be found of you; the other in way of threatning, But if you forsake him, he will forsake you. It is the middle clause of the verse (or the general conclusion p. 3therein declared) That I intend to propose a few words from, upon the present occasion: Not to spend time in explaining the terms: I come immediately to the Doctrine, which may be thus Delivered;

p. 3DOCTRINE. That while a People are with God, He also is with them;

Or thus,

The Lord without fail is and will be with his People when or while they are with Him.

The Lord is with you while ye are with him.

The Words (as is observed by some) may be referred to time past, present or to come; and so rendred indifferently, The Lord hath been, is, he will be with you upon your being with him.

To unfold and confirm the Truth mentioned, three things may be minded as matter of enquiry, viz. What it is for a people to be with God: and what for God to be with them? and then whence or on what account He will be with them while they are with Him.

p. 4Quest. What it is for a people to be with God? Two things seem to carry the sence or sum of it, or there are two ways of a peoples being with God: viz. In their hearts and in their lives:

First, To be with him in their hearts: when the heart is right in his sight, and found faithful before him, as is said of Abraham, Nehem. 9:8. And foundest his heart faithful before thee: There is a fixed heart-adherence to him; as the good man gave the exhortation, Acts 11 23. That with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. That with a stedfast immoveable decree of heart they should stick close to him; that nothing that they were to meet with, might work a separation, or set them at distance again: And thus to be with him in heart, is by faith, love and fear.

1. Faith in him. As unbelief separates, holds or sends away the heart: The direct, natural, proper tendency and work of it is a heart-departure from God, Heb. 3.12 An evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; unbelief makes the heart stand off and go away from God and Jesus Christ; so faith carries it to him; it is oftentimes called coming, John. 6.35. coming or believing are mentioned as the same thing; faith is the souls motion or making out to God in Christ: And then it keeps the heart with him. The propriety of it some not unmeetly express to be a t◊ing by the Heart-strings to him: The heart so stays upon him as to stay with him, makes its stand there. This was one way of Asa ◊s being with God, as the Seer said to him, 2 Chron. 15.8. Because thou didst rely upon the p. 5Lord: His heart got near to him in a time of need▪ and so himself in the same case, 2 Chron. 4.11. Help us O Lord our God, for we rest on thee. He expresseth his faith in prayer, which is the proper language of it: The prayer of faith—Faith in prayer brings the heart into his presence, but prayer without faith is like a bird without wings, that cannot get upwards to any purpose, but falls to the ground: Faith is always a necessary ingredient, one of the main requisites of right prayer: There is a must put upon it: Hebrews 11.6. He that cometh to God, must believe that he is—They that would come to God, so as to be with him indeed, must have faith to lead and lift their hearts home to him; Faith in his power and grace and faithfulness, James 1.6. But let him ask in Faith: There will be defects q d. do what you can, but be sure faith be not wanting, as you would get any thing by all your askings: Let not such an one (that 〈…〉 not in faith, that is, think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord, verse 7.