A90268:42
God's presence with a people, the spring of their prosperity
God's presence with a people, the spring of their prosperity; with their special interest in abiding with Him. A sermon, preached to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, at Westminster, Octob. 30. 1656. A day of solemn humiliation. / By John Owen, D.D. a servant of Jesus Christ, in the work of the Gospel. Printed by Order of Parliament.God's presence with a people, the spring of their prosperity; with their speciall interest in abiding with Him. A sermon, preached to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, at Westminster, Octob. 30. 1656. A day of solemn humiliation. / By John Owen, D.D. a servant of Jesus Christ, in the work of the Gospel. Printed by Order of Parliament.
London: printed by R.N. for Philemon Stephens, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now the Supreme, and sovereign Law of providential dispensations is utterly divers and alien from this of the Covenant of grace. This you have asserted Ezek. 18. 20. The soul that sinneth it shall die: one shall not bear the iniquity of another: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him: Take this for a Law of Universal Right and indispensable, extend it to the Covenant of Grace, and it is absolutely Exclusive of the Substitution and satisfaction of Christ. But it is the Ground, Rule, and Law, of providential dispensations, that God is there treating about; and vindicating his dealing with any people as to his presence with them, and acting towards them therein; which is divers, as you see from the foundation of the Covenant before mentioned.
Now the Supreme, and soveraign Law of providential dispensations is utterly divers and alien from this of the Covenant of grace. This you have asserted Ezek. 18. 20. The soul that sinneth it shall die: one shall not bear the iniquity of another: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him: Take this for a Law of Universal Right and indispensable, extend it to the Covenant of Grace, and it is absolutely Exclusive of the Substitution and satisfaction of Christ. But it is the Ground, Rule, and Law, of providential dispensations, that God is there treating about; and vindicating his dealing with any people as to his presence with them, and acting towards them therein; which is divers, as you see from the foundation of the Covenant before mentioned.
Secondly, As the foundations are divers, so is the 1Rule of their Continuance. What is the Rule and measure of Gods continuance with his people in the Covenant of Grace? plainly this; that he will never forsake them; and on that account will take care that they shall never forsake him, but abide with him for ever. It is not whilst they do so, and so, he will abide with them, and when they Cease so to do, he will forsake them, as to his federal and Covenant presence: there is not such a sandy foundation left us, of our abiding with God in Christ. See the tenor of the Covenant,