Chap. 42. a.1nExpefition "pox the Book of J o a. Verf. 8. 897 There is a two-fold acceptation., Firfi, Of ourpersons. Se- condly, Of our fervices. The former is the ground of the lat- ter, and Jefus Chrifi is the foundation of both (Ephef. i. 6.) He through glerioers grace bath madeas acceptedin thebeloved. Jefus Chria is fo dearly beloved of the father, that he is called, The Beloved, as if only beloved. The acceptation of our fervices is often promifed in Scripture, as a high lavon: (êxod. 28.38. Ez.ek, 2o. 4o, 41. Ifa. 56.7.) This Mofes prayed for in the behalf of the Tribe of Levy, which Tribewas appointed to offer facrifice, and to pray for the people, (Deus. 33. r 1.) Blefs Lord his jubffance, and accept the workof his hands. What was the workof Levies hands ? it was to offer facrifice, to whichprayer and interceffion was joyned. That Levi,who had the prieft-hoc d fixed in the family of Aaron, fhould be accepted in the work of his hands, was a bleffing not only to himfelf, but to manymore. This David prayed earnetlly for (Pfal. 19. 14.) Let thewords of my month, and themeditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy. fight, O Lord, my firength, andmy redeemer. He put up a like prayer (Pfal. 219. io8.) Accept, 1 befeech thee, the free -wall- offerings of my month, O Lord. This was the prayer of Araunab for David( 2Sam. 24. 23.) The Lord thy God accept thee. So great a priviledge it is, for our perlons and fervices, to be ac- cepted with the Lord ; that when once we have ir, we may re- joyce all ourdays (Ecclef. 9.7) ÇÇa thyway, eat thy bread with joy, and drink, thy wine with a merry heart, for rod nowaccept- oh thy works. Solomon cloth not mean it of a fenlitive joy only, much leis of any fenfual joy, but of a gracious and fpiritual joy. In this joy we may eat and drink, when our work is accepted; and our work is never accepted, till our perfons are. Now, if it be fogreat a priviledge to be accepted with the Lord, how great amifery is it not to be accepted ? this inference floweth naturally from that great truth. And how great a mire- ry it is, not to be accepted of God, feveral Scriptures hold our. The Prophet (Amos 5.22,) declareth no other judgment upon that people but this, The Lord accepteth them not. And the fame declaration is made by feveral other Prophets (7erem. 14. y 0, ¡Z. IN. 8. 13. c.7Wal. 1..8, so.) Acceptance is ourgreatefi mercy, and non-acceptance our greateff mifery ; and that's the XY Y YY reafon
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