Heaven taken

If we draw near to God, he will draw ¹near to us^*. If we draw near to him in duty, he will draw near to us in mercy. When the Prodigal approached to his Father, his Father drew near to him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, Luke 15. 20. If we draw near to God with repenting hearts, he will draw near to us with a compassionate heart. David prayed, Psal. 69. 18. Draw nigh to my soul. It is good to have God draw nigh to us. How sweet is his presence! he is light to the eye, joy to the heart. How happy was it for Zacheus, when Christ drew near to him! This day is salvation come to thy house, Luke 19. 9. When God draws near to the soul, Heaven and salvation draw near.

1. 16.
2. *Jam. 4. 8.

2. There is a time coming, when ¹we shall wish we had drawn near to God. We are shortly drawing dear to our grave, Psalm 107. 18. They draw near unto the gates of death. The wicked who care not for God, yet at death they would draw near to him. then they cry as Matth. 8. 25. Lord save us, or we perish; Then mercy, mercy! They run to God in distress, as in a storm men run to a tree for shelter. But God will not shelter his enemies. The Lord gives the sinner abundance of mercy in his life time, (as you have seen a loving Father bribing a Prodigal Son with money to see if he can reclaim him) but if the sinner be not wrought upon with mercy, then at death the Sun of mercy sets, and a dark night of wrath overtakes the sinner. They who would not draw nigh to God as a friend, God will draw nigh to them as an enemy.