Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. He is Essentially present with all Creatures. If he be in all places, it follows that he is with all Creatures in those places; as he is in Heaven, so he is with all Angels; as he is in Hell, so is he with all Devils; as he is in the Earth and Sea, he is with all Creatures inhabiting those Elements: As his Essential Presence was the ground of the first Being of things by Creation, so it is the ground of the continued Being of things by Conservation. As his Essential Presence was the Original, so it is the support of the existence of all the Creatures. What are all those magnificent expressions of his Creative virtue, but Testimonies of his Essential Presence at the laying the Foundation of the World^†? when he measured the Waters in the hollow of his hand, meted out Heaven with the Span, and comprehended the Dust of the Earth in a Measure, and weighed the Mountains in Scales, and the Hills in a Balance. He sets forth the Power and Majesty of God in the Creation and Preservation of things, and every Expression testifies his Presence with them: The Waters that were upon the face of the Earth at first, were no more than a drop in the palm of a mans hand, which in every part is touched by his hand. And thus he is equally present with the blackest Devils, as well as the brightest Angels; with the lowest Dust, as well as with the most sparkling Sun. He is equally present with the Damned and the Blessed, as he is an Infinite Being, but not in regard of his Goodness and Grace. He is equally present with the Good and the Bad, with the scoffing Athenians, as well as the believing Apostles, in regard of his Essence, but not in regard of the breathing of his Divine Virtues upon them to make them like himself^†: He is not far from every one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our Being: The Apostle includes all; he tells them they should seek the Lord; the Lord that they were to seek, is God essentially considered: We are indeed to seek the Perfections of God, that glitter in his works, but to the end that they should direct us to the seeking of God himself in his own Nature and Essence^†: And therefore what follows, In him we live, is to be understood not of his Power and Goodness, perfections of his Nature, distinguished according to our manner of conception, from his Essence; but of the Essential Presence of God with his Creatures.