[TRE ATISE | od:

SHEWING tt What it is, and how distinguilhed from on s

that which is not lo? ALSO .

| Whence it comes, b Whar the Privilcdges | Who has ir. TAnd of thole rhar have ic

Whar arc the Effects. E in their hearts. 7

PAI. 128. G//a is every one that feareth the | [ Lord,

LONDON,

| Princed for N, Ponder/at- the Peacock, in the 5 . "- | ks over against the Stocks | "We | once, Eats 2

pore

HIS Extiortation is not only found here in the Text, but is in several other places of the Scriprure pressed; and that with mueh vehemency, upon the.

children of men (as in Eccles, 12.13; 1 Pet:

| 1. 17, &c.) I shall not trouble you with

long preambles; or fore-speech to the matter, nor shall I here so muck as meddle wich the context, but ihall immediately fall upon the words themselves, and briefly treat of the Fear of God.

The Text; you see, presenteth us with matter ofagreatest moment, ro wit; with GOD, and with the FEAR of him.

First, They present us with God, the true and living God , Maker of the worlds, and upholder of all "things by the word of 'his

com-

| pd Of the Fear of God. $f comparison of whom, all Nations are lefs [| than the drop vf a bucket, © ahd than the fmall dust- of the ballance, - This is he that fills Heaven and Earth, and is every where present with the children of men, beholding the cvil arid the good; for tic hath ser lis eyes upon all their wales,

So that considering, that by the Text, we have. presented. to our. souls the, Lortl God and Maker of us all, who also will be either our Savicur or Judge, we are in reason and duty bound ' to give the more earnest heed t6 the things that shall be spoken, and be the-more careful'ro receive them, and put them in praQice; for,as I said, as they preset us with, the: mighty God; so they exhorc us, to the.higheit duty. towards him. z T0 Wit; fear him; I call it the highest duty; '/becaute: it is as I may call it, nor only a diityJin ir felf, bur, as it were,' the SALT 3 that seasonerh. every duty... For there. Is: no! dury.. performed by us, that can by any means be accepted. of God, if ir be not | Ratoned with godly fear. ' Whereiore the | Apostle saith, Let 2 have/igrace whereby we | 2a) serve. God.*aucepr ably with reverence and

dy fear, Of this. fear, tay, 4 would dilcourse at this-tinie; but because rhis word fear is varionly taken an the.Scripture, and becaule it may: be profitable 'ro; us to see cit >? ] in

UOf$THE CAM: of 0a

Jn its yaxiety Th shall therefore chu this method: for the managjng..of my discourle, even.to shew, you the nature of the word in its several, especially. of the CORR ac- CePtationg., +

x1. Then, by this word FE AR, we ons to undersiand, eyen God hiposetf, who is be objeft of our FEAR.

Now to (peak to this Ard [ feel 25 it is thus taken, © _ --

t. Of this word | FEAR \ as it respef#eth God himself, who is the ebjet? of var fear.

By this word.[Fear] as I faid, we are.ts understand. God bimself,, who is the objet of our fear: For the Divine Majelity goeth often under,this,very name himself. +" This name 7acob called bj b by, when and Lex van chod together Mount G:lead:,; after that, aceb. had mad his escape to his Fay,- thers'house z;1 Except, said he, the God: of A+ biraban, apd the FE AR. of. Isaac had been with me, surely now then hadst sent me; awiy empty. $0 again, a little after, when facet. and -Labau agree to make a Covyenant: of Peace "_—_ with other; though Laban aficr

4 If the" Fear of God.

the jumbling way of the Heathen by his

oath, puts the true God and the false rogether, yet 7acob sware by the fear of his Fa-

By the FEAR, that is, by the GOD of his Father Isaac. And indeed, God may well be called the FEAR of his people, not only because they have by his grace Tnade him the object of their F EAR, but because of the dread atid rerrible Majesty that is in him.”- He is a mighty God, and terrible, and with God is terrible Majesty. See Dan. 7. 21, chap. 10.17. Neh, I: 5. chap.4. I4- Ch, 9, 32. fob 37. 22,

Who knows the power of his anger? The mountains quake at him, the Hills melt, and the Earth is burnt at his presence, Tea the World, and all that dwell therein. © Who can stand before his sndignation? who' can abide rhe fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured ont ' like fie, and the Rocks are thrown down by him, K.”. 5, 6

His-people know-/him, and have his dread upon them, by vertue whereof there-is bepot and maintained in them that godly awe and reverence of his Majefty which is agreeable to their profession of him. Ler him be your FEAR, and let him be your Dread.

| Set his Majesty before the eyes of your

fouls, and let his excellency make you afraid

Of the Fear of God. 5

afraid with godly fear, 1/a, 8. 12,13...

There are these things that make God tg be the Fear of his People...

First, His presence is dreadfal, and that not only his presence in common, but his special, yea his most comfortable and joy= aus presence, When God comes to bring a soul news of mercy and-falvation, even that visit, chat presence of God is fearful, When 7acob went from Beer-sheba towards Haron, he met with God in the. way by a dream, in the which he apprehended. a Ladder ser upon the Earth, whose top reached. to.Heaven; now in this dream, from the top of this Ladder, be saw the Lord, and: heard him:speak unto him, not threatningly, -not 25 having his fury come up into his faces but in the most sweet and gracious-manner, {aluting him-with promise of goodness, after promise of goodness, to the nymber; of cight,,ar nine; ' as Will, appear if8you: read the glage (Gen, 28, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; 15, 16,\4].) Yet T say, when he awoke, all the gracs thatidiscayered it (elf in this heaveny.\Mop-$p7him, could not keep him from dread,and fear of God's Majesty, .., Ang facet awoke ont of his sleep, aud said, Surely he Lord was.in this place, and [

| knew jt jivt 4 4nd be was afraid, and said;

How arcaafal.. is this place? this is none

8 Of 1h Fear of Go other-bat the THoufe of God, aid this is the Gatr of Feaven. ” % VG

Ar another tim@!/tg wit, when 7acov had cit memorable-visitifrom' God;! in which We gave him powerias'a Prince to: prevail wich him; yea #9d\ gave him 4 nathe, ' thar by Hieremenibring®l Re might -42]P God's favour the better "to" his mmd2 Fer'even then, andere suely dread of the!Majesty of Ga&-waghipon hire; \chat be went'dway won- BAD WTHar bis 8 was preserved; Genesis 32:30: Mi} 2MbI&s! DM the preferice of 6o83;0y 4 thonrR8 Rec Hhews himielP ro ws

mw h#Y0Bes ef flvation, 9 "We Rive read howdfcadfel and how rerride e&ven' the prefite-bf L4npols have been oth men, ind'that wh hey have: Drove he. cher good ridings frothy Heaven, /FAdV. 1 4! 2/32. \Mat. 38 92 DOrk 16: $081 98 10 N&wHIFLAt Pw hith are But treatures, ire, rHotgh the HbrfthatG ot Haspub up? of 'thTH#ng 1b fearfhl aff rerrible/m theft apl Pedrince”to ment Tow witch more -Ufeatifo Shd'terfible mulP God - m{PIFbe t6

wWhdl #t bur Ile FAS Ns 90 Let had the vision of Wis{MHvatioh Tent Win®fAvm BeoVve#*tor so it Wa8) 0D Du##et;, Ri&-the mAttnger, 4 man teatly beloved yeb bes hold. the dread+arity* rerrour of the \p&rson pecking fell with bart weight” upon this by hh Ga good

Of this "Fear of God ” 00d mans sou}, that he.could not stand,, nor bear up;under js, He stood trembling, and cries out, ;!O. ay. Lord; , by the vision my ferrows are tuyjiga $014 me, and i have r=.

tained 10 Frrenath. And how-eat t1e servant of this my Lord talk with this CT, Lord)? for, as' for me" siragubtip.:y. there, ren Quticty 10 sircngth in me, Dan, io. iQ,A4,12,17- - * >

Sce you here if the pretenee, of God IS, not adreadful and a feartul thing;; yea. his, molt gracious.'and, merciful appearances z, how much more then when, he sheweth, himself to us as: one that difliketh 'our waies, as one that is offended with us for, Our sins?

And there are three things that inan e-, minent manner make his PE dreadful. to us.

'The first is God's.own greatness. and, Majesty, the discqvery of this, or. of him-, self thus, .even as no. poar mortals are-able. to,,.conceive of him, is altogether. unsup=' portable. The man dies to whom he thus:

iscovers himself. And when 1 saw him, U1CS fobn, / fell at his feet AS dead, Rev. 1 ” C, 17. Twas this therefore that Job would have avoided. in the day that he would have approached unto him. Let not thy aread, sajes, he, make me afraid. Then call thor and 1 pil wrfners or. let ime speak,,. aud atjwer

Of the Fean of God.” thou me, Fob 13. 21, 22. But why doth 7ob | after this manner, thus speak to God? why? l it was frem a sense that he had of the | dreadful Majesty of God, eyen the grear \ . ahd dreadful God that keefeth covenant | with his people, Fl The presence of a King is dreadful to the? Subject, yea though he carries ir never so candescendingly; if then their be so much | glory and dread in the presence of the King, | what fear and dread mult there be, think | you, ih the presence of the Eternal God? 2, When Godgiveth his presence to his people, that his presence causerh them ro appear to themselves more, what ih-y are; + at other times, by all other light, 'm, Fhey can fee. O my Lora, faid he, by the th [ vision my sorrows are turued upon me;and why

was that, but because. by the glory of that vision, be faw his own vileness more than at other times, So again. 7 alone, faies he, saw this great vision; and what follows? why? antt my comeliness was turned in'me into cor- Fuption, and 1{ retained no Firength, Daniel 10:8. By the presence of God, when we - have it indeed, even our best things are our ' comlinefs, our SanCtity and righteousness, | and all do immediately turn to corruption, and polluted rags. The brightness of his Slory dimns them as the clear. hghe of rhe

shining

Of the Fear of God. "6 fhining Sun, puts out the glory of the fire or candle, and covers them with the shadow of death.

See also the truth of this in that vision of the Prophet 1saiah, Wo is me, said he, for 1 am undone, for I am a man of polluted l:ps, and I dwell among a people of - unclean lips. Why? what's the matter? how came the Prophet by this sight? why? faies he, mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. Isa, 6. Burt do you think that this outcry

was caused by unbelief? no, nor yet begotten by slavish fear, this was to him the vision of his Saviour with whom also he had communion before, Chap. I. 2, 3, 4, 5, It was the glory of that God with whom he had now to do, that:#rned, as was noted before of Daniel, his comliness in him into Corruption, and that gave him, yer greater sense of the disproportion that was betwixt his God and him, and fo a" preater sight of his defiled and polluted nathre.

' 3. Addrto this the revelation of Gods goodness, and it must needs make his pre- {ence dreadful to us; for when a poor defi led creature shall see, that this great God, hath, notwithstanding his greatness, good-. ness in his hearr, and mercy to bestow upon him; this makes his presence yer the More dreadfut. They shall fear the Lord _

TO Of the Fear of God. his goodness, Hos.:3. 5. The goodness as well as the greatness of God, doth beger in the heart of his elect, an awfal reverence 'of:his Mazelty:: - Fear ye nor me, saith the Lord, williye not tremole.at my. presence?: and then. to ingage us in our soul ro the duty, he adds one. of his \wonderful mercies to the world, for a motive, Fear ye no; me? why who art thon? ''He anfivers (even I) which have set, or placed the Sand for the vonyd of Sea by a per petial: decree that it cannot pase; and though the. waves thereof toss them(cluss Jer. can they. not prevail, though they roat, yet can they net pass ever it, Isa. 5; 22. *! Alfo when fob had God present with him, miaking matifesti>the goodness of his great heart ro hzm, what: doth he fay? how dorh he.behave.himself in his presence? 7 have "heard of: thee, fairs he, by the hearing of the car, but now w11ne eyes see thee; wherefore.'[ abbor my [, _ _ in dust and ashes, {ob 42.5, 6 : And what. means: the \'tremblings, - the -tears, thost. break'ngs and shakings of heart -that atrend the, people; of God, when in an,leminent mafner they receive the pronun- - ciation, of the forgiveness of fins at his Mouth, : but that the dread bf the Majesty -of God is: id: their fight.:mixed therewith, God must appear like himsclt, speak ro the soul

bf the Fear of God. ft

soul like himself, ' nor can the sinner when uhder these glorious discoveries of* its Lord"and Saviour, keep out the *beams of his Majesty from che: eyes of its Upder= standing; 1 will cleanse them, faigh he, from all* tier in 1H ties, WL ereby they bave nned ag. arnst' me, 1 will partlon all their eos whercby they have fired against mt., wheredy they haut tra x. fred against Wi ind what'then? yd they all fear antl tremble for” all the goedress, and: for” all the. Pope That + T' procure: unto 1t, fer, 33.8

Alas! there isa company of pod or, froifty professors | in the world, "that vg. undet chac which they call the” Pen ef God, *"more like to Antics", hit of

"ferfi We Christians z '' yea” more

fool'df:# Play, than, those thar- have t Prefcneeef God. | They would dreary ("ih the-presence of a King, nor yet" Fun the Ford of their Land, were they but" vers of mercy at his-hand: They cakt even in their most eminent seasons,ag 1 E Tedse ant sight of God, and b's bleffed grace to' their: fouls in Christ; had a'tenda Y st it to! mike mien wanton 7 Bur indeed 11 most humbling and dre EY "fight Y the-world \ it is featfol:

Obz J&ct. But wpuld you not havi pre foyce*s bY th#1th fight and [aife of the 'forghveh fs of

arr sins ? Auf.

12 Of the Fear of God. Answer, Yes, But yet I would have you and indeed you shall, when God shall tell you that:your fins are pardoned indeed, &e- Joyce with: trembling, Psal. 2. 8, For then MP have . sollid = Godly Joy, a Joyful art, and wet eyes, in this will stand very well together, and it will be so more or less. For if God shall come to you indeed, and visit. you with the forgiveness of sins, that visit removeth the guilt, but increaserh the sense of thy filth, and the sense of this that God hath forgiven a filthy sinner, will make thee both rejoyce and tremble,” O ! the blessed: .confusion that will then . cover thy face whiles thou, even thou so vile.a wretch shalt stand before God to rective at his. hand; thy pardon,and fo the first fruizs of thy - age * 4907 hp That thou. maiest, re member, . and he. comforted, and newer.\open thy month any more, because of thy shame (thy filthy when 1 am pacified towards. thee, for Alter -p hast = saith the Lord Goa, 62

name od, is dreadful and fearful: wherehi” 4 Fae As the presence, . o the fore; his name doth.rightly go under. the

same tittle, That thou maicft sear that glorir > imd —_ name, = 2

Lord thy God, Der,

sc name of God, what 1 is that, but the Y

Of the Fear of God. r; by which he is distinguished and Known from all others? Names are to distinguith by; so mar is distinguished from beasts, and Angels from men, so Heaven from Barth, and Darkness from Light; especially when by the name, the natwre of the thing is signified and expressed; and so it was in their original, for then names exprest the-nature of the thing so named. And therefore it is that the name of God is the objze&X' of our fear, because by his name, his nature is exprest. Holy and reverend is his name, Psal. 111.9. And again, he proclaimed the name of the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, God graci- 045 and mercisull, long- suffering, 'anil abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, pardoning iniquity, - transgression and fins, and that will by uo means clear the gnilty, Exod, 3. 6, 7.

Also his name, 1 A24 AH FEHO- VAH, with several others, what is by them intended, but his nature, as his Power, Wisdom, Eternity, Goodness and Omniporency, &c. might be expressed and declared. The name of God” is therefore the objed& of a Christians fear, David prayed ro God that he would anite bis heart to fear his name, Psal, 86. 11. Indeed | the name of God is a fearful mane, 'and. - should alwaies be reverenced by his mug: | ca

£4 *. Of the Fear of God. Yea:his: name. is to be - feared ' for ever and:ever, and that not- only in his'Church, 'and, amang.his Saints,but even in the world, and among; the Heathen, So the Heathen shallfed t the nam? of the Lord, aud all Kings thy 1h Pal. 102. 15, - God rells:ps that, his name is dreadful, .and thar be. js pleased ro see men be afraid before bis. name. Yea, one reasun' why he Execureth so.many judgments upon men as he doth, is: that others might see, and fear his name... So shall they fear the name of the Lord sram the West, and his glory from the rifeng of the. Sp, See Mal. 4- 2. Kev. 11, 18, Auial. 1,4. chap, 2. 5. Isa. 59, 18, 19, The.name of a Kzng, is a name of fear,: And 1 am a great King, saith the Lord of Hosts. The name of Master is a name. .af fear: And if I be a Master, where 48. my fear, saith the Lord? Yea rightly to fear the Lord, is a sign of a gracious heart. And again, To them that fear my name, saith he, :srall the Son of righteousness arise with healing' in his wings; yea; when Christ comes to Judge the world. He will give reward 30 his Servants the Prophets, and to- his Saints, and to taem that fear his name, fmall and great..

Now I say, Ssuce the name, of God, is that

by which his nature is expressed, and since | he

Of the Fear of God." Is he naturally* is 1o glorious:and-incompre> henfible, his name must needs be the obje& of our fear, and we ought alwaies te have a reverent awe of God upon our hearts ar what time socver we think-of, or hear his name; but most of all, when we our selves do take his holy and fearful name into our mouths, especially in a- religious manner, that is, in preaching, praying; or holy conference. I do not by thus faying intend, as if it was lawful''to make mention of his name in light and” vain. difcourses; for we ought alwaies to speak of. it with reverence and godly fear, but T speak it to put Christians in mind that they should not in religious duties, shew lightness of mind, or be vain mm. their words when vet they are making mention of the name of the Lord, 4nd let every one that nameth the name of owr Lord f:jas\Chrift de pars from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2. I9, q |

Make mention then of the name of the Lord at all times with great dread -of his Majesty upon your hearts, and in great soberness and truth, To do otherwise is to profane the nameof the Lord, and to take his name in vain; 4nd the Lordi well net hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain, Yea,.God faith, that he will cut off the man that doth it; so jealous Is he of the _ = uc

Of the Fear of God.

due unto his name, Exed. 20. 7: Levit. 20;1. This therefore shewerth you the dreadtul state of those that lightly, vainly, lyingly, and profanely make use of the name; this fearful name of God; <cither by their blasphemous cursing and oaths, or by their fraudulenr dealing with their neighbour; ( for some men have no way to prevail with their nighbour to bow under a cheat, but by ca ling falsly upon the name of the Lord to be witness that the wickedness is good and honest; ) but.how these men will escape (when they shall be judged) devouring fire, and everlasting burnings, for their profaning and blaspheming'of the name of the Lord, be- .comes them betimes ro consider of, fer. 14. I4, 15. Exck, 20. 39. Exod. 20. 7.

3. But Thirdly, As the Presence and Name of God are dreadful and fearful in the Church; so is his Worship and Service, I fay, his Worship, or the works of service, to which we are by him enjoyned while we are in this world, are dreadful and fearful things. This David conceiveth, when he faith, But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies, and im thy FEAR will I worship towards thy holy Temple, Psal. 5. 7.

And again, faith he, Serve the Lord with

Of the Fear of God. 17 To praise God is a -part of his worship, Bur saies Moses, Who is a God like unto thee, Florious in holiness, fear ful 1 praises; doing wonders, Exod. 15; 1T

To rejoyce before him is a part of his worship: But David bids us Rejoyce with trembling, Psal, 2:8.

Yea the whole of our service to God, and every part thereof, ought to be done by us with reverence and godly fear. And therefore let us; as'Paul saith again, Cleanse err selves from all filthiness of flesh- and spirit,perfefting holiness in the fear of God, Hebr. 12, 2 Cor. 7. 1:

That which makes the worship of God (0 fearful a thing, 1s,

1. For tharir is the worstip of GOD: all manner of service carries more or |lefs dread and fear along with ic, atcording as the quality or condition of the person is, to whom the worship and service is done. This is seen in the service of subjects to their Princes; the service of servants to their Lords, and the service of chlldren to their Parents, Divine Worship then being due to God (for it is now of Divine Worship we speak) and this God fo great and dreadful in himself and Name, his Worship mast therefore be a fearful thing,

2. Besides, rhis glorious Majesty is himself

18 Of the Fear of God. self present 'to., behold his' Worshippery in their woshipitg him. When two or three ,bf you are gathered. fagether jn my Name, 1 am there, (har is, gathered together to worship him );/- am there, saies he, And (v again, He 1s said to walk in the midst of the seven go'den Candlesticks, Rev, 1, that is, in the Charches, ' and that with a countenance like the Syn, with a head and hair as white as Snow ; 'and with eyes like a flame of hire, This puts dread and fear into his service z and therefore his servants should serve him with fear.

3. Above all things, God is jealows of his worship and fervice. [In all the rea words, he rellech us not any thing of his being a fealows God, but in the second which respecteth his worship; Exod. 20, Look to your st|ves therefore, both as ro the matrer and manner of your worship; For 1 the Lord

ur God, aits he, am a jealous God, visitin the f fins of the Fathers upon the Children, This therefore doth alfo pur dread and sear into the waship and' service of God.

4. The Judgments that sometimes God barh execured upon mien for their want of godly fear,while chey have been in his wor- Mip and service, put fear and dread upon kis _ appointments.

I: Nauab" and Abibu was burned-ro death

Of the Fear of God. 19 death with fire from Heaven, because they attempted to offer false fire upon God's Alrar ( Levit. 10; 1, 2,3. ) And the reason rendred why they were so served, was, because God will be sanftified in thetn that come ngh him. To sanCtifie bis Name, is to Jet him be thy dread and thy fear, and to do nothing in his worship but what is well- * pleasing to him, But because these men had not grace to do this, therefore they died before the Lord.

2. Ely's Sons, for want of this fear, when they ministred in the holy worship of God, were both slain in one day by the sword of the uncircumcised Philistines : See 1 Sam. 2,

3. Vzza Was {mitten, and died before the Lord, for bur an unadvised touching the Ark, when the men forsook it, 1 Chron, 13. 9, 10,

4. Ananias and Saphira his Wife, for telling of a [ye in the Church,when they were before God, were both stricken dead upon the place before them all, because they wanted the fear and dread of God's Mazesty, Name and Service, when they came before him, Atts 5

This therefore should reach us to con clude, that next to God's Nature, and Name, his Service, his instituted Worship, is the most dreadful thing under Heaven. His QC 2 Name

20 Of the Fear of God.

Name -is #pon his Ordinances, his eye is npon-the Worshippers, and his wrath and judgmerit upon thote that. worship nor in his fear, For rhis cause fome of those ar Corinth were by God himself cut off ( xCor. t1.27, 23, 29,30,31,32.) and to others he has given the back, and will agoin be with tnem no more,

This alfo rebuketh three sorts of people,

7. Such as regard not to worship God at all; be sure they have no reverence of his Service, nor fear of his Majelty before racir -eves. - Sinner, thou dolt not come before the Lord to worship him ; thou -dost rot: bow before the Kigh God ; thou neither worshipest him in thy ctofer, nor in the Congregation of Saints. The fury of rhe Lord and his indignation-must in thort time be poured our upon thee, and upon the families that call nor upon his Name, P/a/. 79.6. fer. 10. 25.

2. This rebukes such as count it enough to present their body in the place where God is woshiped, not minding with whar hearre, or with what spirit they come thither. Some come into the worship of God to sleep there ; sume come thither to meer with their chapmen, and tro get into the wicked fellowship of their vaincompanions. Some come thither* to feed their lustful and

adulmY Of tle Fear: oj God: ©, © | adulterous eyes with the flattering beauty of rheir fellow- sinners. - O-what.a fad Ac-.; count will these worshipers give, when they shall count for all rhis, and be damned for Ir, . because they come: nor, ro worship. the Lord with that fear, of his Name that. became. them ro come jn, when they,presented themselves before him! "= 3. This allo rebukes those; that care, nat so they worship, how: they —_— how, where, 'or aster-what gianner they worship - God. Those I meang, whole fear rowargs, cd | is taught by the precepts af men. 1... 1. 1 They are hyggcries,, their worfhip also Is vain,',and. a. {tok, in, the nosirils;of God. , Iperefore the Lord suigd,, jorasmuch. 45-this people draw near me with their month, aa konour me with their lips,. but have-rtmoved their, heart far from me, qud their fear toward; | mc is tavght by the, frecepts of men; There- . fore bebold, 1 will procecdito do a marvelens work among this peeple, (even a. matielous work,” and a wonder: For the wisdum of their wise men shall perish, and the und:rstanaing of their \pradgnt fhall be bid, Ts2..29. 13, 14. ' Mat I5- 7,3, 9- 44k 7, 6,7... Thus [ conclude this first rhing, namely, that God is called our dread and fear. [ shai) now come to the (ecord thing, to wir, to the. Rel? ard Direttor of our Fear, | G3 "IE

Of the Fear of God.

2. Of this word [FEAR] as it 5s taken for the Word of God. |

But again this word [Fear] is sometimes. to be raken for the Word, the writren Word of God; for that also is, and ought to be 'the Rule and Direttor of our Fear. S0 David calls it in the 19th. Psalm. The sear of the Lord, saith he, 5 clean, enduring for ever, The FEAR of the Lord, that 1s, the*'Word of the Lord, the written Word; for that which he 'calleth in this place the Fear of the Lord, even in the same place he calleth, the Law, Statutes, Commandments and Judgments of God. The Law of the Lord is perfett, converning the foul: The Te- Stimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the fimple; The Statutes of the Lord arc right, Tejoycing the heart: The Commandment of the Lord is pare, enlightning the eyes © The sear of the Lord is clean, mmauring for ever. The {udgwents of the Lord are true and righteous altogether, All these words have retpect ro the lame thing, ro wit, to the Word of God, Joyntly designing the glory of it. Among which THhrases, as you see this is one, The FEAR of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever, This written Word is therefore the object of a Christians Fear, This is that alfo whict. David

Of the Fear of God. 27: David intended when he (aid, . Come ye chrfdren hearken to'me, I will teach you the Fear of the Lord, Pal. 34. 11. 1 will teach you the. Fear, That is, will teach you the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments of the Lord, even as Moses commanded the children of If: acl; Thou shalt teach them dil;-' gently unto thy children, and fhalt talk of them when thou sirtest in eds hor:fe, and when thow walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up, Deat, 6.4,5, 6,7: That also in the x:th. of 1sazah intends the same; where the Father saith of the Son, That he soall be of a quick underst anazng in the fear of the Lord; that he may judge and smite the earth with rhe KOD of his mouch. This Rod in the Texr, is none other but the FEAR, the Word of the Lord; for he was to be of a quick understanding i it /7, that he might imite, that is, Execute It according to the Will of his Father, upon, and among the children of men. Now this, as 1 said, is called' the Fear of the Lord, because it is. called the Rule arid Direttor of our Fear. For we know nor how to fear the Lord in a saving way without Its guidance aud direction. -As it is said of rhe Priest that -was sent back from the captivity to Samaria to teach the people to fear the Lord, So it is faid concerning the C 4 written

Of the Fear of God. written word, it is given to us, and left among us that we may read therein all the. daies of our life, and LEARM to fear the Lord, Dent. 6. 1, 2,3, 24. chap, 10. 12. chap. 17. 19.

And hear it is. that-trembling at the Word of God, 1s even. by God bimfelf, not only taken notice off,” but counted as laudable and praift-w orthy, as is evident in the case of fosrah, 2 Chron, 34. 26, 27.

Such also are the approved of God, let them be condemned by whomsoever. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his Wora, yorr brethren that hated 10%, that cast you out for my names sake, said, let the Lord be glorified, but he shall appear to your joy, nn, they shall be ashamed, Isa. 66. 5.

Further, Such shall be looked too, by God himi elf cared for, and watched over, that no diitress, temptation, or aftli ction may overcome them and destroy them. To rhis man will I look, saith God even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit,and that trembles at my word. It is the fame in substance with that in the same Prophet in chap. 57. For thus saith the High and Holz One that inbabireth Eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell iu the Hich and Holy Place, aqyiith him also that is of a contrite ani humble Spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to repive the heart

Of the Fear of Gol © heart of the contrite ones, Yea, the way tf; iy escape dangers forerold is r6* hearken te * understand. and fear the Word of God. & that feared the Word of the Lord among st the +, Servants of Pharaoh, made his Servan's and his Cattle flee into hoxses, and they were secured. But be that reg: arded not the word of the Lord left his Servants and Cattel in the Field, _" they ' were destroyed of the hail, Exod, 20,21, 22, 23, 2.4, EC f

If at - any time the sins of a. Nation, or Church, are discovered and bewailed, it is by them chat know and tremble at the Word of God, when Ezra heard of the wickedness of his brethren, and had a defire to humble himself before God for the same, who were they that would affiit him in that matrer, but they that trembled at the word of Cod. Ten, faith he, were f+

sembled to me every one that trembled at the

Ford of the God of Israel, because of the fr ans- | cression of these that had wy carried away, Ezra. 9, 4

They are fuch alfo hu tremble at che Word that are-best able ro-give corpse! in the matters of God,for their Judgment best suiteth with: his mind and will. Mow therefore said he, fans mak: a covenant with our God to putt 4 g. all the (Strange) wives, ace © e Counsel of my Lord, and of these.

cording to th

that

"TY Of the Fear of God.

bat tremble at the Commandment of OHY God nd let it be done according to the Law, Ezra. D. 3.

Now fomething of the dread and terrour of the Word lieth in these things,

I, As I have atready hinted from the Author of them. They are the Words of God. Therefore you have Moses and the Prophets, when they came to deliver their errand, their message ro the peopte, still saying; Hear the Word of the Lord, Thus saith the Lord, and the like, So when Ezebiel was sent to the house of Isracl, im their state of Religion, thus was he bid to say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God. Thas faith the Lord God, Exth,2.4, Chap. 3 V. II,

This is the honour and majesty then, that God hath put upon his written Word, and thus he hath done even of purpose, that we might make them the rz/e and directory of our "FEAR, and that we might stand in aw of, and tremble at them. When Habikkok heard the Word of the Lord, his belly rrembled,and rotteness entred into his bores. I rrembled in my self, faid he, that 1 oe have rest in the day of trouble, Hab.

.16, The word ofa King is as the roaring - a Lion; where the word ofa King is, there is power; What is it then when Gad, the

Of the Fear of God. 27 the great God shall roar out of Z:on, and prter his voice from ferx/alem, whose voice thakes not only Earth, but also Heaven, How doth holy Davzd [ct ir forth, The voice of the Lord is powersul,the voice of "rhe LOKD is full of majesty, GC. Psal. 29.

2, It is a word that is fearful, and may well be called the fear of the Lord, because of the sibjet matter of ir, to wit, the state of l{inners in another world, for thar is jt unto which che whole Bible bendeth ir self, either more immediately,or more mediately ; all its doctrines, counsels, incouragements, threatnings and judgments, have a look (one way or other) upon us with respect to the next world, which will be our last state, because 'twill be-to us a state erernal., This word, this law, these Judgments, are they that we shall be disposed of by. The word that / have spoken, fates Christ, it shall judo! you (and fo consequently dispose of you) 2t the last day, oh, 12, Now if we conitder, that our next {fate must be Erernal, ei: her Ercrnal ory, or Eternal tire, and thar this Erernal glory, or this Eternal fire must be ovr Portion according as the word< of God, revealed in the holy Scriptures shall determine : ' who will not but conclude that therefore rhe words of God are FP at which we should rremble

25 Of the Fear of God. tremble, and they by which we shonld have our fear of God guided, and directed, for by them we are taught how to please him m every thing.

3. Ir js to be called a fearful] word, becavte of the truth and faithfulness of it. The Scriptures cannor be broker, Hear they are called the Scriptars cf truth, the true fayzngs of God, and allo the sear of the: Loud. for that every Jot and rittle thereof: 1s tor ever settled in Heaven, and stands more stedfast than doth the world. Heaven ang Earth faid Christ shall piss away, but my ward fvall not pass away, MMatth. 24 Thiole therefore that are fevozred by the Word of God,those are {evoured indeed, and that with: the f4our that no man can turn away, 6 those that by the word of the Scriptures, are con - demned, those can no man ustifie, and fer quit in the s1ght of God, Therefore what 1s bound by the rext, is bound, and what is released by the text, is releated; allo the bond and release is analcerable, Dan. 10.

There wanteth even in the hearts. of Gods

people a greater reverence of the. Word of God,

Of the Fear of God. 29

God,than ro this day appeareth amongst us, and rhis let me say, that want of reverence of the word, is the ground of all disorders thar are in the heart, life, conversation, and in Christian Communion. |

Besides, The want of reverence of the word layeth men open to the fearful displeasure of God. Who so despifeth the Ward, shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the word shall be rewarded, Prov. 13. 13.

All transgrefsion beginneth at wandring from the word of God, but on the other side, David saith, Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips 1 have kept me from the paths of the destroyer, Psal. 17. 4. Therefore Solomon saith, My Son, arterd 28 my words; cuzline thine ear unto my sayings; let them not depart from thine eyes; keep thens in the-miast of thy heart, for they are life to them that find them, and health to all therr flesh, Prov. 4. 20, 21.

Now, if indeed thou wouldeft reverence the Word of the Lord, and make ir thy Rule and Djrefor in all things; Believe rhat the Word z the Fear of the Lord; the Word that standeth fast for ever, without and against which God will do nothing cirher in iaving or damning of the souls of sinners.

But to conclude this :

1. Know, that those that have nor. due

regard

JO Of the Fear of God. regard to the Word of the Lord, ard that make it not their dread and their fear,vut the Rule of their life is the lusts of their flesh, the detire of their eyes, and the pride of life; are sorely rebuked by this Doctrine, and are counted the fools of the world: For Lo they have rejected the Word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them? Jer, 8. 9. That there are such a people is evident not only by their irregular lives, but by the manifest restimony of the Word. As for the Word of the Lord, said they to feremiah, which thou hast spoken to 1s in the Name of the Lord, we well not hearken unto thee, but will certainly ao what soever thing goerh oft of or own monty, fer. 44. 16.

Was this bs mg the temper of wicked men then? is not the same spirit of rebellion amongst us in our daies? doubtless there ts, for there is no new thing; The thing that hath becin, is that that shall be, and that which is dire, 1s that which shall be done and there is ro new thing under the Sun, Eccles. 1.9.

Theretore as it was then, so it is with many in this day.

As for the Word of rhe Lord, it is nos thivg at all co them; their lusts, and whatsoever proceedeth out of their own mourhs, that they will do, that they will follow.

Of the Fear of God. JL Now such will certainly perish in their ow! rebellion; for this is as the fin of witchcraft; ic was the fin of Corah and his company, and that which brought upon them such heavy judgments;. yea and they are made a fgr that thou shouldest not do as they, for they perished, (because thev rejeRted the Word, the Fear of the Lord ) from among the Congregation of the Lord, and they became a fegn. The Word which thou despisest still abideth to denounce its woe and judgment upon thee;and unless God will (ave such with the breath of his Word (and *tis hard trusting to that)they must never see his face with comfort, 1 Sz. 15,22, 23. Numb.26.9,10,

2, Are the words of God called by the name of the Fear of the Lord? Are they so dreadful in their receipt and sentence ? then this rebukes them that esteem the words and things of men more than the words of God, as those do who are drawn from their respedt of, and obedience to the Word of God by the pleasures or threats of men,

Some there be who verily will acknowledge rhe authority of the Word, yet will nor stoop their souls thereto: such, whatever they think of themselves, are judged by Christ ro be ashamed of rhe Word;zwherefore their state is damnable as the other. Whosoever, saith he, spall be ashamed of me

and

| 22 Of the Fear of Godl

and of my words, in this finful and adulterons Nation, of him also shall the Son of Man be asnamed, when be cometh in the glory of the Father, with the huly Angels, Mark 8. 38.

3. And if these things be fo, what will become of those that mock at, and professedly contemn the words of God, Lot 4 them as a thing ridiculous, and not. to be r-garded ? shall they profpec that do such thinzs? from the promiles it is concluded, that their judgment now of a long time flumbrerh nor, and when it comes ic will devour them without remedy, 2 Cor.36.15.

If God, I say, hath put that reverence upon his Word, as to call it, The Fear of tho Lord, what will become of them that do what they can to overthrow its authority, by denying it to be 4:5 Word, andby raising cavils against irs authoriry? such stumble indeed at the Word, being appointed theres unto, bur it shall judge them in the last day, r Pet. 2. 8. 7ohn 12. 48. Bur thus much for this.

Having thus spoken of the Object and Rule of our Fear ;

I should come now to. speak of [ FEAR] as it?s a grace Of the Spirit of Gud in the hearts of his people; but before I do thar, T shall shew vou that there are divers forts of tear betides. For man being a refonable creature,

Of the Fear of God. oy”

cteature, and having even by nature a certain knowledge of God, hath also naturally something of some kind of fear of God at tjmes, which although it be nor that which 1s intended in the text,yet ought ro be spoken to, that thar which 1s not righr, may be distinguished from that that

Of several forts of fear of God in the heart of the Children of men.

There is, -I say, several sorts, or kinds of fear in the hearts of the Sons men, I mean besides that fear of God that is intended in the text, and that accompanieth Eternal Life. |

I shall hear make mention of three of them.

I. There is a fear of Godthat flows, even from the light of nature.

2. "There is a fear of God that flows from some of his dispensations to men which yet are neither universal, nor [aving,

3, There is a fear of God in the heart of

ome men that is good and godly, bat doth not orever abide 0.

Ta speak a little to all these, before I come to speak of FEAR, as it is a grace of God in the hearts of his Children,

D And

34 Of the Fear of God,

And first ro the first, to wit, that there sa fear of God, that flows even from the tight of nature.

A people may be said ro do things in a fear of God, when they act one towards another in things, reasonable, and honest *eWwxt man aizd man, not doing that to 0thers they would not have done to themselves, This is that fear of God which Abraham thought the Philistians had. destroyed in themselves,when h2 said of his wise to Abimelech, she ss my Sister, For when Avimelech asked Abraham why he said of - his. wife, she is wy Sister; He replied, saying, / thomabr 4 eriiy ehas the fear of God is not in this place z axd they will lay me for my wives fake, Gen. 20, 11. I thought verily that in this place men. had. ftifled and choaked that lighr of nature that is in them, at Jeast so far forth as nor to suffer it tro pur, them in fear, when their lusts were -powerfull in them to accomplish their ends on the object-rhar was present before them. But this [ will pass by, .and come to the second thing,

Namely, to shew rhat there is a fear of

God, that flows from some of his dispensations ro men, which yer are neither universal, nor

saving. | | This fear: when; opposed te that which is

Of the Fear of God. 25

is saving, may be called an ngealy fear of God; I shall describe it by these several particulars that follow.

Firft, There is a fear of God that causeth a continual grudging, discontent, and hearts rifings against God under the hand of God; And that is, when the dread of God in his coming upon men, to deal with them for their fins, is apprehended by them, and yet by this dispenfation they have no change of heart, to submit ro God thereunder. '

The finners under this dispensation cannot shake God our of their mind, nor yet gfaciously tremble before him, but through the unsanctified frame that they now are in, they are afraid with wngodly fear, and so in their minds Jer fly against him.

This fear oftentimes took hold of rhe Children of //rae/ when they were in the Wilderness in their journey to the promised Lind ; ftill they feared that God in this place would deitroy them, but not with that fear thar made them willing to submir, for their sins, ro the judgment which they fear, but with that fear that made them let fly against God,

This fear shewed it self in them, even at the beginning of their voyage, and was rebuked by Zofes at the Red Sea, but it was not there, nor vet at any.other place, so D 2 subdued,

36 Of the Fear of God. 1ybdued, but that it won'd rise again in them at times to the dishonour of God, and the 'a-new making _—_ guilty of fin betare him, Exod. 414. 12, 13. Namb. T4. I, 2, 3,4 5; 6, 4 9.

This fear - is char which God said, he would send before them, in the day of /0- {pua, even a fear that sh ould polless the inhabicants,-of the land, ro wit, a fear that should arise for that faintness of heart that they should be swallowed up of, at their apprehending of 7shna in his approaches to - wards them to deltroy them, 1 will serd my feat, before thee, nnd will destroy all the pro ple to whem nhow shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. This day, laies God, will I begin to put the aread of theg,and the fear of thee upon the Nat:ous that are under the whole Heavens whe Sfhalt hear report -of thee, and shall tremble, ard be in ) ag because of thee, Dut.2.2F. Ghap. 11. 2 F+

Now this fear is also, as you here see, called auguish, and in another place, an f" Wag net, foric, and -the soul that it falls upon, do oreet each other as Boys and Fees do. The Hornet purs men in fear, not so as to bring.. the heart -inro a ({weert compliance with his rerrour,but so as to stir up the spi- Tit into acts of opposition and resistance, > YEE Wit

Of the Fear of Gol. $95 withal! they flee before it. 7 will send Hornets b: __ thee, which shall drive ont thee. | E: Hivite, Bad: 2 - op | b, Now this fear, wheel it be wrought!

by a misapprehending of rhe judgments! '© | of God (as in the /f-aclites,) or otherwife't as in the Canzanites, yet ungodliness is the effect chereof, and therefore l call it an un _ godly fear of God, for ir stirreth vp mur-" murings, discontents, and "hearr-rifings as T | gainit God, while he with his dispensarionis | is dealing with th em. y Secondly,there is a fea of God that dri-" veth a man away fromGod,(l[ speak not now ke | of the Atnhesr, nor of the picdfurable fi sinner, * | nor yet of these;and thar fear rhar I speak of Just now) Ffpeak now of such who rhrough * 4- | a sense of fin and of Gods justice flv from him ofa slavish ungodly fear. This ungodly fear was that "which Poflefed Adams S+ | heart in the day thar he did ear of the tree concerning which the Lord had faid_ ynto him, /n the day thor eatest thireof, thor Jhalt* sarely 4i-, For then was he poilessed w rh MN, F such a fear of God as made him seek to hide; himself from his presence. 7 heard, {aid he, thy voice in the 7rden, and I was ass, tid btcc canse I was naked, ey [ hid my self,Gen. 3. rot v1-F mind it, he had a fear of God, but it'was Not godly; it was not thar that made him D 3 alter-

28 Of the Fear of God.

afterwards submit himself unto him; for that wou}d have kept him from not departing from him, or elsc have brought him to him again, with bowed, broken and contrite spirit. But thzs fear, as the rest of his sin, managed his departing from his God, and pursued him to provoke him (till sa ro do, by /T he kept himself from God, by 7T his whole man was carried away from him. [ call. [7 zngodly fear, because. it begat in him ungodly apprelicnsions of his Maker, Becaxse it confined Adams conscience to the sense of: justice only, and consequently to difspair,

Tae same fear also postesied the children of Israel when they heard the law delivered tothem on Mount Sina; :as is evident, for it

ade them that they could neither abide his

resence, nor hear his word, It drove them $A from the Mountain. It made. them, faith the Apostle ro Hebrews, That tvey conld

not endyre that which was commanded, Heb,

12. Wherefore this FEAR Moses rebukes, and forbids their giving way thereto. Fear not, laid he,but had, THAT fear been godly, he would have incouraged ir, and not forbid, and rebuke it as he did, Fear not, said he, for God is come = you, tliey thought 0therwise, God saith he, is come to prove

yen

Of the Fear of God: JH. you,and that HIS fear may be before your faces. Therefore that sear - that already | had taken pofsefsion of them, was nor the fear of God, but a fearthar was of 'Satan, © of their own \misjudging- heafits, and fo a tear that was-ungodly, Exed.*20. 19, 19. Mark you, here is a fear and a fear, a fear forbidden, and a fear commended,a fear torbidden because ir engendered their hearts to bondage; and to ungodly thoughts of God, anl of his word; It made them thar they could not desire to hear God speak to them any more, ver, T9, 20, 21. DE. Many alto at this day are poflessed ith this #xpodly foar: And you: may know ithem by this, They cannot abide conviction for sin, and if at any time the: word of the faw, by the preaching of the word comes'near them they will not.abide that preacher,nor such kind of sermons any more, They arc,as they deem, best at eafe, when furthest off of God, and of the power of his word. , .The word preached brings God nearer ro them than they delice he should come, | because wheneverGod comes near their fins, by him, are manifet#, and so 1s the udgment too that ro them is due, Now thee not having faith in the mercy of God through Chrilt, nor that grace that renderh to bring them to him, they cannot bur think of Cog amils, D 4 and

4© Of. the Fear" of God. and' their so thinking of him- makes them say unto-him, depart from us, - For we defire not the knowledge of thy waies, Wherefore their. wrong thoughts of God, beget in them this ungodly fear; and again, this ungodly fear doth maintain in them the continuance of these wrong and unworthy thoughts of God, and therefore, through that devilish service wherewith they strengthen one:another, the sinner without a miracle of grace prevents him, is drowned in destruftion and perdition. \P | | Twas this ungodly fear of God that cary ried * Cain from the presence of God into the' Land of Nod, and that put him there upon-any carnal wordly. business, .if perhaps he might: by so doing, stifle convit:ons, of the-mazesty and justice of God. againlt his fin; and so live the rest of his vain hfe in the. more sinful security and fleshly ease. This #ngodly fear; is that also which S4+ muel perceived at the peoples apprehension of their sin, to begin ta get hold of their hearts; wherefore he, as AZoses before him, quickly forbids their entertaining of it. Fear net, laid he, ye have done all th:s wickedness, yet turned aside from folsawing the Lora, For ro turn them aside from following of him, was the natural tendency of this fear. Bat fear not, said be, that is, with that fear that tenderh

Of the Fear of God. ar tendeth to turn you aside. Now I-say, the matter- that this fear worketh upon::(as in Adam, and the 1sraelites mentioned: before) was their sn. To# have sinned, faies hey that's true, yer turn not aside, yer fear 'not with that fear that would make you so do,r Sam. 12. 20. Note by the way sinner, that when rhe greatness of thy fins, being apprehended by thee, shall work in:thee thar fear of God, as (hall incline thy hearr ta fly from;:aim, thou art possessed with a fear of Godithar is ungodjy, yea so pngodly,.thatnot anydf thy sins: for -hainousness way be compareqthere= with (as might be made manifest in 'many particulars) but Samyel having: tebuked this sear, presently sets before the people another; to wit the true fear of:Godjzifear the Lord; saies be, serve: him with all 'your hearts (ver. 24-) And he giveth. them this incouragement so. to do, for the':Lord will not forsake his people. |

This #ngodly fear, is that which: you read of in 7/a. 2. and in many other places, and Gods people should shun it, as they would shun.the devil, because its natural, tendens cy is to forward the destruction of the soul in which it has took possetson.

Thirdly, There is a fear of God, which, although ir hath nor in it that power as to make men flee trom Gods presence, yet ir is

At Of the Fear of God. is angdaly, because, even while they are in the qutward way of Gods ordinances, their hearts are by it, quite discouraged from attempring to exercise themselves m the power -ofreligion.

... Of this fort are they which dare” not cast oft che hearing, reading, and discuurse of the word:as: others: :.ng,.:-hor the assembly of Gods thildren for the excercise of other re- Jigions;duries, for their conscience'is\convinced this is the way and worship of God; But yet them heart' (as I said). by this ungodly tear; is kept from a powerful gracions: falling{an 'with. God, This. fear takes away their! heart from all holy and godly prayer in private;and from all holy and godly Zeal for his name in publick, and there be many professors whose hearts are possessed with this omgodly fear off God;* and chey are inrended by the flothsul one. He was a servant, a servant among the servants of God,

and had gifts and abilities given him, therewith, ro serve Christ, as, well as his fellows,

yea, ana was commanded roo, as well as the rest, to occupy tifl bis Mafter cam? But whar does he? why he:takes his talent, the

aift thar he was to lay out for his Masters || t profir, and puts it in a napkin, digs'a hole | a in the earth, and hides his Lords' money, | d andlies at a lazy manner at to-Clbo all his I /

daics

Of the Fear of God. 4> days, not ont of, but in his Lords Vineyard: for he came among the servants alfo at last, ' By which it is manifest thar he had nor cast off his profetsion; -but was slothful and neglient while he was in it. But 'what was it chat made him thas flothful? what was it that rook away his heart, while 'he was in the way, and” that discouraged him from falling in with the power, and' holy praCtice of religion according to the talent he received? why it was this, -he gave way to an ungodly fear of God. and thar took away his heart from the power of religious duties.

Lord, (aid he, behold here is thy pound, which I bave kept, laid up'in a naphin\ for I feared thee. Why man? doth the fear of God make a man idle, and flothful no, nb 2 'thar is, if it-be right and godly, This fear'was therefore evil fear;\ it, was that ungodly fear of God, .of which Y have here been speaking” of. | For I feared thee, or as Matthew hath it, far 1 was afraid. Afffaid of [what? of Christ, Toat he was an bard mn, reaping wherg.. he sowed not, an4 gathering where he had not strewed, This his fear, being ungodly; made him apprehend of Christ contrary t9ithe goodness ' of his nature, 'and fo took away his heart from all endeavours to be doing of that which was pleasing'in his sight, Litke 19.20, Matth 25. 24, 25.

And

At Of the Fear of God. is ang0dly, because, even while they are in the qutward way of Gods ordinances; their hearts -are by it, quite discouraged from attempring to exercise themselves | m the power -ofreligion. ... Of this fort are they which dare not cast off che hearing, reading, and discuurse of the word:as: others: -.n@,.:-hor the assembly of Gods children for the excercise of other religions.duries, for their conscience is:convinced-this is the way and worship of God; But yet their:heart' (as I said). by this ungodly tear; is kepr from a powerful gracious: fallingan 'with. God, : This. fear takes away their: heart from all holy and godly prayer n private; and from all holy and godly Zeal | : for his name in publick, and there be many || a professors whose hearts are possessed with || it this ungodly fear off God; and chey are in- | fi rended by the flothsul one. He was a ser- | C vant, a servant among the servants of God, || 0 and had-yifts and abilities given him, there- I ir with. to serve Christ, as. well as his fellows, | C Yea, ana was commanded roo, as well as | y the rest, to occupy riff bis M1 after cam?, But | whar does he? why he-rakes his talent, the TH| 11 gift thar he was to lay out for his Mifters ti profir; avd puts it in a napkin, digs a hole | a in the cearth, and hides his Lords' money, andlies at a lazy manner at to-Clbo al} his h daies

Of the Fear of God. 4> days, not ont of, bur in his Lords Vineyard: for he came among the servants also at last, By which it is manifest thar he had nor cast off his profession; but was slothfut and negl:- ent while he was in it. But 'what was it chat made him t4as slothful? what was it that rook away his heart, while he was in the way, and that discouraged him from falling in with the power, and holy praQtice of religion according to the talent he received? why it was this, -he gave way to an ungodly fear of God. and that took away his heart from the power of rcligious duties. Lord, (aid he, behold here is thy pound, which 1 have kept, laid up'in a napkin\ for I feared thee. Why man? doth the fear of God make a man idle, and flothful no, nb? 'thar is, if it-be right and godly, This fear! was therefore evil fear; it, was that ungodly fear of God, of which have here been speaking” of. For T feared thee, or as Matth:w hath it, far [ was afraid. Afffaid of [what? of Christ, Toat he was an bard mn, reaping wherg. he sowed not, an4 pathering where he had not strewed, This his fear, being ungodly; made him apprehend of Christ contrary t9'the goodness ' of his nature, 'and fo took

away his heart from all endeavours to be

doing of that which was pleafing'in his sight, Lutke 19. 20, Matth 25. 24, 25. And

44 Of the Fear of God.

And thus do all those that retam. the nanfe, and shew of religion, but are negletters, as to the power, and godly praCtice of it. These. will live like Dogs and Swine in the house, they pray not, they watch nor their hearts, they pull not their hands out of their bosoms to work, they do not strive against their Justs, nor will they ever refit unto blaod striving against fin; they cannot take up thejr.Cross, or improve what they bave to Gods glory.

Let all, men therefore take heed of this ungodly fear,,and shun it as they. thun tlie De - vil, for it will make them afraid where no sear i IS. \[t will tell them-that there 15a Lion in the ftree7;, rhe unlikeliest:place in-the world for such-a beast to be in; it will: put a Vizzard upon the face. of God,most dreadfull and fearful to behold,: and then quite discourage; the soul'as / to his tervice; fo it served the serve thee;poor inner, if thou entertainest ir, and givest way thereto. Bur,

Fourthly, This wungoaly fear of God, shews ic. (elf'also in this./ ' It-will nor suffer the soul. chat; is governed. :rhereby,' to trust only -ro-Chriit for justification of life, but will bend the powers of the sunl to trust partly to the works of the Law. Many of the /ews was in the time. of-Christ, and his

flothful servant, and 'fo it will

Of the Fear of God. 45

his Apostles possessed with this-ungodly fear of God, for they was not as -the former to wit, as the slothful servant, to receive a talent and hide jr-in the earth in a napkin, but they were an industrous people, they followed after the Law of righteousness, they had a Zeal of God and of the religion of their fa+ thers, but how then did they come to mil. carry? why, their fear of God was ungodly, it would not sufter them wholly to trust to the righteousness of faith which is the impured righteousness of Christ, They fotlowed after the Law of righteousness, buc attained not to the Law of righteousness. Wherefore, because they fought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. But what was it that made them joyn their works of the Law with Christ, but their. unbelief whose foundation was ignorance and fear, they were afraid to venrure all in one bottom, they thought two strings to one bow would. be best; and thus berwixt two stools they came to the ground. And hence, to fear and to doubr, are put together as being the cause one of another, yea they are. pur oft times, the one for the other; thus ungodly fear for unbelief: (Be not afraid, only believe) and therefore he that is over-ruled and carried away with this fear, 1s.coupled "eb | che

46, * Of the Fear of Gotl.

the unbeliever that 18 thrust out from the Holy City among the dogs.

But the /searful and wnbeltevers, and murderers are without, Reve/, 21. 8. The fearful and unbelieving, you lee, are pur rogether, for indeed, fear, thar is, this ungodly fear, is the ground of unbelief;, or, if you will, unbelief 'is the ground of fear, this fear: but I stand not upon nice diftinCtions, This ungodly fear hath a great hand in keeping of rhe soul from trusting only ro Chriits fighteousnels for justification of life.

Fifthly, Tis ungodly fear of God, is that which will put men upon adding to the revealed Will of God, their own inventions, and their own performances of them as a Means to pacifie the anger of God. For the truth is, where this ungodly fear reigneth; there is no <ehd of Law and Duty, When those that yoe'read of in the book of Kings, (2 King. 19.) Were deftroyed by the Lions” (because they had set up Idolarry in the Land of 7/-acl) they sent for a Priest from Babiloy that might teach -them the

manner of the God ofthe Land ; but be-

—

,

d when they knew it, being raught it-by tHePricst, yer their fear would nor suffer them ro be content with that worship only, They fearet the Lord, saith the text, and served

Of the Fear of God. 27 ved their own Gods, And again, So these Naa tions feared the Lord, and [erved their gra= ven Imanes, It was this fear also; that ptc the Pharisees upon inventing fo many traditions, as the washing of cups, and beds, and tables, and basons, with a bundance. of such other like gear, (Mark 7.) none knows the many dangers that an ungodly: fear of God will driv a man into. How lias it wrakt and tortered the Papists for hundreds of years together, for what else is the cause bur.this ungodly fear, at least in the most simple and harmless of them, of their pe-- nances, as creeping to the Cross,' going barefoot on pilgrimage, whiping themselves, wearing of sackcloth, saying so many'paternosters, so. many avemaries, making so ma+ ny confessions to the Priest, giving so much money for pardons, and abundance of other the like, bur this ungodly fear of God? For could they be brought to believe this Doctrine, that Christ was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification, and. to apply it by faith with Godly boldness to their own souls, this fear would vanish, and so consequent * all those chings with which they so need}ess 45” ly and unproficably aflited chemsely of ” fend God, .and grieve his people. Thetefore, gentle reader although my Text

-

FL. Of-rhe Fear of God. text doth bid that! indeed thou shouldest fear God; yer it includeth not, nor- accepceth of any fear: no, not'of any fear of God. For-there is, as you see, a fear of God that 1s ungodly, and that'is to be shunned as ther fins. Wherefore thy wisdorh and thy care should be, to see-and prove thy feat ro

be godly;which shall -be the next tlting 'that

I shall cake inhand.

The third thing that T am to speak to is; that there 1s a fear of God in the heart of | some men-'that is good and godly, but yet | doth not for ever abide so.

Or you may take 'it thus, Thereis 4TH - fear of God, that is godly but sor a'tithe,

In" my speaking TO, and opening of * THIS to:you, [ shall observe this' me- C _ th

. 1 shall shew yoga WH AT this feat is. c

| 1 shall few you by WHO, or "what this 1 fear is wroxght in the heart. h n

3. th spall shzw 'you what this sear DOTH

in = soul. © And, © t { shall soew..: 1ou WHEN this fear iz to Pe have an. end. ly

'For the first, To mis fear \s an effect of Ul sound awakenings by- the word of wrath which-begetterh in the. soul a senseof irs ul right to eternal damnation; for this. sear 18 al not in every sinner; he- that is. blinded iby the

"Of the Fear of QT. Gag the Devil, and thit is/tiot"'#ble ro"see that his stare is d#mnable, - he hath not r4;# fear in his Heart, "but he that is under 'the pow=- erful workings of the word-of wrath (as God

gf ele are at first conversion;):, he hathethis yl godly fear in his heart That is, he fears that 5 that damnation will come-upon him, "whith CY by the justice of God is | due unto Him, * because he has broken his holy law. This is s: | the fear chat made the rhree'thousandiery

\F | out, m2, and vrethren, what shall we do?and rl ithit made the Jaylor ery. out, and''that with great trembling of soul, . firs what must af / do to be saved? Atts 2. Chap. 16, The method of God is' to k:4 and make ff| alive, to smire, and then' heal, when' the >| Commandment cam: to Paul, finreviued, © antd he died, and that Law which was: ordained to life, he found to be unto dearh, 52 Thar is, it passed a sentence of death upon 8 him for his fins, and slew his ' conscience HI with ther sentence. Therefore from thar time that he heard that word, why dost thou ro prrsecute me? which is all one, as if he had -TH said, why dost thou commit murder? he lay of | under the sentence of condemnation by.the {| law, and under this fear of that sentence 'inirs © is conscience, He lay, I fay, under it un- + is fill that Ananias came to him to comfort by $im, 2nd to preach unto him the forgivnes ne Yor sins, As 9. E The

= The fear therefore that ow I call godly,

4g. 1$,)that fear;which is properly, called: the

- tear -of eternal damnation for sin, and chis

b tepr at first, awakening, is. good, and godly,

-: because it. Arifeth 48 the soul from alrrie s-nse

1,of uts very state. Irs state by nature is ,dam-

:'mnable, -because jt is sinful, and because he is;

- nt oncithat as yer, believeth in Christ for

Ofcthe Fear of God.

;remission of tins, He that believeth not shall be

damned. He that believeth not, 1s condemned | already, and. the wrath of God abideth on bim,

+.The' which, when the finner at first berins to see, he j/ty fears it, I ay, he fears 38 justly, and therefore godly, because by -this: fear, he! sabscribes tro the, sentence

\that is gone-oat against him for fin.

-1 Secondly, By who, or by what 1s this fear wromgotc in the heart?

To [this I; shall-answer. in brief, Ir 'is wroyght in che heart by the Spirit of God, wanking, there at tirft as a Spirit; of bondage on-purpose to put-us in fear; This Par infinuateth' in, Row, 8. 15. Saying, Je have not received the Spirit. of Bondage again to fear. He dothnot; lay, ye have not.received

the Spirit of Bondage, for that- they [had receiyed,. and.that toipur them in;jear, which was at first converlion, as by the instances made mention of” before, is. manifest; -all <{ | | that

*

Of the Fear of God. FI

that he saies, is, that they had not received

it 4g4in, that is, after the spirit, as a spirit

5 of adoption is come; for then, as a spirit of

. bondage ir cometh no more,

It is then the Spirit of God,even the Ho-

; ly Ghost that convinceth us of sin, and fo

FJ. of our damnable state, because of sin, oh.

* 16.8, 9, For it cannot be that the Spirit of

God should convince us of fin, but it must

also shew us our state ro be damnable because of it, especially if it so convinceth ns,

before we belreve, and that is the intent of

-- | our Lord in that place, of fn, (and fo of their

'S | damnable state by sin) because they believe

Y | nor on me. Therefore the Spirit of God when

CET he worketh in the heart, as a spirit of bon-

' dage, he doth it by working inus by the

ar | Law, for by che Law is the infwedae of

Sy And he, in this his working is properly

d, | called a spirit of bondage. =

ge 1. Because, by the Law he shews us, thae

n-J indeed we are in bondage to the Law, the.

VEN Devil and Death, and damnation ; for this

'0 } is our proper state, by nature, though we

2a fre it not until the Spirit of God shall come

*C-TH] to reveal,this our state of bondage unto our.

ich own senses by revealing to us our sins by”

CES the Law.

2. He is called, in this his working, the

2 Of the Fear of God. spirit of bondage, because he here also holds us, to wit, in this sight and sense: of our bondage-state, so long as is meet we should be so held, which 0 some of the Saints is a longer,and to some a shorter time. Paul was held in it three daics, and three nights; but the Jaylor and the three thousand, fo far as can be gathered, not above an hour, but some in these later times, are su held for daies,.and months if not years.

Burt I say, let the time be longer or shorter, it is the Spirit of God that, holdeth him under this yoak, and it is good that a man should be HIS time helden under it, As is that saying of the lamentation, Ut 1s $od that a man bear the yoak in his cath. [ har.is, at his first awakning (Lamcn. 3. 27.) So long asKeems good to this holy Spirit to work 1a this manner by the Law.

Now, as I said, the sinner at first 1s by the Spirit of God held in this bondage, that is, hath such a discovery of his sin, and of his damnation sor sin made to him, ard af is held fo fait under the sense thereof, that it is not in the power of any man, nor yet of the very Angels in Heaven to release him, or (et him free until the Holy Spirit changeth his ministration, and comes in the-sweet and peaceable ridings of salvation by Christ in rhe Gospel, to his poor, dejected, and aiflited conscience. Thirdly,

Of -the: Fear of God, 5}

Thirdly, 7 now come to shew you what rig sear doth in the soul.

Now although this godly fear is not to last alwaies with us, (as I shall further shew you anon) yet it oreatly differs from rhac which is wholly ungodly of it self, both because of the Author, and also of the effects of it. Of the Author I have told you be- _ I now shall tell you what it doth.

. This fear makes a man judge himself for sin, and to fall down before God with a broken mind under this Judgment: The which is' pleasing to God, 'because the finner by so doing justifies God in his saying, " clears him in his Judgment, Psal. 5. ' 2, 3, 4-

"af As this fear makes a man;judge himself, and cast himself down at Gods foor, fo ir makes him condole and bewail his misery before him, which is also well pleasing in his sight. / have surely heard Ephraim bemwoaniu himscif, (aying, thou haft chastised me, an 4 was chastised, as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoak,, &c. fer. 31, 18, 19.

3. This fear makes a man. lie at Gods foot, and puts his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope. This allo is well-pleasing to God, because now is the finner as nothing, and in his own eyes less than nothin as to any good or deferr. He? fiterh alone

54 Of the Fear of God. and keepeth silence because he hath now this oak upon him. He putteth his month in the aust,, if so. be there may be hope, Lamen. 3. 28, 29. |

4. This fear puts a man upon crying ta God for mercy, and that in most humble manner,now he sensibly cries,now he dejectedly cries, now he feels and cries,, now he smarts and cries out, God be merciful to me 4 seaner, Luke 18. 13.

5, This fear makes a man that he cannot accept.of that for support,and succour which others that are destitute thereof will rake up and be contented with. This man 'must be washed by God. himself, and cleansed from his sin by God himself, P/al. 5 1.

6.: Therefore th:s.fear goes not away until the Spirit of God doth change his mini- |

stration as to. this particular in leaying off to, work now by the I.aw, as afore, ard comming to the saul, with the sweer word of profnise of life and salvation by Jesus Christ.

Thus far this fear is godly, that. is until Christ by the spirit in the Gospel is revealed and made over unto us, and no longer.

Thus far this fear is godlv, and the reason why ir is godly, is because the groundwork of it is good. I told you before what this fear is, namely, 7t is the fear of damme-

Of the Fear of God) oa tion.” Now th&yround: fo ERR "Fear 32 3608;

le cause it bath'not fiirh in "Chill © ke is at t- present under thi Law. IROWG 751 3 10107 1E 3. The: fool arech' ihhniation! tightly 4 Y now, becatise 'by sin, Ofel Lal (aftdi (or want of faith, rhe wrath vr God abiteth'qn ot jt; 4/44 CL 11 fit 10 :49.13 vIR ch - 10 be; ikough thi fi9#7\this feac'tf Ke | God, is" bod and"eodly, vr -after CHIPEY ft I the Spirit In 'thte word 6fih? Sospel4 1s re> ed I Veated tots, Hhdwe' nat tb Accept of ”_ && sb YeVere8Cand feral {6 us! by -a'true n- JF and living faith; thjs fear, ro wit, of Coney i= N AStion, 5s yp niger bod? For #) pally. Nor off | 86th the'Spitit” of Goa evin ork rift nd I dgain;* ' Now we dd notireteve th} hn rd Obndage againts sear, HS? keto fas y, ro us | damntion\ itt we have recefved the e fp cd | adoption! whereby ive” cry fatlt| father. til Bue I w6yldnotbe mistaken, 'whet! I ay; a- Nibat his forth "is" bo long aft, Zldhy. abate Nita wit OOTY to he< thee and/thaa- NU birofit for | bificve' Ti Ihe Tame in the d- {ee which" Ball "afterwards! grow up 't& an at Nliigher degree} tntinro more sweet” ad 4- g6iper curtatf, dhd manner'of w orking bbt 1 ; E 4 mean

| 4 hm this. act, of searing dam: nation, I say,it shall never by the-spirit be managed to that work, it. shall never brirg forth thar fruit, mgre, |

_ And; my reasons are;

I; .Because.; that the soul by -1ofing through the promise, by tbe spirit, with Je+ fas Christ, js,removed off of that foundation Yppn:which,ie signd when:it. ja/tly feared damnation.:;., Ft bach receiyed 2 O IV forgiveness of fin, it is now no moreunder the lay, but in;Jelus Christ by. faith; therefore there 1s now: 'NQ condemnation tort; _ 26, 18, Rom. 6, 14. chap. 8: 1,

c- The, ground- wark., LAB. being! no! taken AWAY, the | oor it worketh that. tear ny IRQIE..., - 107k He cannot, [after he hath come to the foul as a spirit of, gdeption, come. again as, 2 spirit. of beudage, t9.,put.the soul, into his first fear, to wit, .a.tcap.. of crernal- damuation, becaule he \.cannot. ay, and.nsaj.; do and wnde. As a spirit of adoption he told. me thac | my fins, were. forgiven.:me, / that 1 Was included{1 In the covenant of.grece, - that God was,1qy., Father through. Chrilt, that I was under. the; promise of salvatign, and tbax this calling and gift of God-to me, is Permanent... #nd, without, repentance. | And do T9 chink,, "that after be * hath told me

this

Of the Fear of God. ——_ this,. and sealed up the truth of. it ro my precious soul, that he will come to me, and rell me that am yer in my fins, under the curse. of the Law and the eternal wrath of God? , No, no, the word of the Gospel is not yea, Yea; nay, nay: Itis only yea, and amen; it is so, 4s God is true, 2 Cor, 1.17, 18, 19, 20. |

3. 'The state therefore of the sinner being. changed, and that roo, by the spirits changing his dispensation, leaving off to be now as a spirit of 6oxdage to put us in fear, and coming to our hearr, as the spirir of adoption to make us cry father, father he cannot go back to his first workagain; for if so, then he mult grar:fy, yea and also ratifiy, that profane. and Popish doCt-

Tine, forgiven to-day, unforgiven to morrow. a child of God to day, a child of Hell to-morrow; but what saith the Scriptures. Now therefore such are no more strangers, and foreiners, but fellow- Citizens with the Saints, and of ithe houshold of God, and are built upon the foundations of the Apostles and; Prophets, Christ fesus himself being the chief. Corner-stone. In whom all the buildin

tity framed together, groweth into as holy Temple in 'the'Lerd, im whom you alla are builg

ded together for an habitation of God through

the sperat,' Ephes, 2.

Object.

—_ Christian, what" is thy experiehcs?

Why # I was at first, as jos have [atd, pos? {fed with the fear of damnation, and (0 jondep rhe power of the spirit of bondage. hy

Well faid, and how was i then ?

Why, after fome time of continnave: 4 these fears I bad the spirit of: adoption | exit ro ze ts fexd np to my soul the firgiveness 'of sins, asd fo he aid; and was alfo helped by the same spirit, as yeu have said, to call Gid Faw Father.

Well faid, and whar after that? Why, after that I fell into as gow Jears as ever I yas in before,”

Arf, &ll this maybe granted, and yet neverthesefs.,, what F have/ said ' will abide

'atruth; for } have not taid that- after the

spirte of adoprion 1s come; 'a- Christian hall noragain be -in as great fears, for -h& may have worse than he "had. at: heist, bur I say, char after the spirit of adoption is. come, the spirir of bondage, as s#eb, 1s sent of God ro more tro-pur us into those fears. Fay; mark, for we have not received the \(pirit* "d\bo axe AGAIN to ferry; Fer. the Word. be frac, whatever thy experience 18. DolFtliok BOr onderstand me 2+ 45 (P32 Hjier the Spirit of Godby Feld. wo.'\\ =

Of the Fear of God. Ty "5 also helped me to believe it, that the Lord for Christ's sake hath forgiven mine iniquities he tells me no more,. that they are net forgiven. After the Spirit of God has helped + | me, by Christ, to call God my Father, he tells me no more that the Devil is my Father. After he hath told me, that I am no re | #nder the Law, but under grace, he tells 'me > | no more that-/ am not wider grace but under ' | the Law, and bound over by it, for my sins, ! | to the wrath and judgment of God: But this y | is the fear, that the Spirit as a spirit of bon- \ {| dage worketh in the soul ar first,

Quest,” Can you give me further reases y et to convitt me of the truth of what you say?

Answ, Yes. 1. Because as the Spirit Ccannot give himself the lie; so he cannot overthrow his own order of working, nor yet - contradict rhar telfymony that his servants by his inspiration hath given of his order of working with them.

Bur ke. must do the first: If he saith to us (and that after we have received his own testimony, that we are under grace) that yet we are under fin, the Law and wrath.

And he must do the second; if after he hath gone-through the first work'on us, as a” . spirit of: bondage, to the second as a spirir of adoptigh; he should overthrow as a spirit of bondage&:4G A1N, what before he had builras.a spirit of adoption; | And

A

bo Of the Fear of God.

And the third must therefore needs fol- Jow, that is, he overthroweth the testimony of his servants; for they have said, That now -we receive the spirit of bondage AGAIN to fear no more; that js, after that we by the Holy Ghost are enabled to call God Father, Father.

2, This is evident also, because the covenant in which now the soul is interested, abideth, and is everlasting,not upon the supposition of my obedience, but upon the unchangable purpose of God, and the efficacy of the obedience of Christ, whose blood also hath corfirmed it. Ut i ordered in all things, and fare, (aid David; and this, said he, is all my salvation, (2 Sam. 23. F.}

The covenant then is everlasting in it self, - being established upon so good a foundation, and therefore standeth inyr self everlastingly bent for the good of them that are involved 4n it. Hear the tenor of the covenanc, and God's attesting of the truth thereof, T7:

the covenant that I will make with the house of

Israel, after those dates, saith the Lord, 1 will put my Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them aGod,and they shall be to mz a people; And they shall rot teach every man his neiphvour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for the spall all know me; srom the least to the gra or

Of the Feavs of God. bt

for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, .

and their sins and iniquitics 1 will remember no mure, Heb. 8. 10,11,12. Now if God will do thus unto those that he bath comprized in his everlasting covenant of grace, then he will remember their sins no more, that is, pnto condemnation; ( for so it is that he doth forget them) then cannot the Holy Ghost, who also is one with the Father and the Son, come to us again (even after we are possessed with thele glorious fruits of this covenant) as a spirit of bondage, to put us in fear of damnation.

3. The Spirit of God, after it is come to me as a spirit of adoption, can come to me no more as a spirit of bondage, to put me in fear, that is, with my firit fears, because, by that faith that he, even he himself, hath wrought in me, to believe and call God Father, Father, I am united to Christ, and stand no more upon mine own legs, in mine own sins, or performances ; but in his glorious righteousness before him,and before his Father; but he will not cast away a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones; nor will he that the Spirit of. God should come as a spivir of bondage to put him into a grounded fear of damnation, that standeth compleat beforeGod in the righteousness of Christ; for that 1s an apparent contradictdon.

Quest,

bo Of the Fear of God.

And the third must therefore needs fol- Jow, that is, he overthroweth the testimony of his servants; for they have said, That now -we receive the spirit of bondage AGAIN to fear no more; that is, after that we by the Holy Ghost are enabled to call God Father, Father.

2, This is evident also, because the covenant in which now the soul is interested, abideth, and is everlasting,not upon the supposition of my obedience, but upon the unchangable purpose of God, and the efficacy of the obedience of Christ, whose blood also hath confirmed it. Ut #7 ordered in all things, and fare, (aid David; and this, said he, is all my salvation, (2 Sam. 23. 5.3

The covenant then is everlasting in it self, : being established upon so good a foundation, and therefore standeth inyr self everlastingly dent for the good of them that are involved 4n it. Hear the tenor of the covenanc, and God's attesting of the truth thereof, Ty: 5

the covenant that I will make with the house of

Israel, after those dates, saith the Lord, 1 will ut my Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and [ will be to them aGod,and they shall be to ms a people; And they shall wot teach every man his neiphvour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for the spall all know me; from the least to the greacf or

my — way

Of the Feas of God. bi

for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, .

and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more, Heb. 8. 10,11,12. Now if God will do thus unto those that he hath comprized in his everlasting covenant of grace, then he will remember their fins no more, that is, unto condemnation; ( for so it is that he doth forget them) then cannot the Holy Ghost, who also is one with the Father and the Son, come to us again (even after we are pollessed with these glorious fruits of this covenant) as a spirit of bondage, to put us in fear of damnation.

3. The Spirit of God, after it is come to me as a spirit of adoption, can come to me no more as a spirit of bondage, to put me in fear, that is, with my firit fears, because, by that faith that he, even he himself, hath wrought in me, to believe and cal] God Father,Father, I am united to Christ, and stand no more upon mine own legs, in mine own sins, or performances ; but in his glorious righteousness before him,and before his Father; but he will not cast away a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones ; nor will he that the Spirit of. God should come as a spivir of bondage to put him into a grounded fear of damnation, that standeth compleat beforeGod in the righteousness of Chcilt; for that is an apparent contradictdon.

Quetlt,

61 Of the Fear of God.

Quest. But may it not come again as a spis rit of bondage, to put me into my first fears for mygood?

Ans. The Text faith the contrary; For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, Nor is God put to it for want; of wisdom, to say, and unsay,do, and undo,or || else he cannot do good. When we are sons, | * and have received the adoption of children, {| ' he doth not use to send the spirit after thar TH} to tell us we are slaves and heirs of damna- || ' tion, also that we are without Christ, with- || ! out rhe promise, without grace, and without |} '

God in the World, and yet this he must do

if ir comes to us after we have received

him as a spirit of adoption, and put us, as

a spirit of bondage in fear as before. Quest. Bur by what spirit is it then that 1

am bronght again into fears, even into the of

fears of dammation, and so into bondage by? l Ans. By the spirit of the Devi! who al- | Y

waies [abours to frustrare the faith and hope, | Y

and comfort of the godly, | Qnest. How doth that appear? a Answ, 1. By: the groundlesness of such n

fears.

2. By the unseasonableness of them, t

3. By the effects of them. t

1. By the gronndlesnefs of such fears, v

The ground is remoyed, for a grounded || 9

fear

Of the Fear of God. © bo

fear of damnation, is this, I am yet in my fins, in a state of nature, under the law, wichout faith, and so under the wrath of God; this, I say, is the ground. of the fear of damnation, the true ground to fear it; but now the men that we are tasking of, is one that hath the ground df this fear. 'taken away by the testimony and seal of the (pirat of adoption: he is called, justified, and hay, for the truth of this his condition, received

the evidence of the spirit of adoption, and

hath been thereby enabled to call God Father, Father; now he that hath received this, has the ground of the fear of dammation taken from him, therefore his fear, I say, being without ground, is false, and (o no work of the Spirit of God.

2. By the unseasonablene(s of. them, This {pirit alwaies comes too late. It comes after the spirit of adoption is come. Satan Is atlwaies for being too soon, or too late. If he would have men believe they are children, - he would have them believe it, while they are slaves, slaves to him and their lusts. If he would have them believe they are flaves, It is when they are sons, and have received the spirit of adoption, and the teftimony,by thar, of their sonship before, And this &- vil is rooted even in his nature; He is &

tar, and th: Father of it, (fohn 8.) and-liis

lies

64 Of the Fear of God.

”es are not known to Saints, more than infhe; t;s that he labours alwaies to contradiafiy the work and order of the spirit of truth.

3. It also appears by ths effetts of suchu fears. For there is a great deal of differencelhr, betwixt the natural effe(ts of these fears} which are wrought indeed by the spirit of bondage and those which are wrought by this spirit of the Devil afterwards.

The one, to wit, the fears that are wrought by the spirit of bondage causeth us ro confess the truth, to wit, that we ares Christle(s, graceless, faichless, and so at pre-th sent, that is, while he is so working 1n a finful and damnable case; but the other, to.. wit, the spirit of the Devil when he comes, . which is after the spirit of adoption is come, spy; he causeth us to make a lye, that is to say, thhy we are christle(s,graceless,and faithless. Now br | this I fay is wholly, and in aff the parts of TH. ita lye, and HE is the Father of ir,

Besides, the direct tendency of the fear thhy that the Spirit of God,as a spirit of bondage I. worketh in the soul, is to cause us to come || ( repenting home tro God by Jesus Christ, but THac taese latter fears tend directly to make a th man, (he having first denyed the work (f F.. God, as he will, if he fallech in with then:Y Fec to run quite away from God, and from h s st. grave to him in Christ as will evidently ap- th jEar Fre

Of the Fear of God. be

1 infhear if thou givest but a plain and honest an- IictYiver ro these questions following. 1. i. Qiest. Doth not these fears make thee auch 7a whether there was ever 4 wor k of ncesprace wrougnt in thy soul ?

. Answ, Yes, verily that they do.

2.Quest. Dorh not these fears make the que= ion whether ever thy first fears was wrought by the Holy Spirit of God ? re} Arsw. Yes, verily that they do. us} 2, Quest, Doth not these fears make thee re syvestion whether ever thou hast had (indeed). 'Ee- uy trae comfort from the Word and Spirit of

to "fa Yes, verily that they do. | *£,f| 4. Quest. Dost thou not find intermixed e, vith THESE fears plain assertions that yY, thby first comforts, were either from thy fancy, 2 for from the D:vil, and a fruit of his delus bon? of | Answ. Yes, verily that I do.

5, Quest. Doth nos THESE sears wu ar THhby heart in prayer ? Ee | Answ,. Yes, that they do. e | 6. Quest, Doth not these fears keep thee 18 Pack. from laying hold of the promise of salvatsa TH by 7esns Christ? © _.. ff} -Anfw. Yes, forl think if I were devel; ed before, if I were comforted by a fpirit ff delusion before : why may it not be (owpain, so I amafraid to take hold of the promile, F 7. Quest,

66 Of the Fear of God. -7. Qnest. Doth not these sears tend to the

hardaing of thy heart, and to the making -of

thee desperate?

Answ. Yes, verily that they do.

8 Quest. Doth nor THESE sears hinder thee from profiting in hearing, or reading of the Wora?

' Answ. Yes verily,for still whatever I hearf

or read, I think nothing that is good belongs to me, | '9 Quest. Doth not THESE FEARS thnd to the stirring up of blafsphemies in thy brart against God? Ge Answ. Yes, to the almost distracting of me. a JA! Fa - 10 Quest, -Dath not these fears make thee Sometimes think, that it is in vain for thee to wait pow the Lord any longer? Aysw. Yes verily,and I have many times almost come to this conclusion, that I will read, pray, hear, company with Gods people, -or the like, no longer. Well poor Christian,'I am glad that thou hast 16 plainly answered me, _ but pretheec

look back upon- thy answer, how much off /

God, dost thou rhink, is in these things, howy

mii of his Spiric, and the grace of. bis

Word: just none: at all, for it cannot be thatfs fo!

these things can be the true and natural effes of the-workings of the Spirit of Goy

Of the Fear of God. N O / not as a spirit of bondage. Thele are not-his doings;' dost thou not see the very ay of the Devil in them, yea in every one of thy rez confetlions; is there not palpaheefibl'y high wickedness in every one of the cfthe fects of this fear?

[ conclude then, as I began, that the fear earthat the Spirit of God, as a spirit of bondage he-Eworketh,. is good, and godly, not only because of the Author, | but also because of the RSEground and eftets; but yet it can last no thy longeras fech (as producing the aforesaid conclusion,) then till the: spirit, as the spioff rit of 34option comes, because that then the soul is manifestly taken out of the state and beef condition, into which-it had brought it (elf ro by nature and fin, and is put into Christ, and fo by him' into a state of life, and blesnes} sedness by grace... Therefore if first fears vill] come again.into thy soul after that the spirit -0-1 of adaption hath been with thee, know they come'not from the Spirit of God, but appaou rently from the spirit.of the Devil, for they zees are 4 lie in themlcIves,. and their effetts are off /infzl and devilish. owl: Objett: But 1 had also such wickedness as bish :20se 512 my heart at my first awaking,and therehat} fore by your argument neither should that be eff but from the Devil. dll. -1n/p, So far forth as such wickedness 'C F 2 Was

"68 Of the Fear of God. was -in thy heart, so far did the Devil and thine own heart seek to drive thee rb de spair, and dround thee there, but thou ha forgot the question,the question is not whe ther then thou wast troubled with such in quitics, but whether thy fears of damnati on at that time were not just and good, be cause grounded upon thy present condirtio which was, for that thou wast out of Chrif

'in thy sins, and under the curse of the Law, and whether now, fince the spirit of adop tion is come unto thee, and hath thee, ane hath done that for thee as hath been mentj oned, I say, whether thou oughtest for anz rhing whartsoever to give way to the sam fear, fromthe same ground of damnation; it is evident - thou oughtest, not because th

round, the canse is removed. _ ; . Object. But since I was sealed ro the da of red*mption, 1 have grievonsly sinned agains

God, have not [ thertftre cause to fear, as. before? may not therefore the {pirit.of bondage be sent. again ro-/put me in fear as att;

first? sin_was the firft cause, and I have finned now, | Answ. No, by no means, for we have not received: the spirit of bondage again to fear, That is:God- hath not piven-it us, for God hat not given ms the spirit of fear, but of power, 0 bet: and of a-svund mind, 2 Tim,-I, 7. | | [

,

Of the Fear of God. 69

\ If therefore our firs# fears come ypon us 2gain, after that we have received at Gods hands &he spirit of love,of power,and of a fond mind, it is tobe refused though' we have grievously sinned against our God. This is manifest from, 1 Sam.12. Fear not, ye have done all this wickedness. That is, not with that fear which would have made them fly from God.as concluding that they were not now his people. |

And the reason is, because fin cannot dissolve the. covenant into which the Sons of God by his grace is taken,

If his children forsake my Law, and walk. not in mJ judyments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments, then will. [ viset their transgressions with a rod, and their wquities with stripes; nevertheless my lovingkindness I will not utterly take away srom him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail, Psal, 89.

Now if fin doth not dissolve the covenant, if sin doth not cast me out of this covenant, which is made personally with the Son of God, and into the hands of which; by the grace of God I am put, then, ought I nor,

| though I have finned, to fear with my first

fears. 2. Sin, after that the spirit of adoption is come; cannot ditlolve the relation of Fa- F 3 thes,

ther and'Son, of Father and child, And this] the Church did rightly aflerr, and that when her heart was under. great hardness, and when the had the guilt 'of erring f:om his wales, saith she, Doxbrless thou art our Father, Doubtless thou art, though this be our case, and though 7/-ae! should not acknowledge us for such, 7/a. 63. 16, 17.

That fin dissolveth nor the relation of Father and Son, is further evident; fee Gal.4.4. When the sulness of the- time was come God sent forth his Son made of 4 woman,mrad? und:r the Law,to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons. And because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of bis Son into your hearts, crying Father,Father. Now mark,wherefore thor art no more 4 Servant,thatiis, no more under the Law of death, and damration, bt a Son, and if a'Son, then an heir of God throwgh Christ,

Suppose a child doth grevoully transzres againit, and offend his Farther, js the relation between them therefore dillolved 2 Again, suppose the Father should scourge and chasten the Son for (such offence, is the eelation between them theresore difsolved? Yea \yppole rhe child should now through'ignonorance cry, and fay, this man is now no more my father, is he zherefore now.no more his Father?doth not eytry body fee the folly

Of the Fear of

| of arguings ? why of the a nature 1$ that

doctrine, that saith, thatafrer we have received the spirit of adoption, that the spirit of bondage is sent to us again to put us

in fear of eternal damnation. Know then that thy sin, after thou hast

J received the spirit of adoption ro Cry unto

God Farher, Father, is counted the tranfgreision of achild (not of a slave) and that al! char happeneih ro thee for that transgrefsion is but th-: chastizement of a Father. And what Son 5 be whom the father chasteneth nc: ? It is worth your observation.

That the Holy Ghost checks those, who under their chastizements for' fin, forgot to call God their Father. Tos have, saith Pax; forgotten the Exhortation that [peaketh unto you as unto Children, my Son, despise nat thou the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when thow art rebuked of him. Yea, observe yet further, that Gods chastizing of his children for their fin; is a fign of grace and loye, and not of his wrath, and thy damration; therefore NOW there is no ground for the aforesaid fear,

For whom the Lord loveth he chastizeth, and scomrgeth every Son whom be receiveth, Heb. 12.

Now if God would not have those that

have received the spirit of the Son, how- F 4 Ever

7 Of the Fear of God. ever he chastifes them, to forget the relation, that by the adoption of Sons, they stand in to God, if he cheks them that do forget ir,when his rod is upon their backs for fin; then it is evident that those fears that thon hast under a colour of the coming again of the ffirit, as a spirit of bondage, to pur thee in fear of eternal damnation,is nothing else but Saran disguised, the better to play his pranks upon thee. |

| will yet give you two or three instances more wherein it will be manifest that what ever- happenerh to. thee, I mean as a chastizemenr for sin, after the spirit of adoption is come, - thou oughtest to hold fast by Faich the relation of Father and Son.

x. The people spoken of by ofes, are said to have lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation, which rock is Jesus Christ (and thar is a grievous sin indeed) yet, faith he; [5 not God thy Father that hath bought thee? and then- puts them upon considering The daies of old Deat. 32.6.

2. They in the Prophet Feremiah had play - ed the harlot with many lovers, and done evil things as they could ; and as another Scripture harh it, gone a whoring from under their God, yet God calls to them by the Propher saying, Wilt rhaw not from this time cry unto me my Father thou art the Gag

of my youth? Jer. 3 [--7. 3, Re-

'ela. they

that acks ears lng , to no- "9

Of the Fear of God. 7? 3. Remember also that eminent rext made mention of in 1 Sam. 12. Fear not,

ye have done all this wickedness ; and labour

ro maintain faith in thy soul, of thy being a child, {ir being true that thou halt recei- + ved the spirit of adoption before) and fo that thou oughtest not to fall under thy first fears, (because the ground is taken away) of thy eternal damnation.

Now, let not any; from what hath been said, take courage to live loose lives, under a supposition, that once in Chriit, and ever in Christ, and the covenant cannot be broken, nor the relation of Father and Child dislolved, for they that do so, 'tis evident have not known what 'tis ro receive the spirit of adoption; It is the Spitit of the Devil in his own hue that suggesterh this un+ ro them, and that prevaileth with them ro do fo;shall we do evil that good may come? shall we fin that grace may abound? _ or shall we be base *in life because-God by grace, hath secured us from wrath to come? God forbid, these conclusions betoken one void of the fear of God indeed, and of the fpirit of adoption too. For what Son 1s he, that because the Father cannor break the relation, (nor sutfer sin to do it,) that is betwixt the Father and him, that wil] therefore fay,I will live alcogether after _—_— usts,

74 Of the Fear of God.

lasts, T will labour to be a continual grief to... my Father. ,

Yer lest the Devil (for some are not zgnorant of his devices) should ger an advantage against some of rhe Sons, to draw th them away from the fil:al fear of their Father,let me here, ro prevent such temprati-J ons, present fuch with these following constderations.

rt. Though God cannot, will not dissolve the refation which the spirit of adoption hath made *rwixt the Father and the sons, for any fin that such do commit: yet he can, and ofren doth rake away from them the comfort of their adoption, not sutfering Children, white inning, . to have the sweet and comforrable senfe thereof on their hearts, He can tell how to let sinners be round about them, and sudden fear trouble them. He can tell how to send darkness that they may not see, and to let abandance of waters cover them, f0b 22,10, IT, |

2. God cantell how to hide his face from them, and. so ro afflit them with thar dispenfation, ,that ir shal} nor be in the power of all the World ro comfort them. When he hideth his face,who can behold him? fob. 23. 8, 9. chap. 34 29.

3. God'can rei] how to make thee again to posless the sins that he long fince hath pardoned,

Of the Fear of God. 75 ardoned, and that in such wise that things shall be bitter to thy soul. Thou writelt 4;rter thingsagainst me,laies fob,and makest me to possess the iniquities of my yourb. By this also he made once.David groan, and pray againit ic as an unsupportable affliction, fob -13.26, Pal. 25. 7. | [4x. God can Jay thee in the dungion in chains,--and roll a stone upon thee, he can make thy feet fast in the stocks, and make the a gazing stock to men and Angels, Zam. 3. 5F-ver, 7,53. 70b, 13. 27.

5. God can tell how ro cause to cease the sweet operations,6 blessed influences of his grace in thy soul, and to make those Gospel showers thar formerly thou hast enjoyed, to become now to thee nothing but pewaer and aust. Psal. gr. Dat 28. 24.

6. God can tell how to fight against thee with the sword of his mouth, and to make thee a Batt for his Arrows; and rhis is a difpenfation most dreadful, Revelation 2:16: fov 6.4. Pal. 38. 2,3,4,5-

7.God can tel] how fo to bow thee down with guilt and distress, that thou shalt in no wisebe able to lift up thy heae, P/al. qo. 12,

8. God can teli how to break thy bones, and to make thee by reason of that to live in continual anguish offpirit : yea he can send a

fire into thy bones that shall burn, and none shall

76 Of the Fear of God.

shall quench ir, P/al. 51. 8. Lamentations 3:4. chap;

9. God can tell how to Jay thee aside, and make no use of thee as to any work for bim m thy generation. He can throw thee afide as a broken vellel, P/:. 31. 12 Exch,

Io. God can tel] how to kill thee, and to take thee away from the earth for thy ling, 1 Cor, II. 29, 30, 31, 32. e

11. God can tel] how to plague thee in thy death, with great plagues, and of long continuance, Psal.73.45. Dent. 28,

12. What shall I say? God can tell how to let Satan loose upon thee; when thou liest a dying, he can licence him then to affault thee with great remptations,he can tell how to make thee possess the guilt of all thy unkindness towards him, and that when thou, as I said, arr going out of the World ; he can cause that thy life shall be in continual doubt before thee, and not sufter thee to take any comfort day nor night; yea he can drive thee even to a madness with his chastizements for thy folly, and yet all shall be done by him to thee as a Father chastizeth his Son, Dent. 28.65, 66 67.

13. Further, God can' tell how to tumble thee from off thy death-bed in a cloud,

he can let thee die in the dark; when thou art dying, thou shast not know whicher rhou art going, to wit, whether to Heayen or to Hel). Yea he can tell how to ler thee seem to come short of life, both in thine own eyes, and also in the eyes of them that behold thee, Let #s therefore fear, saies the Apostle (chough not with lavish, yet with filial fear,) /z/# a promise being left xs of entring imto rest, any of #us sbould serns to come short of it, Heb, 4. 1.

Now all this, and much more can God do to HIS as a Father by his rod,and Father by rebukes; ah who know but those that are under them, what rerrours, fears, distresses and amazements, God can bring his people into; he can put them into a furnace, a fire, and no tongue can tel] what, so unsearchable and fearful are his Fatherly chastizements, and yet never give them the spirit of bondage again to fear. Therefore if thou art a Son, take heed of fin, lest all these things overtake thee, and come upon thee.

Objett. But I have sinned, and am under this high and mighty hand. of God. |

Ans.Then thou knowest what I say is true, bur yet take heed of hearkning unto suck temptations as Would make thee believe thou art out of Christ, under the Law, and

"9 Df the Fear of God. a statte of damnation:and rake heed alfo that thou dost not conclude that the author of these fears, is theSpirit of God come to thee again as a spirit of bondage to put thee into fach FEARS, lest unawares to thy felf thou dost derfy the Devil, dishonour thy Father; overthrow good doctrine, and bring thy felt into a double temptation.

Object. But if God deals thus with a man, how can he orthernise think, but. that he is a reprovate, a Gractless, Christless and Faithless one.

Answ. Nay, but why dest thou tempr the Lord thyGod?why dost thou sinand provoke the eyes of his glory? why doth theliving man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? (L2.3.39.)He doth nor willingly.afflict,nor

grieve the Children of men, bur if thou f1n- |

nest, though God should save thy soul,as he will if thou art an adeptedSon ofGod,yer he will make thee know that /iz is fn, and his rod thar- he will.chastize thee wirh(if need be) shall be made of scorpions: read the whole book of the Lamentations, read fob's and Davids complaints: yea, read what happenned to his Son, his welbeloved,.and- that when he did but stand in the room of sinners, being in himself alrogether innocent, and then confider O thou sinning Child of God, if it is any injustice in Godyea if it be not

Of the Fear of Goe

at [not necessary that thou shouldlt be chastized of Ifor thy fin,

Bur then, I say, when the hand of God is Upon thee, how grievous soever It be, rake heed, and beware that thou give not way to thy, first fears, lest as I said before, thou addest ro thine afttiction ; and to help thee here; Let me give thee a few instances of the carriages of some of the Saints under some of the most heavy attlictions that they have met with for fin,

I.7ob was in great afflition,and that,as he confelled for fin,(fob.7.20,)Infomuch that he said, God had ser him for his mark to shoot ar, and that he ran upon himlike a Giant; that he rook him by the neck, and shook him to pieces, . and counted him for his enemy, that he hid his face from him, and that he could not rel! where to find him, yer he counted not all this as a sign of a damnable fate, but as a zryal, and chastizement, and said when he was in the hottest of this battel, when I am tried, 1 shall come forth like g zold, And again, when he was pressed upon by the tempter to think that God would kill him,he answers with greatest confidence, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, " Job I 6. I4. Ver. 12, Chap. I9, 1h, Chap. 23. 8, 9, 10, Chap. 13,15.

2. David complained that God had bros ken

79 Df the Fear of God. a statte of damnation:and rake heed alfo that thou dost not conclude that the author of these fears, is theSpirit of God come to thee again as a spirit of bondage to pur rhee into sach FEARS, lest unawares to thy felf thou dost deify the Devil, dishonour thy Father; overthrow good doctrine, and bring thy self into a double temptation.

Object. But:f God deals thus with a man, how can he othernise think, but that he is a reprovate, a Gractless, Christless and Faithless one,

Answ. Nay, but why dest thou tempr the Lord thy Godew hy dost thou sin and provoke the eyes of his glory? why doth theliving man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? (L.3.39.)He doth nor willingly afflict,nor

grieve the Children of men, bur if thou fin- |

nest, though God should fave thy soul,as he will if thou art an adeptedSon ofGod,yer he will make thee know that sis 1s fr, and his rod thar- he will.chastize thee wirh(if need be) shall be made of scorpions: read the whole book of the Lamentatiens, read fob's

and Davids complaints: yea, read what happenned to his Son, his welbeloved,. and. that when he did but stand in the room of finners, being in himself alrogerher innocent, and then consider O thou sinning Child of wes, if it is any inJustice in God,yea if it be not

Of the Fear of Goe not necessary that thou shouldst be chastized for thy in,

Bur then, I say, when the hand of God Is upon thee, how grievous soever It be, rake heed, and beware that thou give not way to thy first fears, lest as I said before, thou addest ro rhine afttiction ; and to help thee here; Let me give thee a few instances of the carriages of some of the Saints under some of the most heavy attlictions that they have met with for fin,

I.70b was in great affliction,and that,as he confelled for fin,(fob.7.20.)Insomuch that he said, God had ser him for his mark to shoot ar, and that he ran upon himlike a Giant; that he rook him by the neck, and shook him to pieces, and counted him for his

{ enemy, that he hid his face from him, and

that he could not tell where to find him, yer he counted not all this as a sign of a damnable ftate, but as a tryal, and chastizement, and said when he was in the hottest of this battel, when I am tried, 1 shall come forth like gold, And again, when he was pressed upon by the tempter to think thar God would kill him,he answers with greatest confidence, Though he slay me, yet will I trast in him, ob 16. 14. ver. 12, Chap. 19, 11. Chap. 23. 8, 9, 10, Chap. 13,15.

2. David complained that God had bro+ ken

SO Of the Fear of God. ken his bones, that he had ser his face against his fins, and had raken from him the joy of his salvation: yet even at:/:s time he faith, O God, thou God of my Salvation, Psal. 51, 8, 9, 12, 14.

.- 3. Haman tomplained that his soul was full of troubles, that God had laid him in the lowest pit, that he had put his acquaintance far from him, and was casting off his' soul, and had hid his face from him. That he was afflicted from his youth up, and ready to die with trouble: he saith moreover, that che fierce wrath of God went over him, that his terrours had cut him him off; yea, that by reason of them he was distracted, and yet, even before he maketh any of these complaints, he rakes fast hold of God, as his saying, O Lord God of my Salvation, Psal. 88.

. The Church in the Lamentations complains that the Lord had aftlicted her for her transgrefstons, and that in the day of his fierce anger; also that he had trodden under foot her mighty men, and that he had called the heathen against her;she sajes,that he had covered her with a cloud in his anger, that he was an enemy, and that he had hung a chain upon ker, she adds moreover that he had shut our her prayer, broken her teeth with grayel stones, and covered. her

with

inf with ashes}1an)in conclusion, :that he bad

ander all;this'rxyal? doth the! give upiher faith and hope, and return. to that fear thar begor the \fust bondage? No, The, Zord: 3 my portion, saith my saul, therefore will T hope in hizs; yea; she:dds,0 Lord; thox hast pleads ed the cause of my soul, thou hast redeemed my

These: things shew, ,that Gods pevple, even after they have received- the fpirir: ot adoption,have fell foully-intd {n,and have been bitterly chastized for it; and also 'thae when the rod was most sniart upon them, they made. great conscience of giving' way to! their first fears wherewith they were made' afraid by the Spirit; as it wrought; as'a spirit'of bondage; for' indeed there is no':{uch; thing as the-coming of theSpirit. of bondage to pur us in fear the second time, as such, whar is, after he iscome as:the-fpirit- oradop tion to the soul. vd yew Tic O08 1 I conclude ther, that -Z&{z4T fear that is is wrought by the spirit of:bondage is good, and. godly, :becaule the ground: for. it, 'is sound; and I also conclude, that he comes to.the foul as a {priric of bondage, bur-once, 1nd that once, is before he comes as a' spirit? N (3 of

A

2 Of the\Fear of \God.

of adoption: and if therefore: the same fear

doth again take hold of chy heart, thar-. is,

ifafrer thouv hast received the spirit of adoprio, thon Jearest again the, damnation of

thy sou], 'that thou art out of! Christ, and

under the Law;'that fear is bad, and of the

Devil, and ought by no means to be admitted by thee.

'Quest.But sixce it ts as yo say, how doth thi

Devil after the spirit of adoption is come, work

the child of God into those fears of being out of

Chrzff, net (forgiven, and so en be.r of damnation againt”.

5:Answ. 1. By giving the lie (and by prevailing with us to give it too) to the work

af:;grace wrought. in our hearts, and to the

testimony 'of:; rhe- holy spirit of adoprion.

2, By abusfmg of our ignorance of the

everbsting; love | of God ro his in Chrift,

and the duration of rhe covenant of grace.

3.. By abufing:some scriprure that seems

to look that way bur doth nor, Or,

- 4 ' By abusing ur senfes and reason, Or,

5. By strengthening of our unbelief. Or,

£6. By overshaddowing of ' our judgment

with horrid darkness: Or,

.7.By giving of us counterfeit representations of God; Or,

Of the Fear af God. 82

8. Byftirring up, and setting in 4 rage our inward corruptions. Or,

9. By pouring into our hearts abundance of horrid blasphemies, Or,

10.: By putting of wrong constructions on the rod, and chastizing hand of God. Or,

11, By charging upoy us, that our il] behavours under the rod,**and chastizing hand of God, is a sign that we indeed have no grace, but are down-right damned graceless reprobates. |

By these things and others like these, Satan, Ifay, Satan bringeth the Child of God; not only tothe borders, but even into the bowels of the fears of damnation, after it hath received a blessed testimony of eternal life, and that by the holy spirit of adoption.

Quest. But world you not have the people of God, stand in FEAR of his rod, and be afraid of his judgments.? Anss. Yes, and the more they are right= ly afraid of them, the lels, and the feldomer they will come under them, for 'tis want of fear that brings us into- sin, and *tis fin that brings us.into these afftictions; But I would not bave'them fear with the fear of slaves; for that will add no ftrength against fin, but I would:/have them fear with the reverential al | 2 G fear

$4 Of the Fear of Go: . Fear of Sdns, ard that} Is the way to; Ry trom evil,

Answ. Why, having before, received the spirit of adoption; stilTHto belieye rtarche is our Farher, and so to fear withithe fear of chuldren, not as slaves fear a tyrant, I would therefore: have them to! look upon- his rod, rebukes, .chidings, and chastizements, and also upon” the wrath wherewith he doth inflict; to be. bur rhe | difpensations of their Father.

This believed, maintains, or at Jeast helps to maintain in che hear a Son-like bowing under the rod.

Ir 1ab{o;' maintains in: the soul 'a Son-Jike confession vf tin, and a: jastifying of God-under all che rebukes that ihe grieverh us. wich. It also engageth us to come to him, to claim and lay-hold of former: mercies, to expect more,and. to hope y good end shall be made of allGods present dispensations towards us; Atich. 7.% Lim.1.18. Psat. 57. 10,11,12. Lam. 3+ 31,32,3334- i \,

Now: God w outd have us thus fear his rod,” because' he is'resbly&d ro chaftize us ' therewith: if so be we {in against ' him; as I have already shewed:; "for although Gods bowels' turn within hini, even white he is rearing his people; yet if we 11n;ihe _ o th

Of the Feay-of God. To lay on the rod so hard; as: to make:bs cty, | Wo to ws that we have bnned (Lam; 5.16.) and therefore, as I said, wg should ®; afraid. of his judgments, yet only as afore is. provided -as.of the rod, wrathiand jadgnieat of a Father.

Quest; Bur have. you yet aty other conso-. derations tomove us to, FEAR God with childlike FEAR?

Avnsw. I will in thisplace give you five.

I. Conlider that-iGdd -thinks:;\meet -to haveit s0d;and he is wiserijn heart rhanithouz he ''knows! best how to. secure his, people from 60; .and to that: 'end hath giver them Law and' Commandments to read, that-they may learme0 fear h12as4 Father; ;?ob IT 24: Eccl. 3! 14. Dent. 17, b, 19. |

2. Colisider, he is mighty in Power; if he touch is bur. with a fatherly touch, .man nor Angel cannot bear ir; yea Christ makes use of that argument, he;haxt> power 19 cast-into; hell, ;feari him, Lnke 12% $:5T 4251 | 3. Consider that he jis every where, xthqu canst not be. out of his light, or presence 3 nor ont of | the reach of his-hand. + Fear ye not me saith the Lord? can any hide him{el if in secret, places that I should not see bim, saith the LAs ao not I fill Heaven and Earth

4. Conbyer that-he.is holy, and camnor { \.U' 3 - look

Uf the Fear of. God. .. look with liking -upon the fins of his own

ople. Therefore saies Perer, Be as obedjent children, not fashionting yoar selves. according to your former lusts in your ignorance, but as he that hath called yow is holy, fo be. ye holy:n all manner of conversation, because it is writte:, be ye holy, for I am holy, ' And af ye call on the Father who without respett of persous, judgeth according to every mans work, pass the' time of your sojourning here infear. * F. Consider that-he is good; and. has been good tothee, good in that he hath! singled thee out' from others, and saved: thee' from'their death and bell, though thou perhaps was worse in thy:life than those that he left when he haid hold on thee.. O this should engage thy heart to fear the Lord all che daies of thy life: They shall fear the Lord, and his goodrass' in the latter daies, Hof. 3.5. og

And now for the presery,] have done with that fear, | mean as to its first warkings, to wit, to-put mein fear of damnartich, and shall come in the next' place to'rrear of the grace of fear, more immediately intended in the text, | GUY

| Of the grace of far, more immediately intended un the text- |

I shall now speak'to this fear, which I call a lasting godly fear, | First,

Of the + . Fear of. God.

' First, $y, way of Explioation, by which-l

shall shew, ++;

1. How, by the Scriprure it is afiwibeth. Micah 4:4 foal Jhew you ins this | fer fexs

rom.

1,3 Abd then T spall also sor - 5 what Jab

- For the first of these, to parks how by the

Scripenre this ftar 4s described, ane ay. 10f

[First, More generally. ' 13050m9

1; Ir is.citlled'a grace, chat js. sweet

given tothe ele. by. 'Hence. the. Apolite

laies, let us have grace whereby 1we may. serve

Gada acceprdbly nord reverouce wand Godly fear ,

(Heb.12;)>for:'as- that fear;thav brings, $owdage, *\ wrought in the sauk, by the spirit,

a'sear;that we have while” werare in ith& li.

+berty of sonsy is:wrought by himras he mat

. nifetterht £0 as16Ur liberty; where hoispiy ir” of

the. Lord is, thers'is liberty; "'that- is; where

_ h&iis as'a Spirit! of/advprion,/serring theisoul

' free from that bondage under. whick! it wab

held/by the:fame'spirir white he wrought'as

a-spirit:of bondage. Hence as he'is-called a

spiric. working bondage to feat, fo' he,” as

che IRIS: of the Son, and: of adoption; is

leitles, The Spain of r 4 fearwfirfs Loyd; \'I/a, 11, 2. Because it is that Spirit ofgrace thir Is the aurhor, \animarer 'ant tmaintainer of wine, filial fear. oviof rhar seurithac is son. -like, TH | Waics as a Father. not asthnbachiet iis ungodly; isj\ nor yer 2 that may be, which is wrooghx byithe ri - Tit, as a spirit of byndage3ibpoby way of emin ener, to Wir; as/a'dgpentdcian ofirhe s&2Grfthel;. and 5abalfruir of eter- - ——vin £1:lpnr 21F ER 4 in old 7 Htures, ext loy fol! not: lidpats fun: ne; 08; | Fwrt,- for: iois10ne\ of (sh:52chuite Jewels) Jr | -# And nie2Tmey will go wndtr fach a ritle, ser: ad ztreasdre;! (o' thoyenri gfrihiei Lords "not-fonnd.inewtery; contri bras faid; all 346; Swe; forkbcertifeltburalle js more prewous'thamgo)t,gobeh mtvigifuqe about! rhiis abat is, thegreiigedtt Safafinitmdrendtbirt defiitmie:of:this goodly Lowell bir imafpire, tbe fear of the Lord Poor! yagrants, when licy co;me ftraglling ro. Eordzchouse;? may 091143 th J perhaps

Of the Fear of 04 09- "J pertiaps” obrain'saine seraps"an@' fragments, | by viy may alf5Jobrain 01d sh69es,- and some + | f | sorry'(calt-offrags, (but they! $&t-not ahy of | , th his fewels, they may nor rouch his choycelst s | -rregfure; rhar is kept for the children, and d | Those that shall be His Heirs"! We may fay | -he* fame 26 6F this blaifed-brate of fear,

f | which is called here Gods aged 'Tr is on< s | Hyibestowed aponithe elect; "the" heirs, and f

heh open excell and'go beyond alt men, in tht aeuomlr of God; Weis that which beaurifies'4 warns and; p refers Hit above I other; Hust | thou, saies 'God tocSatan, vonsidered my" ser. | ware Yobpthat thee if none like ' Bies in'all the | rafth, ' &-per fe0TH, and an wprif "4m, one thigh | searerh'God, or," eget evil "fob 8 hap! auld, alc T |

Mtn it; THI 3e Hoe libs val ' none Tike hirts iv ll the earthe>l fog pose” hE Heats en rhoringhos@parts} or Lise he was the- man thatzabonndediiithe fear of rhe Nord; none | bkethim roofear, the Lord, He only: ) exceMed others with +6fpeZt' to hisireverencing of God, bowing before him, andfihtetely complying wich his will, and therefore*is coun> ted'the excellentimian, '- *Tis'not the know. 36113 Tedg

To — Of The Feat of Gol. | lege of the. je of God, +but our sinbere | Spins. therewith, that proveth we fejr ordy and. it is' our so doing that putteth xk us the) note of excelling;hereby appears our perfection, berein js manifest our uprightness.. A perfect; and an uprighr man is:.ote that feareth, Dog, and that because he- el chewerh evil, | Therefore,;this grace of fra is that hh! out which no! part or piece - of seryice which we do to God, can be accepted of bim;'-Ic Is, as I may call it, The salt + pe Covenant, which 1ea{onethr the *hears,:.and therefore must. not... be. lacking there; \yc is:also that

which falreth,, jor. seasonerh al our doings, *

and: therefore. must not; le-lacking) 1 i; ADY: of them, Levi.2.:13:: For, 1+ ©:

Y 1 take. this. grace, af-fear, tq be that which /o frenethand mellifiech the heart,” and that makes. It {tapd un LVF ha of the \mercies and Judgments of God. This js:thar that-rejtginggl.inabe. heart duc dread, and revereggesnf the; heavenly majesty rhat

ks meet, shauldibe, both jn; :avd keptiin;the -

heart. of, poor: sinners. i Wherefore! when David desgribed! THIS, fadr,1.jfttbe exctcise -of ity; he.cells-ifian AWE, df God, Sravd in AWE, faith hep and $11 notzi atid again; grind heart ftangeth9:AWE, of thy Word;and again;

Att, all the tiarth FE AR i\the Lord; whhts'

Of the Fear ef 67, 3s Pa Y that? or how is that? why? Ler all 2he inlbahis = tants of, the, world ftand in” AWE f him, Pal. N 4, Pal. 119, 161. Psal.33. 8 rs * His is, that.therefore, ' that j j0, as Liaid:. t | before, so excellenc-a'thing in the eyes: of e [ God, ro wit, a grace. of the fpirit, | the fear: & fof God, his creasure, the salt of the cove-- nant, that which makes men excel all others: - | for it-is-.that - which makerth -the-sinner-to 2 | stand in AWE of God; which posture is/the k

most.comely thing in us, On al} ages, But, | Secondly, and mote particularly...

I, This grace js called;'. The beginning of | knowledge, ! Proverbs 1:7: because by the -first gracious discovery of God to the foul,: this grace | is-begor; "and, again because che first rime-that the soul doth apprehend Gad.in Christ to be good unto. it, this grace.is animared, :by which the foul 1s:puc into an holy AWE ofGod,which:;canfeth it. with reverence” and-due attention to hearken. to him,

#- and cremble. before lim; 1t. 15 also. by verrue 'of this fear that the soul doth enquire yer more after "the: blesled knowledge of God:This is the more evident;because;where this fear'of God is wanting, or where the discovery of God,:\is- not actended with it,

the hearc ftill abide; rebellious, obstinate, : and anwilling to! knotv more, that it might

&) comply

92) the Pear of God." comply therewith: *nay; for wanr ofitz such sages fay rather; As for God, ler him depart from us, and for the Almighty) we defire nbt the knowledve of A1S waies.

thetandinortelfchen, a man begins, 'to: be rraly! spiticually witty ewhat wisdom is there where''the fear of 'Gud is not'? ': Therefore the fools are described thus; For rhat: they batea knovledg, ' and. Hidinor bust rhefrar of the Lord, Proverbs 1:29. The word of God is the fountaih of knowjets;'inro which'aman wilh:not with godly reverence: Jook] until te'is xndoed withd tlie fear of the 'Lord:s

Therefore ir is righdy called rhe. beginning of Wifu:m But fouls pie wisdom; and instru + Srobp Proverbs 1:7, rherefore' this: fear of theord that mukesia-man wise fot his foul, fur bite, and for: motherwortd.: [Tis ithis that rexcherth him how hechonld: dovra Efcepe 'thofe ofpwitual and eternal ruins) thaz_ the foot! is: avertuakeh with, -and {wallowed: up cf forever! A mabwoid'of this: fear of God whereever: he ipwite,ormwhat ever;he ex-+ cels;verabourithermarrers:of his {suul, there rs nonemore faolitfhthanbkimsett;forthrough the wam 'of the fear of-the Lord,, he: leaves the heit'things at fixes; andferens; and only

AIG Y with. a]! . hsheart. those thag will

Jeavc

-

Of the Fearrof God.” 93 leavehimin the snarewhen he dies. - TINS |

3: This fear of the, Lord, 1s to'bate evil. To hate-sfin, and vanity; fin and 'vanity. they are The {meet morsels of 4he FOOL, (706 209, 12.) and such which the:carnal apperire of the flesh runs after ; and-it is only the yerfue thats in the fear. of the Lord, that!maketh the sinner have an antipathy against if. By the fear of the Lord. men depart from evil, Sas 16. 6. That js, men shun, separate themselves from, and' eschew ir. in ItSappearances. Wherefore it is plain that those that love evil, are nat pollc fled. with the tear of God.

There is a generation that will =" evil,that wilt cake it in,nourish it, lay it up in their hearts, hide it, and plead for it, and rejoyce to do it: These cannot have ia them the fear of the Lord, for that is to hare ir, and ro mike men depart from it; where the fear of God, and fin is, it will be wich the soul, as it was with 1sra:zl, when Amri and Tibn;, (trove ro reign among them both ar once, one of tnem must be pur to death, they cannor live together: fin must down, for the fear of the Lord begetreth--in the soul a-hatred against ic, an abhorrence of ir, therefore fin, must die, that-is, as to.the. affetions and-lusts;of it; for as Solopzon, saies -1n another; case,' where no- wood! 35, the: fire

goeth

94 Of the Fear of God." oeth our. $0 we may say, where there'is a hatred of fin, -and 'where men depart from it, there it Joseth much of its power, wax + eth feeble, and decayerth: Therefore Solomonfaith again, Fear the Lord, and depart from evil, Prov. 3. 7. as who should sav, fear the Lord, and it will follow, thar you shall depart from evil: departing from evil, :is a natural consequence, a proper effect of the fear of the Lord where ir is.

By the fear of 'the Lord' men depart from evil, that is, in their Judgment, will, mind, and affeCtions: nor, that by the fear of the Lord, sis is annihilated, or has lost its being in the soul, chere still will those Canaanites be, but they are hated, lothed, abominated, fought against, prayed against, watchr against, strove against, and mortified, by the lou], Rom. 5.

4. This fear js called a foant ain of life. The fear of the Lord its a fountaim of lije, to depart from the snares of death,Proverbs 14:25.

Ir is # fountain, of spring, which fo continually supplierh 'the sou] with variety of

considerations of fin, of God; of death, and

Tife etefnal, as ro keep the soul in continual exercise of yertue, and in holy contemplation. Je 55a fountain of life, every oppera- -. | tion thereof, every act and exercise thereof

hath a true, and natura! tendency to spiritual and

Of the Fear of God. 95 - and eternal felicity. Wherefore the wise man faith in another place,the sear of the Lord teuz aeth to life, and be that hath it sball abide fatisfied, be sball not be visited with evil, Prov, 19.23. It rendeth to life even as of nature; every thing hath a rendercy ro that which is most natural to it self, the fire ro burn, the water to wet, the stone to fall, the sun ro shine, fin to defile 6&c. Thus I fay; the fear of the Lord tenderh'ro life; the nature of it is to pur the soul upon fearing of God, of closing with Chrift,and of walking aumbly before him.

It is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Whar are the snares/ of death, bur fin, the wiles of the Devil &c. - From which the fear of God hath awatural rendence to deliver thee, and ro keep thee in the way that rendeth to life,

5. This fear of the Lord, it is called, The inftruttion of Wisdom, Prov. 15,33. You heard before that it is the beg:nning of wildom: but here you find it called os inftu2 #ion of wisdom : for indeed it is, | not only thar which makes a man begin to be wise; burt'ro improve, and make advantage of all those helps and means to life; which God

{ hath afforded ro that end. Thar is, both ro

his own, and his neighbours salvation also; It is the iostrattion of wildem,] ic will make2 | man

96 * 40f the Pear of Gotl. man eapable to-vse all his} natural parts,'all his natural wisdom'ro Gods, glory, and (his own good. + There licth, even in many'na tural things, THAT, into which if we were [6 instructed, would yield us a great dealt of Ja help to he understanding of spiritual 'mat- If ters; For 'im wisdom has God made all the | World; nor is there any thing that God has made;wherher in Heaven above, or on Earth: beneath, but: there is couched some spirituat mystery'in ir., The which men matter | ti more, than they: do the ground they tread on, or than the stones that are under their. I feet, and all because they have not ch:s fear Ig, of the Lordy! for had they that, thar would | 6G teach them 10:think, even from that know-. [th, kdg. of God, 'thar hath by the fear of him Jai put into their hearts, that he beirg so great, JT and sv good,” there must needs be abun=. I rc dance of :wisdom in the rhmngs he ' hath made :. that fear would also indeavour to If find out what that wifdom is, yea and 'give. | {e to the soul the instruction of it. 7 -: In that itis called the inftrattion of, wif. [i dom, it inrimates' to us hag. its rendency'is. | w to keep all even, and. in;goog, order in, the; |= foul. When+ Nob percesved thas his friends

did not deal with hijm in dn even spirit: and: I G orderly mater, he said, that they forfouty the: | fe fear of the Amigo G, 14. For, this far.

ke eps

Of the Fear of God. "07 keeps a man; eve, ''in his words and Judg-: ment of things! It may be compared to the ballace of the Ship, and to the you of the ballance of the:Soales, it keeps. all even, and also makes us steer our course right with respeCt-ro the things that pertain to God and

man, What this fear of God flow: from.

I come now to the second thing, to wit, to shew you what this sear of God flows from.

First, This fear, this grace of fear, this: sondike fear of God, Ir flows from the distinguishing love of God to his elett, [ will be their God, faith he, aud I will put my sear in their hearts. None other: obtain it but those that: are inclosed and'\bound up in that bundle. Therefore they, in the same place are faid to be those that are wraprt up in the eternaTH or everlasting; covenant of God, and so designed ro be the: people that should be bles(- sed with this fear.” 7 will make an everlasting. covenant with them, saith God, that 1 will nor rarni away from them to do them good, but I + will put my fear in. their hearts, and they shall: ' not depart fram me, fer.32.40..

This covenant +declares wnto.men, thar God hath, in his heart, distinguishing love for some of the children of men, for he saith, he will be their God, that he will not leave

rhem,

o% Of "the Fear." of God. then; nor. 6 suffer thein to. depart, to Wit; findily from-him. Into these mens hearts. he doth ipur' bis -fear,: this blested grace; : and this:rare;and eftectual sign of bis love, and ol}. theireternal falyation, ::: |

2. This fear; flows fronm-a wew heart. This bs fear is not in men by nature; the fear of " Devils .they may have, as: also - an ungodly fear of God ; but this fear 18 not in any, but G where there dwelleth a few heart, another | - froic and effect of this everlasting covenant; ] and 'of this distinguishing love of God, -: An new heart.'also will I grve them, a new Z heart,.\\what\a one is that 5 ' why? the same Rrophert 4aith 4n- another place, A heart to fear me, dicircumcised one! a fsanttified one, ” feriga. 1918zeki1T. 19.:Cbap.36.26. | - p

- b: So-then,umtil;a man receive an heart fram God; 'an-heart [from Heaven; /k new'heart:; he hasinor , bbis fear of God in-him. \New, wine! muft[nor[be put into 01d:{ bottles, lest the one, to wit, the battles:mar the wine, or che \wine the, bottles, but new wine ..mulh, Bave new-bortles,and then both shall be. preserved, Marth, 9; 17. - ;

This fear of God must nat be, cannot. be: found jn-oltl hearts, : old hearts are nor. (botdes our'of) which this fear of God praceeds; bur *tis-fromi,an; honest and good heart, fram a ew hon! .from. fuch an ohe that: is / also! an

| T cttect

he effe&t of the everlastiog corenanl, and love od of God.to. men. {). , I will give them an heart to fear me, Af chere must in all \actions:be hcarr, and withyie | Our #tart no! aftibni is'good, nor canthere be faith, love:or- fear, ''from every kind of hy heart; these must ' flow from s#ch an one, Y | whose nature is t6-produce, and bring forth - such fruit; Do men gather Grapes of thorns, or of Figs\ of rhistles! fo'ifrom a corrupt: heart 2 $ there cannor: proceed! {uch fruit;as the fear w.th 2f Godav'to believe in God, .and: Ry God, Lake: 6.43, '" - The Se is Is deceitful ha all 9 | things and.desperately: wicked, how then should-ttere flow-from such an one, the fear © | of Goa?iit cannot be.: :He therefore rhat hack MN} nor received/at the hands of WH cannot fear the Logd:'! 2 2 p 32. Thys: fear of God, it flows: Goa aft impression, a sourid) impression that the word.of 'God:maketh- on! Qur souls; for: 'Withour an itnpre of the word; there ''is -no' fear of God. Hence it is said that God gaveito: Israel - good'r{aws, statutes and judgements, that -they: might learn' chem, - and in-+ learning. | chem; Jearn” ro fear the Lord their God. Therefote: faich God in another place, :Garher the Peopte'rogether, men, women and'obilares, and P stranger that is within thy Laker, that H 2 they

100 Of the Fear of God. they may hear, and that they may learn to fear ” Lord your God, Dear. 6. 1, 2, ' Cp, 31. For! as: man drinketh' goitd dodtrine i to us sbo}1ohbe fearerte God. If he:drinks it in mich, he? seareth him greatly; if he drinkerh Jt'in but-little, he feareth him but Tictle ;- if he drmkech it not in arali; he fearerh him Not at all; - |

. This therefore cendbeth us how. to. judge who-ftnreth the: Lord!;- rhey-are-those thar.leark aud! that stand in: awe of the 'word:those

that have by the holy word of God the've-|

ry form: of. ir self engraven upon'the face of their fouls, they fear God, Rom, 6.:17; But on theiconrrary,those thar'do not lbve'good doftrine; that. give not. place to the wholfomitrarhs.of the God: of Heaven-.revealed in his testament, to take place in their souls, burrxarher-delfpise it; and the true. professors of-\it>ithey'! fear.: not:Gad. For as [faid betors; this:ifear of Cod,it flows from \a:found 1mprefsion that the word'of God moketh upon thesoul;and therefore

14. This'godly fear; ir loweth-from-faich,

for. where the: word maketh sound; impresfion/oni tlie foul, by that impression, js: fairh 'begorten,: whence: also rhis' feardoth- flow. Thetefore:..right hearing. of the.+- word, is caljed the bearing _ Galla, 3, verse 2, Hence

Hence{it is said again; By faith. Noah

VUa,-

being - warned of God. of things nat seen as yet; maved with sear, prepared' an Ark; to: thesaving of

| his house, by the which he condemmed the world,

and became heir of the righteousness which is by farth," (Heb, 11.7.) The word, the warning that he had from.Gdd of things not seen as yet, 'wrought, through faith therein, that fear of God in his heart that made him prepare against unseen dangers, and: that he might be an inheritour of unseen happiness. Where, therefore, there is not faith in

| the word of God, there can be none of this

fear; and where' the word doth not make sound impression on the sou], there can be none of this sa:th.So that as vices hang together,& have the links of a chain, dependance one upon another, even so the graces of the spirit also, are the fruits of one another, and have such dependance on each other, that the one cannot be without the other.

No faith, no fear of God : Devils faith, Devils fear, Saints faith, Saints fear,

5. This godly fear, it also floweth from sound repentance for and from sin, godly forrow worketh repentance,6r godly repentance produceth this fear, For behold, saies Pal, This self same thing, that ye sorroned after 4 godly'sort, what carefulness it wrought in yon, what clearing of your selves, yea what indigna= 3 11%

108, yea what fear, 2 Cor. 4. 10, IT. !. Repeat tance. is the effe&t of sorrow, and forrow js the effe@ of smarr,- and smart the effet of faith : now--therefore fear:' must needs be an effect of; and flow from repentance. - Sinner, : do--nor deceive” thy (elf, - If thou art '® ftranger "to sound repentance, which ftandeth in sorrow and shame, before” 'God; for fin, as -also - in * turning from it, ''thow hast no' fear cf God, I mean none of hrs godly fear,for thar is the fruits of, and floweth from sound repentance, | + 6. This godly fear, it also flowes from a sense of the love and kindness of God to the soul. ' Where there is no sense 'or hope of the kindness, and mercy of God by Jesus Christ, there can be none of this fear, but rather wrath and despair, which produceth that fear that is either devilish, or else that which is only wrought in us by the spi- Tit, as a-spirit of bondage, (bur these we do not discourse of. now) wherefore the godly fear that. now I treat of, it floweth from some fense or hope of mercy from God by Fesus Christ. /f +hox Lord,faies David, svonldeft mark iniquity,O Lord, who should jt#1d,but there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared, Psal. 130. 3, 4. | There is mercy with thee, This the. soul has sense of an hope in, and therefore fearerh God

Of the Fear of-Go? "TY TORT God. Indeed,-nothing can lay,a frongey oTH+7 ligation upon: the heart to fear;;God, than sense of, or hope- in mercy. See: Fore} 23.8,9@cm - This. begerteth; true renderpels of hearg,} true godly softness of spirit; 'this truly en; deareth the affetions to God!; and in this:: true tenderness, softness; and indearedness) of affeftion to. God, lieth the very eflence7 of '\this fear of the Lord, as is manifest by; the fruit of this fear when we shall. come to:. speak of it, \) } 3ET.* 7.” This fear of God, flaws from-a du& consideration of the judgments of God, that: are to be executed inthe world, yea upon professors too: ;yea further, Gods -pedple themselves, mean, as to themfelyes, haves, such a consideration of his judgments to+! wards them, as to produce this godly fear. When Gods judzments are{in;the-earth,' they effect the fear. of his name,in the hearts

| of his own people, Hy flesh trembletb. for fear"

of thee, and I am, said David, afraid of thy' judgments, Psal.119.120. When God smote Uxrta, David was afraid of God that day, Chron, 13. 12. Indeed many regard nor the: works of the Lord, :nor take notice of the opperation of his. hands, and such cannot: fear the Lord: - Bur. others observe! and regard, ' and wisely consider of his dos ings, and of the judgments that he 'execn=

T4 Of the Fear of God. teth, gnd that 'makes them fear. the Lord,

This God'himself suggesteth as a means to! make us fear him. Hence he commands thefalse Prophet to be stoned: ' That all: Israel might hear, and fear, Hence also he commanded that the rebellious- Son should be Roned: That all Israel might -hear and sear. False Witness was also to' have the same judgment of God execated upon him: That all Israel might htar and fear. The man also that did ought presumptuously was to die: That all Israel might hear and fear, Dear. T3. 11. Chap: 21: 21. Chap. 17, 13. Chap. 19. 20.

There is a natural tendency. in judgments, . as- Judgments to beget a fear of God in the heart of man as man: but when the observation of the judgments of God, is made by him that-harh a principle of true grace in his soul, that. observation being made, I say, by a gracious heart,produceth a fear of God in the soul, of its own nature, to wit, a gracious or godly fear of God. |8.This godly fear it also flows from a godly remembrance of our former distresfses, when we were distrefled with our first fears; for though our first fears were begotten in us by the spirits working as a spirit of bondage, and so are not alwaies to be entertained as such, yet even that fear leayeth in us, and vpon | our

bed -

Of the Fear of God. te vis our spirits, ihat sense and relish of oor first awakenings and dread,as alfo occahhoneth, and

produceth this godly fear. Tzke heed, faies

God, and kzep' thy soul deligently, less thou

forger the things that thine eyes have seen, and

lest they depart from thy heart all the daies of thy life, bat teach them thy Sons,and thy Sons Sons, But what was the things that their eyes had seen, that would so damnify them, should they be forgotten? The answer is, The things which they saw at Horeb; to wir, the Fire,the Smoke, the Darkness, the Earthquake, their first awakenings by the Law, by which they were brought into a bondage fear; yea they was to remember this especially. Especially, saith he, the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord thy God said unto thee, gather me' the people regether, and 1 will make them bear my Woras, that they may l:arn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the Earth, Dt. 49,10, 11. The remembrance of what we saw, felt, feared and trembled under the sense of, when our first fears were upon vs, is that which will produce in our hearts this godly filial fear.

9. This godly fear, it flows from our receiving of an answer of prayer, when we supplicated for mercy 'at the hand of God. See the proof for this, If rbere be in the Land

famine

To Df the Fear of God.

famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew bocust,; or if there be Catterpillars; if their Ene= wwies besrege them in the Land of their Cities,

whatsoever plague, whatsoever © sickness there be: What prayer and supplication soever be made, by any man, or by all thy people Isracl,

which shall know every man the plague of his.

own heart, and spread forth his hands towards this house: Then hear thou in' Heaven thy awelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his waies, whose heart thou knoweft (for thou. even thou only, knowest the bearts of all the Children of men,) that they may fear thee all the dzies (of their' life,) that they live in the Land which thou gavest unto our Fathers, 1 King. 8. 37, 38, * 39, 40.

10, This grace of fear also flows from a blessed conviction of the alseeing eye of God. That 1s,from a belief that he certainly knoweth the heart, and feeth every one of the turnings and returnings thereof; this is intimated in the text last mentioned. Whose heart thou knowest; That they may fear thee, To wit, fo many of them as be, or shall be convinced of this. Indeed without this conviction this godly fear cannot be in us; .the want of this conviction made the Pharisees such hypocrites. Yox are they, said Christ, that justifie your selves before men, but God

know-

Of the Fear of God. Toy

knoweth yuur hearts, (Luk. 16. 15.) The Phas risces, I say, were not aware” of this, therefore they so much preferred themselves before those, that by far, were better than themselves, and it is for want of this conviction that men go on in such secret fins as they do, so much without fear either of God or his judgments.

11. This grace of fear also flows from a sense of the impartial judgment of God upon men according to their works. . This also js manifest from the Text mentioned above. And give unto every man according to his works or waies, that they may fear thee, &c. This is also manifest by that of Perer, x Per. I. I7.. And if ye call npon the Father, who without respett of persons, Juageth according to every mans yok afs'the time of yoar so- Journing here in fegr. He "that hath godly conviction of this,will fear of God ,will fear before him: by which fear cheir hearts are poised; and works directed with trembling, according ro the will of God.

Thus you see what a.weighty, and great grace this grace of the holy fear of God is, & how all rhe graces of the Holy Ghost yield mutually their help and strengrh-ro the nourishment and life of it; and alfo how it flows

from them all,and hath a dependance upon every of them for itsdue w orking in the heart of

106 ' Of the Fear of God.

of him that bath ir. And thus much to shew you from whence it flows, And now [ shall come to the third thing, to wit, to fhew you what flows from this godly fear.

What flows from this godly sear.

Having shewed you what godly fear flows from.

L come now [I say to shew you, what proceedeth or flows from this godly fear of God, where it is seated in the heart of man. And, | . First, There flows from 7h:s godly fear, a godly reverence of God, He 1s great, said David, and greatly to be feared, in the afsembly of his Saints, God as I have already shewed you, is the proper object of godly fear, it is his Person and Majesly that this fear al - waics causeth the eye of the soul tobe upon. Behold, said David, as the eyes of Servants look unto the hand of their Masters, and as the eyes of a Maiden unto the hand of her Mistress: sa our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon as, Psal. 122. verse 2. |

Norhing awerh the soul that feareth God, so' much as doth the glorious Majelty of

God. 1. His person is above all things feared

all

Of the Fear of God. 109

by them, 7 sear God, said Zoseph, Gen. q2. 18- That is, more than any other; I stand in awe of him, he is my dread, he is my fear, I do all: mine aftions as in his presence, as in his sight, I reverence his holy and glorious Mazesty, doing all tliings as with fear and trembling befare him.

2, This fear makes them have also a very great reverence of his word ; for that also, I told you, was the rule of their fear, Prixces, said David, persecute me without & cause, but my heart staudeth in; AWE (in fear) of thy word. | |

This grace of fear therefore,from it flows reverence of the words of God; | of all laws, that man feareth the Word; and no law that is not agreeing therewith, Psal. 119. 116....,

3. There flows from this godly fear, tenderness of Gods glory. This fear I fay will cause a'man to atliict his soul, when he seeth, that by. professors, dishanour is brought rp the name of God, and to his word, . Who would not fear thee, said Servins, O King of Nations, for to thee doth it appertain. He speaks it as being affefted with that dishonoar,thax;by the body of the Fews was continually brought to his name, his word, and waies;he also speaks irof a hearty wish that they once would be qtherwise minded. The same saving in effect, | hath also oh in the

Reve-

Tt Of the Fear of God. Revilations, O who would not sear thee Lord, 1aid he, and glorify thy name? Revel. 15. dearly: concluding-that godly fear produceth a'godly tenderness of Gods 'glory in the work, for that apperrainerh unto'him.: that is, /It is due unto him, *tis a debt"which we owe unto him. Give xnto the'Lord, faid David, the glory due ' wnto' his' Name; ' Now if there be begotten if the hearr of the godly, by this grace of fear,' a godly tenderness of tbe-gloty of God, then it follows of conse- _ quenE&{that where they that have this - fear; of Gad, do see his glory diminished by the 3 wickceUriess of the children of men; there | chey xre'prieved; and"deeply distressed. R;- | Wwers' of: waters, faid" David, ran down mite

ejes, lGecanse rhey heep rot thy Law, Psal. 119. FT 6,'Ler me give yo for this chefe follow- Ing instances. | 3; How was David orovoked when Gow I Te defied the God of 7srael, 1 Sapp.” 17.23, | 29/45:46

| fro Also when others reproached God, he

| "rs us that that' reproach was even as Sword 5 in his bones, Pal. 4 2. :1v6, © 1 | 3. How was Heerktub Tea when a Rab Seaks raised upon his God, 1/a.'37. 10,1. David allo for the love. that: he had to the glory of Gods word, ran'the& hazzard and'rEproach of all the mighty wry _ 119;151, Psal, 89. 50,

Of. the Fear of God.

5. How tender of the glory of God: was 6, Danicl, and the three Children 1n; their

day.

'xX, Ely died with fear and trending? heart when. he heard ' that the Ark of God

2 Daniel [ran the. danger of the Lions

mouths for the tender love that he hadto

the word-'and worship 'of God, Dan... 6, 19, 16,

3.. The three children ran the |hazzard of a burning fiery Furnace rather than: they would'dare to dishonour the way of their God, Dan.3.13, 16, 20.

-.>This therefore is one of the: fruits of this 20dly fear, to-wit, a reverence of his Name, and tenderness of his glory.

+:Sccondly,. There flows from this godbp fear, watchfulness: As it is said: of Solonmeny Servants, they watched abont. his bed because of fear in the night: So it may. be said of then that bave this godly fear: Ir makes theth a _—_— people. |

.\.It makes them watch their hearts; ai wc heed to keep them with all diligence test they should, by one, or another ofiirs fleightrs, lead them ro do that which in it _e iewicked, Proverbs 4:23. Heb.12, 15.

1124). It makes them watch, ' lest some temps tation. from Hell should enter into their heare to

| — Df the Fear of God.

ro; the bn of them,” x Pet. 5. 8, 7.3, It makcs them watch their mouths,and keep them also, ar sometimes, as with':a | bitr and ''bridte, that they offend not with their tongue know mg/that: the rongue is apr, being an eyil member, soon: to catch: the fire of hell, ro the defiling of the whole body, Zem.3. 2, 3, 43 5,6, 7. . It makes them watch over their ways, Jook well to their goings, and to make strait steps for their feet, Psal. 39. 1. Hebrews 12:13. ' | | Thus this godly fear puts che soul upon its watch,lest from the heart within, or from' the Devit without, or from the world, or fome other. rempration, sumething should surprize, and overtake the child of God to defile him, or to cause him to. defile the waics of God; and so offend the Saints, open che mouths of. men, and cause the enemy to k reproachsully of. religion.

Thirdly, There flows from this FEAR, a holy provocation to a reverential converse withSzints ic:their religious and godly afsemblies, fur their further progress in the faith and way of holineis, They rheey that feared the Lord ispzk* eften one to another, Spake, that 18 of God,avd he:tholy and glorious name, kings doman! works,for their mutual edification.

4 book of remembrance was written besore y ar

Of the Fear of

thought upon his name, Mat, 3. 16.

The fear of the Lord in the heart,provo - keth'ro this in all its acts, not only of neceffirv, bat of nature; Ir is the natural ef fe@t of this g-dly sear, to exercise the Church in the contemplation of God, together, and apart, All fear, good and bad, hath a _netural propenscnes in it. ro incline

of fear, and though a man should labour £6 take off his thoughts from the object of his fear; whether that obje@t was Men, Hell, Devils, &c, yer do what he could, rhe next time his fear had anv aCt in it; i would re+ furn again to irs object,

And fo it is with godly fear, that will make a make a man speak of, and think vp+ on the name of God rev crentially Ffal 89:7; Yes and -xerc se him{elf in the holy thoughts

Tof bm in sach fort that his soul shall | be

fantihed, and feafoned with fuch Meditations.

Indeed holy thoughts of God, such, as you - see this fear doth exercise the heare withal, prepare rhe heart ro, and for God: This sear therefore it is that David prayed for, for the people, when he said, O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our Fas thers, keep this for ever in the imagination

for them that feared the yi em and that

the heart to' contemplate apon the object

'TI4 UF Fe Fear of God. of the thoughts of the heart of thy people and

epare their heart unto thee, 1 Chron,29. 18'

Fourthly, There flows from th:s Fear of

God, great reverence of his Majesty, in and under the use and enjoyment of God's holy Ordinances. - His Ordinances are his Courts, and Palaces, his Walks and Places where he giveth his presence to those that wait upon him in them, -in the fear of his name. And this is the meaning of that of the Apostle.

Then had the Churches vest, throughout all'

7udah, and Galilee, and Samaria and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort ike Holy Ghost, were multiplied, Aft. 9. 31.

And walking] that word, intendeth their use of the ordinances of God. They walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless. ] This in Old Testament Language is called, treading Gods Courts, and walking in his Paths. This faith the Text, they did here, :z the fear of God. That is in a great reverence of that God whose Ordinances they were. You shall keep wy Sabbaths, and reverence my Santtuary 1 am the Lord, Levit. 19. 30, Chap. 26. 2.

Ir is one thing to be conversant in Gods

ordinances, and another to be conversant in

. them, with 4 due reverence of the Majesty, and name of that God whose Ordi- | nances

Of the Fear of God. 11 5 nances they are: it is common for men to do the first, but none cari do the last withost this

sear. In thy fear. said David, will I worship,

Psal. 5.7. It is this fear of God, therefore from whence doth flow that great reverence that his Saints have ir them, of his Majesty, in, and under the use and injoyment of Gods holy ordinances: and consequently, that makes our service in the performance of them acceptable to God through Christ. Hes, 12. last.

For God expects tliat we serve him with fear and trembling, and it is odious among men, for a man in the presence, or about the service of his Prince, to behave himself lightly, and without due reverence of

. that Majesty, in whose presence, and about

whose bufiness lie is: And if so, how can their service to God have any thing like acceptation from the hand of God, that is done, not_ in, but without the fear of God 2? this service must needs be an abomination to him, 'and these servers must come off with rebuke. ' |

Fifthly. There flows from this godly

| fear of God, Selfdenial, That is an holy abstaining from those things that are cither unlawfuf, or inexpedient; According to thar of Nehemiah. The former governonrs that had bten before me, were chargeable unto the peo-

116 Of the Fear of Godl. ple, and. had, taken of them. Bread arid Wine, besraes.forty Shthels of, Sitver, yea tven [their Servants '\bexr rule gvet the peeple © but" so did not 1, becanse of the feat, of God, N che, 5.15, Here now was Seljdeneat;; be would |not- £ as they/ did rhar went before him neither himself, nor should ;hig ;$eryants; but what what was it 1het pyt thim upon these atsi of Ssl/-deniati?': The divers; The fear of God, : But so. 41d Yet 1, betatfe' df the'ftar of Gody;,

Now whether by the fear of Ged, in "his place,:b4 qpeert his word, or rhe;grace of fear in, his heart, may. perhaps be a;Scruple ro sume,, but 1n my Judgment the:.next must have rejpect; to the, }#gter,! ro wit; ,to; the grace pt tar, for without that be! jndeed'in the heatt,; the word will not produce that £64, fel fdenial;;imvs, that here:;you, find this gupdnmun -to; Jive in the daily; exercise of. boD 3y boi 21: L

The; fear;pf God therefore, that. was, the cause. ah: this Sch-den:mhs *Wus this £race of fear infys hgrt.,, This, made him tobe, as was said beto:e,terder of the honour of-God, and of the Selvation of his brother::;yea so'tender.:that rather then he wonlg; give an. occasion; to. the weak to stumble, or [be offended; he would even deny. himie]f of that, which others never fi;tked todo. "Paw also chrovgh-'the sarctisying operations Ho this

Of the Fear of God.

this, fear of God in his heart, did thay himse}f even of Lawful things, for the profit and Commodity of his Brother. Z will not eat flesh while the World st anaeth, leaft I make wy Brother to offend, That is, if his' eating of jt would make his Brother to' offend, I Cor,8. 13. |

Men thar have not this fecr of God in them,- will not, cannot deny themlelves, (of love to God, and the good of the weak, who are sabje&t ro stumble at indifferenr things) -but where this grace of fear is, there follows Selfd:nial-; there men are tender of offending; and count, - that. jt far berter. becoms their profession to-be of a Self denying, conde(ending conversation," and temper, them to stand sturdily to their own liberty in things inexpedient who even 1s ofttended rherear.

This grace of fear therefore is a yery excellent thing, because ir yieldeth such excellens fruit as this, For this Self-deniat,, of how liccle esteem soeyer. it be with some, vert the: want of it, (if the words of Christ be true, as they are) takes quite away from even a profellor, rhe very name of a disciple. Mat. Io. 37, 38, Luke, 14. ver, 26, 2.7..33-

They, saies Neh:riah, Lorded jt over the Breeren. bat so did. nor 1, They took Bread I 3 and

Of the Fear of God. and Wine, and forty Shekles of Silver of them, but so did not I. yea even their Seryants bare rule over the people, but so did nor 1 bec ause of the fear 'of God.

Sixthly, There flows from th:s godly fear

of God, singleness of neart, Col. 3, +2. Sin-}

. glcness of heart both to Gud and man; fnglenes of heart; that is it which in an other place is called, sincerity, and godly simplicity, and it is this, when a man doth a thing simply

for the sakes of him or of the Law, that com- *

done by us simply, or alone for Gods sake, . for his words sake without any regard to this

or that by-end or reserve,not with eye service, as men pleasers, but with singleness of heart, fearing God. | | |

A man is more subject to nothing, then to swerve from singleness of heart in his ser-' vice to God, and obedience to his Will. ' How doth the Lord charge the Children of /fracl, and all their obedience, and that for seventy years together, with the want - of lingleness of heart rowards him, when ye.Jasted; ard mourned in the fift and seventh month, even those seventy years, dia ye' at all fast tome, even to.me. _ And when ye dideat, and when ye did drink, did you not eat for "wma your

4. *ng, and in their drinking, F hearts in ers arts did, They did not as

Of the Fear of God. your selves, and drink, for your selves, Zech

7. 5, 6. | They wanted this siug/eness of heart, in their fas#;ug, 8 in their eating,in their mourn- 5 had double

the Apostle bids\, whether they eat or drink or what ever they did, do all to the glory of God. And the reason of their want of this'thing, was, they wanted this fear of Godz for that, as the Apostle here saith, effeteth singleness of heart to God, and makesa man, as fohn said of Gaizs, do farthsully what ever he doth, 3 fohn 5. And the reason is, as hath bin already urged,for that Grace of fear of God retaineth, and keepeth upon the heart a reverent, and awful sense of the Dread Mazesty, and All-seeing eye of God, also a due consideration of the day of account before him; it likewise maketh his service sweer and pleasing, and fortifies the soul against all - discouragements; by this means, I say, the soul in its service to God or. man, is not fo

- soon captivated, as where there is not this

fear, but through and by ir, its service is accepted, being sing'e, sincere, simple and faithful; when others, with what they do are cast into Hell for their hypocrisie, for

they mix not what they do with Godly .

fear, py I 4 _ Singleear of God. ''\ © _Songlenes of heart in the service of God,' is

of such absolute necessity, that withour it, as | L I have hinted, nothing can be accepted, be- of cause where that is wanting, there wanreth. | :

love to God, and to that which is true holiness in deed. Twas this fsingleness. of hearra that mide Nathaniel lo honorable in the eyes of F-s-s Christ, Behold, said he, an!srat ite ind:cd, in whom there is no Guile, fobn 1. h And twas the want of it that made himso | n much abhor the Pharisees. They wanted || a sincerity, simplicity and godly sincerity in | v their souls, and so became an abborrence in; his elteem. Now I fay (his g:\den Grace | t! F[inglenes(s of heart) ir flows from this god | V ly fear of God, 7 Sevenrhly, There flows from this 'godly f] | fear of God, . compassion and. bowels, to | ( those of the Sajnrs that are in necessity and | {1 dittress. This 1s manifeit in good. Obadrah. | 1 It is said of him That he took au hundred of the Lords Frophets and hid them by fifiy in a | Cave, and fed them with Bread and Water in | the daies when fezebel that Tyrant sought: ther lives 10 aistroy them, 1 King. 18. 3, 4+ But what was it that moved so vpon_his. heart as to cause him to do this thing? Ay + ic. was this blessed grace of the fear 9 os. |

Nov

Now Qbadieh,, saith the text, Feared the

Lo-d greatly, for lo it was, 'when Zexebel cut off the” Prophets of the Lord that Obadiab took an hundred Prophets and hid them by fisty in a Cave and fed them with Bread and Water,

+ This was charity to the distressed, even to

© the diftrefled for the Lords sake. |

Hid not Obadiah served the Lord, yea, had he not greatly feared him, he would not have been able to do this thing especially as the case then stood with him, and also with the Church at chat time; for then fez. bcl sought to slay all that indeed feared the Lord; yea, and rhe persecution -prevailed so much at thar time. that even Elijah himself rhought that she had killed all but him. Bur now, even now, the fear of God in this good mans heart, put forth it self into aC(ts of mercy though attended with so eminent danger.

Se herc therefore that the fear of God will puc forth ir self (in the hear where God hath put it) evento shew kindness, and ro. have co have comp.fston upon the distressed Servanrs. of God, even under 7ezebels Nose; for Obadiah Awe It in Ababs hose. and {C26 hel was ihbabs Wife, and an horrible perse- Cutor, as was said before: yet Obadiah will shew mercy to the poor, because he feared God, yea be will venture, her displeasure,

_- his L

322 Of the Fear of God. his place, and neck, and all, but he will -be merciful to his Brethren in distress. Cornetins also being a man possessed with this fear * of God, became a very free-hearred, and open-handed man to the poor. He feared | God, aud gave much Alms to the people, In- * deed this fear, this godly fear of God, it is an universal grace z it will stir up the soul unto all good duties. It is a fruitful grace, from ir, where it is, floweth abundance of || '< excellent virtues, nor without it can there ot be any thing good, or done well that is done- . Bur,

Eightly. There flows from #his fear of D God, hearty, fervent and constant prayer. This " also is seen in Cornelias, that devout man,

He feared God; and what then ? why, he. G

gave much Alms to the people, and prayed T

Did I say that hearty, fervent, and con- 4

' tant prayer flowed from his fear of God? }| * FE will add, that if the whole duty and the

continuation. of it, be not managed with 1

this fear of God, it profiteth nothing at all. It is faid of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, | He was heard in that he feared. He prayed then because he feared, because he feared God, and therefore was his prayer accepted of him even because he feared, He was heard in that he feared, Heb, F. 7. ES 1s

- This Godly fear is fo essential to right prayer, and right prayer issuch an insepera- 4 ble effect and fruit-of this fear, that thou must have both or none, he that prayeth not, {TH feareth not- God, yet he that praveth nor Wfervently, and frequently feareth him nor; and 'so he that feareth him not cannot pray; for if prayer be the effect of this fear of God, then withour this fear, prayer, fervent prayer ceaseth, How can they pray or make conscience of the duty that fear nor God? O prayerless man, thou fearest not God! Thou wouldest not live so like-a Swine or a Dog in the world as thou- dost if thou fearedst the Lord.

Ninthly. There floweth from 7his fear of ' God, a readiness, or willsnguess 5, at Gods Call, to give. up our best injoyments to his dispose. This is evident in Abraham, who at Gods call, without delay, rose early i in the morn- | ing to offer up his'only and well-beloved Isaac a burnt offering in the place where God should app6int him.

' It wasa rare thing that Avraham did, and had he not had this rare grace, this sear of God, he would not, he could not have done, to Gods liking, SO wonderful a thing. Tis true, the Holy Ghost ally makes this service of Abraham. to be the fruit of his fazth, By

faith Abraham offei ed up Isaac, and be that had

'

TI - "Of the Fear of God.” had thc promises offered up his only Son, (Heb, It. fam, 2 ) Ay, and withour doubr, dave anro: God, in Abraham, was not wanting in this his service, nor. Was this grace--of fear; nay, 1a the story] where it js recorded. There

it is chiefly accounted for the fruit of. big

godly fear, and that by an: Angel from

Heaven. And the Angel call:d out of Peng |;

wen, avd said Abraham, Abraham, And he faid,h-re am 1, And he said, liymot thine hand pon the Lad, neither do thou any thing wnto

b:1s, for now I know that thou fearest God see + 12 thou hast nat withheld thy San, thine only Sou from me, Gen, 22. I1, I2,

Now I know it, NOW, naw thou; hast offered up thine only 1/aac, thine All, at the bidding of thy God. Now I know ic. The fear of God is not presently dilcerned in-the heart and life of a man. Abraham had long before this, done many a holy duty, and shewed much willingness of heart to obfrve and do the Will of God; yer you find not, as I remember, thar he had this testimony from Heaven that he feared God till now; but now he has it, now he has it from Heaven. New I know that thou fear:j# God. Many duties may be done (though I do nat say that Avramam did them); with our the far of God; but when a man shall not stick ar, or withhold his..darling from God

up unto him, that declarerh, yea, and gives conviftion to Angels, that V O W be'fee+ reth God, + 1:04

Tenthly,. There flyweth: from this godly

© fear, humility of mind. This is evident, be- ' caufe, when the Apostle cautions the Ko

mans against the venom: df Spiritual Pride, he direats them to-the; exercise of this bletsed grace of tear as its antidote. Be jor high mmnded, faith he, bat frar, kom. 11,20, Pride, Spititual Pride, which. 18 here (ser forth by the' word,, high minded, Is a tin:of arvery high and damnable nature, |it was the fig of

the fallen Angels, and is that which: cauierh

men to fall into the iame condemnation; Lef being paffed 'vp with Fridegbe fall intoabe corp demnatien df the Devil. Pride, 1 say,it-danins a Profefior + with the damnation of Devils, with the damnation of Hell, and 'therefore it.is.a deadly, deadly fin. Now, against this deadly. sin, .is set the Orace of hymilicy, that comely garment, for fo the Apostle calls it saying, i$e clothed with humility. But 'the question; is-now, how we should atrain- to, and live in the-exercife of this Blefled [and comly grace? to which the Apoltle answers, FE Ak: be afraid with: godly fear. ; and thence will flow humility, Be nct high m1inaged but fear, That is fear, or bs continy- NU | ally

| God, when; called upon by God to offer is y :

726 Of the Fear of God... ally afraid and jealous of your selves, and of your own naughty hearts, also fear least at some rime or other the Devil your adversary should have advantage of you. FE AR, lest by forgeting what you are by nature; you also

forger the need that you have of continual TH

pardon, support, and supplies from the Spirit of Grace, and so grow proud of your |

own abiliries or of what you have received of God, and fall into the condemnation of the Devil, FEAR, and that will make you lictle in your own eyes, keep you humble, put you upon crying to God for proteCtion,

and upon lying at his foot for m-rcy ; that

will also make you have low thoughts of your own parts, your own doings, and cause you to prefer your Brother before your self, and so vou will walk in humiliation,

and be continually under the ' teachings of

God, and under his conduct in your way, The humble God will teach. The meek will he

guide in judgment, the meek will he teach his

Way. From this grace of fear then, flows this excellent and comly thing 2mzlity. yea,it also is maintained by this fear. FEAR takes off

a man from trusting to himself, it” puts a

man upon trying of all things, it puts a man, TH, upon desiring, counsel and help from Heaven, *

it makes a man ready, and willing to hear

inftruftion

Of the Fear of Odd. © "12?

instruction 'and "makes. a man walk lowly, softly, and so securely in the way.

Eleventhly, There flows from #his grace ” | of fear, Hope in the mercy of God; . The Lord - | taketh pleasure in them that fear him, it i them than hope iu his mercy, (P[al. 147. 11.)

The Jatter part of the Text is an explanation "TH of the former: as if the Psalmist had aid, | They be the men that fear the Lord, even

they that hope in his mercy; for true fear produceth hope in Gods mercy. And it is ' further manifest thus. Fear, true fear of God inclineth the heart to a serious enquiry after that way of salvation with God Himself hath prescribed; now the way that God | hath appointed, by the which the. sinner is to obtain the salvation of his soul, is his ' | mercy, as so and so set forth in the word. | (and godly fear hath special regard to the word.) |

To this way therefore the sinner With this godly. fear submits his soul, rouls himself upon it, and fo is delivered from that death, into which others for want of this fear of _ God, do headlong fall.

It is, as I also hinted before,the nature of godly fear to be very much putting the soul upon the enquiry which is, and which is not '4'-the thing approved of God, and accordingly ',to imbrace it, or shun it. Now I say, rhis

"% fear

,

Df the Fear of God. Jear having pur the soul 'upon a ftrict and! serious enquiry after the way of Salvatibn, ar'left it finds it to be by the mercy of God In Christ, therefore this fear putteth rhe soul

upun hop ing also in him for eternal] life,

and bleticdnefe; by which hope he doth,

not only fecure soot, bur become a porson of Gods del oh. The Lotd'tah':s pleasure FL tem that fear him, in them that {pz in his #4177C).

Befider, This godly soar, (carr'eth in it Se!f- +4/idence thar the state of the sinner is happy because possessed wich this happy het” 4 herefore, 'as John faith We krow we are fed from d: ath ta 1, e, because we lvoe the Br ethren 1 {cbn'3, 14- So here The Lord takes pleasure in. toem that fear him, in them that hope in his mercy. if fear God, and if 'my fearing of him-is a thing in which he takerh such.leasure, then may I boldly venture to roll my self. erernal life inry rhe Bufom Gf his mercy, which is Chrift,

Thus fear also producerh hope; if therefore, poor sinner, thou knowelt thy sc}t'ts be one that 1s poslessed: wirh thts fear of Gcd, fuffer thy self to be perfwaded: rherefore 10 hope in the m@ky of God for salvation,fur the Lord cakes pleasnre in thee. And it delights him to see 720 hope Ih his

mercy. | Twelftly,

nun,

wil] >}

Of the Fear of God. -JZ0""\ . Twelfthly, There floweth from this godly fear of God, An honest and conscientious use of all those means which God hath ordained, al | tat we should be conversant in for oar attaine, | ing sa'vation Faith and hope in Gods merhy cy is that which secureth our Justification mi and hope, and as you have heard they do 4 | flow from this fear. But now, besides faith is | and hope, there is a course of -life in those things in which God hath ordained us to f. | have our conversation, without which there y | is no eternal life. You have your fruit anto & | holiness, and the end everlasting life, and. 4- [.. | ain without holiness no man fhall see the Lord "Y ot that faith and hope are deficient, if they -: | be right, bur they are both of them counter- + | feit when not attended with a reverent use of y | all the means: upon the reverent use of which h | the soul is pur, by this grace of fear. Where- & | fore beloved, said Panl, as you have alwaies n | obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in mine absence, work ont your own: | salvation with fear and trembling, . Rom, 6, 2.2. 4 | Heb. 12. 14. Philip. 2, 12. q There is a Faith and Hepe of mercy, ;

that may deceive a man (Though the faith

of Gods elect, 7d the hope that purifies the

TH} heart never will) because they are alone, and © | not attended with those companions that tccompany salvation, (Hes. 6. 3,4; 5,7, 8.) K bug

T30 Of the Fearof God, © . but now this godly fear carries in its bowels, not only a moving of the soul to faith and

hope in Gods mercy, but an earnest provocation to the holy and reverent use of all the

means that God has ordained for a man to. have his conversation in, in order to his eter- *

nal salvation, Work ont your- salvation with sear. Not that work is meritorious, or such that can

purchase eternal life, for eternal life is ob- -

rained by hope in Gods mercy, but this hope If it be right, is attended with this godly fear, which fear putteth the soul upon a diligent use of all those means that may tend to the strengthening of hope, and so to the make- Ing of us holy in all manner of conversation, that we may be meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light. For hope purifieth the heart, if fear of God shall be its companion, and so maketh a man a veflel of mercy prepared unto glory. Pant bids T:mothy to fly pride, covetousness, doteing about. questions, and the like, and to follaw after righteousuess, godliness, faith, Love, patience, to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold of eternal, lise, 1 Tim, 6.

So Peter bids that we Add to our faith,vertne ; and to vertue knowleage ; and to knowledge temperance ; and to temperance patience, to patience, godliness ; to Gealiness, brotherlyhinduels 4

a

8/6 FF I"I#F © TUG.

kindness; and to brotherly kindness ch arity /

Adding, For if these things bs in you and abound, they muke you that ye shall neithzr be

barren, nor munfri:tful im the knowledg of our Lord fesas Christ-----Wherefore the rather Bre-

|. thren give deiigence to make your calling and

eleftion sure, for if you do thess things ye (al never fall, For fo an entrance {o1ll be minis ftred unto you abundaiitly rhtu the everlastin K ingaom of oy Lord and Saviour ess Christ, 2 Pet. 1, 5,6,7,8,9 10, 11: is The sum of all which, is, that which was mentioned before, to wit, to work ozt onr own salvation with sear and t:emvling, For none of thes& things can be con(cienriously done bur: by and with the help of this blefsed grace of fear.

Thirteenthly, There flows from #his fear this godly fear, A great delight in the holy commands of God, that is, a delight ro be conformable unto them. Blessed:s rhe man

that feareth the Lord, that greatly delighteth

in his commandments, Psal. 112, x. This confirmeth that which was said before, to wit, that chis fear provoketh to a holy and

reverent use of the means ;; for that cannot”

be, when there is not an holy, yea a great delight in the commandments. Wherefore this fear maketh the sinner to abhor that which is sin, because that is contrary to' the

—

Object of his delight... A-man cannot delight | himself at the same time in things direly - opposite one to another, as fin, and the ho]

commandment is; therefore Christ saith of | * the servant he cannot love God and Mam- | © mon, he cannot serve God and Mammon, If he || © cleaves to the one, he must hate and dispise' se the other, there cannot at the same time * p be service to both, because that themselves

are at enmity one with the other. So is | © fin, and the commandment. Therefore if a: man delighteth. himself in the'commandment, | ** he hateth that which is opposite which is, z

fin: how much more when he greatly de- * | - lighteth in the commandment? ( Now this holy fear of God, 'it taketh the 1 heart and affeCtions from sin and setteth them || © upon the holy Commandment. ' Therefore such a man is rightly esteemed blessed. For c no profession makes a man blessed, but that }TH * which is accompanied with an alienation of p the heart from sin, nor doth any thing do: that, when this holy fear is wanting. . It is from this fear then, that | love to, and delight in the holy commandment floweth, and so by that the sinner is kepr from those fals and dangers of miscarying that other professors -are so subject to:. He greatly delights in the Commandment...

Lastly,

" Of the Fear of God. "T3

Lastly, There floweth from z4is fear of God, enlargement of heart. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fears and be enlarged. Isaiah 60:5. Thine heart shall fear, and be enlarred, enlarged to God-ward, enlarged to his waies, enlarged to his holy People, *enlarge in love after the salvation of others. Indeed when this fear of God is wanting, though rhe profession be never sa famous, the. heart is shut up, and straitned, and nothing is done in that princely free spirit, which is called the spirit of the fear of the Lord (Psal. 51. 12. Isaiah 11:2.) But with grudging, legally, or with defire of vain glory; This enlargedness of heart is wanting, for that flows from this fear of the Lord.

Thus | have I shewed you both what this fear of God is, what 'it flows from, and alfo what doth flow from it. I come now tg fhew.you some of the priviledges of those rhar 2thzs do fear the Lord.

Of the privileges of them that this do fear the, Lord,

Haying thus briefly handled in particular, - thus far this fear of God, 1 {shall now shew you certain of the excellent priviledges of them that fear the Lord : not that they are, not priviledges that have been already men-'

K.3 tioned

I 34 * Of the Fear of Gad. tioned; for what greater priviledges then to Have this fear producing in the soul, , such

excellent things, so neceflary for vs for good doch with reference ro this world and that

which is to come, but because those fourteen. aboye named, do rather flow from this grace

of fear where it is, then from a promise to the person that hath ir: therefore I have chosen rather to discourse of them, as the fruits and {effeCts of fear,then otherwise, Now

besides all these there is intailed by promise.

fo the. man that hath zh:s fear, many other blcik d priviledges the which I shall now ig a brief way lay open unto you.

_ First, Then, That man that feareth the Lore, has a grant and a licence to trust in the Lozg: with an affirmation that he is rheir belp; and their shield. Ye that sear the Lord,

tru in rhe Lordhe is their Helper and Shield, |

Psal. 115. 11. Now what a priviledg 1s this! An exhourtafion in general to.tinners as sinners ro trust in him, is a priviledge great and glorious, but for a man to be singled out from kis Neighbours, for a man to be spoken. to from Heaven, as it were by name, and to. be told that God hath given: him a hcence

a. special and peculiar grant to trust in.

him, this is abundantly more, and yet.

this is the grant that God hath given that.

man. He hath I say a /icence, to do It, a bcence ©

_ PEN | PD eonce indited "a: In Holy Ghost; and | left upon - retord for- those to be born. that shall 7 fear the Lord to trust in him. And not only so, but as the text affirmeth, he 55 their Help and "their Shield, Their -help under all their | weaknesses' and infirmities, and a S/:e{d to ceF defend them against all che assaults of the Deto TH vil, andithis World. 'So then, the -man-that 'e | feareth. the Lord is licenced to: make - the e | Lord his stay and God of his Salyation, . the W | succour and-deliverer. of his soul.. He will dee | fend him because his fear is in his heart.'; © r | ye Servants of the Lord, ye that fear him, 3 j live: m-the comfort of this, boldly-make use of it when you are i straits, and put your 2 | trust under-the shaddow'o6f his wings,” for in- + | deed he would have you do so, because: you " | do fear the Lord. i Secondly, God hath also proclaimed con- -J cerning the: man that feareth the, Lord, That he will alsa be his teacher, and onide in the + way that the shall chuse, and hath moreover promised concerning such, that their sou] - shall dwell ar ease.

What: man is he that feareth the Lard, saies David, him shall he teach in the ts that he * shall-chase, Psal. 25.21.

Now ito be Snake of. God whatlike it 2 yea whar like to be taught in the way that Hou shalt chuse 2 Thouthast chosen the way

til, that they seem to! our wit thee, and con-{ of found'thee with their guile. Well, but the | fie Lord whom thou fearest will not leave thee]. w to thy ignorance, 'nor' yet to thine ene-F hi mies power or subtilty, but will. take it | F upon him” himself ro be thy teacher and thy | 1 gnide, and that in the way that thou. hast | t chosen! Hear then and behold thy priviledge, | O thou-tbat fearest the Lord, and who ever | { wanders 7 turns aside, .and snerverh from the | | way / of 'Salvation: who ever is 'benighted, | v | ard” lost in. the midst of darkness, thou' shalt | t find the. way to the Heaven and the glory that thow halt cholen. Further, He doth not only say, that he TH| ] will teach them rhe way, for that must of ne- | cessity be supplied, .but he saies also that he | will reach such /N. zz; Him shall he teach TN the way that be foal chuse. This argueth that, as thou shalt. know, so the way shall be made by the communion that' thou) shalt have with God therein, sweet and pleasant to thee. For this text promiseth unto the man that feareth the: Lord,. the, presence, company (and discovery of the cmind ): of God, while he is going in the way:that he hath cliosen, Ir is faid of the good: Stribe, That

%

Of the Fear of God. F That he is instruftcd mito, as well as into the way. of the Kingdom of God. Instrusted UNTO. that is, he hath the heart and mind of God till discovered to him in the way that he hath chosen even all the way from this world, to that which is to come, even until

{ he shall come to the very gate and door of

Heaven, Marth. 13. 52. what the Disciples. said, was the effect of the presence of Christ, to wit, that their hearts did burn within thews while be talked to them by the way, Lnth, 24. {hall be also fulfilled in thee, he will: meer with thee in the way, talk with thee. in the way; he will teach thee 7X the way that thou shalt chuse.

Thirdly, Dost thou fear the Lord? he will open his secret unto thee, cyen that' which he hath hid, and keeps close srom all the world, to wit the secret of his covenant. and of thy concern therein. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he ' will shew them his Covenant, Tsal. 25.14. This then further confirmerh what was faid but Jost above, his secret shall be with them, xd his Covenant shall 'be shewed unto them.

His secret, to wit, that which hath been kept hid from ages and generations, that which 'be 'manifesteth only to the-Saints, or boly Ones; that is, /is C71s?, for he jt is,

| that is hid in God, and that no man can know

but

Aatth. 11.27. But oh! what is there wraped up in this Christ, ths secret of God! why al] treasures of Life, of Heaven and Happinels. 1n hins are hid all the treasures. of wisdom and gnowleage, And in him dwels the falness of the Godhead bodily, Col. 2. i

This also is that hiddes one, that is so full of grace to save sinners, and fo full of rruth and faithfulness to keep promise and covenant with them, that their eyes must needs convey, even by every glance they make upon his Person, Offices and Relation, such affect - ing ravishments to the heart, that it would please them that see him, even to be killed wich that sight.

This fecrert of the Lord fall be; nay 1S with them that fear him, for he dwelleth in their heart by faith, And he will sbew them his Covenant, That is, the Covenant that Is confirmed of God in Christ, that. everlasting and eternal covenant, and shew him too, thar he himself is wrapped up therein as in a bundle of life with the Lord his God. These are the thogzhts, purposes and promises of God to them that fear him.

Fourthly, Dost thou fear the Lord 2 Hiseye js alwaies over thee for good, to keep thee from all evil. Behold the eyes of the Lord' is

Kpon

& _ "Of the Fear of God, _ N) \ but he to whom the Father shall reveal. him,

Of the Fear of God. . pon them that sear bim, on them that hope ws his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, "and + to keep them alive in famine, Psal. 33.18, 19. His eye is upon them, that is, to watch o0ver them for good. He that keepeth Israel neither {lumbers nor sleeps. His eyes are upon them, and he will keep them as a Shepherd doth his Sheep: thar is, from those wolves that seek to devour jthem, and to swallow them up in death. His eyesare upon. them, for they are the Object of his delight, The rarities of the world, in whom, saith he, is all my delight, His eye is upon them, as I said before, To teach and instrutt them, I will teach thee and instrutt thee in the way that tho shalt go, I will guide thee nith mine eye. Psal. 32.8. 2 Chron. 7, 15. 16, The eye of the Lord, therefore is upon them, not ta take advantage of them to destroy them for their fins, bur to guide, tohelp and deliver them: from death, from that death that would feed upon their souls. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine, Take Death here, for Death spiritral, and Death eternal, and the Famine here, nor

* for thar that is for want of bread and water,

but for that which comes on many for want. of the word of the Lord (Revel. 20. 14..4mss 8.:11, 32.) and then the sence is this The man.that fearech the Lord, shall neither die spiri-

I40 Of the Fear of God. spiritually ner eternally, for God will keep him with his eye from all rhose things 'thar "would in such a manner kill him, Again,should there be a famine of the word, should there want both the word and them rhat preach' it in the place that thou dost dwell, yer” Bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure; thou shalt nor die of the famine because thou fearest God. I say that man shall nor, Behold he shall nor, because he feareth God. and this the next head doth yet more fully manifest.

Fifthly, Dost thou'fear God ? fear him for.

this advantage more and more. O fear the Lord, ye kis Saints for there is no want to them that fear him, The young Lions do want and and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord

(that tear him) shall want no good thing, Pal.

34. 9, 10. Not any thing thar God sees good

tor them, shall those men want that fear -

the Lord, If health will do them good. If fickass will do them good. If richzs will do them good. If poverty will do them good, If {fe will do them good. IF death will do them go00d, then they shail not want them, neirher shall any of these come nigh them, if they will not do them good, The Lions, the wicked people of the world that fear nor God, are not made sharers in this great priviiedge, all things fall our to | them

| them contrary, because they, fear not God.

In the mdft of their sufficiency. they are in want of that good, that God puts into the wors# things that the-m2an that teareth God, doth meer with in the world.

Sixthly, Dost thou fear God? He bath giyen charge ro the armies of Heayen to look after, take charge of, to camp abour, and to deliver thee. The Angel of the Lord encanipeth about them that fear him, and delivereth them, Psal, 34. 7. This also is a privi-- ledge intailed to them, that,in all generations fear the Lord. The Angel, the heavenly

creatures have it in commission to take the

charge of them that fear the Lord, one of them is able to slay of men in one nighs i85o00. These are they that camped

about Elisha like horses of fire, and chariots of fire when the enemy came ro deftroy him. They also helped Hezek:iah against the band of the enemy, becanuse he feared God. 2 King. 6.17. Isa. 37. 36. fer.26' 19.

The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them, that is, lest the enemy, should (er upon them on any fide, but ler him come where he will, behind or before, on this side or that, the Angel of the Lord is there to de - fend them.

The Angel. It may be spoken in the singular number (perhaps) to shew that every one

one that fearerh God hath his Angel to attend on him; and serve him, When' the

- Church, in the Acts, was told that Peter

stood at the door and knocked ; at first they || TH'

counted the messenger mad, but when she | ®

did constantly affirm ir, they said, /r 5s his THf ©

of the Children that'came unto him. Their } =

- Angels behold the face of my Father which is | ©

n Heaven. Their Angels; that is, those of I

them that feared God, had-each of them his | *

Angel,' who had a charge from God to keep

them in their way. We lictle think of this,

| yet this is the priviledge of them that feary®* | the Lord, yea if need be they shall all com&F' 3 down to help them, and co deliver them; rather then contrary to the mind of their God” they should by any be abused. Are they not. all ministring spirits, sent forth to minister faf:h. them that shall be heirs of Salvation, Heb. FF" laft. 8 But how do they deliver them? for sosaies | .

the text. The Angel of the Lord encampeth | "

- about them that fear him, and delivereth them. || ©

+ , Answer, The way thart they take todeliver | 4

| them that fear the Lord, is somerimes by

- {miting_ of their enemies with blindness that

| they may not find them, And fo they served

the enemies of Lor, Gen, 19.'to. 11. Somerimes by smiting of them-with deadly fear

od. © 147: * and so they served thoss that” Iaid feige "* ha gainst Samaria, 2 King, 7. 6, And sometimes: by smiting of them even with Death it self, and thus they served Herod, after he bad httempted to kill the Apostle 7ames, and also # sought ro vex certain others of the Church; in TH 44%. 12. These Angels thar are servants i; |} to them that fear the Lord, are them 'thae of | will, if God doth bid them, revenge the qar= is {| rell of his servants upon the stoutest monarch on earth. This therefore is a glorious pritiledge of the men that fear the Lord. Alas = $::cbcy are some of them, so mean that they mare counted not worth taking notice of by The high ones of the World, bur their berters do respect them, the Angels of God count not themselves to good to attend on 'z £xt em and camp about them to deliver them. Mis then is the man that hath his Angel to aitupon him even he that feareth God.

_ Seventhly, Dost thou fear the Lord? Salyation is nigh unto thee, Surely his Salvatidwell in their Land, Psal85. 9.

F. on 55 nigh them that fear him, that glory oP -

This is another priviledge for them thas = Y

fear the Lord. I told you before, that the ' Angel of the Lord did incamp about them, - but now he saith, his Salvation is also ng th them; the which, although it doth not ah gether exclude the conduct of Angels, but include

Include them; yet it oben further. Surely his Salvation,his sxving pardoning grace 1s nigh them that fear him; That is to fave them out

of the hand of their spiritual enemys.The Devil, and Sin and Death, do alwaies wait even -

ro devour them that fear the Lord, bur to deliver them from these, his salvation doth attend them,"'So then, if Saran rempts, here is their falyation nigh; if fin, by breaking forth, begyiles them, here is Gods salvation nigtr them ; yea, if death it self, shall sudden -

ly seize upon them, why hereiis their Gods

salvation nigh them.

I have seen, that great mens little children must go no whither without their nurtes be at hand,, If they go abroaa, their nurses must go with them ; ; If they go to meals, their nurses must go with them, If they go to bed, their nurses must go with them, Yea and if they fall a szep their nurses must stand by them,

O my brethren those little ones thatJear the Lord, they are the children of the highcit, therefore they shall not walk alone, be at their spiritual meats a/oze, go to their sick beds,or to their graves alone,the salvaticn of the:r God 7s nigh them, to deliver them from the evil: This is then the glory that dwels in the Land of them that fear rhe Lord, Eightly,

| "Of th | ar of oh - - © + f;thhrly Doftahed seartth&' Lord 7Hearhei ver apathy,” Thewfty o the Dvd 6} feof vowel lifting to rvertifting us them that fear bibs rank bis #rghreonfsmfexunv'chilaren eo hitar eng Pfilb3 35."Fhis fill confine wwhar-wasastafserred,

His salvation, thai; © patddninp merc\;rhat 4$Tigb-rhev975Borimind!7irbehtte belies, ri&nighrhegoborteres: int pdgiehenttHis mercy is pot atiem ir 'icoverrripzrthem yall Gyes; it: compasserh> them vVidbldry 1hs. wirtra

$Shikld( i! Therefore cheyrare Bi 1ntzenbriver

pldee-ro be ctotlisd! with atvalignzandicove- 12d\withwrhergbeuti po pg 2Thg metsoy of the obdign PUN whe ms; thavie,) as 1 fail }'to lh mandont rhemi gmficlio79 11£Fbe >wettaglt hempardoningp preserving: mers OREN 30f -the noe i hom or whois feurtien> hari cdncitontecamn: ciiewm'? Rom, 8. DON! :0Burt-there, yee'ss more behinde; 742 mercy of thd Lord vi ftowiegerlasting, 10 everlast:ig. uk tbe was defigrntt fortbern-befo OM wortd-wags andifhall he vpen. them 'whenrhe world ir ft ivetided: From evertasting, vo e- '

rlasting2it k&@onthem thagyfoarngs; ''This Sb eoernlastminqo everlasting,is thatiby which, Manochervplace;ithe erernion/of God Wanc {elf is declared. From everlasting to evertast+ wii bow. \er;s Guat Pfal, 90.'2/:0 The: meaning

TIUURS then

2 > 146 | " #hen-may: viddg Tha so. Jong as: God tath

Bf: the \Fear-of God. =

his-heing,' {olong shall che.manthat searerh | bim. find. mercy -at.+ his::hapd- According to that of Afoses. - The —— God 55 thy Ter fogr, and\ubdenuenth argthif\ uo lasting;Yrme, andibe frelltrastpme the umbejre thee, (and say destroy themnDewtc: 3 31 2981 Ui! :;F

, Child of God,jithos.ahat seared Gods. ow is mercy'pigh thee; mercy;enough,! cyerlast- Ing mercy 1-npon >thee,”: This: y long-lived gnerey.- It will hve. logger then aby. sin, it eill tive looger thed 4empration, ir: wilt livg,/ Janger then. thyjforma@ws;1.ir willlive longer then

thy. persecitars 22 1t3s merey ifrore everlast-

Ing to.cantriye thy falparipn; and. erage TO everlasting, to: wedther ito wirh call thy adversaries;!, Nqw what cen hell and-death doto him: that hath 4bis print of 'Godwup him? And-this bach che tnan #bar seareth Lord. 3” Take that other blesled word,:and Oo how Twan that fearest the Lord, hang is bke'a Chain af Gold about; thy; neck. ..:1 4s rhe Heaven.i: high above the 1 Earth, fo grent.js. hzs metty $0+ wards #hem that fear bins, Psshi £63. 11 3. 88; If mercy..as:. os as high, @nd 18s: good; as Heaven, (it; felt; will be-:a priviledge; the man! thax feareth God sha} haveo@ m_ ledge /\ F Nuly, Dost thou sear God? Frieda

Father

Fathtn pitieth his' Children, so. the Lord pitti- #4; cbewn;g hut fear him; Psal. 103.131, .. 1 The bord pittieth; them: that fear him;That is, condoleb;and is affected; feelerh, and sym- -pathizeth. with them. ia.zll their afflictions. Jr 1s4:great; matter. for a, poor-man ta be, in this nianner-. inthe affections. 'of tho great.and mighty, -but-, for: a-poor, finner tobe thus in 'the heart:and affettions,of God (and they thar fexr:himare so; )- this is astonishing to con- Tndys!love and;in bis pity be redeemed them, Ini bs? lave\and in bit puty. [n all their affiietsons be! wii: affiiited;, and the Angel of. his presence. saveathem 3 in his love, and in hig pity he regnenied them, atid' bare. them, and carried thewall the day of ald, Asa. 63.9. ' 111 Isfay;''in-that he is said to pity chemsy (If is as

muchas. lay, he condplerh, foclerh, and synipartizeth _ with/themtin. all their aMictions and-temptations. $0 that this-is the happinefs of -z#: that seareth. God, he has a. God to-piry; him, and to be. couched -wirh all his miseries?Tis laid in, 7udges, His soul was grieued for the miseries of 1jract, (fndg- 19.164) 'and

of our anfirmiries, ' and can succour-them thar are tempted (Chap. 4. I 5. Chap, 2417.18.

But'further ler us take notice of 'the comparison. As 4 -—y pitieth his Children, so | DARD, 3 | the

=

148 — Of the'Fearof God,

| the Lord pitier ther" Noe fear him: \ Here is

not_ only 'pity, but*rhe pity of avrelarion, a Father. Tis said' "in ahother plack:'Can a "woman (a'mother) forger: her fotking obild;that fhet should not have com psson on tht Sd) of her womb? yea [she may;*yer 'will not I forget thee;

The Pity of ieighbots and pe rg” 4

eth'if1 rites bf disttesey thur' e pity. 0 @ Father/ahd #'mother,'ds' prey "wirh'tan wwer-and above; Thi Lord, saied Fumes,/ 1 erg ipitifud,

and of tender mercy, Pharaoh called fuseph his

tender” Father, becavse- he provided: for him against the famine, but how rendarat Father is Go@?how'fell of bowels, how-full of-piry? Zaw." 5.11. Gen, 41. 43 *marg.” Tis said\that whtch* Ephraim was" vfllidted,” Gods bowels were _troubled- for hjmy* and turned! within him towards bim,” O'that thet man chat' feareth the Torddid- bur believe rhe: piry-and bowels that ' are /insthe/hearr of Ocdi and his Firhes tewards hinfer. 31, 18,. 49912014 : Tenthly, Doft-thow fear | Codes!HF-will

Fl the desire of thers t hat fear him, "be: will bear

ther ay and will fave thimy Psab. 145293 Almost-all those / places; that. wake menrior” '6P! 'the- men that fear-God, do-infauare 29: jf tley"still- were under: afMiction,; 'or {in danger” by- reason off an enemy. -Poez o1 say, Here is "till their priviledge, their: GON Is

| their Father and piries then. hand | He

—

Of the" Fearaf God.

He; will f.1fil. $h+, fire. of (tha -3 hat. fear! bim. Where now, is; the! Lana bar. fearcih;.

the Lord? let him harken to

thou; poor soul?.will this- contentphee,, che Lord - will fulfil” thy, desires, ? It is73ntimated of, Adontjah;, that David his, . Father did let him have | hjs head.and his will in all, xhings His Father, flies, the, Fext, had.-not Giphaked him. ,6h Guy T4782 10, (smugh 35) [ops wo vast thiu,done; fo, 1 King. 1;;6. +: 1Bar here. is, Arg, 1.bere; Is a praise ro

grant the S

che, whole: desire of thy. heart, ac-;

Lord

rant thee... aqcorgi

to thine ann, heart,

and. fylft all thy counsel, And again, ', The Lord fulf]l ak, thy SE Brno BE AGoni and

thqu. that fearest; the Lord, what i is thy dehc@All my desizes,says Dawd,is all:my falvation,2154m. 2.3.5. 10:fazest-rhou, Allony salva- Hips of), my-desire; Wellghe defire. gf ghy soul, Is granted thee,yea God:hiraself hath engaged nl cyenrto fulfill rhis chy desire, ,14Hy-gpill.; fulfill: the. desires. of them. that. fear, ipps,.1he-will hat. thezr, cry and will save. theme O; this delice.)

cometh, what ..@ Tr

es? Thou defireit to be. rid of:chy;present-: =

ble, T

i. the Lord shall;rid theg; our; of 'trouhou desirest.co bedglivereghfrans rempr; \

WO Lord.{halldeliver.thee gurof cemp+1, cation, "Thou defirest fo be delivered from

thy

"15x Of the Fear of God. thy Body of death,” and the Lord shalf change this rhy' vile Body: that” it'may be like to \by glorious Body: — Thou "defirest to be in' rhe _ presence of God, and among the Angels in. Heaven. 'This thy” defire'allo shall be fulfil ed and thor shall be' made equall ro: the' Angels, (Exot. 6.6; 2 Per. 2:9. Philippians 3:20. 2T, Lak, 16." 22: 'chap. 26."36, 36) Oh! but it is long first; Well, learn firld ro live: upon thy portion in the promife of it, ' and'thar- will make thy expectation of it siveer, God WFLL fulfill p-deites, God WILL'do itg thoygh it-"rarry© long: wait” for it becau it will: SUREDLFeome, it willnot tarry. - Eleventhly, Dost thow sear God? The Lord 7akes pleasure in them that sear him, Psal:" Tf,/12; Ehiey that fear God, are imong bi chief 4Elighs.. He delights in his Son, he delights in his- works, and' takes plrasare *in them thitt sear” him. "As a' man takes pleefure in his Wife, in his Children, in-his- Gold," in his Jewhls; So [the” m#n that fears the Lord, 1s the-obje&> of his delight:* He rakes" pleasure in_#he:r- prosperity, (Psal, 35: ay 1d therefore” senderh rth&m * health Sifrituary;' and makes them'drink of of he

ver of his pleasures, They sbull 'be 4 4 endart

satisfied with the Patnts;” of o fi House

shale micke ' thewdrjal ofthe iver re pies | sures, Pfal. 36: TOLL -

chat: ur those We

Df#he

with many ornaments. We count no cast tav

' msckro:be bestowed: dn those. In whom we -plate-10ur (delights, and | whom.we make thie object of ourpledfure;;' And even thus its

with God. For the Lord roketh rpleasure in his preple,, and what follows?! be will beavrify

\the meek with Salvation, Psal. 149

and give them, sachi rules, .and-laws: to walk -by; as may/yet. make-them: that ''we love -more:pleafurable: :in-.our eyss.'. ' Therefore | they that feaft God, fince they:are the: object.of his pleasare3' are.taught to know. how. ro -hini inevery'thing, '2 These 4. 141. -::

-ery; and thathe 1s pleased witttheit walkihg,

Solomons Saug;Ch.4'9:Prov.15,8,Ch; 11.4. 20. +4. Those>in whom we delight; and take plealire; many things we- wilt bear and pur -uTH, that tliey do, though they be'not according\to.our minds}! A man will suffer that in; and put up that at the hand oF the Child or Wise of liis pleafare; that be will not pass by, nor put up In another. 10They-are-my Jewels, saies God, even them

oe n_ mezaad-I will-spare: chem (in all-their L 4 comings

omings! riod) wy: will

vewags tlandpa? pets heat Son that Terverty him, ' 2dalsils, aps9r7, on 3405 - V7 229 3agno ynem hiv

2 Oh vow happy che'muvttat fearcriGud | *His'good vhoughts, his goat /attemprorofietge him p1andihis x life Plod@e91 rh; becabse the. fearech Gods: | ©. tiwhk Ani) dhiw {Yoo krow tow pleafiad iioour. eyes the ations &f.;qur- Ciilirenzalewhen we :know that they, tbs'whar heyday event of i reverent fearand awofus; ye rhwo0g$h thar:wehich thov do ambintsbyr-to: lictse, we'rake ne keel] atctheiFhands, andre pleaserd therewick. Thie wwoman'Tthat.2vxft inhevirwb' mites! 'cntocrhe ' Treasury; caft' ir! nor. muchD for 'they both didv>ut makezone farthingyit {ark 1121 40442 42, 43: Yertiow doth the- Lord Jesiis: per her: ap, -he thad .pleafure: in her, aud in fier radion51FHizb rhereforeg that irhe Lord zakethvpleature: inithemThar fear 'himy 1$'@- nother. of their grear-privitedgges.©: / 1 nc. | FTwelfthbvgi!Doftchondear God!? Theleast nr of:thavifear:gierh 'the 'priviledy; to>bp hlefled with: the- biggest Saint.” Ht! wth rss rb-mthat fear'the Lord S Math GRAAF,

121% Forthbse ) that! ate faialliinzsicem.” for thofe!'chut ar2'bur:: yy" 'atcomnced of (7366

Of the Fear of Gol 6..4 57-TH: San.1 8229. ). Ate tow fall abdittle in this sence, vet if thou fearef# God;thou att fure:to bd blefitd; | He: fhiall bless th ens that fra Himg. (mall and great, be thou-never © fraalNointhe:worlds:xyes, in thine own eyes,

xg, By: fwd, fankeritnis 1 is. meant chose thar ate? bixt small of Rarure,\ or young in. years, liffle Ghildreng hivare.' calypasled by and fooke over:nas> chose: that fahg; Hosabraim theillempleweorew he: the Pharisees deridingy! said-of ithem to-Chrif, -42sff:+ thou bear what TH £©S:6: fy 2 Mitth:i20::16, Well,

THbtoChrist:would:nor difpise cham? of them thag stated! Gatl;;:batJpreferrad. them! by the ScripturedTeftimbnyfar before those! thatdid contemactbemaciinae Children; bow: (ml @ ener;ahd alrhangh. of never sa\fnialliefieem with: men; shall: als} ifi:they;) fear therLord S&blcssed with: tYO greatestrSamth.- 11 He! Soul bless them that sear him small and.\qreat. |

1-2. By. fd, tnays sometimes. be meant

tho that/are: {malhcin. grace of gifts; these - pag to bel the cast in the Church,1- thats is his ns ol andifoure by {least

le ast

re Fedr of Godt,

left; of rhesa; - td it not to mes x Cont 6, ry INE: 28. 45s 11,1 161997 ,9994 if Ji3 \ Arc thou.inchine own thoughts, or” © the thoughts of others, -of these left small\ones? fmail:in grace; small in gifts, small inieftee upon "this: account yet? if thou fearsff God, it thow feazeft God indeed; thou art certainly THblefled with-rhe best, of Saints, >The least) Star stands as fixed, as the bigest' of them'all,"'ia J Heaven. He" shall bless| them that sear him, | and 'preat; ' He shall bless ther, chat1s, I, with the fame blessing. of: erernal life) - Fot the different degrees of grace'in: Saints,>doth nor'make the blessing; as ro-its-nature,- Hiffer. Tis the fame. Heaven; the fame - Life; the fame Glory, and the same Eternity of Fehiciey | ,, that they -are, in the rext, !promised-to: be f bleffed wich. That'is observable which I'men- | /* 'tioned- before, where Christ: at the day” of } > /Judzmend particularly mentioneth; 'and-own- [erh, the-teast'; In as muchas ye did'ic nor © | ,, _ Jonelofthe tests >The least ther}; was there, 'm his Ringdom. andirhis ac. as well as the biggest of af, or. 1h D: He shall bless them thee fras hims SMALL and great, - The small are 'mamed' firf in rhe 2x0, and'wre sb the firlt.in yank, ic maybe 'to-shew, thar:though 'they/anay /be Nighted, ane lctle ve by i the le wolldy "yr they* are

much set by in the ACLs rd... eh Ts el ro hive the Kh rla

dom; Ba: 'rthe 2 Are: grear

[warks, only, t06 je RN krkd ks are

done by verrue of great grace, and the'ab8ndance” of the” gifts of the: boly' Ghost? ..No +

Whosoever Jhal dive to. drink" knto one of these lirthe ones, 4 s: of. cold water, only in the php of a Disc: le, erily T say wnto you, be [hall in no wise bfe's "Disciple reward. Mark, here 4s.

but a licffe "gift, 4 Cap of cold water, and har

given ro a little Saint: bur bork taken special otice of by our Lord Jclus Christ, Mah.

I will give reward to bis Sthvanti 342 Prophets, ang:9 his Saints, nd to them that fear his name small and great; * Revel. 1. 186

The Small therefore among hem-.that fear God, are bfesfed\with the gr Fx as the great, with the same falyatidn,; "the fare olory, and the same<terni} life; and th f. hall. have, even as the great ones alfo shall,” 29 much as they can.carry,. as, much as. their hearts,souls, bodys; une expaciees cat he.

Thirteegghly,: L feat God#' why the Holy pI Ooty ath by urpole indicted for thee an whole Psalme r6 sing concerning thy seIf. So ages mayest, £Ye9, as thou-art 1 in thy calling,'bed, Journey ar. when ever, fing out thine own bl ed and tappy condit _ to thine

”

"90 Ofthe. Fear SFe&c ' W

Sa the comfort.of thy: fel. TI PI

is called, the, 128, Psalm,

Lvl &. it. 5 har: rhih5e th borh. as it-is in. che

Fg and in Tbs Ws Psalms. 7; Ejca Js, ERR. at seareth the. Lord, that ilab u his, waics, * far as shalt 16at the le ber oft bay tv an thok Ns po it M'be ell aut9 thee. Thy wife spall be a fruits: fo Tg Fas F708 LA house, thy children bike Ol} te Plans rounY. avout thy. Tab Behold that thus sball the m4n be blessad that feareth i Id. Tog th Ug 1d Hh bless thee. out. of. Zion, | os shelf the good of Ferusalem, all the £8 thy lifes yea thou shalt sez thy chilgreng Coularen ana peace upon Isrgel.

3 Ws Yak x Agit 1s sung.

2uj4. it tho that stares Gea, And walks j} inchis i War.

3 if of thy ator + £0 nal oe *, Happy af thoky, 1 say. _

"ng th- FEE on Fa House. side,

Ty Colgren stand Fs FR 75h

. " Toy Table TOW 4 about. 11 QUO. T3J9003 ; We 4-1 art than Ark that fel "Godin.

Sug 6: Wear: ly hee see. avg aa 7

INF

' Of the Fear of God. T57 13s" "The promised ferusaley, 4 I 1 - And Fer febcuy. I 3372 ,

© Thaog fhalt thy C bikdrens Children lean, * .. Tothy great fayes, increase, 1c 34:90 of Ani tikewise gr ace1.0n lira. 9n:6bh! 4 . Projpesity' and Peace. ey 10 a6TO

And gow Iibave dong, ich the, privileges wher LE have removed 08&;Objection,, 91.

Object. Bud the Serjptpxe, laies;) Perfett ove casterh oat sear, and therefore; ag 464ms that Saints after'that a Spiriv-. of Adoprzpn 1s. ;come, shojulse not fear,gbyz.do their duty, 35 | another Sevipture Girhompbgor, IF Zob-ts 18. Luk; 1745/7580: 4} 'TH 1th; > 1h fov. , $6ar;: 28 I have themed, V:Gn,,,0Ay HE taken severyl waies.; |

-b. --It, may be taken, forche fean of bo x 12, It;may be taken for. the fear, vf1a6619bates; $1 way KH

3; wr may be taken for. the fearyth#tus wrought in the godly, by the _ as. a &pirit of botidage, or, +1 |

Now the fear that: perfect love, calls.ont, cannot be. that. sonlike gracious fearot Qed, | that 1 have in-this last place, been ereatun! of: because that fear, that /ove, calls out. beth

re PEKE

Therefore the fear that love castsout, is eiand Reprobates; -or that sean that is begot in

bondage, or borh for indeed all. thefe kinds of fear, have torment': and tlerefore may be

serve him. MO IRE NN 1 20 ALL 16. T2) © Bar 'ro argue from 'these> texts" thar we | "bught nor to feat God, or ro mix fear wich | | vur:- Worship of ' him; is adthueb-as roofiry that by the Spirit of Adoption' we are made vety:Rognes, for fiot'ro fear. God, is. by the Scripture applied to such, 'Lyb, 3, 40. 'Bat For what f have #ffirined | the Soripture doch plentifelly -confirnt, faying-, Huppy ts the man that feareth alway. And again, It fall be wel With thens that sear Gbd; that fear. be- "Fore him; ' © fwd 20 PID 1TSILUTICL, Fear, therefore, the Spirit of": the-fear ' of -the Lord is' a grade'that greatly beautifies a Christian; his words; and all/his waics, Where- - fore now let the PEAR of the Ltd "be apon "901; take heed and 4s it, for thee-13 mo) inaqueity with the' Lord ohr God, nor respeFF of per sons, uor "Tahing af gifts; 059) 50) 00 Nt Wood

[ come

* torment: but so:'has not the'-Son-like fear, | ther that fear, that is like the fear of Devils | -

the heart by the "Spirit of God: as a'Spirit of

' Ofthi'\Fear of \ . L come now:ta make Gere ted aplics ton of this doftrines 0197 plls 19499 17 10 Onan bo IG These of this Dottrine. _ oy ' 6. 4207 1161 'T 101 T1 liniae roceetied thus far about this Dag rine.of > 4 fear. of God: now corhe ta thake some. Use; and-1Application-df i;the; whole3 and: my. first use al ben.uld of Examinatianii 51% * 188) this fear of God such.an excellevt thing? Is:it attended with so 'matiy! blefled-: prives ledges:theh- this' shonld (pur as, ever: soul. of us, upbn a diligent examination: of our selves, eo. wit: whether this. grace be- ins or aa, for If, be, then+thou-.arc. one of. -these-blesied ones to. whom belong these glorious priyiledges; for chow; hast an | intrest inevery of then; | but: if it shall appear thar this grace; :is nadiinithee, then thy; state ts, fearfully mi.

| ferubloas bath partly been! manifkst already,

Now the bemering kelp thee uh conliden and. nat; ro. miss in finding our mharchbouart, in thyself | I 1. well: "_ to then:

''1; 'No man beidgs thisgrace into: the world 193 with

By "95 "the Day * bf Got Tr with” bim;Every- one bymarove ris destitute of it, for naturally none fear Godyirhete is VO fear of God, none of this grace of fear before their eyes, .they-'db not\16\muth as know

.-whar itis, for this fear flows, as was shewed before,fioms achew hearr,fartiyrepenmmoeFand zhelike; of which new.!heartdfaich! and Repens rance,/if thou beesdivoidg: thoh artalsowoid of this godly fear. Me tim! have: a amighry change of heart and life,or else they are stnans gers'ro'this>fear'of. 'Godpialks how: ignorant gre the:mbst df'this'? ;yely andfoms3iareinot 2afraid ro:Aay they'are not chariged foro be -can rhele fear:God?ranithesebwpgls 1efled with this grace of sear?! No,' Beoausert hay have no chidlores berefore &heyfturcommuti1Gonj Pfu. 36&'T, Rom.42 18, Psalig pd ggiod i 07 450: !5 Wherefore: firmer 'confideryiwhnever-chou art;.thar- uit: desticare ofvbizifear: df: God;

thou art 'void of all -orherigrares, sor#binifear; |. as" also; T have: shewed;: tiprech frond |

fear.is:in the douwelsof nana] may fay;this

| frar is the flower andibegury cof 1everpgrace; |

neicher-1s there any/thumgy:ter:itlook as mach Jike grace as it will, that will bezcguated so indeed, if the fruit thereofibe':narjrbbs.fear of God;wherefore I say again, confidey welt of & rius taatrer; forigation shall be-foard 6%

Of-the Fear of God.

reference to this grace, sd shall thy judg” ment be; T have but briefly treated of #455 grace, yet have indeavoured, with words as fit as I could, to display it in its colours before thy face, first by fhewing you what this fear of God is, then what it flows from, ' as also whar 'doth flow from it: -To which; as was said before, I have added several priviledges that are annexed to this fear, that by all, if it may be, thou mayest see it," if thore hast it, and thy self without it, if thou hast itnot. . Wherefore I refer thee | thither a gain for information in this thing; Or if thow art loth to give the Book a second reading but wilt go on to the end now thou art gotren hither: Then secondly and- particularly. I conclude with these several propositions concrvny those that fear not God. That man that is proud, and of an high

te bfi:y mind, fears not God, This is plain | from the Exhortation. Be not high minded but

fear, Rem, 11. 20, Here you see thatan. high mind and the fear of God, are ser in direct opposition, the one to the other: and.

| there is in them, closely concluded by the

Apostle, thar w here indeed the one is, there. cannot be the other; where there is an high ming, there is nor the fear of God: and where there is the-fear of God, the mind is not high: but lowly. Cana man at the same time be ap=

proved

Has.

”" JOS Df the Fear of God. proved man, and fear God too? why then is 4. said God beholdeth every one that 1s proud and. abafes' him, and again he beholds the proud afar off 2. .

_ He therefore! that is prond of his person, of tys Riches, of: his Office, of bis Parts, and the like, © feurerh nor God, It is als® manifest further, for God reffteth the proud, which he would not do, if he feared him, but in that he sets him at such a distance from him, in that he testifies that he wil} abase him and refift him, it is evident that he is not the man that: hath:this'prace of fear; for that man, as'I have fhewed you, is the man of Gods delight, the objet of his pleasure, P/al.x38, 6, Jam. 4.6, 1 Pet.'5. 5. Malachi 4:1.

2: The covitons man feareth not God, This also is plain from the word, because it fetterh coverousness; and the fear of God in direct

position. Men that fear God, are said to hate covetousness Exod; 18. 21, Besides, the eovetous man'is called an Idolater, and is faid to have no part in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. And again, The wicked boastet h himsfelf of bis hearts defire, and blesseth the covetons, whom the Lord athoreth, Exck. 33. 31. Ephef. 5- 4, 5 Psal. 10.3. |

Heorken to this you that hunt the world to rake it,you that care not how you get, so you get the world. Also you that make eyen reli-

Of the Fear of God. 163 gion your stasking-borse ro..get the world, You fear not God. And what will you do,whose hearts go after your covetousness? you who are led by covetousness up; and down, as it were by the Nose; sometimes to swear, to lie, to couzen, and cheat and defraud, when you. can get the advantage to do it. You are far, very far from the fear of Gud. Yeradalterers, and adulteresses, for so the covetous are called, K now ye not that the friendship of this world-is the enmity withGod:whosoever therefore will be a friend ofebis world is the enemy of God, James 4+ ver. 4

. The Yiotous eaters of flesh have not the sear of God, For this is done without fear, fud. 12, Gluttony is a fin little raken notice of; and as little repented of by those that ufe ir, bur yet it is odious in the sight of God, and the practise of it a demonstration of the want of his fear'in the heart: yea, so odious: is it that God forbids that his people should” so much as company with such. Ze zor faith he, among wine bibers, among Yioters eaters of

flesh, Prov. 23. 20. And he further tels us; .

that they that are such, are spots, and blemishes to those that keep them company, for indeed they fear not God, 2 Per, 2.13. Roms.

13.13. 1 Pet. 4. 4. Alas! some men, are as if they were for nopght else born, but to eat, and to drink t; M Zz and -

-

and pamper their carcafses with the daintieg of

3 _ this world, Quite forgeting why God fenr

them hither: but such, as is said, sear nor God, and so consequently, are of the number of them upon whom the day of Judgment will come-'at unawars, Zak, 21. 34.

The lyer:s one that sears not God, This also 1s evident from the plain Text, , Thow hast lied (faith the Lord) and hast not remembred me, nor laid it to thy heart, have not I held my peace even of old, saith the Lord, and thon seareft me rot? Isa, 57. 11, What lie this was, is not -material, '*was alice, or a.course of lying, that is here rebuked, and the person, or persons, in this practice,as 1s said, were such 2s feared \not God: a courfe of lying, andthe fear of God cannot stand together,

This fin of lying is a common fin, and it walketh in the world in several guises. There is the profane scoffing lier, there is the cunning artificial lier, there is the hypocritical religicus lier, with Iyers of other ranks, and degrees. - But none of them all have the fear of Go8; ner shall any of them, they nor repenting, <scape the damnation of Hell, 4 ly - ers sbull have their part in the lake that berns with Fire and Brimftone, Revel. 21.8. Heaven- and the new*Jerusalem are not-a-place for such. "And there shall in no wise curei"nt9 it, any thing that defileth, neitter whatsqever

worket

worketh abomination, or mak#th a je, ver. 27 Therefore another Scriprure. faies, That alt liers are. without. . For without are dogs and forcerers, and whoremangers, and murderers, and idolators and whosoever loverh and maketh alice. Chap.22. 15, - But this should not be their sentence, judgment, and - condemnation, if they that are lyers were such,as had in them this blessed fear of God.

5. They sear not God who cry unto him for help in the time of their calamity, and when they are delivered, they rctars to ther former rebellion, - This Moses in a spirit of Prophecy afserteth at the time of the mighty Judgment | of the Hail. Pharoah then defired him! to

X pray to God that he would take away that

judgment from him. Well, so I will, saies Moses. But as for thee, and thy servants," I know that ye will not yet fear the LordGod, Exod. q + 9.30, As who should fay, I know that fo soon as this judgment is removed, you will'to your old rebellion again. And what greater demonstration can be given that fuch a man * feareth not God, then to cry to,God' tobe delivered from afflition to prosperity, -and to fpend that prosperity in redHellion against. him? .. This is- crying for meccies thar they

may be {peat,or that we may. have something: E

[

> th 1 te Y ok: we a y% TVET "mn > ®Ofthele. God complains in the 16- of Exeand/in"the second of Hosea, Thou hast,

faith God, raken of thy fair Fewels of my Gold,

and of my Silver which I' had given thee, and wadest to thy self rmages, &c. (Ezek. 16,17.) This was for "want of the fear' of Gad. Many of this kind-there be now in the World both of men, ard women, ang Children; Art not thou that readest this Book, of this number? Hast thou not cried for health when sick, for wealth when poor, when Jame for firength, when in prison for liberty, and then spent all that thou gorttest by thy prayer, in the service of Satan, and to pratify thy Justs? Jook to it sinner, these things are signes that with thy heart thou fearest not God. ; 6: They fear not God, that way-lay his peo le and seck to overthrow them, or to turn then

; bestd's the right path, as they are journying. from hence to their eternal rest, This is evident

from the plain Text. F Remember saith God what Amaleh did unto thee by the way when ye were come forth out of eAigypt, how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint, and weary, ard he feared not Gog, Dent, 25. 17, 18. | |

Many such Amalekites there be now in the world that have fet themfelves against. the

| Teeble of the flock, againit the feeble of rhe | flock *

flock especially, still. smiting them, somevy _* power, some with the #ongge, some in rhew- | lives and eftates, some in their. games and re-- putations, by. scandal, flanders and repmaach. but the reason _of this their ungodly practise — is this, They. fear 103 God, For did they fear.* HIM, they wayld be afraid to so much as think, much more. of. attempting to afflift * and 'destroy, and ealumniate the: Children;of God: but such there have been,such there are, and such there will be. in the world, for all men fear not God. pa Fy | Fee 7. They sear net God, who see his hand upoy back sliaers far their fins, aud yet themselves wilt be back sliders also. IT jaw saith God, when: for all tho canses whereby backstiding {sracl. con witted adultery, I had pat ber away, - aud given, her a bill of divarce, yet han treacherbus Sifter Fudah FEARED NOF, but went and played the harlot alse, Fer. 3.8, Chap. 2x verse 19. f > dah saw that her Sister.was put. away, and dtlivered by God..into_ the h andof $gt-. rmanczer who carried her away beyond Baby-: lon, and yet, though she fawir, fhe went and: plaied the harlot also, A figne of great hardness of heart, and of the want of the fear of Gad, indeed. Far his fear, had it been in her heart, it would. haye taught her to have trembled at the judgment that was executed Ms upon

upon her Sister, and not to have gone and played the harlot also; And not to have done it while her Sisters} judgment was in sight and mefnvry. But what is it,. that an heart thar 3s destitute of the fear of God will not do? No

fin comes amiss to such : yea they will sin, -

they will do that" themselves, for the doing of which they believe some are in Hell Fire, and all because they fear not God,

- But pray observe, if those that take.not warning when they see the' hand of God upon backfliders, are said to have none of the fear of God, have they it, think you, that. lay stumbling blocks in the way of Gods people, and use devices to cause them ro backslide, yea rejoyce when they can do this mischief to any 2? And yet many of this sort there are In ' the world, that-even rejoyce when they see a professor fall into fin and go back from Ins profession, as'if they had found fome ex- .ccllent thing. ——_

$8." They. fear not God who can lock upon a Land as wallowing in fin, and yet are nct hum-

* © bled at the sipht rhreof., Have ye, said God by

the Prophet to the Jews, forgot rhe wickedness of yer Fathers, and the wickedness of the Kinge of Fudan, and the wickedness of their Wives, which they have commited in the Land of fudan, and fireets of ferusalem? They are nor bumbled to this day, neither have they FEARED,

Of the

z or walked. itt my Cov, er, Wk F7 {10.. Here is a Land full © wickedness, any none ro bewail it, for they want ed the sear of God, and love to walkin his * Law. | But how say you, -if they that are' not humbled at their own and others wickedness are Maid: not to

sear, or have the, fear of Gol 'Whar hall we

think, or say of fuch, that r#ceive, that-nourish and rejoyce in such wickednels?.'do. "they fear God? yea, what shallwe fay.of suchs -thar are the inventors and promoters of wickedness as of oaths beastly talke, or the J}ke? Do they,

do you think, fear God ?

Once again, what shall we say of sach, that cannot be content to” be wicked themsclves, and. to invent, and rejoyce in other. mens wickedness, but 'must hare, reproach,vilify and abuse those that rhey cannor perswade to be wicked? Do they fear Goa? |

'9. They that take more heed to their Sls |

| dreams, than to the word of God, sear not God< £

Fhis alfo is plain from the word; ; for in the multitude of dreams, there is alfs divers Vanities, but fear thou God, that is rake heed” unto his word, Eccle. 5, 7. Isaiah 8:20.

Here the searing of God/ is opposed to our overmuch” heeding dreams: and rthere is im-. phed, that it is for want ofthe fear of God that men sv much heed those things,

Whet

What will they say to this that give more heed to a suggestion that ariseth from their foolish hearts or that is cast in thither by the Devil,then they do to the holy word of God? Thefe are filthy dreamers.

Also what shall we say to those that are more confident of. the mercy ' of God to their soul, because he hath blessed them with outward things, than they are: afraid of his wrath. and condemnation, though the whole of the word of God doth fully verify the same? These are filthy dreamers indeed,

Adream is cither real, or so by way of semblance, and so some men dream sleeping, and some waking (sa. 29. 7.) And as those that a man dreams sleeping are caused, either by God, Satan, Business, Flesh, or the like, so are they that a man dreams waking, to pals by those chat we have in our sleep. |

Men when bodily awake,may have dreams, that is, visions from Heaven; such are all they

-, that bave a tendency to discover to the sinner

tis state, or the state of the Church according to the word. ;

"Bar those that are from Satan, business, and the flefn are such, (especially the first and laft to wit, from Satan and the flesh) as tend to imbolden men to hope for gogd in a way (disazrecing with the word of God. Thele Jude

calls filthy dreams such whose principles __ 2H thew

=

their Ply = penny led che to: *defile

the flesh, that js, by Vi: 4 uncleanness, To despise domingon, the -reins might be laid upon the neck of their lusts, To speak. evil of agnat 3es RT | those that God

{had fet over them, for their. governing. in all

the Law and Testament of Christ,these dreamt that to live like brutes, to be greedy of gain, and to take away for it, as Cazn and Balaam, did by their wiles, the lives of the owners thereof, would go for good Coin,in the best W tryals. , These also Peter speaks of in 2

Epist. 2 Chap And he makes their dreams that Jade calls so their principle and errors in life and doctrine; you may read of them in that whole Chapter where they are called! cursed Children, and so by cansequence such. as sear not God.

Io, They fear ua: God, wha are. Sorcerers, Adulterers, false smearcrs, AND that oppress the hireling of b1s Weges.

It is a custom with some men to' keep back by fraud fram the hireling, that which by coyenant they agreed to pay for their la- Dor, pinching, 1 say and pareing from them their dve - thiat- of right belongs to them, ro. the making of them-cry in the ears of the, Lord of Sabaoth (7am. 5.4.) These fear not God; they are reckoned among the _

Of the Fear of God. of men, and in their. day of account God himself will bear witness against them, And I, saith God, will come near to you t fndgment, and I will be a swist witness again

false swearers, and apainst the adulterers, aud®

against those that oppress the hireling of his wages, the Widdow, and the F atherles, and tha turn alide.the stranger from hisright and FE AR not me faith the Lord.

II. They fear not God, who instead of pittying of, rail at Gods people in their affiiftion, temp- " Fations and persecutions, and rather rejoyce and Ship for joy, then sympathize with them in their sorrow, Thus did Davids enemies, thus did Tsraels enemies, and thus did rhe Thief, he raised. at Christ when he hanged upon the Crasg*and was for that, even by his fellow, accounted for one that feared not God, Luk.,23. 49. Fsal.:35.* 1,22,23,24,25 26, Read Obadiah 10,11,12 13,14, 15. fer. 48. 2,7: |

This is a comman thing among the Chil--

dren of men, even to rejoyce at the hurt of

them thar fear God, and it ariseth even of an |

inward hatred to Gadlinefs. They hate yor, fares Christ, because they hated me, Therefore Chritt takes what is done to his, in this, as done unto himself, and so to holiness of life.

Bur this falls hard upon such as despise at, and rejuyce to see Gods people in their | a

Df the Fear of God. + odfJand that take the advantage, as dogged Shiwei did, to augment the griefs.and afflictions of Gods people, 2 Sam. 16.5, 6, 5,8, ; These fear not God, they do this of enmity, zaaJand their fin is such as will hardly be: blorted pa-your, 1 King, 2. 8,9. 12. They fear not Cod, who are strangers to the effects of fear. If I be a' Master where is my fear? That is, shew that Iam so by ing your fear of me in the effects of your fear of vp-[me, To offer polluted Bread upon mine Altar, ;nd| This is not a fign that yau fear me, ye offer cir] the blinde for SacrificesSwhere ' is my fear? lid] ye offer the lame ard the sick these are nor | he| cffets of the tear of God, Malachi 1:6,7,8. [1 hel Sinner, it is on thing ro say, / fear God, and w,| another to fear him indeed. Therefore as 3| Fames faies, shew me thy faith by thy works, {-| fo here God calls for a restimony” of thy ' | fear by the. effets of fear. I have "already 1-1 shewed you several cy of fear, if thou ofl art a firanger ro them, thou art a in |. stranger to this grace of fear. Therefore, to y, | conc)ude this, Ir is not a feigned profession e | that will do; nothing is good here, bur whar s | is fasted with this fear of God, and they that fear him are men of truth, men of firgJeness r, | of hearr, perfect, vprighr, tumble, boly men; wheresore reader examye, :rd ageinI fay 4 | Examine, ard lay the wcrd and thy hearc - rogether

R— — Cats 50 74 Of the Fear of God. together before that thou concludest that thou fearest God.

What! fear God, .and ina state of nacure i fear God without a change of heart and life What! fear God and be proud, and covetous,

* a wine bibber, and a riotous eater of flesh!

how? fear God and a lyer, and one that cries for mercies,to spend them upon thy lusts; this would be strange.

True, thou mayest fear as devils do, but what will that profit? Thou mayest by thy fear, be driven away from. God, from his worship, people, and wales, but what will thar avail? It may be thou mayest so fear

resenc, as to be. a little stopped in thy finfull courle: perhaps thou hast got a knock from the word of God, and art at present 8 little dazled and hindred. from being in thy former and full. carrier after fin; but what of that? If by the fear that thou hast, thy hearr Is not united to God and to the fore of his Son, Word, and People, thy fear is nothing worth.

Many men also are forced: to fear God, as tnderlings are forced to ftar those that are by force above them.

If thou only thus fearest God, *tis but a false fear;it flows not from love ro God: this fear.brings not willing subje@ion, which-inreed brings the eftect of right fear; but behat

"Of the Fear of God.

ing over mastred, like an hypoerite, thou subjectest thy self, ( Pfal. 18.44.) by feigned obedience being forced, EL say,by meer dread to do it, Psal. 66, 3.

Ir is faid of David. That the fame of hins ' |

went ont into all Lands, and the Lord brought the sear of him upon all Nations, Chron. 14.17-

.1 But what did they now Jove David? did they

now chuse him to be their King? noverily; they, many of them rather hated him, 'and when they could, made resistance against him. They did, even as thou dost: feared, bur did not love: feared, but did not chuse his government that ruled over them,

It is also said of Fehosaphat, when God had subdued before him Amon, Moab and Morne Seir.That the fear of God was upon all the king doms of the Countries, when they heard that. * Lord fought against the cuemies of Israel, (2Ch. 20. 29.) Bur, I fay, was th:s fear, that is-called now the fear of God, any thing esse, but a dread of the greatness and power of the King? no verily, nor did that dread bring them into a willing subjection to, and likeing of his laws and government, it only made

them like slaves and underlings, stand-in fear

of his executing the vengeance of God upon

them. Therefore till, notwithstanding this fear, they were rebels ro him in rheir hearts, nn when

when oecasion and adyantape offered them: 'felves, they shewed ic by rising in rebellion againit //rael,

This fear therefore provoked but feigned, and forced obedience, a right.emblem of rhe obedience of fuch,*'who being still enemies in their minds to God, are forced by vertue of prefent conviction to yield a little, even of fear ro God, tov his word, and:to his ordinances. Reader, whoever thou art, think of this, it is thy concern, therefore do it and,examine,and examine again, and look diligent- Iyto thy heart in thine examination, that it beguile thee nor abour this thy so great concern, as ipdeed the fear of God is.

One thing more, before I leave thee, let me warn thee of.. Take heed ' of deferrang to fear the Lord.. Some men, when rhey have had” conviction upon their heart that the fear of God is not in them, have through the 0verpowring of their.corruptions, yet deferred and put off the fear of God from them, as it is- said of them in feremiah. This people have # tevolting and a r:bcllrons heart, they are rewolted and gone; ne:tver faid they in their heart let as now fear tre Lora, Jer. $-22,2 3,24.

Tlicy saw that the Judgments of Godattended: them -becuuse they did nor yer fear God, but that conviction would nat prevail with them to suv, ler us now fear the Lord. WY They

-

' They'\were for deferring to fear him stil

were for puting off his fear from them-longer.

Sinner; hast thou defefred to fear the Lord? is thy heart stil-so-ftabborras not to say yer, let us fearthe Lord? Oh the Lord hath taken notice of this thy rebellion, and is preparing some - dreadful Judgment for tlee. Shall 1 not fit for these things, saith the Lord, shall not my soul be avenged of such a Nation as this?

| Sinner why shouldest thou pull+yengeance

. | down upon thee? why shouldest thov- pull

| | vengeance down from Heaver upon thee?Look up, perhaps thou hast already been pulling this great while, to pull irdown upon "thee;

: | Oh; pul} no longer; why shouldest thou be

> | thine own'Executioner 2 Fall down upon thy

[knees man, and ' up with thy heart and-thy hands'to'the God thar dwels in the Heavens;

. thcfy;-yea'cry aloud,” Lord mite mine heart to

| | fear thy name, and/donot harden' mine heart. .

: | from thy fear.Fhus holy men have'cryed before” thee, and by crying have” prevented

| 'Before'T leave this use let me give thee a

few things, that if God will, nay} provoke

rhee'to fear the Lod: |

| 12.7Fhe man that feareth not Goa,catrieth it

worle toward him, then the beaft,' the bruit

beast, doth carry it towards that man, -

Th her fa ys E dived vS wfeateh £20k &very beast af the earth,ea _ aponevery | Fowl ' of the, air,, ata npdi'all that mbveth min the earth; and upon "all the Fishes snthe Sea, Gen, > (4.185% lp |

Mark, All my creatures shall fear you). und dread you, saies God, None of thetn shall be s> hardy as tO alk oft all reverence of

Ou. | : But what a shame is this to man, That God | | should sabject all his creatures to him and he = should refuse, ro:stoop his heart to God 2: The Beast, the;Bird, the Fish, and all, have @ fear and dread of man, yea- Gad: has pur-it.in their © hearss to.,feara-man, and. yet man-is-yoid! of * fear, and dread., I meas of godly feat! of himj that thus lovingly hath - put all things under, him.

Sinner art thou not albamed thaz a filly. Cow.a Sheepyea a Swine,should better observe the Law- of his creation,, then thou dost the Law of thy-God 2 +,

2, Considers, He that will not faar God, God. will make him fear him whether he will or ho; That is,.He that doth not; will 'naty now:so ; fear him, as, willingly to boy before itn; and put his neck into his yoakz God ; will cmoke him fear. him; when ;he-comes to taktifengeance.on him. Then he will; 7 | ; with terror; and with fear 0n eyery Ade; fear' | X | Ong |

MW vithio, and hn within, Sema {ruby "Y Why, even in rhe way oct w "ol | thou art goifip ont - bf ke World: ind AS be oY

En that fears not God ow, the Lotd hal logh at his sears r4ep. Sitter, God will be even th all chem that chuse not to have his'fear in their hearts: For as he calls and tlity hear not nov, fo wes shall cry, yea howl then, and he will lavgh ar their fears, | 1 wil Lawgh, Gith he, at their destruttion £8 will mock when their frar cometh, when your fear; cometh as disolation, and your di TferiGEion like 4 whirlwind, when distress = anguish cometh i=

' 03 You, then shall you call upon me, byt 1 will not answer: you shalt sech me eatth,. bar you shall

C not find me, for that you hated knowledge, and did not chuse the FEAR of the. Lord, Prov, 1. Z6, 27, 28, 25.

Sitmer! thou thitkest to elcape the fear 2 - bur what wile thou do with the -pirt? Thou. 'F thinkest co escape the pir; but What wilt chow

| do With the Shave. The Saart tay. you,what ig that? ansyer it is eveti the work of thine awn hiakds.” The wicked.is snared in the works of bis, oh Vavide, is snared by the words of bis lips

_

11" wilt thou do whes thou nd into. this snare; that is into.the guilt and terror that thy sins will snaffle thee with, when they like a cord are. fastned abour thy soul ? This snare will bring thee back-again to

the pit which is Hell, and then how wilt. thou \ *

do to be.rid of thy sear. The fear, pir and the saare.shall come, upon thee, because thou fear=- est not God.

. Sinner, art thou one of them that hast: cast 1

off fear? . poor man, what wilt-thou do-when

these three things beset thee? whither - wile -

thou fly for help? And where wilt thou leave * thy glory? If thou fliest from the fear, theres

the pit, if thou fliest from the pit there's the |

fare.

The second use is an Exhortation to fear God.

'* My next © word shall be, an Exhortation $0

fear God, I mean an Exhortation to Saints,,O J

sear the Lord ye bis Saints for there 5s no want to then that fear him.

"Not but that every Saint doth. fear 4; Bur as the Apostle faith in an other. cale,, / beseech Jou- do. it more and-more, _ The fear of the Lord, as I have shewed you, is a grace of | the new covenant,

as other. saying, graces: = and so is capeadle of being stronger ot + weaker |

weaker as other 'graces are." Wherefore I 5M befeech you fear him more and more. _ _. X - It is said of Obadiah, That he. feared the Lord greatly: every Saint fears the Lord, but every Saint does not greatly fear him.

there are but few Obadia/'s in the world,” I mean among the Saints on earth: See the whole relation of him, 1 King. 18. As Paxl faid of T:mothy, I have none likeminaed, 10 It may ' be sajd of some concerning. the. fear of

, the Lord; They have scarce a fellow. So it

was-with 7ob, There is none like him in all the earth, one that seareth God, G&tc. fob 1. Chap. 2. There was. even none in obs day that

feared *Gca like him, no, there 'was nor one

tike him in all the earth, but doubtless there were more in the World that feared God; bur this fearing of him greatly, that's the thing that Saints should do, and that was the-thing that Fob did do, and in that he did outstrip his fellows. ,

Ir'is also said of Hayaniah, That be was 8 faithful man, and feared God above many, Nehe. 7.2, He also had got, as.to rhe. exercise of, and growth in this grace,the start of many'of his Brethren. 'He feared God above many. Now rhen, seeing this grace admits, of degrees; - and is'in some stronger, and in some weaker; let us be 'all awakned, as to' other graces, 6”

| to rhis grace also, =o like as you abou"

pb and in all d x. Ju and in your love ro us: See that ye nd in_ this grace also. $5 5 lab v9 Nos infoxce. this. exhortation upon you by [eyeral motiyes.

1. Let Gods d:stingnishing lave to you, be 4 ; motive to you to fear him greatly. He hath put *

his fear in thy hearc, and hath not given that blessing to thy neighbour; perhaps not -to thy Hntband, thy. Vife, thy Child, or thy Parent; Oh what an obligation shopld this consideration lay upon thy heart, greatly;to fear the Lord,? Remember also (28 I have ha inthe first part of this book Pp. that this fear of the Lord'is his Trzasre, a choice Jewel, given only to faverites,, and to those that are greatly beloved.

Great gifts naturally tend to oblige, and will do h L trust, with -thee, when thou

shalt ingeniously. consider it. It | 24 ligne of

a very bad nature when the pre sbews It self; Could God have done more for: thee then - ro have put his fear in his heart? This Is better,then to have given thee a place,eyen In Heaven without ir. Yea had he given thee all faith, . all knowledge, and the tongue of Men and Angels, and a place.in. Heayen, to boot, They had all been short ofthis gift, of the fear of God. in thy heart. Therefore. love ic,

ngarith it, exercise it, use all means: ro cavle It

every "thing, i n a in viremmce. i know-. -

it. to Pe i yy hy kent hearr,, 0 that may. appear it is setby,ar

Ss Another matzue $9 way wn up EY | in this grace of the, fear of God, "i fk bo privaledges that it lajes qhee under where. wilt thou. find d.in the able man priyiledges, so' affeftionactly, ans grace, as to this. of the fra speaks. of this grace, and. of the x

Was

_ that hel ong. unto-1t, as if. (co. speak with re+ \ verance), he knew not: bow to. have, done

blessing of the mag, thar, hath ig. . .....

It seems to, me, as if 7-45 grave of sro the darling grace, the, grace that 'Gaqd sets his heart ypon at the. highest rate. 54 It were he. imbraces. and hugs, and laies.\the,man in his bosom, that hath, and grows firong | In this grace of the fear of God.

See again the many, priviledges, in which the man is intrested,, that hath, .this-grace in bis heart: and see also.that the re are, but few of them, wherever mentioned, but have in tailed, to, rhem the: Pragunciation of a. blessin or else that man is spoken of by: ay, of m7 miration, -

3. Another mative may be his, The 14h that, groweth in this grace of the fear. of the: Lord will escape, those evils that others. will, fall-intee Where i this grace is, it keepeth the foul from

nal apolacy. C1 will pat am fean it thein N 4 heart

| Jeart: poet foal | not ders fro me, er

2 2.140.] But yer,if there be not an increase in

: this grace, much evil "may attend, and be

commited notwithstanding.

'There'is a child that is healchy, and hath its limbs and can go, bur *ris careless; now the evil of carelefshess doth -d ifadvantage it very much,” carelesiness is the cause of stumblings, - of falls, of knocks, and that it falls into rhe dirt, yea that somtimes 'ris burned,” or. al-

| most drowned. And thus it is even with

Gods people that fear him, because they ad not to their fear, a care of growing more in the fear of God, therefore they reap dammage; whereas, were they more in his fear, it would keep: them better, deliver them more, and preserve Regs from these snares of death.

., Another motive may be this, To grow in this grace of the fear of God, is the way to be kept. alwaies in a conscientions performance of Christian aunties.

An increase in this grace I say, keeps every grace in exercise, and the keeping ofour graces In their due exercise, - -produceth a consci- Entious performance of diities. Thou hast a Watch perhaps in thy pocket, but the hand will not as yet be kept in any good order, but does alwaies give thee the Jie, -as' tothe hour of the day; well, but what is the way ro

to remedy 757 but to look well to: and the wheels wirhin? for if they in

right, so will the hand do alfo. This” is iy 4

case in- spiritual things? - Thou art a 01 ar>y

*. man, and the fear of God is in thee, bar”

for all thar, one cannot well tell, by thy - Ie, what time a day” it is. - Thon givest no true, and constant signe that thou art indeed' a Christian; why the reason” is, thou dost- nor

. Took well to this grace of the fear of 'God-

Thou dost not grow and increafe in that, bur sufferest thy heart to grow careless, and hard, and fo thy life remiss, and worldly: 7ob's growing great in the fear of God, made him eschew evil, fob: T chap. 2.

5. Another motive is, This-is the way to'be

. wise indeed.” * A wise man feareth and departeth 1 \from evil.” It doth not fay a wise man hath the grace. of fear, 'but a wise man feareth, that'is

puteth this grace into exercise. There isno greater'signe of wisdom then to grow in" this blefsed grace. | Is it not a signe of wisdom to depart: from fins, which are the snares of Death and Hell? Is it nota figne of wisdom for a man, yet more and more to indeavour to intrefst himself in the love and protection of

, God? Is it not a high point of wisdom for a

man to be alwaies doing of that which lajes him under the conduct of Angels? fure)y:.this' 18S

| is s reisdom. And if it me a yy. Ie 10 \bave this fear, is [it not wisdom to increase in,\it?

doubtless. ic is the highest point of wisdom,

ph KISVO shewed before,therefore grow there-

543 hen motzve may be this. Jt 5s seemly far Saints to. fear, aud norease inthis fear of God.

- IT. He is 'thy : Creator, 1s it not. seemly for. EFERSUFEF to: fear and reverence their Creator *-

2.' He is thy KRisg, is it not srerly for Subjetts to fear and reverence their King, 7

'3. He' is thy. Father, is it not seemly. for Children to reverence and fear their Father? yea and to.do it more-and more?

7, Another motive may be, 1t is honogr able ro.prow in this grace of sear: when Ephraim spake trembling ke exalted himself in; /srae!, Hose 13. 1;

Truly to. fear, and to abound in. this. fear, is.2 signe of a very.princely spirit: and the reas: fon is, when 1 greatly fear my, God, I am, ahove the fear-of all orhers, nor can any thing in, this. world, be: it never so terfible and; dreadful, move me at all to fear them. And, hence it-is that Christ counsels us to;fear; 4nd

WW. Lsay nnto youry friends, said he, sear not, theme

that kill-the body, and. after that haue na mare: that they can do, (| but this is an bigh pitch, how

fhowla ne come by such. pr

and by fearing of him, arrive to this pireh, Fear bins who: after be hath killed, | bath power to cast into + ik yea, 1 say unto.y0u fear him; Luke 12. Indeed EA true fear of Gad, sets a -man. above all the world. And therofore, It 'Gaich gain, fear not their fear, bat [anftify. the Lord od in your heart, axd\let hin be your fear, let bins be your dread, 1/4. 8.

Your. great, ranting, swaggering Rosters

that are ignorant of the nature ofthis fear of God, count it a poor sneaking, pittiful, cowandy fpiris in Meg to fear and tremble bere the.Lord,, but whofo' looks back'to gaols, and gibbics, to. the sword: and burning stake, shall see, that rhere-in- them has been the most mighty and invincible spicir that hag been. in the world.

'Yea see if God darh not ' coun that the growth of his people in this grace of fear, is that which makes, them honourable, when he posirively excludeth- those from, a dwelling place i in his house, That do pot honour thens that fear him, THsal. 15, 4: And'he faith moreover, A woman that feareth the Lard, see shall be praised, If the, world. and. godless: men will nog honour these, they shall be honoured: some way. cle. Sh, faith he, that honont me

1 will honear, and they shall "be honoured in Heaven, in the Churches, and among the Anels.

: 8. Another motive to grow in this fear of God, may be, This fear, and the encrease of it, qualifics a man to be put in trust with heavenly and spiritual things, yea and with earthly things too,

1, For heavenly and fpiritual things. Ady covenant, saith God, was with Levi of lije and peace, and [ gave THEM to him, for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before mr) name, Mala. 2. 5,

Behold what a gift, what a mercy, what a blessing this Levz is intrusted with; to wit with Gods everlasting covenant, and with the life, and peace, that is wrapped-up in this Covenant. But why is it given to him? the anfwer is, for the fear wherewith he 'feared me, and was afraid before my name. And the reason is good, for this fear of God, teaches a man fo put a due estimation upon every gift of God bestowed upon us; also ic Teaches us to make use of the same with reverence 'of | his name, and respect to his glory in most. Godly-wise, all which, becomes him that js mrrusted with any spiritual gift, The! gift here was given to Lev; to minister to: his brethren doCtrinally thereof, for he (saith God) shall teach facob wy Statutes and 1frae/ my Law. See

- See also, . Exod. 18.'21.\ and” Nehemiah 7:2. With many other places that might be named; and: you will find that men fearing God and hateing covetousness ; that--men_ that fear God above others, are intrusted by God, yea, and by his Church too, with the crust and miniftration of spiritual things before any other in the world,

2, For earthly things. - This fear of God qualifies a man to be put in trust with them rather then with another. Therefore God made foseph Lord of all e£gypt ; Obadiah, Steward * Ahabs house, Daniel, Mer - decai and the three Children were set over the province of Babilon. And this by the wonderful working hand of God becaufe he had :0 dispose of earthly things now, not only in a common way, but for the good of his people in special. True, when: there-is no speciat matter, or thing to be done by God in a Na+ ticn for his people, then who will, that is, whether they have grace or no,; may have the dispose of those things: but if God has any thing in special to bestow upon his people of this worlds good, - then he will intrust it.in the hands of men fearing God.” Joseph musk now be made Lord of e£gypc because 1sraet

must be kept from starving: O+badiah must: now be made Steward of 4habs house, be-: cause the Lords Prophets must be hid from,

and ed in despite 'of the rage and Bloody mind of 7ezebel* Daniel with his companions, and Asordecai'alo,” they were all exalted to

earthly and remporal dignity;that they might - '

ih thar stare, they being men that abounded Ih'the fear 'of 'God, be serviceable to their Brethren in their straits and Uifficulties, Ge#.

9. Another motive to grow in this grace of fear is, Where the sear of God in the heart of aty is not growing, there ho grace thrives, nor abity done a3 it should.

- 1. There no grace thrives; neither Faith, Hope, Love, not any grace, This is evident froth that general Exhliortation;perfect holinefs in the fear of God; 2 Cor. 5. 1. Perse holiness, what is thar ? but as 74es saies of parience, let every gface have its perfect work, thar ye may be petfett and entire lacking nvthing. 7am: 1: '" But this cannot be done but in the fear of Gvd, 'yed in the txetcilt of that grace, and sd consequently in the growth bf ir, for there i8-no'grace, but grows being exercised, If then you wohlt be perfe& in holiness, if you would have every gface thatQod has pur into your souls, grow and flourish anroperfettion, Jay: them, #5 I itiay ay 4 foak jn this oye | (

of fear, ant do all in the exercise vf'it;' for'a'' /

little done in the fear of the Lord is berter rhen the revenues of the wicked. And'#- gain, the Lord will not fuffer the soul 6fthe righteous, the foul that liveth in the fear of the Lord, | rorfamish, but he casteth away the abundance of 'the| wicked, Bring abiindance to God, and-if it be not seasoned with 'godly sear, it shall not be acceptable to him, Bit

'Jorbsome and abominab'e in his sight; for it.

doth not flow from che sbirir of che fear'of the Lord. |

2. Therefore where there is not a growth in this fear, there is no duty done so acceptably.This flows from that'which goes before, for if grace rather decays than grows, Where this grace of fear is not in the growth arid-increase thereof, then duties in-their glory and acceptableness decay likewise. |

10. Another morive to stir thee up to grow in the increase of this grace of fear 18, -7# 5 agrace, do but abound therein, that will give thee great boldness borh with God and men. , Fob was a man, a none-such in'his day, for one that feared God, and who so bold with God-as 74b? who'so boid with God, atid who fo bold with men as he? -1, How bold was he with God, when he wishes for nothing more' then that he might come even to his sear, and concludes that if as he

_ =; VU] "the Fear of. Gor.

I coplt come at him, he would: approach

.even'as a prince unto him, and as such would

order his cause before him, 70b 2.3. 3,4,5,617+

Alfo before his friends, how bold was he? | For-ever as they laid to his charge that he

was an hypocrite, he refels them with the mmony of a good conscience, which goad

conscience he got and kept, and maintained by increasing in the” fear of God, yea his conscience was kept. so good by this grace of fear,

( for *twas by that that he eschewed evil)that *ewas common with him'to appeall to God when accused, and also to put himself for his clearing under most bitter curses and Imprecations, fob 13.3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 18, 19,20,21, 22, 24. 70b 31.

This fear of God is it that keeps the conscience clean and tender, and sv free from much of that defitement that even a good man:may be afflicted with, for want of his IOl in this fear of God.

Yealet me add, if a man can with a good conscience say that he defires.:ro': fear the name of God, it will ad boldness to his soul in his approaches i into. the presence.of:God.. O Lord, laid, Nehemiah, I beseech thee. let thine © ear be attentive:to the prayer of thy Servant and Servants, who desire te fear thy Gem; Nehe

Df the Fear of God To3. _ He ' pleaded his desire: of ' fearing the name of God, asgan argument with God to }.

grant him his request; ard the reason was,

because God had promised before to bless them

| - that fear him, both small and great, Pl.115.13.

11, Another motive to stir you-up to fear the Lord, and to grow in this fear, is,by it thou maieskt have thy labours blessed. to the, saving of the souls of others. "Tis said of Lewi(of whom mention was made before,that he feared God and was afraid before his Name) that he saved others from their sins, . The ' /aw of rruth was in his lips, and he nalked with me in Peace and Equity, and did turn away many from ini-

. quity, al. 25.6. The fear of God that

dwelt in his -heart, shewed its growth in the Sanctifying of the Lord by his life and words, and the Lord also blessed this his growth herein, by-blessing his labours to the saving of his Neighbors. | | Wouldest thou fave thy Husband, thy Wise, thy Children, &c. then be greatly | in the fear of God; This Peter teaches, Wives, saith he, be subject to your own husbands, that if any * cb: y not the word, they may without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chast conversation, coupled with fear,'I Pet, 3. 1,2. . : _ SO then. if Wives and Children: ; yea if Husbands, Wives, Children, Seryants,&c. did 'o O ur

Of the Feat of 'God,

but better observe this general rule of Peter, - to wit, of letting their whode conversation 6e coupled with fear, 'they might be made instraments in Gods hand of much more

gbod then they are. Bur the misery is, the

is the cause that so little good is done by those that profess. *Tis not a conversation, that-is conpled with a profession (for a grear profession may be attended with a Fife that is not good, but scandalous) but it is a conversation coupled with fear of God (that is, with the imprefsions of the fear of God upon-it ) that is convincing, and that ministreth the a- Wakenings of God to the consdience, in order t& faving the unbeliever.O they are a sweet cou- _ ple, to wit, a Christian conversation, conpled wth fear,” ''

* The wantiof this fear of God, is that that has been a stumbling block to the blind ofteritimes. Alas, the World will not be convinced by your talk, by your- notions and by the great profession that you" make, if they see not, therewith mixed, the lively imprefsions af the fear of God : but wil), as I said, rather ftargble and fall, even at your conversation and at your profession it-se}ff. Wherefore, -to prevent this mischief, that is. of Tumbling of iouls while Fou make your profetsion of God, by a conyerfarion not becoming your profession; God bids you fear him," Implying that good conversation coupled with fear delivers the blind world from those falls that other” wise they cannot be delivered from. Thox shal* not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block be” fore the blind, but shalt fear thy God, 1 am the Lord, Levit, 19. 14.

But shaft fear thy God, that is the remedy S |

that will prevent their stumbling ar you, at what elfe soever they stumble. Wherefore Paul saies to Timothy, Take heed to thy self, and

to thy doftrine, continue in them, for in sa doing

thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee, 1 Tam. 4. 16.

12. Another Motive to fear, and grow. in this *fear of God is, This is the way to engage God to deliver thee from many outward dangers, whoever sals therin, Psal. 34, 7.

This is proved from that of the story of the Hebrew Midwives. The Mtdwives saies Moses,

feared God, and did not drown the Men-Childrgn as the King had commanaed,but saved them alive. And what follows, Therefore. God' dealt well with the Midwives; and it came to pass that because the Midwives feared God, that he made them houses, Exod.1, That is he sheltered them and caused 'them to be hid from the rage and fury of the King, and that perhaps in some of the Houses of the Egyptians themselves, for

| why might not the Midwives be there hid

Te "Or Te Pear of God, as wel] as was Moses even in the Kings Court? And how many - times are they that fear God, said to be delivered, both by God and his Holy Angels:as also-I have already shewed.

this fear of God is, This is the way to be deli- | vered from Errors, and damnable opinions.There bo are some that perish in their r:ghteonsness, | thats an Error; there be some thar perish in * their wickedness, and thats an Error also, Some again prolong their lives by. their wickedness, and others are righteous over much, and also some are over wise, andall these are snares,

shall I escape? Indeed thats the question, and the Holy Ghost resolves it thus, He that feareth Cod shall come out of them all, Eccles, 7, 15,16,17,18.

14. Another Motive to fear, and to grow in this fear of God, is, Scb have leave, be the never so dark in their soult,to come boldly to Fesus Christ, and to trust in him for lise, T told you before, that they that fear God, have in the

encral, a licence to trust in him: but now TI rell you, and that in particular that-they, and they specially may doit, and that though in the dark : you that fit in darkness and have no light, if this grace of fear be alive in your hearts,you have this boldness; Who :s amon

304 that seareth the Lord (mark that feareth the | Lord

#

I3. Another Motive to fear and to growin

and pits, and holes. Bur then faiest thou, how

"Of the Fear of

| Lord)and obeyeth the woice of his Servant, that walketh in darkpess, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay uponhss God, Isa, j©., IO,

Ic is no small advantage, you know, when men have to deal in difficult matters, to have a pateng, or licence to deal; now to trust in the Lord is a dificult thing, yet the best and moit gainful of all, But then, some will say, since tis so difficult, how may we do without danger? why the Text gives a licence, a patent to them to trust in-his name that bave his fear in their hearts. Lee H 1 M trast in the name ofthe Lord,and stay upon his Goa.

15. Another Motive to fear and grow in the grace of fear, is, God will own and acknowdedge such to be bis, who ever he rejetteth. Yea he il distinguish and seperate them from all Others, in the day of his terrible Judgments.

He wilkdo with them,as he did by those that -

FEE

sighed for the abominations that were done *

in the Land, (Ezek,9.) command the man that hath his Inkhorn by his side, To ser a mark upen their foreheads, that they might not fall in that Judgment with others,

-S0 in Mal.3. God faies plainly of them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name : That they should be writ in his Book, A Book of remembrance was written before him Jor themthat feared the Lord, and that thought

- Of the Fear of God. upon his name, and they shall be mit saith the Lord of Hofts in the day that 1 maks up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him, ala. 3. 16, 17.

Mark, he both acknowledges them for his, and also promises to spare them, as a man would spare his own Son. Yea and moreover will wrap them up as his chief Jewels with himself in the bundle of life, Thus much for the Mortives.

How to grow in this Fear of God,

Having given you these Motives- to the duty of growing in THIS fear of God, Before I leave this use, I will in few words shew you HOW you may growin THIS fear of God.

1, Then, If thou wouldest grow in this fear of God, Learn aright to distinguish of fear in general, | mean, learn to diitinguish between ' THAT fear that is godly, and that which in it self 18 indeed ungodly fear of God ; and | know them well the one from the other, left the one, the fear that in it self indeed is #xgoaly, get the place, eyen the upper hand of that which truly is goaly fear. And remember the ungodly fear of God, is by God him- {elf counted an enemy to him, and hurtful ro his people, and is therefore most plentifully forbidden in the word, Gen.1.15.Chap.'26.24. Chap. 46. 3. Exo, 14. 13, Chap, 20, 20, \Nnm.

Of the Fo mom T4: 9. Chep., 21. 34. sa. 41. 10, 13, 14. Chap. 43. I, Chap. 44. 2, 8. Chap. 54. 4: fer. 39. IO. Dan. Ig, 12.19, zoel, 3. 21. Haggai 2:5. Zech.B. 13.

Secondly If thou wouldest grow in this Godly fear, learn rightly to diftingnish it from that fear, in particular, that is Godly but for a time: Even from that fear that is wrought from the spirit, as a spirit of bondage. I say learSto distinguish c4;s from that, and also perfectly to know the bounds that God hath set to that fear that is wroughr by the spirir, as a spirit of bondage; Lest instead of growing in the fear char is to abide with thy foul for ever, thou be overrun again With that first fear, which is to abide with-thee, but till the spirit of adoption come. And that thou mayest not only distinguish them one from rhe other, bur also keep each in its due place and bounds, consider in general of c hath already been said - upon this head,yng.m particular that the first fear is no more wrought by the holy spirir, but by the Devil to distress thee and make thee to live, not hike a Son, but a slave. And for rhy better help in this matter, know that God himself hath feb bounds to this fear, and has concluded that after the spirit of Adoption is come, that other fear is wrought in thy hearr-by him:no more. ( Roms. B. 15.2 Tim. 1.7.) O 4

Again,

Again, before T leave this, let me tell thee _ thar if thou dost.not well bestir thee in this matter,this bondage fgar,to wit that which is like it,though not wrought in thee by the Holy Ghost, will by the management and subrilty of the Devil, the author of it, baunt, disturb and make thee live uncomfortably, and'that while thou art an heir of God and his Kingdom. This is that fear that the Apostle speaks of, That makes men all their life tte subfSt to bondage, Heb, 2.14. 15.

For though Christ will deliver thee indeed at last, thou having imbraced him by faith, yet thy life will be full of trouble; and death, though Fesus hath abolished it, will be alwaies a living bxg-bear to thee in all thy wales and thoughts ro break thy peace, and to make thee ro draw thy loins heavily after him.

Thirdly wouldest thou grow in this Godly fear? then as thon shouldest learn to distinguish of fears, so thou shouldesk make conscience of which to entertain and cherish. If God would have his fear ( and it 1s called his fear by way

of eminency ) that his fear may.be before ;

you that you fin not, Exo. 20.20. fer.32. 4. I say, if God would have th:s his fear be with thee;, then thou shouldest make conscience of this, and not so lightly give way to flavish fear, as is Common for Christians to do. There is utterly a fauls among- Christians about

Lag

about this thing: That is "us mobo not that * -_.

conscience of resisting of lavish fear, as they ought ; they rather cherish and entertain it,

; and so weaken themselves, and that fear that

they ought to strengthen. | And this is the reason thar we fo often lie grabling under the black, and amazin thoughts that are engendred in our hearts by. unbelief:For this fear nourifheth anbelief;that Is now it doth, (to wit, if we give way to It after rhe spirit of Adoprion | is come )8& readily closerh with all the fiery darts of the wicked.

But Christians are ready to do with this. fear as the Horse does when the tines of the fork are {et against his side, even lean to it. untill it entereth into his belly. We lean naturally to this fear, I mean, after God: hag done good to our souls; It is hard strivin against jt, because it has even our sence ant feeling of its side.

But I say, If thon wouldest be a growing, Christian, growing, I say, in the fear thartis Godly, in the fear that is is alwaies so; rhen make conscience of striving against the other, and against all chese rhings that would bring, thee back to it. Wherefore Soould 1 fear, said David, in the day of evil, when the afar x] my heels corspasseth me about? Pjal.a9

What! not fear in the day of _ ? what! l not when the iniquities of thy heels compasseth,

passeth thee about” 2 no; not then, saies hee; that 1s,not with that fear,that would bring him again mto bondage to the law; for he had received the spirit of Adoption before. Indeed,

. Ifever a Christian has ground to give way to

lavish fear, it is at these two times, ro wit in the day of evi/ and when the iniquitie of his heels compasseth him about: But you see, David would not then, no not then give way thereto, nor did hee see reason why he should, Wherefore sola 7, said he? I, wherefore indeed, fince now thou art become a Son of God chro!gh Christ, and hast received the spirit of his 1on into thy heart crying father father.

Fourthly, wouldest thou grow in his grace of Godly fear? then grow in the knowleage of rhe new covenant, for that is indeed the girdle of our reins and the strength of our souls. Hear what Zacharias saith, God, saies he, hath raised up to us an horn of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he spake by the month of all the Holy Prophets which have bees since the world began. But what was it? what "was it that he spake 2 Why, That he would grant us that we being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him withoat fear, ( without this slavish bondage fear ) in holiness and righteousness before him all the daies of or life. But upon what is this princely fearless service of God grounded 2 Why #pon

the

_

the holy covenant of God, #pon the oath that

Now in this covenant is wrapped up all thy salvation : in it is contained all thy defire, and I

' am sure thar then ir containeth the compleat

salvation of thy Soul : and, I fay,' fince this covenant is confirmed by promise, by oath, and by the 4lood of the son of God, and thar on purpose that thou mighrest serve rhy God without slavish fear, Then the knowledge and faith of this covenant, is of absolure necessity to bring us to this liberty, and out of our slavish rerrors, ard fo, consequently, to cause us to grow in that son-like, Godly fear, which became even the Son of God himself, and be-

- comes all his Disciples to live in the growth

and exercise of.

Fifthly, wouldest thou grow in rhis Godly fear? thes labour even alwaies to keep thine evidences for Heaven and of thy fa]- vation alive upon thy heart; for he that loserh his evidences: for heaven, will hardly keep slavish fear out of his heart z bur he that hath the wisdom and grace.to keep them alive, and apparent to himself,” he will grow in this godly fear, See how David words It; frem the ends of the earth, faith he, will TH cry #nto thee, when my heart is over-whelmed, lead me to the rock that 1s higher then. For thaw

204 Of the Fear of God. . thou hast been a.sbelter to mec,aud a strong tower from the enemy : I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever. For thou God hast heard my prayer thou bast given me the heritage of those that {car : thy nawe, Psal. 61. 5. | _ Mark a little, David doth by these words in the first place suggest, that some times, to his thinking,he was as far off of his God,as the | ends of the earth are asunder and that art Tuch times he was subject tobe over-whelmed, _ afraid. |

Secondly, The way that he took, at such rimes, to help himself, was, 1. To cry to God to lead him again to Jesus Christ, /cad me ro | #he rock that is higher than 1. for indeed without faith in him, and the renewing of that faith, there can be no evidence for Heaven made to appear unto the soul. This therefore le prays for first. 2, Then he puts that faith Into exercise, ahd that with respect ro the time that was past, and also of the time that was to come. For the time past, sayes hee, thou hast been a svelter to me, and a strong itorer from the enemy; And for the time ro come he said, / will abide in thy tabernacle, that is; in thy Christ by faith, and in thy way of wo:sbip by love, for ever, And observe ir, he makes rhe believing remembrance of his first evidences for Heaven, the ground of this lis cry, and faith, for 424 sayes he, ay

bast given me *h ems of ht that Fav thy name. Thou hast made Mme meet to_ the partaker of tlie; mercy. of thy chosen, and hast put me under the blessing of goodness

*wherewith thou hast blefsed those thar fear thee.

Thus you see how David in his diftresses musters up his prayers, faith and evidences

1 foreternal life, that be might deliver himself

from being over-whelmed, that is, with slavish” fear,and that he might also #bound In thatSonlike fear of his fellow brethren that is not only comely with respect to our profession but profitable to our souls.

Sixthly, Wouldest thou grow in rb5s fear of God? then set before thine eyes the being, and majesty of God; For that both thegerreth, maintaineth and' increaseth this fear. An hence it is called the fear of Godzthat is,an holy and awful dread and reverence of his majestic For the fear of God, is 'to*® stand in aw of him, bur how can that be done if we da not set him before us? And again if we would fear him more, we must abide more in the sence and fairh of his glorious majestie, Hence this fear, and Gods name, is so often put together: as fear God, fear the Lord, fear thy God

J- do this in the fear of the Zora, and tha shale?

fear thy Goa, I am the Lord. For these words, I am the Lore, thy Gel An

'. and the like, are on purpose pur in, not only " to shew us who we should fear, but alfo to be-_ get, maintain, and increale in us that fear that! js due from us to that glorious, and fearful ' name, the Lord our God, Deat. 28. 58; _ _ Seventhly, Wouldest thou grow in:4:5 grace of fear? the keep alwaies, close to thy conscience, the authority of the word; Fear the commmandwent, as the commandment of a God borh mighty and plorious,and as the commandment of a father, both org and pitriful; ler this commandment, Islay, be alwaies,with thine eye, with thine ear, and with thine. heart: For then thou wile be taught, .not only to fear, but to avorrd in the fear of the Lord. Every grace is nourished by the word, and without it there is no. thrift in the soul, Pre. 1:3. 13. Chap.” 4. 20, 21,22, Devnt., 6, 1..2. _-Eightly, Wouldest thou grow in this grace of fear? Then be ngch in the faith of the promise, of the promise that makzth over to thy soul ay. znterest in God, by Christ, and of. all good things, The promise naturally tendeth to increase in us the fear of the Lord, because this fear, it grows by goodness and mercie; They shall fear the Lord and his goodness; now this goodness aza mercie of God, it,is wrapped up #n, and made over to us by promise; for God gave it ta Abraham by. promise. Therefore the faith and hope of the promise; causerh this fear tg Er Brow

@

7 4 f 'F a < i & 7 FY "'S _ "TO | | grow in the foul,” Having thereforethelt pro-' mises, dearly-beloved, let us.cleanse our'selyes from all filchiness of flesh and spirit-perfeCting

-

- holiness in the fear of God,2. Cor-4. I, perfect

holiness in the fear of God; therefore that. fear by the promise must needs grow mighty, for dy,with,and in ir,you see holiness is perfected.

Ninthly, Wouldest thou grow in this grace of fear? Then remember the {Judgments of | Ged that have or shall certainty ever take those pro=

| fessours, that have either been down-right bypecrites, or else wnwatchful Christsans, For:both chese sorts partake of the Judgments of. Go the one,(to wit,the true Christian)'for his-unwatchfulness, for his: corret:on; the other (to wir, the hypocrite Jfor his hypocrihe, to- his destruttion, . This is a way to make thee stand in aw, and to make thee tremble, and grow. in the grace'of fear before thy God. ' +

7ndgments ? you may say, what fndgments? Answ. Time 'will fail me here to tell rhee of the Judgments that sometimes overtake Gods people ;. and that :alwaies certainly overtake the hypocrite fot::-his transgrefst- ONS, | 122d off

,

1. Blindnef of vent In 'this world.

2. 'The death >of. their hope, at the day of their death.

3. And the' damnation of their souls at the day of Judgment. Matth.23.15,16,17,18,19:. J0b-$.13. Chap. 11.20. Chap.18;14. Chap; 20. 4,5; 6, 7. Matth, 23. 33. Chap. 24 51. Lak 20.

The godly consideration of these ' things

" tend to make men grow in the fear of God.

Tenthly, Wouldest thou grow in his grace of fear? Then fludy rhe EXCELLENCIES of the grace of jear, and whar profit it yieldeth to to them that have ir, and Jabor to get - thy hearr into the love, both of the/ exercise of the'grace it (elf, and/alsh of the fruit it yieldeth: Fora man' hardly grows in.the encreafe of any grace, until his cart is wwred to it,

" and until it is made ' lovely in his eyes, Plat.

'Now the excellencies of this grace of fear, have also been discaursed cf, in this Book before, where, by- reading thou fhalt : find the

-#ruit it bears, and the promises thar are anexed to it, which, because they are many, I refertbee also thither for thy inflruCion. Eleventhly --Wonldeft thou. grow in this grace of sear: ? Then remember what 'a world of jvuiledges .da belong to them that sear the Lord : As also I have hinted, namely/that such ans, | sha

shall not be. hurt, shall want no good thing,. shall be guarded by Angels Qt bave a special

licence, though in never so dreadful plight, ro trust in the name 'of the Lord, and stay upon

their God. _..

7-22, Wouldest thou grow i0 this grace of fear? Then be much in prayer to God for abundance. of the encrease thereof, To fear Ged,is that which

| 1s. according to. his will, and--if we ask any

thing according to his will, he heareth us. Pray therefore. that God will unite thy heart to

| fear his name; this is the way to. grow. in the

race Of fear, |

Lastly, Wouldest thou grow in this grace of fear; Then devote thy self toit, Psal, 119: 38. Devote my felf to it, you will, say, how.is that? I answer,why.give thy selfe co ir,addict thy self to ir. Solace rhy self in the contemplation of God, and of a reverence of his natne and word and worfhip. Then wilt thou fear, and grow in this grace of fear. ' What things they are that have 4 tem. _;,

dency. in them to hinder the growth. .. of the fear of God in onr hearts, .,

things, that will, if way. be W's, hinder: thy growth in his, far, of Gad, thes'. 1 bh. | P: 4 T = '" , Pd of

C27 , at? > OMe, —_ which, because people of God, ® ned by them. - And they are these which follow,

1. If thou wouldst grow in this grace ' of 1 fear, Take heed of an hard hart, for” that will

hinder thy growth in this grace. 'Why haft thou hardened onr hearts from thy fear? (Isa.63, 17.) was a bitter complanmte of rhe Church heretofore; for it is not only the judgement, that in it self is dreadful, and fore to Gods people, bur that. which greatly hindereth the

growth of this grace in the soul. An hard heart

Is but barren ground for any grace to:grow in, oP for the grace of fear: there is but little of rh;s fear, where the heart indeed is hard; neither will there ever be much therein.

* Now if thon wouldlt be kept from an hard hearr. |

© T, Take heed of the fepnivgs of sm. Take heed I fay, of char, though it should be never

4© small, 4 rele leaven,leavens the whole lump : *there'is more in 4 litle fin to latden, than in *2.great deal of grace ro fofren, Davids look - upon Barhsheba, was, one would think, but a

small matter :, yet, that begining of hn, conitsatder upon"the body of Uriah, and'to/apo ; : bundance

they are very hirtfil to the | wonld have thee be watare things I say that have dire tendency td

quench, and destroy all fear of God in the 4

soul. 2. If thon haft sinned, lie vor down they Fepentancey ifor the want of repentance, after

one has sinned, makes the heart yer harder and 3

harder. Indeed an hard heart is impenitenr, and i impenitence also makes the heartharder and har- © der. So that if impenitence be added-to hard-"-

ness of heart, or ro the beginings of sin which makes it fo, It will quickly be with that sal, as is said. of the hopse of /frarl, it will have 4 Whores forehead, ic will hardly be brought to {bame fer.'3; 3.

3. If thou wouldfi be rid of an hard hearr, that great enemy to the growth of the grace of fear, Be much with Christ upon the Cross its thy Meditations; For that is an excellentiremedy against hardness of bearrt: a right Gght of him, as he hanged there for thy fins, will diflolve thy heart into tears, and make it {oft and tender. They shall look upen' me whom they have pierced. and mourn ( Zechariah 12:10, 11.) Now a soft, a tender, and brokeo heart, is

fir-place for - the grace of fear. to thrive i in. W-

But, 3 ot

- v, 2,)If chog wouldft bave the: grace'of fear;'to.) or h in thy-sou], hy,” w_ aloiof 4 prageriess 1

bundance- of - Wicked: difsimulation5: which ©

. Deart, for that is-not a place for this grace of * MAearro grow in.” Hence he that refrainerh prayer, is said, To cast off fear, Thou cafteth, off fear, said one of his friends to Fob, But how most he'do that? why the next wotds shew, Thow "restraine#f# prayer vefore God. (fob 15. 4.) Seefst thou'a Professor that prayeth nor? . that man thrusteth the fear of God away from him. Seest thou a man that prays but /:#rle? that man feareth God bur little, for it is the praying soul, the man that is mighty in praying, that has an heart for the fear of God to grow io, Take heed therefore of a prayerless heart, ifyou would grow in this grace of the fear of God.

Prayer is as the pitcher that fetcheth wa- . cer from the Brook, therewith to water the herbs; break the pitcher and it will fetch no water, and for want of water the Garden withers.

3. Wouldeft thou grow in this grace of fear? Then take heed of a light and wanton heart. For neither is such an heart good ground for the fear of God ro grow in: wherefore 'tis said of Tsrael, She feared not, but went and plaid the Harlot also. She was given to wantonress and -.to be light, and vain, and so her fear of God decaied, er. 3. 8. Had 7oseph been as wan ron-as his Miliress,he had been as vaid'of the Fear of Gcd as {he : but he ' was of a saber, - I'S), : tender,

Of the "Fear of Goll. | 21 , L

render, podly,confiderate spirit, therefore he grew in the fear of God. . 'Wouldest thou grow. in this grace of fear? |.

Then take heed of a covetous heart, for nel- | ther is that which is such an one good ground for this grace of fear to grow in. Therefore this covetousness, and the fear of Goa, are, 38 enemies,ser the one in opposition to che other: one that feareth God, . and hateth COV ETOUS- NESS, Exod, 18. 21.

” And the reason why covetousness is'fuch an obstruttion to the growth of this grace offear, is. because covetousness casteth those things

out of the heart which alone can nourish this ® *?

fear. It casteth out the word,and love of God, without which no grace can grow in the soul, how then should the 'fear of God grow in a coyetous heart? Exek, 33. 30, 31 4 32. 1 fobn 2.1

"Wouldest thou grow.in this, grace of eat: ? then Take heed of. att anbelieving heart; For an unbelicving heart is not 'good ground for rhis grade of fear to grow in. An unbelieving heart is called an evil heart,(Heb, 3: 13.) because, from ir flows all the wickedness that is committed in che World, Now ir is faith, ,or a believing heart that nourisheth this fear of God (Hes. 11. 7.) and not the qther;-and the reafon is, for thar saith brings oe, Heaven, and Hcl}, to the fon), and mak=

T4 Of the Fearof God. eth it duly consider of them all: this is therefore ' the meays of fear, and that which will make it grow in the soul: but unbelief | is & BANE thereto.

'S, Wouldit thou grow in thjs grace of fear? Then rake heed of a for etful heart. Such an heirt is not an heart where the grace of feat will flourish,when I remember 1 am afraid, %c, Therefore take heed of forgetfulness: do hot forget but remember God, . and his. kindness, patience, and mercy, to those that yer neither have grace nor special favor from kim, and that will.beget and nourish his fear in.thy

@ bcart, but forgetfulncl of this or of any other of his judgments, is a great wound and weak- Enihg to, this. fear, 7ob 21, S. When a man well remembers that Gods judgments are so great a deep and mystery, as indeed they are, that remembrance purs'a man'upon such confAiderations of God, and of his judgments as to make him fear. Therefore saics Fob I am afraid. of him..Sec the place, .Zob 23.15. Therefore am 1 troubled at bis. presence, when T con-

| I am aff aid of him. I remember and

| = of che wonderful depths of his Judgrel f

. Fear to grow in, "

heart, for that \s not an heart for. this grace of

—

_ As for instance, j <q men, ur myr ATi | pine at Gods hand, - at. his di pensations, and {/ at the } Judgments that overtake them, in their * persons, estates, families, or relations, THAT | rheir murmuring, tenderh ro destroy fears for a, murmuring spirit is sich an one as scems * | to corret God, and to find faplr with his dispensations:and where there is thar,the heart is far from fear,

A murmuring spirit either comes from that wisdom that pretends to understand that there is a failure _in the nature and execution of things,or from an envy and spite at the execu- | tion of them, , Now if murmurings arise from this pretended wisdom of the flesh, then in- - stead of fearing of God, his aCtions are judged to be: either riged or ridiculous, , which yet are. done in judgment, truth and righteouf;, ness. So that a murmuring heart cannot. he a

od one for the fear of Gad to grow in: alas he heart where that grows, mult be a soft one, as you' have it in, 7ob 23, 15, 16. And an heart that will stoop and be filent at the _ most abstruse of, all his Judgments, 7 was fi, + lent because thow didest it.

The heart in which this fear of God doth flourish, is such, that jt bowes and is mute, if it can but.e je.the hand, wisdom, justice or Holiness of God in this or the. other, of his disc pensarions, and so stirs up the soul to. fear be-. fore him, EY _

)

TT TIP

| marmuring ariseth from envy

- _ apdpire, rhat lookerh solike to the spirit of

| the Devil, "that nothing need be said 'to give conviction of the horrible wickedness of it. 8. Wonldst thou grow in bis grace of fear'? |

then, Take heed of an high and captions spirit, for that is not good ground forthe fear ofGod ro'grow in: a meek and quiet spirit is the best, and chere the fear of God will flourish most, therefore Peter puts meekness and fear toge= ther, as being most suited in their nature and natural rendency one to another, 1 Pet.

F Meckness of spirit is like that heart that

hath depth of earth, in ir, in which things may

rake root and grow; 'but an h:gh. and captions |

{pirit, is like ro the stony ground, where there

* 33 not depth of earth, and consequently, where

'*this grace of fear, cannot grow: therefore take

beed of this kind of spirit, if thou wovuldft

that "the fear of God should grow in thy

- 9. Wouldst thou grow 1n the grace of fear?

"then, Take heed of an envious heart, for that is

not a good heart for the fear of God to grow

in, Lev not thy heart envy sinners, but be thou in,

the sear of the Lord all the dey long, Prov.'23..

27, | To envy any, is a signe of a bad fpirir,'

and that man takes upon him, as Thave already hinted, ro be a controller and a judge;yea.

why, the Text sets chat envy, in direct opyour foft ones: For. to harden the heart;-is ro

and a matron! Adeticnce too, and tt 1avie a

that fury that ariseth from his own lusts- and revengeful spirit,vpon (perhaps) the man thar * is more righteous then himself. ' But suppose he is a sinner thar is the objeCt of rhine envy, .*

= qi to the fear of God: Envy not summers, ut be. thou in the sear of God, These two therefore, to wit, envy to finners and fearing of God, are opposites. Thou canst not fear God, and enyy sinners too. And the reason is, decause he that envieth a sinner, hath forgotten himself, that he is as bad, and how can he t ear God? He that envies saber, rejects - _ tis duty of blessing of them that curse, and* mg for them chat despitefully use us; and how can he that hath rejected this, fear God? He that envieth sinners, therefore, cannot be/ of a good spirit, nor can the fear of God grow in his heart; > Lastly, Wouldst thou grow in this grace of -: fear? Then Take heed of hardning thy heart at 1 arty time against convittions to particuler duties, ; as to, Prayer, Alms, Self-denial, or theflike. Take weed also of hardning thy bearr, when - thou art under any judgment of G 0d,as fickneft, * S losses, crosses, or the like. WW I bid: you before, to beware of an bard heart, but now I bid you beware of hardning

= make Grorlh then; iris; harder, more desperate, and bold against God, then at the present it is, Now, L say, if thou wouldest grow in this grace of fear : take heed of hardning th

heart, and especially of hardning of it EY

convictions to goad; for those convidtions are *

sehr of God Lke s*asonable showrs. of rain, .;; tq keep the tillage if thy heart in good order, that the grace of fear may grow therein; but this stifling of convittions,. . makes the heart as hard as a piece. of the nether Militone.

Therefore happy is he that receiveth .con- '

viction for so he doth keep in the fear of God, and that fear thereby nourished in his soul: but cursed is. be that doth otherwise, Happy. is phe man that''feareth alway, but he that hardpets his heart shall fall into mischief, (Prov,

I come now to a use of encouragement to thofe that are blessed with this grace of sear. The fast text that was mentioned, faith, Happy 53 the man that feareth alwa, (and so doth many more.) Happy. already, jc blesled with: this grace,and happy for time to.come,because this grace shall abide, and continue -till the foul that hach-ic.is brought unto.the mansion house of glory,, 7 will pat my fear in Faga

LY = had

fore, as here it faith, Hapey 1S be, i it faith also, I: SHALL go well with hins, that Is, | 218 tome to come. It SHALL go well with 1 thews that fear the Lord, Eccles. 8. 12, Had 1 God given thee all the world, yer curfed hadst thou -been, 1f he. had not given thee the fear of the Lord: for the fashion ofthis world is a fading thing, but he that feareth the Lord shall abide for ever and ever.

..:This therefore is the first thing that I would propound for thy encouragement (thou man that fearest the Lord.) |

.-: This grace. will dwell in thy heart, for it is

anew covenant grace and will abide with thee =

forever. It issent to thee from God, not only co. joyn- thy heart unto him; but to keep thee from final apostacy; 7 will put my sear m | their heart, . and they srall not depart from me, (er. 32.) That thou maist never forsake, God; is his desigh, and therefore to keep thee from

that wicked thing, he hath pur his fear in thy *

heart, VE; Many are the:temptations,difficulties, snares, traps, trials and troubles that the people; of God pass-through in the world, but how shall they be kept, how shall they be delivered,and Feet Why.,: the answer is the. fear of God wilt ons. of t

” all

heart, and they shall not depart from me.'Tt Cen 1 1140

them, He that seareth God shall cone

- Is it.not therefore a wonderful mercy to be bleffed with this grace of fear, = thou by it majelt be kept from final, which-is damnable apoitacy? Bless God therefore, thou blesfed 'man, thar hatt this grace of fear in thy}

foul,

There are five rhings in this grace of fear that have a direct tendency in them to keep thee from final apostacy, |

I, Ir is seated in the heart, and the heart is, as I may call it, the main FORT in the mystical wortd, mza, It is not placed in the head, as knowledge is; nor in the mouth, as arterance is; bur in rhe 4eare, rhe sear of all, F will put my fear in their heart. If a King will keep a Town secure to himself, ler him bg fure to man sufficiently the 24:9 FORT chereof: If he have twenty thousand men well armed, if they lie fcartered here and there, the Town may be taken for all that, bur if the miin fort be well man'd, then the Town is more secure. What if a man had all the parts, yea all the arrs of Men and Angels, that will not keep the heart to God.

But when the heart, rhis principal fort, is possefsed with the fear of God, then he is safe, bur not elle. - |

2. As the heart in general; fo the will in

Ipecial, That chief. and. great faculty (Fr

- font,

soul, is the Principal that is | attedby this |

fear, | The willa which ' way that goes, all goes : If it be to Heaven or Hel), Now the will, 1

' ay, is that main faculty that is\ governed by

this fear that doth possess the soul, therefore all is like to go well with ir. This Samzct infinuateth, where he saith, 7

ye WILL fear the Lord. Fearing of God is a

voluntary act.of the wii, andthat being fo, the soul is kept from rebellion against the Commandment, because by rhe. will, where this fear of God is placed, and which 77 governeth, is led all the rest of the powers of the soul, 1 Sam 12. 14. In this will then is this fear of God placed, that this grace may the better be able to govern the soul, and fo by consequence the hole man; for as I faid before, look whar way the wil goes, look what the will does, thither goes, and that does the whole man. See //al. 110. 3:

Man, when his w/ is alienate trom God, is reckoned rebellious throughout, (70h. 5. 4o.) and that not without ground, for the wil 1s the principal faculty of the sou] as to obedence, and therefore things done withour the will, are as if they were not done at all. The spirit 5s willing; If ye be willing; ske hath done what she could, and the like; by these and fuck like sayings the goodness of the heart and

action,

Now this fear that we have been speaking of," is placed in the soul, and so consequently

berrer be kept from final, and damnable+iapostacy. Jjs] ' 3. This fear, as I may say, even above every other grace, s Gods well-wisher and hence it is called, as I also bave fhewed you, HIS fear. As he alfo faies in the Text mentioned above, 7 will put MY fear in their heart. These words HIS and 447, they are inti- - "Mate, and familiar exprefsions, bespeaking, not only great favor ro man, but a very great _ trust putiin him: - As who should say, this fear 3s my special friend, it will sabje&, and bow the soul and the several faculties thereof to my pleasure, it is my great favorice.and subdu- Eth sinners to my pleasure: you shall rarely find faith, or repentance, or parts, go under such familiar charaCters as this blefsed fear of the Lord doth. Of all the counsellors, and mighries, that David had, Hashi only was called 1he Kings Friend, (2 Sam. 15.37. Ch.I6. 16.) So of all the graces of the spirir, this of the fear of God, goes mostly; if not alwaies by the title. of my fear, Gods fear, his fear,

in the wil, that the' man may thereby the}

trusty and special friend , sach as \Hysv5

| bling grace that keeperh rhe soul upon its con-

Why this is the grace that serteth the watch,

." I told you before, if the King'will ke

Town, the main fort therein mult be sufhcieftly man'd : and now I will add ; thar if he have not to govern those men, some

was to David, he may find it Jost when' it should stand him in greatest stead. "If a soul should be posiefsed with all things possible, yer if this tear of God be wanting, all other things will give place in time of rebellion, and the ' soul shall be found in, and under the condu of Hell when it should stand up for God and his truth in the World: This fear of God, it is Gods special friend, and-therefore -it has given unto it the chief sear of the heart, rhe will,' that the whole man may 'zw be,” and also be kepr hereafter, in the subjedtion and obedience of the Gospel. For,

4. This grace of fear is-the softest, -and most tender -of Gods honour- of any other grace. It js that render, sensible and tremtinual watch. To keep a good watch is, you know, a wonderful safety to a place thar is in continual danger becaufe of the enemy.

and "that keepeth the watchman awake,

- A man cannot watch as he should if he be:

destitute of fear: let himpe confident, and he : sleeps

'* MNeeps, he unadvifedly lets into the garifon, / those that should not come there. /sraels fault ' when they came to Canaan, was, that they

\- —made a Covenant with the inhabitants of. the > Land(to wit,the Gibeonites) without asking

counsel of God. But would they have done fo, think you, if at the same time,;the:fcar of God,

*+ Irad had its full play in the soul, .in the Army? |

- no they at that time forgar to fear, The grace of fear had not at that time. its full stroke and sway among them.

5. This grace of fear is that, which, as I Jmay so say, first affefts the hearts of: Saints

with Judgments, after we have sinned: and.

so 1s as a begining grace to bring again that to rights, that by sin is put out of frame. O it is a precious grace of God: I know what [ fay in this matter, and also where I had been long ago, through the power of my lusts and the wiles of the Devil had it not been for the fear of God. | _. But Secondly, Another encouragement for those that are blessed with this blessed grace of fear, is this, This sear failes not to do this

work for the soul, (if there in. truth) be it never,

fo small in measure, A little of this leven, levers the while lump, 'Troe, a little will not dog

or help the soul to do those worthy. exploits:

in-the heart or life, as well as a biger measure thereof; nor Indeey can a little of any: graces

.

dotbat; which arbigger measurewill : bur

lire will preserve the foul-from- finalap

L "33 hn \ cy, and deliver it into the armes of ae 2, lh n ;

of God at'the fita-Jidgrmhent; Wherefore when I he saith, will: put my sear in their bearthe flies

nor, 1 will put so. muck of ir there, such a quantity; or sach a degree; bur, 7 will /pur my [ car there. | 1.208

I speak not this in the least ro tempt the godly 'man to be content with 'rhe” least degree of the fear of God in his heart, *True; 1-men should be g/ad that God hath put even the least degree of this grace 'into' their souls; {| bur: they should 'not. he contents therewith they. should | carnestly cover more, pray for-more, and ' use. all lawful, that is, all the means of Gods appointing, that they may get more. |

There are, as Fhave said already, several degrees of thjs.grace of fear,” and our wisdom is, to growin UT, as in all other the graces of the Spirit. The:reasons why, I haye shewed you, andalso the way to grow therein, but the least measure thereof will do as I faid, thiar is," keep\ the soul from fida} apostacy. There are, as Thave shewed you; "those that greatly fear the 'Lord, thar fear Execedingly,

'Jand+ that: fear him above many of their bre=

e fayed;

threp:; bar the fimall, in this-grace, ar

; | 34 fear :of | the Lord is the pulse of the]

| : 9 shall not depart srom me.

Of the Fear © f Cod.

"? as well as these that'are preat therein, He will ' save them that fear him small and

foul, and as some pulses beat stronger, some weaker, so. is this grace of fear in the sou. They that beat best are a ligne of best life, but they that beat worst shew thar life is prefett; As long as the'pulse.bears, we count zot: that rhe man is dead, though weak and this fear, where it is, preserves ro everlasting life. Pulses there are also that are intermitting, to wir, such as have their times for a lirtle, a little time 10 stop, and beat agam: True these are dangerous puls-s, but yet too, a

figne of life. This fear of God” allo is some-|

fin a 7 ronating ae Let hn ES.

times like this iatermitting pals: : there "ho

times when it forbears to work, and then } works again z David had an intermitring pulse, Peter had an intermirting pulse, as also many other of the Saints of God, I calf that an :- termuhing prise with reference to the fear we speak of, when there is some'obstrustion by

the workings of corruprions in the soul, I say some obstruction from, - and hindrance of -1l continual motion of this fear of God, yet _ of these (though they are various, and so of rhem sings of weakne(s,) are signs of dearh bur life. - / Well par my sear in their heart, a

But

#

_ But you

, un be Ans, If I should say, that defires, fin- ' cere desires to fear him, is fear it self ;TH 4

"should not fay amiss, Nebe. 1. 11. For alwegh a desire.to.be or doso and so, makes

x not. a, man to be in temporal or natural things, : ? | what hedesires to be (for a sick or poor,or 1m- "t | Prisoned man, may. desire. to he well, to- be

4 | Fich,or to be at liberty,and yer beas they are, \@ | lick, poor,or in prison; ) Tet 4 spirituals.a mans 5 deere to be good, to believe, to love, to bope, and | e, Fe God, doth flow from the nature. of grace 0 j |

4 (FLY | WP * ve) © 'T faid before, that in temparals; a man could. not be properly be said to be -whar he | yas not; yet:a man-even in naturgls or rem- 'porals, fhiews bis love to that thing, thac he e defires, . whether, ir be health, riches or li- "of berty;.. and. ig. spiricuals desires. of, from Y] love, to this,.:.or .that grace, of God fincere desires of- ic flow tcom the, root. of the grace it (elf. Toy, Servants that d:sire 01 10. fear thy name, Nch miah. bore bimsclf | Ff ore Gad upon this, Thar he desired to fear CE ps * lens £

.. And hence again it is said concerning de- +4 fires, true desires, The' dcfire of 4-man is bis + WT | biuancss, Prov, 19.22. For a Man shews.his

:

_ Seapt, his love}. his affettions, 'ard His'de- | lights, in his defires 0 since rhe" price - "of fear of God; "isa grace fopleafany he "sighr of God; and of 'fo' fanQtifying” ang; ture in the fon] where it is: arrae fe

the sou! already. >2 fae 'True, desires, are lower, than hither atts of | 6, grace, 'bur. God * will not. fovk over defites': | it "Bat now they DESIRE ab:trer Country, | b that is au heavehly; whereforg God is not afha=| d; med" ro bu cal!ed their "Gods for be' Sath pie | n pared for,them a City. Mark, they, desire a} t! Connty,' and they fhall have a City. Ar, this | c: LOW place, to'wir, fscer# drfires, Oba will | it meet 'rh&* {out grid will tell "him, *h4c He | n hath” accepted, of bis defires, thar his desires | n are bis kindness, "and flow fron gracevr elf, | c: He 'ty-ll-Julfil rhe Hefires of thtm"thar fear hin, | tl Therefore,desires'are nor. rejetted. of Gad, | fl bur they would, if they jd" nor flow ftem | c a principle © of "grace already in the” foul; TH therefore ' desires,” sincere: defites” ro® fear | © God, flow | from” grace ' aready in the { n. . The O

”

soul. | a Me "Therefore fince thong fearest God, ati i * Is evident, by thy de/rre;, that thon Lofe'1t. do: thon 2X T happy,*W OW, + in' th4 | . Ts, "a, wy | thy

thy sear;and SHALT be happy forever bent | ** after in the injoymenroof chap; which. Godin q hes-2nother world harh laid vp for them char; fear l a4 him.” {- 4 2:4 re} © 2. Another encouragement for those that Hr} have this grace 'of fear is this, Ts grace It | can i#fake that man, ' that in many other things 4s Kot capable of serving of God, serve him better then those that have all, withart #t, * Poor Christian man, thon - hast. scarce beenable to do any thing for- God all thy daies, but only ro fear the Lordi” Thou arr no Preacher, and sb canst not do him service that way: Thou! art no rich man; and so canst not do him service with outward sub stance: Thou artno wise man, and so: canst not do any thing that-way: Bur here is thy merey, thou' feareft God. | Though thou canst not preach, thou canst fear God, Though thou hasr no bread/ ro feed the belly nor I, | fleece to cloth the back, ofthe poor, thou m | canst sear God, O how blessed is the man I: | that feareth the Lord, because this duty it of searing of God is an act of rhe mind, and may be done by the man that is \destirute of all things, ''but that holy and tlffed mind. py Blefsed therefore is that man, for God: 2 | hath not laid' the comfort of his people is

. Geo

_

. *thedoingofexternal duties, nor the salvation

4 of. their souls, but in believing, loving,

nd searing God. Neither hath he laid these

things i in actions done in their health, nor i

vhe due mannagement of their most excellent

b parts, but in the receiving of Christ, - end}

*m,. Jear of God. The which, good Christian,

[- Thou maiest do, and do acceptably, even

* though thou shouldefst lie bed-rid all thy daies,

' thou maiest also be sick, and believe; be

fick and love, be sick and fear God, and so be

a blessed man,

And here the POO R Christian hath some

thing to anfwer them that reproach him

- For his ignoble pedigree, and shortness of

the glory of the wisdom of -the World.

= ?True, may that man say; I was taken out

of the unght, [ was born in a base and low

estate: But 1 scar God. I have. no worldly

greatness, nor excellency of natural parts, bat

When Obadiah met with Elijah, he gave

him no worldly, and fantastical complement,

* nor did he 'glory in his promotion by {hab

| bs the King of 1srae!, but gravely and after af}

#:* gracious manhier said, / thy servant fear the v

{1 Lord from my youth. Also when the Mariners}

, enquired of 7onah saying, What is thine ocb 1b eupation, and whence comest thou? what is,

W. roy 4

*tby *; xd "ip of wherhy c art tho? This was the” anfwer he (gave them, / - am an Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of Heaven, which hath made the Sea and the ary Land, fon. x. $, 9. Indeed this answer is the highest, and most noble in the world, nor are there” any. save a few, that in truth can rhus express themselves, though other ans swers they -have enough ; most can . say, I have wisdom, or might, or: riches, * or friends, or healch, or the like; th are , common, and are great'y boalted in by the most : bye he is the "man that feareth God, and he that can; say, when they say, to him. what art thou? [ / thy servant do fear the Lord ] he ag the man of many, he is to be honoure of men: Though this, ro wit, at. " feareth the Lord, i all that he* harh in this World. He hath the thing, the honour, the life, and glory - that is lasts” -ing : his blessedness 'will. abide when. all mens but his:js buried in the dust, in shame, and contempr. | fo. ate tt

.

A Fora to INOc: | |

Hypecrites, .My last word+is.to row ( The bypoctite is oar that would b''7

Ws woe ge mew eye, ae he.nothing® of 'in Gods) ou hypocrite. thic -wonldeft be esteemed'to'be one- that | loves; and thar fears God, ,but*does nor; I have this to fay to rhee, thy' condition is damnable, because thou 'art an hypo-

' crite, and feeckest ro deceive both God

and Man 'with Guifes, :Vizards, Masks, shews, pretences, and: thy formal, carnal; feigned sabjeftion to the outside of Sta-

' "cures, Laws and Commandments: but

Hypocrite, Thou maieft by thy cunning shifts be veild;” and fid from men : bat thon art naked before the eyes of God, and he knoweth that his fear js not in thy

hearr, Z#k, 16. 15. Hypocrite,' Be admonished' that there

is not obedjence accepted of God, where

the heart is -destituce of this grace of. fear, Reeping of the Commandments, is but one part of the duty-of man, and Payl did that, even while he was aft Hypacrite, Phelippians. 3. To-FE AR GOD and keep his Commanaments, that 4s a. whole de of AH, | Evelesf aftes 12. 13,

tg ”th is | * "IM, - BY I 13: Mah + \ 3 i148 T% I cannot'as 3n liypoct 46 Ind fo such, .eannor ' hope the "ar mnt

"% ti] 2 ; Hypoetits, \Thon must fear- God 4 fob, eyen- before 'thou-dost | offer -to' meddle with the Commandment, that” is as to the keeping of them. Indeed thou shouldest tead” therein that thod 'maicst 'Jearn

to fear the Lord,' bur yet, far God, goes © before the - Corhniand to' keep bis Coms,

mandments\* \ Ahd. if thou dost not. fear God first, thou trangressest, instead of keeping: ofthe Commandinents." CVA Hypoerite, This word: fear Gil | Is he which the” hypoerite _ quite forgets,” als thovylt it 'is" that - which' sanRities the whole daty of man. © For” this is that,

and' nothing withour it, ' that can make 1

. mdh\ sincere-At His obedience, the- hypo

| erice * looks *For® applause abroad | ts that he? is condemned” at bs

f } and: zoth these he tes because be wanced

F thic frar of God.

Weld pocrite, Be emacs Dk none. of the *privitedy es thar ate spoken of in

-

the former parr -of the' Book —_—_ to. 0 2

a

war an. hypo e's and

.

Dt a a bath thou and- it "shall falf into Hell-fire. Trichen, thy Triumph is but for a while. Joy then, bur the Joy of the Hypocrire is but for 4 moment, Job 8,13; :14;15. Chap. GP 4+, 52 6. |

- Perhaps # be wilt, not let go now, what, as an Bypocrite, thou, hast got; Bus what is the hope. of | the Hy ocrite, - when' Gad shall take away his soul, ob- 248,

Hypecrite,, "Thou shouldelt ave chosen

i the fearof God, as thou hast chofen® a pro-

- &{sion; RR it,,. but chau hast. cast, off

'. fear, because, chou arr an Hypocriteg ard

because thyg;art such, . thou;;shalt: have

the same mepure that thou meetest : God

will. cast.ch-e. off because, thou art an Hygcrite.. God hath prepare a fear for thee”

cause: thou. didit : not chuse-the: fear, of

God, . and that fear shall _ upon thee

bke. defolagion, and like . an;.armed man, 1

- and shall Twallow the up, rhey al and a! rhag *

hath fo LE shall dnell 7 tis shall ds 33. 13, 14:

H pecrits God hath not;eratted thee | With. che feast dram of his saving grace, nor will he, because chou artan Hypocrizez || And as for what thon hast, thou hast 5 Rolen | it, even every. man of you from his wires 5. #4 bour; {till pilfering our of thei crofng

FF i, oh thou fearest him -nat,, 1 hath.g;- 7

70 RENT: ks),

Mon bf tbe'b ay” "Thowy

Mn his banues to them that fear: hbimmn, that it

"may be displayed E866 of the raph, Pfal,

Hypecrite,' God art-not ere t0 God,nor man, 'nor thine ws soul; because thou art an Hypocrite: bow should the Lord pur any

trust in, thee >, Why should-the saints look

for any good from thee? Should God give thee his word, thou "wilt sell it; should men

commir their” souls;to thee, thou 'wilt destroy them by making Merchandize of them for thy.own Hypocriticaldeligns. Yea if the, Suk! waxes Hot thou wilt throw all away, and' nop [endure the heat. because rhou-artan Hypacriity |

ERRATAS.;

Ezder, thoy art defired to correct these Er-

Tata's, (with some orhers) which were occaf — bythe Peinrer, by reason of the absence of the Author: .

23. tor: Jeremy, p.116.1:14. for #ext, r,

k. 6x7. rtz.1. 18.for even, r.ever;p.:128.1.3. for left, ' B %Y a 23-aftcr se/f,r. for,& 1.2 5.tor thusgr.this,