The _loving-kindness_ of God is life, or something _better than life_; Ps. lxiii. 3. and to have a sensation of this loving-kindness, is to feel that I live. To think, to know, and to be assured that I am beloved, by an all-sufficient power, _who can do more_ for me _than I can ask or think_, in life, and death, and in eternity, and to have pleasing and spiritual sensations of _this shed abroad in the heart_; this raises the christian near to the upper heaven, while he dwells on earth, and he _rejoices with joy unspeakable, and full glory_. Some may object here and say, Is it no part of our blessedness then to love the saints, to rejoice in their love, to contemplate the works of God, and his wonders in creation and providence? Answer, Yes surely; and we have allowed it before: But when we take true satisfaction in any of these, it is as they proceed from God, as they relate to God, and lead our souls to centre in him; for God, who is the first cause, must be the last end of all, and no creatures, as divided from him, can make us either holy or happy. I proceed to make some improvement of the few thoughts I have delivered on this subject. I. My first reflection should be upon the scale of blessedness, or the several degrees of felicity that creatures are possessed of, according to their advancing approaches toward God: But my meditations dilate themselves here to so large an extent, as makes it necessary to adjourn this thought to the next discourse. I proceed therefore to the II. Reflection, What unknown evil is contained in the nature of every sin, for it divides the creature from God and from happiness? It may be said to every soul on earth, as it was once said to Israel; _Your iniquities have separated between you and your God_; Is. lix. 2. What a world of endless mischief was comprized in the first sin of Adam, whereby this lower creation was, as it were, cut off from God at once? Man was at first happy in the image and love of his Maker, a-kin to him by nature and creation, as a son to a father: Adam was _the Son of God_; Luke iii. 38. and he enjoyed the privilege and the pleasure of holy nearness to God, and humble converse with him. He read the name of his Maker in all his works; he could contemplate divine wisdom, power, and goodness there; he loved his Creator with all his soul, and was happy in his Creator’s love. But when sin entered, Adam fled from his heavenly Father, and his friend; _he hid himself among the trees in the garden_, when the voice of the Lord called after him, _Adam, where art thou?_ And it has been the dismal description of sinners ever since, that they are _afar off from God_.