896 Chap. 42. an Expoftiox opon theBeo{t,af J o s. Verf. 8, or any fuch like accounts: He only accepts the perlons of thofè that fear him, and do his will. sufcipitfaciem TheLords acceptance of any person, in the retire of this pro- Dew rondo mile concerning fob, is, Firll, To (hew favour and manifel+ af- lrocantoners- fe6tion to him. Secondly, To honour and highly cffeem him. audit. Thirdly, (Which is here fpecialty intended) to anfwer his pray- ers, and grant his requefIs, not only for himfelf, but for others. When a person is once accepted, his prayers (hall not be denied, nor Puffer a repulfe. The Lord accepted) perlons, as a King the perfonsof thofe loyal Subje6ls,who Come to intreat his favour and pardon for thole that have offended him, and rebelled againli him ; he grants their fair, and treats them fairly. In this fenfe the Lord maketh promife to Eliphaz and his two friends, that he will accept Job. Hence,Obferve ; Fìrf+, It is a very high favour andpreviledge to be acceptedof God. Himwill Iaccept, faith the Lord, of Jfs6. This was a favour beyond all the favours, that follow after in the chofe of the book, about the doubling of his efiate. If Jacob (Gen 32. zo.) was fo taken with a hope of acceptance by his brother Efan Per- advs tore be will accept me ; If when he was accepted by Efau, he Paid (chap. 33. t o.) Ihave feen thy face, as though Ihadfern the face of God , and thou wag pleated with me: Then,.how much more (hould we rejoyce in this affurance, that Godbath ac- cepted of us, and that he is pleafed with us ! If the Apo(ile (Rom. 15. 3.) prayed fo earnefily, and defired others to (+rive withhim inprayer toGod, that his fervice, which he had for J:e- ru[Item,might be accepted of the Saints ; then how much more Ihould we pray, that our fervices may b: accepted of God, and rejoyce when they are accepted ! TheApoRIe made it his chief work, to get acceptation with God (z Cor. 5. q.) Wherefore we labour, that whether prelim- or alfont (that is, whether living or dying) we maybe accepted with him ; we are ambitious of divine acceptation. The word which we tranflate labour, noteth a la- bouring after honour, which ambitious men labour muchafter, implying that to be accepted with the Lord is a veryhighhonour, indeed the highefi honour. There
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