We cannot pretend to specify all the means which are to be used ; but we will notice some of the most important :
1. Let us abstain from that which will drive God from us —
[Sin is "that abominable thing which his soul hates;"- and, if we wilfully indulge it, he will shew his abhorrence of it, by hiding his face from us, and withdrawing from us his blessing. He has said, that his " Spirit shall not alway strive with man." And it is certain, that we may "grieve his Spirit," till we altogether "quench" his sacred motions. Let us then turn, not only from open, but from secret sin. Let us "purge out that leaven, that we may be a new lump." For though God will " not be extreme to mark the unallowed infirmities " of our nature, he will shew his indignation against hypocrisy, however refined it may be in its nature, or specious in its appearance2.]
2. Let us notice the very first intimations of his
displeasure —
[God does not utterly forsake the soul at once : he testifies his displeasure in a variety of ways, before he finally forsakes us. As, in withdrawing from his temple of old, he descended from the mercy-seat to the threshold; and then went from the threshold to the court ; then from the court to the door of the east gate ; and, lastly, from the gate to the moun- tain11: so, in his departures from Churches or individuals, he gives notice of his intention, that we may repent us of our evil ways. He ceases to manifest himself to us ; he gives us up to the dominion of our former lusts ; he embitters our state by forebodings of our future doom ; and, when he cannot prevail, he "gives us over to a reprobate mind1," and leaves us to fill up the measure of our iniquities. Let us " turn then at his first reproof," that, instead of " taking his Holy Spirit from us," he may " pour it out upon us" in richer abundance k.]
3. Let us guard against secret departures from
him —
[It is rarely, if ever, that God leaves us, unless we first leave him. He has laid down this as the rule of his conduct ; " I am with you, while ye be with me : if ye be with me, I will be with you ; but if ye forsake me, I will forsake you1." If we trace all our darkness and distresses to their proper source, we shall find that they originate in our own unfaithfulness. Let
g Job xx. 4 — 7. h Ezek. ix. 3. and x. 18, 19. and xi. 23.
« Ps. lxxxi. 11,12. k Prov. i. 23. > 2 Chron. xv. 2.