pretend themselves to have been of the number of his people, if upon meeting with difficulties they go over to the fide of his enemies. The heart was never upright in yielding to him, that retracts its dedication, and turns quite away.

8. The people of God are concerned to abide with him, as they would not lose their work and crown, and expose themselves to greater wrath. To prevent this the caution is given, 2 John 8. Look to yourselves that we lose not those things, which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. The juft fhall live by faith: but if any man draw back, God declares, my foul fhall have no pleafure in him. And how fearful a thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God? The backflider in heart fhall be filled with his own ways: in a dread of which, the Ifraelite indeed will with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord; and however ftaggered, come to this at length, Nevertheless I am still with thee.

These are some of the grounds on which the people of God are, and ought to be with him, as a duty.

II. This may be confidered as their privilege: concerning which let me briefly fhew,

1. Under what endearing characters the people of God are with him.

2. That it is a privilege belonging to every one of the number, and that at all times. 3. Their happiness herein.

4. To what it is owing, viz. to God's keeping his hold of them.

1. Under what characters the people of God may, in point of privilege, be faid to be with him. Thefe are obvious and endearing. Particularly,

1. They are continually with God, as the members of his Son, ransomed by him at the dearest rate, and vitally united to him, and fo of too great account to be neglected or left. When like sheep we had gone aftray, loft God and ourselves, and were wandering in the ways of death, Chrift came to feek and fave that which was loft. He fuffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God: and in order to it, had a feed promised him, to whom he was appointed a quickening head; and he becomes actually fuch, to all that believe. With reference to them he declares, I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that fent me. And this is the Fa

ther's will which hath fent me, that of all which he hath given me, I fhould lofe nothing, John vi. 36, 39. The Father commits them to Chrift, as their redeemer and head: who whilst on earth faithfully discharged his truft, and when about to return to heaven, he affectionately committed to his Father again. John xvii. 11. And now I am no more in the world, but thefe are in the world, and I come to thee: Holy Father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name; thofe that thou gavest me I have kept. And they were left by Chrift

to his Father's keeping and care, under the engaging confiderations, as ranfomed by him, and related to him.

2. Ifraelites indeed are with God, as his children, renewed by his grace, and allied to his Son; through whom he makes good his promife of being a Father to them, and receiving and owning them as his fons and daughters. They are created in Chrift Jefus after his image: and by faith receiving him, and returning unto God by him, to them gives he power to become the jons of God, even to them that believe in his And the relation fhall never be broken

name.

off.

3. They are difposed to it, as being renewed by the Spirit to God's image and likeness, and in Chrift become the objects of his fpecial love. Their natural averfion is cured, and from a new principle implanted, they are formed for converfe with God, and breathe after it, as what they cannot live without.

Ás to fuch as thefe, their being continually with God, implies,

1. Having their minds engaged or taken up in ferious thoughts of God, as their daily concern and work. The wicked are faid to be far from God, as God is not in all their thoughts, Pfalm x. 4. In oppofition to fuch, the faints make confcience of filling their minds with him, and employing their daily, most free and delightful thoughts upon him: and though a great part of their time be spent herein, they find no reafon to be weary, but by fresh application to the boundless object, promise themfelves fresh de

light. Pfalm civ. 34. My meditation of him Shall be fweet: I will be glad in the Lord, i. e. when I can get near to him. And by whatever diverted, or interrupted for a time, to thefe meditations the holy foul returns, as to its element. Pfalm cxxxix. 18. When I awake, I am still with thee.

2. Being with God must be understood with reference to the difcoveries he hath made of himself in his word, and the relations in which he ftands to us, under which he would be conceived of by us: and fo his people are, and ought to be with him.

(1.) As their owner, acknowledging his propriety in them, and dominion over them: and fo they are with him, as his own, made by his power, and created anew by his Spirit and grace. And under a fense of both, they refer themselves to his difpofal, and lay themselves at his feet, faying, Let him do to me as feemeth good to him, 2 Sam. xv. 26. Though flesh and fenfe murmur and complain, quarrel and difpute, Nevertheless, I will fay, I am still with thee.

(2.) As their king and lawgiver; and fo they are with him as his fubjects, regarding his will, as the rule appointing them their work, wherein they are to study to please and serve him, and fo abide with him. He that made me, hath the fulleft right to rule me; and he shall do so. O Lord, I am thy fervant, I am thy fervant; and whatever would tempt me to withdraw my allegiance, I dare not yield. Other lords have had dominion over me, and plead hard to re

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gain it ; but I delight to do thy will, O God: thy law is in my heart. By thee only will I make mention of thy name; and though forely affaulted, Nevertheless I am continually with thee.

(3.) As the Searcher of hearts, they are continually with him, as under his inspection, and open to it. Pfalm cxxxix. 1, 2, 3. O Lord, thou haft fearched me, and known me. Thou knoweft my down-fitting, and mine up-rifing, thou understandeft my thoughts afar off. Thou compafJeft my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. Thou art witness to my inward grief through the workings of corruption, and in what manner I am urged by outward temptation: but however tempted, I would not yield; whatever I fuffer for thee, or from thee, I would not allow myself to fin against thee, no not in thought. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And fee if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting, verfes 23, 24.

(4.) As the God of all grace, they are continually with him; in a way of fupplication, dependance and truft for what they need; and in thanksgiving for what they receive. Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord, of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things, I am thine, fave me. If God do not fave me, none else can. When he will work, none can hinder. And having fo often experienced this, what reafon have I to love, and blefs, and cleave to him? How ftrongly foever urged to

neglect,