428 Chap. 33. An Expefìtien upon the Book of J o E. Verf.26, Secondly, Confider the coherence or dependance of thefe words, He fhal call unto God, andhe will befavourableunto him. Whereas, before, all his.complaìnings and outcryes-flood him in no Read, now being humbled effeCually, and taking hold ofthe righteoufnefs (hewedand offeredhimby the Maffenger of God, he nofooner makes fuit to Godbut is heard: Hence Note. God firfl fhezwes regard to theperfon, then to the .ofering,te pray- ers and fervices. This truth may be underflood two wages, Fir(+; in reference tothePlateofgrace. When Abeland Cain brought their facrifi- ces or offerings, God had refpeil to Abel andhis offering, butto Cain and his offering hadno rerpesfi, (Gen. 4. 4,. ç. ) Abel was in a (+ate ofgrace, Cain was not, fo the Apoflle Plates their cale, , (;Heb. I r . 4. ), ByfaithAbel offered untoGodamore..excellent t fu crifice then Cain, by whichhe obtained íxitnef e thathe (hisperfon) was righteous, Godtefhfyingofhisgifts andwhat didhe teflifie ? Purely that his giftswere brought in faith, andwereprefenred from aprincipleofgrace, which Cain had not ; and thereforeGod did not approvingly teftifie ofhis gifts. Till we clofe with God by faith, God Both not dole with our fervices:byacceptance. Secondly,as this is true in reference to the flare ofgrace, fo in re- ference to fomewhat inthe prefent aBeings or difpofitions ofthefe who are gracious. 'Tis pofible for a:godly man to a& fo finfu(ly, and to be fo ill difpofed.to the frame of his hearr,that God may feem to deny acceptation to his prayers, and fervices. David Paid (Pfal. 66. 18. ) If Iregard iniquity in myheart, the Lord will not heave me. And God told the Jewes,his Covenant people, (I fa. 1. I g.) whenye mattemanyprayers,I will not hear ; your hands are full ofblood.. Thus while they who have aflare intereft in Chrift,wáí& unworthyof ir, they are under the frownes of God, and his dif-acceptation of all their duties, rill, they renew their repentance and humble themfelves. And I conceive this . was the cafe of the fick man in the Text (in whom doubrleffe, he aimed at rob) whom elihu granted to be a godly man, yet un- der greatdifempersof fpirir, which muflbe healed & removed_ before he could focall upon or pray unto God, as hewould be favourable to him,, or oive him teftnnonie of his favour. Thus we.
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