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; which cannot be without _fruits meet for repentance_. 4. But perhaps you are not conscious of even any _sin of omission_, which impairs your peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Is there not then some _inward sin_, which as a _root of bitterness springs up_ in your heart to _trouble you_? Is not your dryness and barrenness of soul occasioned by your hearts _departing from the living_ God? Has not _the foot of pride come against_ you? Have you not _thought_ of yourself _more highly than you ought to think_? Have you not in any respect _sacrificed to your own net, and burnt incense to your own drag_? Have you not ascribed your success in any undertaking, to your own courage, or strength, or wisdom? Have you not boasted of something _you have received, as though you have not received it_? Have you not gloried _in any thing save the cross of our_ Lord Jesus Christ? Have you not sought after or desired the praise of men? Have you not taken pleasure in it? If so, you see the way you are to take. If you have fallen by pride, _humble yourself under the mighty hand of_ God, _and he will exalt you in due time_. Have not you forced him to depart from you, by giving place to anger? Have you not _fretted yourself because of the ungodly_, or _been envious against the evil-doers_? Have you not been offended at any of your brethren? Looking at their (real or imagined) sin, so as to sin yourself against the great law of love, by estranging your heart from them? Then look unto the Lord, that you may renew your strength, that all this sharpness and coldness may be done away, that love and peace and joy may return together, and you may be invariably _kind to each other_ and _tender-hearted; forgiving one another, even as_ God _for_ Christ’_s sake hath forgiven you_. Have not you given way to any foolish desire? To any kind or degree of inordinate affection? How then can the love of God have place in your heart, till you put away your