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I. THE NATURE OF A TRUE SPIRITUAL REFORMATION IS HERE SET FORTH.

1. Reconciliation to God. Men in their unregenerate state are out of sympathy with their Maker. There is an estrangement of soul.

2. Practical regard to the Divine precepts. "Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth, and lay up His words in thine heart." Put thy being under the reign of heavenly laws.

3. Renunciation of all iniquity. "Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles." There is no reformation where sin is cherished, or where it is allowed to linger.

4. Estimating the best things as worthless in comparison with God. "Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brook. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver."

II. The ADVANTAGES of a true spiritual reformation, as here set forth. Eliphaz says that if Job would only act out his counsel he should, enjoy signal advantages. "Thereby good shall come unto thee." What is the good" he refers to? He specifies several things. —

1. Restoration of lost blessings. "Thou shalt be built up." All thy losses shall be repaired, and the breaches in thy fortune healed. How much Job had lost!

2. Delight in God. Job had been complaining of the Almighty; and his face was cast down in sadness.

3. Answer to prayer. Prayer is always answered where it leads to a submission to the Divine will; and true prayer always leads to this.

4. Realisation of purposes. Thou shalt form a plan or purpose, and it shall not be frustrated.

5. rower of usefulness. When men are cast down, thou shalt say, "Cheer up."

(Homilist.)

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KJV: If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

WEB: If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.