S86 Chap. 42. an Expo/tion upon the Book of ] o s. .Verf. $ Obferve ; We muff reconcile our felves to thofe we have wronged, before we can look to be reconciled untoGod,againfl whomwe have finned, or to be accepted of him in any fervice, Thecounfel of Chrift dire&s to this (Mat. 5. i3, 24.) If thou 12ringefl thygift unto the Altar, and there remembrefi that thy brother bath ought again(i thee, leave there thy gift before the Al- tar, and go thy way ; firff be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. This general commandof Chrift, is the fame in effe&, with what the Lord here long before gave parti- crlarly and perfonally to Eliphaz, and his two friends ; they mu(3 firli go and be reconciled co fob, and then offer their facrifice. This the Apoftle alto gave in charge (t Tim. 2. 8.) I will there- fore, that men pray every where, holding upJtoly bands ; but how ? without wrath anddoubting. There are two things required, if we look to be accepted of God in any fervice. Firft, Faith. Second. ly, Love or charity. Theremuff be faith, elfe we cannot lift up holy bands without doubting: There muff be love, elfe we cannot lift up holy bands without wrath. They who are fuing for, andex- pe&ing favour and mercy fromGod,have need to difcharge them- felves of all wrath and revenge towards man. With what face can any exile& favour from God, who will not acknowledge wherein they have wronged man Sixthly, Obferve ; God is very tender of the credit of bis faithful fervants ; be will not be reconciled, einlefs they are righted. job had been wronged, no man more, by the ceníures of his friends ; and God was fo tender of hishonour and reputation,that his friends muff make him reparation, before God will accept their facrifice. One reafon why God is fo tender of the credit of his fervants,is,becaufe they are tender of his,and will undergo any wrong, rather than his Name flail be blafphemed or wronged. As Godwill himfelf honour them, who honour him (a Sam. z. 3o.) fo he will one time or other, force way or other, retrench and caft back uponmen,all that difi,onor which they have received frommen,or caufe themto take it off,and wipe them clean whom they have undefervedly afperfc d. Obferve,
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