612 , . OUR PRONENESS. TO DEPART FROM GOD. vast difference there is between innocent and fallen man innocent man was like to God, fallen man is assimilated to the fallen angels. See, in the next place, what a neces- sity there is of self-denial, if ever we would be restored from the ruins of our fall. We must turn away from our own inclinations if ever we would turn to God ; for the way of man and the way of'God are just contrary to one another. The Fifthdoctrine. It is possible for the childrenofGod to turn aside further from him, even while he is dealing with them in order to their recovery. " I was wroth for his " iniquity, and I smote him, and hid my face from him ; "and after this he went on frowardly after the way of his " own heart." This is not the character of all christians; but I say there are some who run this length, they refuse to be reconciled after many methods that God has used with them. Some there are that tremble at his word, and no sooner do they hear the voice of the Lord speaking a word to them, Return ye, but their hearts answer, Lord, we return : such are the souls that dwell with God, with whom God dwells. He guides them with his eye ; one look of his eye turns thetrí to himself. Again, there are others that have not so soft a temper, that yet may be awakened with the first strokes of God's rod, and God has no need of laying on stroke after stroke. Others again are not sensibly touched till God begins to hide his fäce from them ; they may be smitten and yet may not return back to the Lord; but when he hides his face, then they cry with Job, " Why hidest thou thy'face, and " countest me as thine enemy? Some there are that must have both these inflicted upon them together, or else theywill not return ; they that are the best ofsaints may fall into this case. David was much afflicted with both these before he was awakened of his sin ; " Deep " calls unto deep at the noise of thy water -spouts, all " thy waves and thy billows have gone over me." Sò you find Jonah, when he had been commanded to deli- ver his message. to Nineveh, he refused ; he went away frowardly after the way of his own heart. God was angry andhid his face from him ; God cast him into the sea, and ordered a whale to swallow him, and then he cries out, " I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the " Lord ; out of the belly of hell cried I,, for thou bast
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