178 Religiotss Worfhip of inners, &c. feríng, at our hands. His Acceptance of Wort ip from us, is an infallible Demanftration, that he will not execute againt[ us the feveríty of the fira curie. And this is clearly evidenced in the hull Record of folemn ínflituted FYorfbip performed by sinners, Gen. 4 4. God hadRcfea unto Abel and bis Offering. Some think that Good gave a vifible pledge of his acceptance ofAbel and his Offering ; it may be it was by tire from Flea- ven. For how elG fhould Cain fo infiantly know , that his Brother and his Offering were aecepted, but that he and his were refufèd ? However it were, it is evident that what Te- flimony God gave of the Acceptance of his Offering, the fame he gave concerning his Perlon; and that in the full place he had refpea unto Abel and then to his Offering. And there- fore the Apo& faith, that hereby he obtained witncß that he was Righteous, Heb. i r. 4.. that is, the Witnefs or Tef}iruony of God himfelf. Now this was in the forgivenefs of his tins; without which, he could neither be Righteous nor accepted, for he was a [inner. This God declared by Acceptance ofhis Worthip. And thus we all() , if we have any Teflirnony of Gods Acceptance of us in any part of his Worthip, fhould employ it to the fame end.. Hath God enlarged our hearts in prayer ? hath he given us an Anfwer unto any ofour fùp plications; hath he refrefhed our hearts in the preaching and difpenfation of the Word,or any other Ordinance ? We are not to reti in the particular, about which our communion with him hath been. Our doing fo is the caufè why we toteour experiences. They lye fcattered up and down, feparated from their proper root, and fo are eafily loft. But this is that which we fhould fist} improve touch particular experiences in the Worthip of God unto ; namely, that God hath pardoned ourfins, and accepted our perfons t hereon ; for without that, none of our Worthip or Service would pleafe him, or be ac- cepted withhim. 2. Hereby God lets us know, that he dealt with us upon new Terms, fo that notwithlianding fin, we may enjoy his love andfa- vow. For this we have the engagement of his Truth and Ve- racity, and he cannot deceive us ; but yet by this command of his for his Worthip, we thould be deceived if there were not
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=