because we are void of that spirit of prayer, which alone can unite us with the one good and open heaven, and the kingdom of God within us. A root set in the finest soil, in the best climate, and blessed with all that sun, and air, and rain can do for it, is not in so sure a way to perfection, as a man whose spirit aspires after all that, which God is ready and infinitely desirous to give him. For the _sun_ meets not the springing-bud that stretches towards him, with half that certainty, as God, the source of all good, communicates himself to the soul that longs to partake of him. We are all of us the offspring of God, more nearly related to him, than we are to one another: for _in him we live, and move, and have our being_. The first man that was brought forth from God, had the Spirit of _Father, Son, and Holy Ghost_ breathed into him, and so he became a living soul. Thus was our first father born of God, and stood in paradise in the image and likeness of God. He was the image and likeness of God, not with regard to his outward shape, for no shape has any likeness to God; but because the Holy Trinity had breathed their own nature and Spirit into him. And as the Deity, _Father_, _Son_, and _Holy Spirit_, are always in heaven, and make heaven to be every where; so this Spirit, breathed by them into man, brought heaven into man along with it; and so man was in heaven, as well as on earth, that is, in paradise, which signifies an heavenly state. _Adam_ had all that divine nature, which angels have: But as he was brought forth to be a lord, and ruler of a new world; so it was necessary that he should also have the material nature of this new created world in himself. His body was the _medium_ or _means_ thro’ which he was to have commerce with this world, become visible to its creatures, and rule over it and them. Thus stood our first father; an angel as to his spirit; yet dwelling in a body taken from this new created world; which however was as inferior to him, as subject to him, as the earth and all its creatures were. CHAPTER II. _Discovering the true way of turning to |God|, and of finding the kingdom of heaven, the riches of eternity, in our souls._