408 Horn may we have flit-able Conceptions $e erm 7 D,R. the greacnefs and excellency of God, and the meannefs and unworthi- rieis of the Creature ; Thus much feems to be comprehended in the Note of Admiration , Behu1d O what admirable condefcention is this in the Great God , O what wonderful! mercy and grace is this that fuch a poor, vile creature íhould have liberty to fpeak to him, to parley with hire 4. That they were fuch apprchenuons of God as did beget in Abra . ham a faith of Acceptation with God in the performance of that du- ty ; Without which it had been dangerous prefumption in him who wad but Duff and Afhcs to take upon him to fpeak unto the Lord. This Example of Abraham I (hall endeavour to draw forth for our Pracfbfe and Imitation ; He who is made to us a Pattern of Faith, may be to us a Pattern of true Worfhip ; and fuch apprehenfions or con- ceptions Abrah.:m had of God in (peaking to him, fuch conceptions of God we are to htive in our Prayers and performances to him. For which end 1 (hail lay down this General Propofition. That fach ,u fpeak to God,or fpcakof God; fuch ae draw near to God or h .,:ve to do with God in any part of Divine Worfhip , mafi manage all their performances with apprehenfiansand due conceptions of God. The truth of this General Propofition I (hall endeavour to mani- fell and make clear by laying down Four particular Propotitions which mull give evidence to ir. The Firfl Propofition is this ; That we cannot have any true right appr hen1ionP, or conceptions of God , except we have a true know- ledge of him ; Such as have not known God have flighted him , Who is the Lord faith Pharaoh, that I fhould obey bins ; I loot net the Lord; Exoc+. 5.2. Such as know not God, nor delire to know him are fo far from drawing near to God, that they drive him as far from them as they can; they fay unto the Almighty, Depart from us, who dejirenot the knowledge of his wages, Job 21.14. What Counfel Eliphaz gave lob (whom he fuppofed to be a greater flranger to God than indeed he was) may be an ufefull inflrudion to us; lob 22.21. Acyuaint thy felf with God To know God and to be known of God is our highefl priviledge; Acquaint thy Pelf with God and be at peace; the reafon why any are real enemies to God, is, be- caufe they know not God ; and the reafon why many think God is enemy to them is, becaufe they are not acquainted with God, fo ,,-,- timat:.ly as they fhould ; Acquaint thy (elf with God (faith he) -- an 1 thereby good (hall come unto thee; But what good ? and how (hall this good come? It is partly expreft v.22, 23, 24, 25. but more fully v. 26,
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