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the world: and the more they are made to triumph over their enemies, the more evidence have they of God's presence with them victoriously. And was the Father with Christ perpetually? This indeed does insure his perpetual presence with them; for, it is upon Christ's head he hath promised to each of them," I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee:" and therefore boldly may believers say, "The Lord is iny helper; and I will not fear what man can do unto me," Heb. xiii. 5, 6.

3. It may be said also in the relative view of the words, respecting the Father, or what of the Father is with them, as with Christ. Why, his presense with them not only imports, that they have the Father's favour and countenance in and through Christ: but also the Father's Spirit and word which was promised to be with Christ, and with his seed, and seed's seed for ever: that they have the Father's heart and hand with them: that his heart is towards them; and he upholds them with the right-hand of his righteousness; that his attributes surround them, as the mountains are about Jerusalem. His presence lies in his exerting these perfections for their good, while his wisdom is present to direct them; his power, to protect them; his holiness, to sanctify; his righteousness, to justify them; his allsufficiency to supply them; his mercy, to pity and parI don; and his truth and faithfulness to be a shield and buckler to them; and to secure the accomplishment of all the promises of the covenant for them. Again, it imports, that as the Father's gifts and graces, laid up in Christ, are communicated, in some measure; while out of his fulness they receive grace for grace; so the Father's secrets are with them in some degree: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and his covenant to make them know it," as the marginal reading is, Psal. xxv. 14. Also, that the Father's hosts are with them; for, "The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him." God's hosts and guard about them, make the name of the place where they are, Mahanaim, that is, two hosts, or camps, Gen. xxxii. 2. It imports likewise, the Father's ornaments

put upon them, that he put upon Christ: even that garment of salvation, and robe of righteousness, wherewith Christ rejoiced so much to be clothed for their sakes. It imports, together with an impression of the Fathe'rs glory and majesty in Christ upon them, their sharing of the glorious rest of God in Christ, the Father's Beloved and so they have the Father's blessing with them, in him, whom he hath blessed for ever.

4. We may view the words subjectively, with respect to them with whom the Father is. As he was with Christ in his person, offices, undertaking, and execution of his offices; particularly, when he was left alone in his sufferings: so he is with the followers of Christ, his members, especially in their solitary and afflicted circumstances; the Father is with them in their person, their names, their characters, and offices, when these are attacked by the fury and violence of men and devils;, because he was with Christ in these circumstances, supporting and upholding him: and because the lovers of his name have his word for that chain of blessings and comforts promised, Psal. xci. 14, 15.

Because on me he set his love,

I'll save and set him free;

Because my great name he hath known,
I will him set on high.

He'll call on me, I'll answer him;

I will be with him still,

In trouble to deliver him,

And honour him I will.

The Father is with them, to deliver them when distressed; to relieve them, when oppressed; to strengthen them, when weak: to comfort them, when dejected; to direct them, when bewildered and in darkness: to bless them, when men curse them; to justify them, when men condemn them; to honour them, when the world defame them; to hide them, when the world pursue them; to deal kindly with them, when the world deal cruelly and proudly with them; to be their company, when father and mother forsake them; when friends, and brethren, and familiars leave them alone, yet happy they that can say, with Christ, "I am not alone, because the Father is with me."

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III. The third thing proposed, was to observe the special comfort included in the presence of God, as represented by the first Person of the glorious Trinity, namely, God the Father: or, how this made for the comfort of Christ in his sufferings; and how it makes for his people's, in their trials.

1st, How it made for the comfort of Christ, in his sufferings, to have the presence of God, as he is God the Father; "The Father is with me." In order to understand this, let it be considered, that the word Father, out of Christ's mouth, when he was in this world, implies some things relating, 1. To Christ's frame towards God and also, 2. Some things with respect to the Father's demeanour toward Christ.

[1.] It implies some things relating to Christ's frame towards God; namely,

1. That Christ was under a humble acknowledgement of God's superiority over him. Christ, as touching his divine nature, was equal with the Father; for, "Being in the form of God, he thought it no robbery to be equal with God," Phil. ii. 6.: but, as touching his manhood, and mediatorial offices, he was inferior to his Father, as his servant; and hence he says elsewhere, "My Father is greater than 1." Our Lord here humbly acknowledgeth, that the Father is his superior; yet under obligation to bear his charges.

2. The word Father here implies, Christ's deep sense of God's affection to him. The sense of this strengthened him to act for his Father in his younger years; when his parents missed him, and sought him sorrowing, he said, "Wherefore was it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"— Luke ii. 49. And this sense of God's dear affection to him, he maintained to the last; and expresses it, John xvii. 24. Father, thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

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3. The word Father here implies, Christ's owning his obligation unto duty; the duty of a Son and Servant; who was also sure that God would not fail to act the part of a Father, by giving him his presence and assistance: "I am not alone, for the Father is with me."

4. It implies Christ's dependence upon God, and his self-insufficiency as man; that is, Christ did not think that he could subsist, or persist, and hold out of himself. Though his human nature subsisted in his divine person; yet, without the Godhead, which was one and the same in each person thereof, he knew he could not go through with his work and knowing the unity of the Godhead, he could well say, as God the Son, "I am not alone;" yet, as the Son incarnate, he expresses his dependence upon the Three-one God, here denominated by the Person of the Father; "I am not alone, because the Father is with me." And here ineffable comfort and support is inclosed and comprehended in this dependence of Christ upon the Father.

[2.] It implies, on the other hand, some things with respect to the Father's demeanour towards Christ.

1. How much God the Father was endeared unto him, even as his dear Son; " His Servant, whom he upheld; his Elect, in whom his soul delighted; and his beloved Son, in whom he was well-pleased."-Here is comfort.

2. Father implies a deterininate and inviolable purpose, in God to promote and advance Christ as his Son and heir; and to confer eminency and dignity upon him. God is here looked upon, by Christ, as the God that must advance him, and exalt him, however he is now abased, humbled, and thrown down: hence, John xvii. 1. Christ doth no sooner fill his mouth with the name Father, but his heart is full of hope and expectation of God's advancing and glorifying him; "Father, glorify thy Son; and, verse 5. "O Father, glorify thou Here then was ground of comfort.

me."

3. Father imports friendship, and friendly dealing that he expects from God, when earthly friends were leaving him, and cruel enemies surrounding him; many bulls compassing him about; strong bulls of Bashan besetting him. When they were tearing to pieces, and bringing him down, the Father was a friend to bear him up. They were potent enemies, but here was an omnipotent friend at hand.

4. The Father, by way of emineney imports, not

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only the nearest relation to Christ, but the highest help, the most honourable and glorious assistance. The Father, who stands obliged to help me, might Christ say, not only as he is my Father, but as he is the Father eminently; even the Father of mercies; the Father of lights; the Father of spirits; the Father of eternity: the Father of mercies cannot be cruel or untender to me; the Father of lights cannot leave me in darkness; the Father of spirits cannot leave my soul in hell; the Father of eternity cannot but make the death of his eternal Son to be the door of eternal life.

2dly, How does it make for the comfort of his people, that the Father is with them; or, that they have the presence of God, as represented and denominated by the first Person of the glorious Trinity, the Father? I shall shew you, that this view is comfortable in several respects.

1. It is cmofortable, as it imports the kindliest enjoy. ment of God's presence, namely, the Father of Christ, and a near relation of ours in him. We cannot conceive of God as our Father, without conceiving him to be first the Father of Christ, who is his eternal Son, our Lord and Redeemer, and as our Father in him, who calls us brethren, and is not ashamed to do so, Heb. ii. 11.; only he must be owned to be the elder brother, and the first-born among many brethren. O! what joy and comfort results from this view of our having one and the same Father with Christ, and his being our own God and Father in him, who says, "I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God and your God?"

2. It is comfortable, as it imports the highest enjoyment of God's presence; it is the top enjoyment, to have the Father with us. Though our enjoyment of God doth not begin with the enjoyment of the Father first for, we come first to Christ; yet it ends or lands in the Father through Christ, the way to the Father, John xiv. 6.; who being the first Person of the glorious Trinity, in the order of subsistence, it speaks out the most high, and honourable, and glorious enjoyment: then does the soul indeed dwell on high, as it is said, Isa. xxxiii. 16.

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