Chap.t.Sect.6 Looking unto :Jef1JS. Eook lV. now the-refore we cannot expect his bodily prefence un. lelfe we will rnaintaine the doctrine of tranfubftantiation or of confubftantlarion ; which far be it from us. ' 2. If by Chrifts prefence we rneane his fpirit ual prefence, then the queftion is, what is tb~s fpiritual prefence ofChrift ? for ifwe fay it is his prefence as ?e ts Go.d, I fhould then, qu~re, how God is faid to be prefent wtth men tl'l one place more then another ? God in his elfence is fully every where, and incluGvel-y no where; eaven is his throane, and earth is his food1:oole, and yet nor earth nor heaven, nor the heaven of heavens is able to containe ·him :' whiles we [peak fpiritually ofChrifts prefence in the affem· , blies ofhis people, we cannot meane his univerfal prefence,but his efpecial prefence, and therefore as yet I fuppofe we have not the ' meaning ofit. 399 3. If by Chrifts prefence we meane the prefence of his Spirit either in himfelfe, or efpecially in his workings, ftirrings, actings, and rnovings in our fpirit, I fhould then fubfcribe; only I think .this is not all that is included i~ his efpecial prefence ; true it is .that when1Chrift was upon earth, he told his difciples that he muft go away, for if he went not away,che Comforter would not ·Corne unto them, but if I depart ([aidhe) I will fend him unto John l 6. 7 , you; & accordingly when that Church,affembly was convened at Pentecoft, God fent the holy Ghoft; much people being then gathered at 'ferufalem, that it might be devulged to all the world, To all thealfemblies of the Saints. Chrift promifed his Spirit, though not al~aies in a viiibl.e rnann~r, where two or three are ga- Mattb. s. :.o. thered together m my_name (fatth Chnft) there I am in the midft of rhem, Chrift in his Spirit ,is in the rnidft ofus, ftirring and moving in our fpirits : or the! Spirit of unity is with united fpirits : 0 he is a fweet Spirit, a Spirit oflove, and concord, and peace, and -glory ; and therefore where fhould he be but with thofe that make harmony upon earth? he is with them, andamongfi them, and in them, ~n~w ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dweUeth in you ? and worketh i~ I Cor•.3. 16.•. - you? . 1 • 4· Ifby Chrifis prefence .we rneane the prefence of his Angels, I {hall then fay we: have fatd enough ; as a King is faid to be where his court is, where his traine or ·retinue are fo Chrift the Kingof Kings is there efpecially prefent, wher~ the heavenly guard, -
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