God? Is it on this account that he is departed from you, and that joy and peace are departed with him; and how can you expect they should return, till you put away the accursed thing? Let the wicked forsake his way; cleanse your hands, ye sinners; put away the evil of your doings. So shall your light break out of obscurity: the Lord will return and abundantly pardon.
3. If upon the closest search, you can find no sin of commission which causes the cloud upon your soul, enquire next, if there be not some sin of omission, which separates between God and you? Do you not suffer sin upon your brother? Do you reprove them that sin in your sight? Do you walk in all the ordinances of God? In public, family, private prayer? If not, and you habitually neglect any one of these known duties, how can you expect, that the light of his countenance should continue to shine upon you? Make haste to strengthen the things that remain: then your soul shall live. To-day, if ye will hear his voice, by his grace supply what is lacking. When you hear a voice behind you saying, This is the way; walk thou in it: harden not your heart: be no more disobedient to the heavenly calling. Till the sin, whether of omission or commission, be removed, all comfort is false and deceitful. It is only skinning the wound over, which still festers and rankles beneath. Look for no peace within till you are at peace with God;
