Chap 42. n Expoftion upon the Book of J oB. Verf.8. eth the work whichGodgives him to do, O how acceptable is fuch *OW to God ! And therefore, Let us labour to know, and do what is acceptable to the Lord. The Apoille would have us prove what is acceptable to the Lord (Eph. y. so.) that is, Firli, Rudy the Word, to find out what is acceptable to the Lord. Secondly, approve and embrace with our whole hearts, what we find to be fo.Thirdly, pradéice and do what we have to approved or embraced. Andbecaufe the Scrip- ture fpeaks of Come duties which are fpecially acceptable to the Lord, I (hall inllance the Point in a few particulars. Firfl,Doing right to every one (Prov. 21. 3.) To do juflice and judgement,is more acceptable to the Lord than facrifice. This is true,or maybe affi med of juftice,both commutative and difiribu- tive. Todo juflice in our dealings with men, calledcommutative juflice, is more acceptable than facrifice, that is, thin any out- ward worfhipgiven toGod without this. ' ris true alto, of di- flributive juflice, which is done by Magifirates in rewarding good men, and inpunifhing them that do evil ; there works of juflice alfo, are more acceptable to the Lord than facrifice. Secondly, The true worfhip and fervice of God, which the Apoftlecallsfacr,ßace, is highlyacceptable to God(Rom. t 2.r.) I befeech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies ofGod, that ye prefent your bodies a living facrifice, holy, acceptable toGod, which is your reefonable fervice. Thefe firf+Table-duties, when in confort with thofe former fecond Table-duties, are highly honourable, and therefore cannot but be highly acceptable to the Lord. Sacrifice to God, without juflice toman, is meet hypocrifie ; Juflice to man, without facrifice toGod, is no better than Heathenifh mo- rality : Both united, are the beauty of Chriflianity. Thirdly, ToCerve Ch.ifl, that is, to aim at the honouring, as well as the enjoying of Chria, with our Gofpel-priviledges and liberties, is exceeding acceptable. The Apoffle having raid (Rom. 14.. 17.) The Kingdom of God is not meat anddrink, but rights- teoufnefs,and peace, and j9, in theholy ghofi, prefently adds(verf., 1a.) He that in theft things (that is, in righteoufnefs, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghofl) ferveth Chrift, ie acceptable unto God ; that is, this (hews he is a perron accepted with God. The do- ingof things purely acceptable to God, is a clear and flrong argu- ment of our acceptationwith him, ]Fourthly, 901
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