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 idols? _Be not deceived_: God _is not mocked_: he will not dwell in a divided heart. As long therefore as you cherish _Delilah_ in your bosom, he has no place there: it is vain to hope for a recovery of his light, till you pluck out the right-eye and cast it from you. O let there be no longer delay. Cry to him, that he may enable you so to do! Bewail your own impotence and helplessness; and the Lord being your helper, enter in at the strait gate: take the kingdom of heaven by violence! Cast out every idol from his sanctuary, and the glory of the Lord shall soon appear.
5. Perhaps it is this very thing, the want of striving, _spiritual sloth_, which keeps your soul in darkness. You dwell at ease in the land: there is no war in your coasts, and so you are quiet and unconcerned. You go on in the same even track of outward duties, and are content, there to abide. And do you wonder mean-time, that your soul is dead? O stir yourself up before the Lord! Arise, and shake yourself from the dust: wrestle with God for the mighty blessing. Pour out your soul unto God in prayer, and continue therein with all perseverance. Watch! Awake out of sleep and keep awake! Otherwise there is nothing to be expected, but that you will be alienated more and more from the light and life of God.
6. If upon the fullest and most impartial examination of yourself, you cannot discern that you at present give way, either to spiritual sloth, or any other inward or outward sin, then call to mind the time that is past. Consider your former tempers, words and actions. Have these been right before the Lord? _Commune with him in your chamber and be still_, and desire of him to try the ground of your heart, and bring to your remembrance whatever has at any time offended the eyes of his glory. If the guilt of any unrepented sin remain on your soul, it cannot be but you will remain in darkness, till having been _renewed by repentance_, you are again washed by faith in the _fountain opened for sin and uncleanness_.
7. Entirely different will be the manner of the cure, if the cause of the disease be not sin, but _ignorance_. It may be, ignorance of the meaning of scripture; perhaps occasioned by ignorant commentators; ignorant at least in this respect, however knowing or learned they may be in other particulars. And in this case, that ignorance must be removed, before we can remove the darkness arising from it. We must shew the true meaning of those texts, which have been misunderstood. My design does not permit me to consider all the passages of scripture which have been prest into this service. I shall just mention two or three, which are frequently brought to prove, that all believers must, sooner or later, _walk in darkness_.