
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Line $l$ intercepts the $y$-axis at $4$ and passes through point $A(-3,8)$.  
$(1)$ Find the equation of line $l$;  
$(2)$ Given point $M(-2,5)$, line $a$ passes through $M$ and is parallel to $l$, find the distance between line $a$ and line $l$.

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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