Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. Limited to such Subjects that are capacitated for this or that kind of Presen•e. Yet it is an Omnipresence, because it is a Presence in all the Subjects capacitated for it; thus there is a special Providential Presence of God with some, in assisting them when he sets them on work as his Instruments for some special Service in the World: As with Cyrus^*, I will go before thee; and with Nebuchadnezzar, and Alexander, whom he Protected and Directed to execute his Counsels in the World; such a presence Judas and others^† that shall not enjoy his glorious Presence, had in the working of Miracles in the world:³ Besides^* as there is an effective Presence, of God with all Creatures, because he produced them, and preserves them; so there is an objective Presence of God with rational Creatures, because he offers himself to them, to be known and loved by them: He is near to Wicked men in the offers of his Grace,^* call ye upon him while he is near; Besides, there is a gracious Presence of God with his People in whom he dwells, and makes his abode, as in a Temple Consecrated to him by the Graces of the Spirit.^† We will come, i. e. the Father and the Son, and make our abode with him. He is present with all by the Presence of his Divinity, but only in his Saints by a Presence of a gracious Efficacy; he walks in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks, and hath Dignified the Congregation of his People with the Title of Jehovah Sbammah, ^*The Lord is there: In Salem is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion^†. As he filled the Tabernacle, so he doth the Church with the Signs of his Presence; this is not the Presence wherewith he fills Heaven and Earth. His Spirit is not bestowed upon all, to reside in their hearts, enlighten their minds, and bedew them with refreshing Comforts: When the Apostle speaks of Gods being Above all, and through all;