remain in that diftance from God. This is reprefented to us by that parable of the prodigal fon, who went away from his father's boufe, into a far country. Luk.

Queft. In what refpects are men naturally at a diftance from God?

Anfw. 1. Negatively, in two words.

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1. Men are not at a diftance from God with refpect to bis effence. There is no local diftance between the being of God, and the beings of men. He is not in one place, and they in another diftant place. Indeed, it may be, and fometimes is, the apprehenfion of profane perfons, that God is limited and confined to the heavens, and is not in this lower world where they are. They think, that he walketh in the circuit of heaven (Feb. xxii. 14) inclofed in the vaft limits thereof. But God is effentially prefent in all places, heaven, hell, and earth. Pfal. cxxxix. 7-10. Whither fball I flee from thy prefence? if I afcend into heaven, thou art there : if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there if I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the fea, even there shall thy band find me, and thy right band fhall hold me. The great God fills heaven and earth. Jer. xxiii. 24. Can any bide himself in fecret places, that I fhall not fee him? faith the Lord do not I fill heaven and earth? faith the Lord. It is therefore abfolutely impoffible for men to be where God is not. So that there is no diftance as to place, between God and men. In this refpect, the Apostle fays, Act. xvii. 27, 28. He is not far from every one of us for in him we live and move and have our being. We are not only near God, but in God. He is more intimate to us, than we are to ourselves. O that this were more realized and thought of by us! Of how great ufe would it be unto us! How circumfpect might it caufe us to be!

2. Men are not at a distance from God with refpect to his providence.----Sinners are not far from God fo as not to be under his governing providence. Indeed, finners may think, that God does not exercife a provis

dential

dential rule over this lower world; that he is so taken up with the affairs of heaven, as not to mind or regard the things done on earth. They may look upon divine providence as unconcerned about, and not extending itfelf to, their perfons and actions. This was the opinion, not only of fome of the heathen philofophers, but of profane finners among the profeffing people of God, whom the Lord fharply reproves in a way of expoftulation- Pfal. xxxiv. 6-10. They lay the widow and the firanger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they fay, The Lord fball not fee, neither fhall the God of Facob regard it. Understand, ye brutifb among the people; and ye fools, when will ye be wife? he that planted the ear, fhall be not bear? he that formed the eye, shall be not fee? be that chaftifeth the beathen, shall not be correct? i. e. fuch wretches as you, who profefs yourselves to be his people. Whatever therefore finners may imagine, yet they are not under any providential diftance from God, fo as to be exempted from, and out of the reach of, his dominion. No, the most potent and rebellious of them are under his actual ruling providence, fo as to be reftrained and over-ruled by him, to the accomplishing his own holy ends and purpofes. Pfal. lxxvi. 10. Surely the wrath of an fhall praife thee; the remainder of wrath fbalt thou reftrain. No more of their wrath fhall be fuffered to break forth, than fhall make way for the glory of God, by his moft wife ordering of it.Thus much for the negative.

A. 2. Affirmatively, alfo in two words.

1. Men are naturally at a distance from God, as he is the rightful Lord of man... This is a morally evil and finful diftance, confifting in a departure from the holy law of God given to men. A conformity to this law, is a proximity or nearness to God. And therefore a walking according to this law, is called a walking with God, as it is faid of Enoch, Gen. v. 22. And of Noah, Gen. vi. 9.----On the other hand, a difconformity to the law of God, is a departure or diftance from God. And therefore thofe that wander from the way of God's commandments,

commandments, are faid to go aftray from God, and to be eftranged from him. Pfal. lviii. 3. They bid God depart from them, as their Lord and lawgiver; practically faying to him, We defire not the knowledge of thy ways. Job xxi. 14. Now this diftance from God is twofold.

1. An habitual (or inherent) distance, in their natures, All men naturally, as to their inward fpiritual state, are far from God Their natures are far from a conformity to the holy nature and law of God. Nay, they are full of difconformity to, and enmity againft, God and his law. Rom. viii. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not fubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Their natures are empty of all good. Rom. vii. 18. In my flesh dwelleth no good. And replenished with all evil. Eccl. ix. 3. Tea, alfo the heart of the fons of men is full of evil. The original holy image of God is loft. And the filthy image of Satan fucceeds in the room thereof. So that the nature of every man, abiding in its fallen eftate, is at an extream diftance from the holy God, and the holy rule prefcribed unto it. It has in it a reigning law of fin, which is univerfally oppofite to the holy law of God, and irritated thereby. Rom. vii. 8. Sin taking occafion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupifcence.

2. An actual diftance from God, in their operations. Men naturally are far from God in their actions; and that both inward and outward, in their hearts and lives.

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I. As to the inward actions of their hearts, they are far from God.The law of God is a Spiritual law. Rom. vii. 14. It is a rule to the fpirits or fouls of men, by which their inward motions and operations fhould all be regulated. And any fwervings of the foul, from this rule, in its actions, are fo many inward departings from God, as its lawgiver. Now, with respect to these internal operations of the foul, men are naturally at a distance from God. Hence the heart of man in its natural eftate, is faid to be defperately wicked. Ter. xvii. 9. Their hearts are full of evil imaginations.

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Gen. vi. 5. Evil, and only evil, and continually fo. workings of the heart towards fin, are perpetual and endlt fs. The whole foul is alienated and turned off from God, having no kindly motions in it towards God, but full of actings of enmity againft God. Col. i. 21. You who were fometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds.

2. As to the outward actions of their lives, they are far from God.-There is a rule, which God has prefcribed to men, according to which they should fquare and order their converfations. But men in their natural estate, do swerve and depart from this rule in their lives. They live not according to it, but in a contrariety thereunto. They are, as the pfalmift fays, all gone afide, i. e. from the way of holinefs, and are all together become filthy. Pfal. xiv. 3. Inftead of obeying the law of God, they obey the law of fia. Tit. iii. 3. For we ourselves were fometimes difobedient, ferving divers lufts and pleasures. Rom. vi. 17. Ye were the fervants of Jin. And in this refpect, unregenerate perfons are faid to be alienated from the life of God. Eph. iv. 18. The life of God is a life of holinefs; He is holy in all his ways: but they are unholy in all their ways, and fo walk at a diftance from God, yea, walk contrary to God. Thus for the first thing, viz. that men naturally are at a diftance from God as the rightful Lord

of man.

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2. Men are naturally at a diftance from God, as he is the chief good of man. They withdraw from God, neɛ only as he is God moft high, but alfo as he is God alfufficient. They not only refufe fubjection to him, but allo regard not the enjoyment of him. They forfake God, as he is the fountain of living waters; not placing and feeking their felicity in him, but in fomething elfe. Jer. ii. 13. My people have committed two evils: they have for faken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cifterns, broken cifterns, that can hold no water.-More particularly,

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1. They withdraw dependance on God. God is the alone fountain of all good, from whom comes down every H

good

good gift. Jam. i. 17. And therefore the dependance of men, fhould be upon God alone, for all their fupplies of good. Yet however, men naturally are alienated from God in this refpect. They place not their trust in God for that good, comfort and fafety, which they ftand in need of; but truft unto themselves, or to the creature.→ If they want outward good things, they depend upon their own fkill, prudence and diligence, for obtaining them, and not upon the providence and bleffing of God. If they enjoy a plenty of worldly comforts, they truft in them for fatisfaction and protection, and not in God. Pfal. lii. 7. Lo, this is the man that made not God bis frength, but trufted in the abundance of his riches. So in Luk. xii. 19. Soul, thou haft much goods laid up for many years; take thine eafe, eat, drink, and be merry.

2. They withdraw defire toward God.-The defires of men ought to go out after God, as the only foul fatisfying portion. Yet however, men's defires are naturally withdrawn from God, and reach forth after other things as their felicity. The current of their defires is after earthly good things, as if thefe were the most excellent, and only defirable things. Pfal. iv. 6. There be many that fay, Who will fhew us any good? any worldly good. They greedily crave thefe apprehended good things; and thirst not after God, the living God. The hearts of men naturally are turned from God, to the creature. So that they infatiably crave created good things, and regard not God the increated and infinite good. Thus the pfalmist fpeaks of fome, who are men of the world, which bave their portion in this life. Pfal. xvii. 14. They were worldly-minded men, who placed their happiness in the things of this world, and made choice of them for their portion. If they may poffefs abundance of these things, they care not, though they mifs of the enjoyment of God.

3. They withdraw communion with God.-Men naturally care not to converse with God, but fhun his prefence. Hence they ordinarily live in the neglect of thofe duties, wherein we draw nigh to God.-They reftrain prayer to

God,