n Christ,
I would recommend unto you that you would draw yet nearer to God. After
that the partition wall of wrath and condemnation is removed, yet there is
much darkness in your minds and corruption in your natures, that separates
from him, I mean, intercepts and disturbs that blessed communion you are
called unto. Therefore, I would exhort you, as James, "Draw near to God,
and he will draw near to you," chap. iv. 8, and that, wherein this most
consists, is in studying that purification of our natures, that cleansing
of our hearts from guile, and our hands from offences, by which our souls
may draw towards a resemblance of God. This access and drawing near to God
in assimilation and conformity of nature is the great design of the
gospel. "Be ye holy, for I am holy. Now, ye are agreed, walk with him,"
(Amos iii. 3), as Enoch "walked with God," Gen. v. 24, that is, labour in
all your conversation to set him before your eyes, and to study to be well
pleased with him in all things and to please him in all, to conform
yourselves to his pleasure in every thing. And this communion in walking
especially consists in that communication of the spirit with God in
prayer, this is the nearest and sweetest approach when the soul is lifted
up to God, and is almost out of itself in him, and this being the ordinary
exercise and motion of the soul, it exceedingly advances in the first
point of nearness, that is, in conformity with God. Drawing often near in
communion with him in prayer, makes the soul draw towards his likeness,
even as much converse of men together will make them like one another.

Now, for the commendation of this, "It is good." What greater evil can be
imagined than separation from the greatest good? And what greater good,
than accession to the greatest good? Every thing is in so far happy and
well, as it is joined with, and enjoyeth, that which is convenient for it.
Light is the perfection of the earth, remove it, and what a disconsolate
and unpleasant thing is it! Now, truly there is nothing suitable to the
immortal spirit of man but God, and, therefore, all its happiness or
misery must be measured by the access or recess, nearness or distance, of
that infinite goodness. Therefore, is it any wonder, that all they that go
a whoring from him perish, as every man's heart doth? For we are
infinitely bound by creation, by many other bonds stronger than wedlock,
to consecrate and devote ourselves wholly to God, but this is