Ch 2. n Ecpoftiart upon the Book of J o B. Verf.8. Godwpm his uneven walkings, or finful ac`ings ; yet his flare of acceptation, continues firm in the main. The Lord doth nor ut- terly call off his favourites, no, nor any whom he raketh into his favour, or a nearnefs with himfeif. Secondly, If we areonce accepted withGod, he can make us ac- cepted with men ; and that, not onlywith good men (Rom. 04. i8.) but, even with bad men. God cangive us favour in the eyes of chofe men, who havenot aneye to fee, that weare in his favour.Daniel,whowas fo careful to keep up his acceptation with God, That be purpofed in his heart, not to defile himfelf with the portion of the lungs meat (Dan. i. 8, 9.) Of him it is laid (ver. 9.) Godhad brought Daniel into favour and tender love, with the Prince of the Eunuches. He, a confcientious few, had great acceptation with him, who was an idolatrous Heathen. Thirdly, If once accepted of the Lord, we need not be much croubled,chough we are reprobate to the world, though the world reje l and ca(l us off, yea, tail us out. TheLords acceptation of us, will bear or may bearup our fpirits, in the mida of the worlds reproaches, repulfes, and rejections. Again, When the Lord faith, Himwill Iaccept. Oblerve ; The Lordaccepts famegodly men more than others, fobs three friends were godly men, queflionlefs theywere, yet they had not that acceptation withGod which fob had. All that are godly have acceptation with God, but they have notall alike acceptation(Ant 10.35. )In everyXation,they that fear him and work, righteoufnefs, are accepted with him : Whichwe mull not cake meerly for a moral or legal righteoufnefs, but as in conjun. dlion with an Evangelical righteoufnefs. Now let them be who they will, that fear God and work righteoufnefs, theyareaccepted: but all are not equallyaccepted ; him will I accept,faith the Lord concerning fob, with an Emphafis ; why was it fo ? becaufe job was one of the moll eminent perlons for godlinefs, yea, the molt eminent, at that time, upon the face of the whole earth, as was (hewed at the 2d verle of the fir(l chapter. Noah was a man highly accepted of the Lord above others, and he was righteous aboveothers'Gen. 7. a.) Thee (faithGod)bave I feenrighteous before me in this generation. Poflìibly there might be others Yyyyy z righteous 899
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