The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermonThe pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon

The new temple which the spirit of God describeth so exactly in its various dimensions, and curious perfections, such as should never have parallel; hath all its glorious privileges from Gods gracious presence; The name of that City from that day shall be, the Lord is there. Ezek. ult. and ult.

The new temple which the spirit of God describeth so exactly in its various dimensions, and curious perfections, such as should never have parallel; hath all its glorious priviledges from Gods gracious presence; The name of that City from that day shall be, the Lord is there. Ezek. ult. and ult.

It is observable, Exod. 33.1, 2, 3, 4. that God seemeth to make Israel a very gracious offer. And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up, out of the land of Egypt, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. And I will send an Angel before thee, and I will drive out the Canaanite, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizite, for I will not go up in the midst of thee, for thou art a stiff-necked people, lest I consume thee in the way; yet mark how the people take this bountiful tender, And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned, and no man did put on his ornaments, vers. 4. What evil tidings were here, 1. To have an Angel their guide and guardian, I will send an Angel before thee, surely that nurse would have been very tender of his Lords Son, his first born. 2. To have all their enemies conquered, and I will drive out the Canaanite; might not Israel march along without fear, when God had engaged that ⟨p. 37⟩all their foes should be thrown at their feet? 3. To be conducted to the goodliest country under the cope of Heaven. To a land flowing with milk and honey, to a place that was the paradise of the earth, and the fittest to be the type of Heaven; would not thousands have valued such a promise at an high price? What was there in all this, which called for mourning, that the Israelites take it so heavily, and lay it so much to heart? Truly this, the want of Gods presence, which could not be made up by all these privileges, therefore Moses prays, If thy presence go not with us, carry us not hence; Lord, its better to be in an howling, barren wilderness with thy presence, then in Canaan without thee. Tis not a glorious Angels being our Captain which can give us true comfort; tis not the casting down our enemies, that can lift us up in glory; tis not the pleasant land flowing with milk and honey that can please us, without thy presence; if thou leave us, all our Isaacks (do they promise us never so much joy or laughter) are Benonis, Sons of our sorrows, and Ichabods, the glory, the honour, the happiness is departed from Israel, if thy presence go not with us, carry us not hence. But here is the privilege of Saints, they have Gods presence. My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.