The way to get out of misery is to get discharged of sin
most near to such as, with Mary, cannot see him for their tears and griefs, if with her in humility they seek after him.
Ver. 3. 'If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?'
These words are a removal of hindrances of prayer, following God with an humble confession of that which is evil, which is ever better than a proud boasting of that which is good; and thus preventing* a secret objection, which God and a guilty conscience may make, that he was a guilty wretch. To which he answers by way of confession,
'Truth, Lord! yet if thou shouldst mark iniquities, none could abide it. Whence in general we may observe, Doct. 1. That sin hinders and discourages the soul from prayer; for the conscience will object, and the soul will upbraid us, telling us we are sinners. God, he is holy, and how can we think he will hear us then, where there is no faith? The soul must needs sink. This estate was David's, Ps. 51:14, 15. Sin and a guilty conscience had almost sealed up his lips; and thus was the publican, who durst not lift up his eyes to heaven; and thus will our estate be, especially if we yield to sins against conscience; like Adam, we shall run from the presence of God to hide ourselves, though our former estate and conversation with God were never so inward and familiar. Therefore let us look to our souls as we desire to appear with comfort before the throne of grace, for consciousness of the remainder of sin hinders boldness in prayer in the best.
The way to get out of misery is to get discharged of sin