Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. There is an influential Omnipresence of God.

1. Universal with all Creatures. He is present with all things by his Authority, because all things are subject to him: By his power, because all things are sustained by him: By his Knowledge, because all things are naked before him. He is present in the World, as a King is in all parts of his Kingdom Regally present: Providentially present with all, since his Care extends to the meanest of his Creatures. His Power reacheth all, and his Knowledge pierceth all.

1. Ʋniversal with all Creatures. He is present with all things by his Authority, because all things are subject to him: By his power, because all things are sustained by him: By his Knowledge, because all things are naked before him. He is present in the World, as a King is in all parts of his Kingdom Regally present: Providentially present with all, since his Care extends to the meanest of his Creatures. His Power reacheth all, and his Knowledge pierceth all.

As every thing in the World was Created by God, so every thing in the World is preserved by God; and since Preservation is not wholly distinct from Creation, 'tis necessary God should be present with every thing while he preserves it, as well as present with it when he Created it.^* Thou preservest man and Beast. ^†He upholds all things by the word of his Power. There is a virtue sustaining every Creature, that it may not fall back into that nothing from whence it was elevated by the Power of God. All those natural Virtues we call the Principles of Operation, are Fountains springing from his Goodness and Power; all things are acted and managed by him, as well as preserved by him; and in this sense God is present with all Creatures; for whatsoever acts another, is present with that which it acts, by sending forth some virtue and influence, whereby it acts: If free Agents do not only live, but move in him, and by him