Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. I. WHAT IS THAT SEPARATION WHICH SIN MAKES BETWIXT GOD AND SOULS? Not a local separation, for "He is not far from every one of us, for in Him we live," etc. 1. In it there is something negative; i.e. the Lord denies them the influences of His grace, countenance and fellowship. 2. There is something positive in it: sin kindles a fire against the soul. (1) There is a standing controversy God has against sinners (Amos 3:3). (2) There is a pursuing of this controversy against the sinner; some positive outgoings of God's anger against the soul. II. THE GREATNESS OF THE EVIL OF SEPARATION FROM GOD, which many go so light under. Alas! many reign like king Saul, when God departed from him; but how sad a thing this is, will appear if we consider — 1. What God is. Everything in God speaks terror to those that are separated from Him. (1) God is the chief good; and therefore to be separated from God is the chief evil. (2) God is all-sufficient in Himself, and to the creatures. The enjoyment of Him makes truly happy; therefore to be separated from Him is a dreadful evil. (3) The omnipotence of God. (4) The absoluteness of God. (5) God is eternal. 2. All created things are empty and unsatisfactory. 3. To be separated from God is the saddest plague out of hell. 4. It is a very hell to be separated from God. 5. Those that continue in a state of separation from God, have no quarter to which they can turn for comfort in an evil day. III. HOW SIN MAKES THIS SEPARATION BETWIXT GOD AND A SOUL. 1. There is a guilt of sin, whereby the sinner is bound over to misery for his sin. 2. There is the stain of sin. (T. Boston.) Parallel Verses KJV: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. |
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