Word of God joyntly designing the glory of it Among which phrases 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 also which David intended when he said Come ye children hearken to me I will teach you the Fear of the Lord Psal. 34.11 I will teach you the Fear That is I will teach you the Commandments Statutes and Judgments of the Lord even as Moses commanded the children of Israel Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.4 5 6 7. That also in the 11th of Isaiah intends the same where the Father saith of the Son That he shall be of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord that he may judge and smite the earth with the ROD of his mouth This Rod in the Text is none other but the FEAR the Word of the Lord for he was to be of a quick understanding it IT that he might smite that is execute it according to the Will of his Father upon and among the children of men Now this as I said is called the Fear of the Lord because it is called the Rule and Director of our Fear For we know not how to fear the Lord in a saving way without its guidance and direction As it is said of the Priest that was sent back from the captivity to Samaria to teach the people to fear the Lord. So it is said concerning the written word it is given to us and left among us that we may read therein all the daies of our life and LEARN to fear the Lord Deut. 6.1 2 3 24. chap. 10.12 chap. 17.19 And hear it is that trembling at the Word of God is even by God himself not only taken notice off but counted as laudable and praise-worthy as is evident in the case of Josiah 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 Word your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed Isa. 66.5 Further Such shall be looked too by God himself cared for and watched over that no distress temptation or affliction may overcome them and destroy them To this 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 same in substance with that in the same Prophet in chap. 57. For thus saith the High and Holy One that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is Holy I dwell in the High and Holy Place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Yea the way tâ— escape dangers foretold is to hearken to understand and fear the Word of God Hâ— that feared the Word of the Lord amongst the Servants of Pharaoh made his Servants and his Cattle flee into houses and they were secured But he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his Servants and Cattel in the Field and they were destroyed of the hail Exod. 9.20 21 22 23 24 25. If at any time the sins of a Nation or Church are discovered and bewailed it is by them that know and tremble at the Word of God when Ezra heard of the wickedness of his brethren and had a desire to humble himself before God for the same who were they that would assist him in that matter but they that trembled at the word of God Then saith he were assembled to me every one that trembled at the Word of the God of Israel because of the transgression of these that had been carried away Ezra 9.4 They are such also that tremble at the Word that are best able to give counsel in the matters of God for their Judgment best suiteth with his mind and will Now therefore said he let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the Strange wives according to the counsel of my Lord and of those â—hat tremble at the Commandment of our God â—nd let it be done according to the Law Ezra â—â— 3 Now something of the dread and terrour of the Word lieth in these things 1. As I have already 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 to the people still saying Hear the Word of the Lord Thus saith the Lord and the like So when Ezekiel was sent to the house of Israel in their state of Religion thus was he bid to say unto them Thus saith the Lord God Thus saith the Lord God Ezek. 2.4 Chap. 3. v. 11. 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 rule and directory of our FEAR and that we might stand in aw of and tremble at them When Habakkuk heard the Word of the Lord his belly trembled and rotteness entred into his bones I trembled in my self said he that I might have rest in the day of trouble Hab. 3.16 The word of a King is as the roaring of a Lion where the word of a King is there is power what is it then when God the great God shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem whose voice shakes not only Earth but also Heaven How doth holy David set it forth The voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the LORD is full of majesty c. Psal. 29. 2. It is a word that is fearful and may well be called the fear of the Lord because of the subject matter of it to wit the state of sinners in another world for that is it unto which the whole Bible bendeth it 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 't will be to us a state eternal This word this law these Judgments are they that we shall be disposed of by The word that I have spoken saies Christ it shall judge you and so consequently dispose of you at the last day Joh. 12. Now if we consider that our next state must be Eternal either Eternal glory or Eternal fire and that this Eternal glory or this Eternal fire must be our portion according as the words of God revealed in the holy Scriptures shall determine who will not but conclude that therefore the words of God are they at which we should tremble and they by which we should
A TREATISE OF THE Fear of God SHEWING What it is and how distinguished from that which is not so ALSO Whence it comes Who has it What are the Effects And What the Priviledges of those that have it in their hearts By John Bunyan Psal. 128. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord. LONDON Printed for N. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry over against the Stocks-Market 1679. Rev. 14.7 Fear God THIS Exhortation is not only found here in the Text but is in several other places of the Scripture pressed and that with much 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 much as meddle with the context but shall immediately fall upon the words themselves and briefly treat of the Fear of God The Text you see presenteth us with matter of greatest moment to 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 power that incomprehensible Majesty in comparison of whom all Nations are less than the drop of a bucket and than the small dust of the ballance This is he that fills Heaven and Earth and is every where present with the children of men beholding the evil and the good for he hath set his eyes upon all their waies So that considering that by the Text we have presented to our souls the Lord God and Maker of us all who also will be either our Saviour or Judge we are in reason and duty bound to give the more earnest heed to the things that shall be spoken and be the more careful to receive them and put them in practice for as I said as they present us with the mighty God so they exhort us to the highest duty towards him to wit to fear him I call it the highest duty because it is as I may call it not only a duty in it self but as it were the SALT that seasoneth every duty For there is no duty performed by us that can by any means be accepted of God if it be not seasoned with godly fear Wherefore the Apostle saith Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Of this fear I say I would discourse at this time but because this word fear is variously taken in the Scripture and because it may be profitable to us to see it in its variety I shall therefore chuse this method for the managing of my discourse even to shew you the nature of the word in its several especially of the chiefest acceptations 1. Then by this word FEAR we are to understand even God himself who is the object of our FEAR 2. By this word FEAR we are to understand the WORD of God the Rule and Director of our FEAR Now to speak to this word fear as it is thus taken 1. Of this word FEAR as it respecteth God himself who is the object of our fear By this word Fear as I said we are to understand God himself who is the object of our fear For the Divine Majesty goeth often under this very name himself This name Jacob called him by when he and Laban chod together on Mount Gilead after that Jacob had made his escape to his Fathers house Except said he the God of Abraham and the FEAR of Isaac had been with me surely now thou hadst sent me away empty So again a little after when Jacob and Laban agree to make a Covenant of Peace each with other though Laban after the jumbling way of the Heathen by his oath puts the true God and the false together yet Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaac Gen. 31.42 53. 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 made him the object of their FEAR but because of the dread and terrible 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. 1.5 chap. 4.14 ch 9.32 Job 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 Yea the world and all that dwell therein Who can stand before his indignation who can abide the fierceness of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Neh. 1.5 6. His people know him and have his dread upon them by vertue whereof there is begot and maintained in them that godly awe and reverence of his Majesty which is agreeable to their profession of him Let him be your FEAR and let him be your Dread Set his Majesty before the eyes of your souls and let his excellency make you afraid with godly fear Isa. 8.12 13. There are these things that make God to be the Fear of his People First His presence is dreadful and that not only his presence in common but his special yea his most comfortable and joyous presence When God comes to bring a soul news of mercy and salvation even that visit that presence of God is fearful When Jacob went from Beer-sheba towards Haron he met with God in the way by a dream in the which he apprehended a Ladder set upon the Earth whose top reached to Heaven now in this dream from the top of this Ladder he saw the Lord and heard him speak unto him not threatningly not as having his fury come up into his face but in the most sweet and gracious manner saluting him with promise of goodness after promise of goodness to the number of eight or nine as will appear if you read the place Gen. 28.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. Yet I say when he awoke all the grace that discovered it self in this heavenly vision to him could not keep him from dread and fear of God's Majesty And Jacob awoke out of his sleep and said Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not and he was afraid and said How dreadful is this place this is none other but the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven At another time to wit when Jacob had that memorable visit from God in which he gave him power as a Prince to prevail with him yea and gave him a name that by his remembring it he might call God's favour the better to his mind yet even then and there such dread of the Majesty of God was upon him that he went away wondering that his life was preserved Gen. 32.30 Man crumbles to dust at the presence of God yea though he shews himself to us in his robes of salvation We have read how dreadful and how terrible even the presence of Angels have been unto men and that when they have
the text The Angel of the Lord encampeth about them that fear him and delivereth them Answer The way that they take to deliver them that fear the Lord is sometimes by smiting of their enemies with blindness that they may not find them And so they served the enemies of Lot Gen. 19.10.11 Sometimes by smiting of them with deadly fear and so they served those that laid feige against Samaria 2 King 7.6 And sometimes by smiting of them even with Death it self and thus they served Herod after he had attempted to kill the Apostle James and also sought to vex certain others of the Church Act. 12. These Angels that are servants to them that fear the Lord are them that will if God doth bid them revenge the qarrell of his servants upon the stoutest monarch on earth This therefore is a glorious priviledge of the men that fear the Lord. Alas they are some of them so mean that they are counted not worth taking notice of by the high ones of the World but their betters do respect them the Angels of God count not themselves to good to attend on them and camp about them to deliver them This then is the man that hath his Angel to wait upon him even he that feareth God Seventhly Dost thou fear the Lord Salvation is nigh unto thee Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that glory may dwell in their Land Psal 85.9 This is another priviledge for them that 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 nigh them the which although it doth not altogether exclude the conduct of Angels but include them yet it looketh further Surely his Salvation his saving pardoning grace is nigh them that fear him That is to save them out of the hand of their spiritual enemys The Devil and Sin and Death do alwaies wait even to devour them that fear the Lord but to deliver them from these his salvation doth attend them So then if Satan tempts here is their salvation nigh if sin by breaking forth beguiles them here is Gods salvation nigh them yea if death it self shall suddenly seize upon them why here is their Gods salvation nigh them I have seen that great mens little children must go no whither without their nurses be at hand If they go abroad 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 sleep their nurses must stand by them O my brethren those little ones that fear the Lord they are the children of the highest therefore they shall not walk alone be at their spiritual meats alone go to their sick beds or to their graves alone the salvation of their God is nigh them to deliver them from the evil This is then the glory that dwels in the Land of them that fear the Lord. Eightly Dost thou fear the Lord Heathen yet again The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on them that fear him and his righteousness unto childrens children Ps. 103.17 This still confirms what was last asserted that is that his salvation is nigh unto them His salvation that is pardoning mercy that is nigh them But mind it there he saies tis-nigh them but here it is upon them His mercy is upon them it covereth them all over it compasseth them about as with a Shield Therefore they are said in an over place to be clothed with salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness The mercy of the Lord is VPON them that is as I said to shelter and defend them The mercy the pardoning preserving mercy the mercy of the Lord is upon them who is he then that can condemn them Rom. 8. But there yee is more behinde The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on them T was designed for them before the world was and shall be upon them when the world it self is ended From everlasting to everlasting it is on them that fear him This from everlasting to everlasting is that by which in another place the eternity of God himself is declared From everlasting to everlasting thou art God Psal. 90.2 The meaning then may be this That so long as God hath his being so long shall the man that feareth him find mercy at his hand According to that of Moses The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting Arms and he shall thrust out the Enemy before thee and say destroy them Deut. 33.27 Child of God thou that fearest God here is mercy nigh thee mercy enough everlasting mercy upon thee This is long-lived mercy It will live longer then thy sin it will live longer then temptation it will live longer then thy sorrows it will live longer then thy persecutors It is mercy from everlasting to contrive thy salvation and mercy TO everlasting to weather it out with all thy adversaries Now what can hell and death do to him that hath this mercy of God upon him And this hath the man that feareth the Lord. Take that other blessed word and O thou man that fearest the Lord hang it like a Chain of Gold about thy neck As the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his mercy towards them that fear him Psal. 103.13.18 If mercy as big as high and as good as Heaven it self will be a priviledge the man that feareth God shall have a priviledge Ninthly Dost thou fear God Like as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pittieth them that fear him Psal. 103.13 The Lord pittieth them that fear him That is condoleth and is affected feeleth and sympathizeth with them in all their afflictions It is a great matter for a poor man to be in this manner in the affections of the great and mighty but for a poor sinner to be thus in the heart and affections of God and they that fear him are so this is astonishing to consider In his love and in his pity be redeemed them In his love and in his pity In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bare them and carried them all the day of old Isa. 63.9 I say in that he is said to pity them it is as much as to say he condoleth feeleth and sympathizeth with them in all their afflictions and temptations So that this is the happiness of him that feareth God he has a God to pity him and to be touched with all his miseries 'T is said in Judges His soul was grieved for the miseries of Israel Judg. 10.16 and in the Hebrews He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and can succour them that are tempted Chap. 4.15 Chap. 2.17.18 But further let us take notice of the comparison As a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them
and he will laugh at their fears I will laugh saith he at their destruction I will mock when their fear cometh when your fear cometh as disolation and your distruction like a whirlwind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall you call upon me but I will not answer you shall seek me early but you shall not find me for that you hated knowledge and did not chuse the FEAR of the Lord Prov. 1.26 27 28 29. Sinner thou thinkest to escape the fear but what wilt thou do with the pitt Thou thinkest to escape the pit but what wilt thou do with the Snare The Snare say you what is that I answer it is even the work of thine own hands The wicked is snared in the works of his own hands he is snared by the words of his lips Psal. 9.16 Chap. 12.13 Sinner what wilt thou do when thou comest into this snare that is into the guilt and terror that thy sins will snaffle thee with when they like a cord are fastned about 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 fear The fear pit and the snare shall come upon thee because thou fearest not God Sinner art thou one of them that hast cast off fear poor man what wilt thou do when these three things beset thee whither wilt thou fly for help And where wilt thou leave thy glory If thou fliest from the fear there 's the pit if thou fliest from the pit there 's the snare The second use is an Exhortation to fear God My next word shall be an Exhortation to fear God I mean an Exhortation to Saints O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him Not but that every Saint doth fear God but as the Apostle saith in an other case I beseech you do it more and more The fear of the Lord as I have shewed you is a grace of the new covenant as other saving graces are and so is capeable of being stronger or weaker as other graces are Wherefore I beseech you fear him more and more It is said of Obadiah That he feared the Lord greatly every Saint fears the Lord but every Saint does not greatly fear him O there are but few Obadiah's in the world I mean among the Saints on earth See the whole relation of him 1 King 18. As Paul said of Timothy I have none likeminded so it may be said of some concerning the fear of the Lord They have scarce a fellow So it was with Job There is none like him in all the earth one that feareth God c. Job 1. Chap. 2. There was even none in Jobs day that feared God like him no there was not one like him in all the earth but doubtless there were more in the World that feared God but this fearing of him greatly that 's the thing that Saints should do and that was the thing that Job did do and in that he did outstrip his fellows It is also said of Hananiah That he was a faithful man and feared God above many Nehe. 7.2 He also had got as to the exercise of and growth in this grace the start of many of his Brethren He feared God above many Now then seeing this grace admits of degrees and is in some stronger and in some weaker let us be all awakned as to other graces so to this grace also That like as you abound in every thing in faith in utterance in knowledg and in all diligence and in your love to us See that ye abound in this grace also I will labour to inforce this exhortation upon you by several motives 1. Let Gods distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear him greatly He hath put his fear in thy heart and hath not given that blessing to thy neighbour perhaps not to thy Husband thy Wife thy Child or thy Parent Oh what an obligation should this consideration lay upon thy heart greatly to fear the Lord Remember also as I have shewed in the first part of this book that this fear of the Lord is his Treasure a choice Jewel given only to favorites and to those that are greatly beloved Great gifts naturally tend to oblige and will do so I trust with thee when thou shalt ingeniously consider it It is a signe of a very bad nature when the contrary shews it self Could God have done more for thee then to have put his fear in his heart This is better then to have given thee a place even in Heaven without it Yea had he given thee all faith all knowledge and the tongue of Men and Angels and a place in Heaven to boot They had all been short of this gift of the fear of God in thy heart Therefore love it nourish it exercise it use all meanes to cause it to increase and grow in thy heart that it may appear it is set by at thy hand poor sinner 2 Another motive to stir thee up to grow in this grace of the fear of God May be the priviledges that it laies thee under What or where wilt thou find in the Bible so many priviledges so affectionately intailed to any grace as to this of the fear of God God speaks of this grace and of the priviledges that belong unto it as if to speak with reverance he knew not how to have done blessing of the man that hath it It seems to me as if this grace of fear is the darling grace the grace that God sets his heart upon at the highest rate As it were he imbraces and hugs and laies the man in his bosom that hath and grows strong in this grace of the fear of God See again the many priviledges in which the man is intrested that hath this grace in his heart and see also that there are but few of them wherever mentioned but have intailed to them the pronunciation of a blessing or else that man is spoken of by way of Admiration 3. Another motive may be this The man that groweth in this grace of the fear of the Lord will escape those evils that others will fall into Where this grace is it keepeth the soul from final apostacy I will put my fear in their heart and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 But yet if there be not an increase in this grace much evil may attend and be commited notwithstanding There is a child that is healthy and hath its limbs and can go but 't is careless now the evil of carelessness doth disadvantage it very much carelessness is the cause of stumblings of falls of knocks and that it falls into the dirt yea that somtimes 't is burned or almost 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
forbid and rebuke it as he did Fear not said he for God is come to prove you they thought otherwise God saith he is come to prove you and that HIS fear may be before your faces Therefore that fear that already had taken possession of them was not the fear of God but a fear that was of Satan of their own misjudging hearts and so a fear that was ungodly Exod. 20.18.19 Mark you here is a fear and a fear a fear forbidden and a fear commended a fear forbidden because it engendered their hearts to bondage and to ungodly thoughts of God and of his word It made them that they could not desire to hear God speak to them any more ver 19.20 21. Many also at this day are possessed with this ungodly fear And you may know them by this They cannot abide conviction for sin and if at any time the word of the law by the preaching of the word comes near them they will not abide that preacher nor such kind of sermons any more They are as they deem best at ease when furthest off of God and of the power of his word The word preached brings God nearer to them than they desire he should come because whenever God comes near their sins by him are manifest and so is the judgment too that to them is due Now these not having faith in the mercy of God through Christ nor that grace that tendeth to bring them to him they cannot but think of God amiss and their so thinking of him makes them say unto him depart from us For we desire 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 destrustion and perdition 'T was this ungodly fear of God that carried 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 convictions of the majesty and justice of God against his sin and so live the rest of his vain life in the more sinful security and fleshly ease This ungodly fear is that also which Samuel perceived at the peoples apprehension of their sin to begin to get hold of their hearts wherefore he as Moses before him quickly forbids their entertaining of it Fear not said he ye have done all this wickedness yet turned aside from following the Lord. For to turn them aside from following of him was the natural tendency of this fear But fear not said he that is with that fear that tendeth to turn you aside Now I say the matter that this fear worketh upon as in Adam and the Israelites mentioned before was their sin You have sinned saies he that 's true yet turn not aside yet fear not with that fear that would make you so do 1 Sam. 12.20 Note by the way sinner that when the greatness of thy sins being apprehended by thee shall work in thee that fear of God as shall incline thy heart to fly from him thou art possessed with a fear of God that is ungodly yea so ungodly that not any of thy sins for hainousness way be compared therewith as might be made manifest in many particulars but Samuel having rebuked this fear presently sets before the people another to wit the true fear of God fear the Lord saies he 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 ungodly fear is that which you read of in Isa. 2. and in many other places and Gods people should shun it as they would shun the devil because its natural tendency is to forward the destruction of the soul in which it has took possession Thirdly There is a fear of God which although it hath not in it that power as to make men flee from Gods presence yet it is ungodly because even while they are in the outward way of Gods ordinances their hearts are by it quite discouraged from attempting to exercise themselves in the power of religion Of this sort are they which dare not cast off the hearing reading and discourse of the word as others no nor the assembly of Gods children for the excercise of other religious duties for their conscience is convinced this is the way and worship of God But yet their heart as I said by this ungodly fear is kept from a powerful gracious falling in 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 ungodly fear of God and they are intended by the slothful one He was a servant a servant among the servants of God and had gifts and abilities given him therewith to serve Christ as well as his fellows yea and was commanded too as well as the rest to occupy till his Master came But what does he why he takes his talent the gift that he was to lay out for his Masters profit and puts it in a napkin digs a hole in the earth and hides his Lords money and lies at a lazy manner at to-elbo all his days not out of but in his Lords Vineyard for he came among the servants also at last By which it is manifest that he had not cast off his profession but was slothful and negligent while he was in it But what was it that made him thus slothful what was it that took 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 that took away his heart from the power of religious duties Lord said he behold here is thy pound which I have kept laid up in a napkin for I feared thee Why man doth the fear of God make a man idle and slothful no no that is if it be right and godly This fear was therefore evil fear it was that ungodly fear of God of which I have here been speaking of For I feared thee or as Matthew hath it for I was afraid Afraid of what of Christ That he was an hard man reaping where he sowed not and gathering where he had not strewed This his fear being ungodly made him apprehend of Christ contrary to the goodness of his nature and so took away his heart from all endeavours to be doing of that which was pleasing in his sight Luke 19.20 Matth 25.24 25. And thus do all those that retain the name and shew of religion but are neglecters as to the power and godly practice of it
expect more and to hope a good end shall be made of all Gods present dispensations towards us Mich. 7.9 Lam. 1.18 Psal. 77.10 11 12. Lam. 3.31 32 33 34. Now God would have us thus fear his rod because he is resolved to chastize us therewith if so be we sin against him as I have already shewed for although Gods bowels turn within him even while he is threatning his people yet if we sin he will lay on the rod so hard as to make us cry Wo unto us that we have sinned Lam. 5.16 and therefore as I said we should be afraid of his judgments yet only as afore is provided as of the rod wrath and judgment of a Father Quest. But have you yet any other considerations to move us to FEAR God with child-like FEAR Answ. I will in this place give you five 1. Consider that God thinks meet to have it so and he is wiser in heart than thou he knows best how to secure his people from sin and to that end hath given them Law and Commandments to read that they may learn to fear him as a Father Job 37.24 Eccles. 3.14 Deut. 17.18 19. 2. Consider he is mighty in power if he touch it but with a fatherly touch man nor Angel cannot bear it yea Christ makes use of that argument he hath power to cast into hell fear him Luke 12.4 5. 3. Consider that he is every where thou canst not be out of his sight or presence nor out of the reach of his hand Fear ye not me saith the Lord can any hide himself in secret places that I should not see him saith the Lord do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Jer. 5.22 chap. 23.24 4. Consider that he is holy and cannot look with liking upon the sins of his own people Therefore saies Peter Be as obedient children not fashioning your selves according to your former lusts in your ignorance but as he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written be ye holy for I am holy And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 5. Consider that he is good and has been good to thee good in that he hath singled thee out from others and saved thee from their death and hell though thou perhaps was worse in thy life than those that he left when he laid hold on thee O this should engage thy heart to fear the Lord all the daies of thy life They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter daies Hos. 3.5 And now for the present I have done with that fear I mean as to its first workings to wit to put me in fear of damnation and shall come in the next place to treat of the grace of fear more immediately intended in the text Of the grace of fear more immediately intended in the text I shall now speak to this fear which I call a lasting godly fear First By way of Explication by which I shall shew 1. How by the Scripture it is described 2. I shall shew you what this fear flows from 3. And then I shall also shew you what doth flow from it For the first of these to wit how by the Scripture this fear is described and that 1. More generally 2. More particularly First More generally 1. It is called a grace that is a sweet and blessed work of the Spirit of grace as he is given to the elect by Hence the Apostle saies let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear Heb. 12. for as that fear that brings bondage is wrought in the soul by the spirit as a spirit of bondage so this fear which is a fear that we have while we are in the liberty of sons is wrought by him as he manifesteth to us our liberty where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty that is where he is as a Spirit of adoption setting the soul free from that bondage under which it was held by the same spirit while he wrought as a spirit of bondage Hence as he is called a spirit working bondage to fear so he as the Spirit of the Son and of adoption is called The Spirit of the fear of the Lord Isa. 11.2 Because it is that Spirit of grace that is the author animater and maintainer of our filial fear or of that fear that is son-like and that subjecteth the elect unto God his Word and Waies unto him his Word and Waies as a Father 2. This fear is called also the fear of God not as that which is ungodly is nor yet as that may be which is wrought by the spirit as a spirit of bondage but by way of eminency to wir as a dispensation of the grace of the Gospel and as a fruit of eternal love I will put MY FEAR in their hearts and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.38 39 40 41. 3. This fear of God is called Gods Treasure for it is one of his choice Jewels it is one of the rarities of Heaven The fear of the Lord is his treasure Isa. 33.16 And it may well go under such a title for as treasure so the fear of the Lord is not found in every corner It is said all men have not faith because that also is more precious than gold the same is said about this fear There was no fear of God before their eyes that is the greatest part of men are utterly destitute of this goodly Jewels this treasure the fear of the Lord. Poor vagrants when hey come straglling to a Lords house may perhaps obtain some scraps and fragments they may also obtain old shooes and some sorry cast-off rags but they get not any of his Jewels they may not touch his choycest treasure that is kept for the children and those that shall be his heirs We may say the same also of this blessed grace of fear which is called here Gods treasure It is only bestowed upon the elect the heirs and children of the promise all others are destitute of it and so continue to death and Judgment 4. This Grace of fear Is that which maketh men excell and go beyond all men in the account of God It is that which beautifies a man and prefers him above all other Hast thou saies God to Satan considered my servant Job that there is none like him in all the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evil Job 1.8 chap. 2. ver 4. Mind it There is none like him none like him in all the earth I suppose he means either in those parts or else he was the man that abounded in the fear of the Lord none like him to fear the Lord he only excelled others with respect to his reverencing of God bowing before him and sincerely complying with his will and therefore
is counted the excellent man 'T is not the knowledge of the Will of God but our sincere complying therewith that proveth we fear the Lord and it is our so doing that putteth upon us the note of excelling hereby appears our perfection herein is manifest our uprightness A perfect and an upright man is one that feareth God and that because he escheweth evil Therefore this grace of fear is that without which no part or piece of service which we do to God can be accepted of him It is as I may call it The salt of the Covenant which seasoneth the heart and therefore must not be lacking there it is also that which salteth or seasoneth all our doings and therefore must not be lacking in any of them Levit. 2.13 For 5. I take this grace of fear to be that which softeneth and mollifieth the heart and that makes it stand in AWE both of the mercies and Judgments of God This is that that retaineth in the heart that due dread and reverence of the heavenly majesty that is meet should be both in and kept in the heart of poor sinners Wherefore when David described THIS fear in the exercise of it he calls it an AWE of God Stand in AWE saith he and Sin not and again mine heart standeth in AWE of thy Word and again Let all the Earth FEAR the Lord what 's that or how is that why Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in AWE of him Psal. 4.4 Psal. 119.161 Psal. 33.8 This is that therefore that is as I said before so excellent a thing in the eyes of God to wit a grace of the spirit the fear of God his treasure the salt of the covenant that which makes men excel all others for it is that which maketh the sinner to stand in AWE of God which posture is the most comely thing in us throughout all ages But Secondly and more particularly 1. This grace is called The beginning of knowledge Prov. 1.7 because by the first gracious discovery of God to the soul this grace is begot and again because the first time that the soul doth apprehend God in Christ to be good unto it this grace is animated by which the soul is put into an holy AWE of God which causeth it with reverence and due attention to hearken to him and tremble before him It is also by vertue of this fear that the soul doth enquire yet more after the blessed knowledge of God This is the more evident because where this fear of God is wanting or where the discovery of God is not attended with it the heart still abides rebellious obstinate and unwilling to know more that it might comply therewith nay for want of it such sinners say rather As for God let him depart from us and for the Almighty we desire not the knowledge of HIS waies 2. This fear is called The beginning of Wisdom Job 28.28 Psal. 111.10 because then and not tell then a man begins to be truly spiritually wise what wisdom is there where the fear of God is not Therefore the fools are described thus For that they hated knowledg and did not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1.29 The word of God is the fountain of knowledg into which a man will not with godly reverence look until he is endued with the fear of the Lord Therefore it is rightly called the beginning of Wisdom But fools despise wisdom and instruction Prov. 1.7 It is therefore this fear of the Lord that makes a man wise for his soul for life and for another world 'T is this that teacheth him how he should do to escape those spiritual and eternal ruins that the fool is overtaken with and swallowed up of forever A man void of this fear of God whereever he is wise or in what ever he excels yet about the matters of his soul there is none more foolish than himself for through the want of the fear of the Lord he leaves the best things at sixes and sevens and only pursueth with all his heart those that will leave him in the snare when he dies 3. This fear of the Lord Is to hate evil To hate sin and vanity sin and vanity they are The sweet morsels of the FOOL Job 20.12 and such which the carnal appetite of the flesh runs after and it is only the vertue that is in the fear of the Lord that maketh the sinner have an antipathy against it By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil Proverbs 16.6 That is men shun separate themselves from and eschew it in its appearances Wherefore it is plain that those that love evil are not possessed with the fear of God There is a generation that will pursue evil that will take it in nourish it lay it up in their hearts hide it and plead for it and rejoyce to do it These cannot have in them the fear of the Lord for that is to hate it and to make men depart from it where the fear of God and sin is it will be with the soul as it was with Israel when Amri and Tibni strove to reign among them both at once one of them must be put to death they cannot live together sin must down for the fear of the Lord begetteth in the soul a hatred against it an abhorrence of it therefore sin must die that is as to the affections and lusts of it for as Solomon saies in another case where no wood is the fire goeth out So we may say where there is a hatred of sin and where men depart from it there it loseth much of its power waxeth feeble and decayeth Therefore Solomon saith again Fear the Lord and depart from evil Prov. 3.7 as who should say fear the Lord and it will follow that you shall depart from evil departing from evil is a natural consequence a proper effect of the fear of the Lord where it is By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil that is in their Judgment will mind and affections not that by the fear of the Lord sin is annihilated or has lost its being in the soul there still will those Canaanites be but they are hated lothed abominated fought against prayed against watcht against strove against and mortified by the soul Rom. 7. 4. This fear is called a fountain of life The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death Prov. 14.27 It is a fountain or spring which so continually supplieth the soul with variety of considerations of sin of God of death and life eternal as to keep the soul in continual exercise of vertue and in holy contemplation It is a fountain of life every opperation thereof every act and exercise thereof hath a true and natural tendency to spiritual and eternal felicity Wherefore the wise man saith in another place the fear of the Lord tendeth to life and be that hath it shall abide satisfied he shall not be visited with evil
Prov. 19.23 It tendeth to life even as of nature every thing hath a tendency to that which is most natural to it self the fire to burn the water to wet the stone to fall the sun to shine sin to defile c. Thus I say the fear of the Lord tendeth to life the nature of it is to put the soul upon fearing of God of closing with Christ and of walking humbly before him It is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death What are the snares of death but sin the wiles of the Devil c. From which the fear of God hath a natural tendence to deliver thee and to keep thee in the way that tendeth to life 5. This fear of the Lord it is called The instruction of Wisdom Prov. 15.33 You heard before that it is the beginning of wisdom but here you find it called the instuction of wisdom for indeed it is not only that which makes a man begin to be wise but to improve and make advantage of all those helps and means to life which God hath afforded to that end That is both to his own and his neighbours salvation also It is the instruction of wisdom it will make a man capable to use all his natural parts all his natural wisdom to Gods glory and his own good There lieth even in many natural things THAT into which if we were instructed would yield us a great deal of help to the understanding of spiritual matters For in wisdom has God made all the World nor is there any thing that God has made whether in Heaven above or on Earth beneath but there is couched some spiritual mystery in it The which men matter more than they do the ground they tread on or than the stones that are under their feet and all because they have not this fear of the Lord for had they that that would teach them to think even from that knowledg of God that hath by the fear of him put into their hearts that he being so great and so good there must needs be abundance of wisdom in the things he hath made that fear would also indeavour to find out what that wisdom is yea and give to the soul the instruction of it In that it is called the instruction of wisdom it intimates to us that its tendency is to keep all even and in good order in the soul. When Job perceived that his friends did not deal with him in an even spirit and orderly manner he said that they forsook the fear of the Almighty Job 6.14 For this fear keeps a man even in his words and judgment of things It may be compared to the ballace of the Ship and to the poys of the ballance of the Scales it keeps all even and also makes us steer our course right with respect to the things that pertain to God and man What this fear of God flows from I come now to the second thing to wit to shew you what this fear of God flows from First This fear this grace of fear this son-like fear of God It flows from the distinguishing love of God to his elect I will be their God saith he and I will put my fear 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 said to be those that are wrapt up in the eternal or everlasting covenant of God and so designed to be the people that should be blessed with this fear I will make an everlasting covenant with them saith God that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 This covenant declares unto men that 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 them nor yet suffer them to depart to wit finally from him Into these mens hearts he doth put his fear this blessed grace and this rare and effectual sign of his love and of their eternal salvation 2. This fear flows from a new heart This fear is not in men by nature the fear of Devils they may have as also an ungodly fear of God but this fear is not in any but where there dwelleth a new heart another fruit and effect of this everlasting covenant and of this distinguishing love of God An new heart also will I give them a new heart what a one is that why the same Prophet saith in another place A heart to fear me a circumcised one a sanctified one Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 11.19 Chap. 36.26 So then until a man receive an heart from God an heart from Heaven a new heart he has not this fear of God in him New wine must not be put into old bottles lest the one to wit the bottles mar the wine or the wine the bottles but new wine must have new bottles and then both shall be preserved Matth. 9.17 This fear of God must not be cannot be found in old hearts old hearts are not bottles out of which this fear of God proceeds but 't is from an honest and good heart from a new one from such an one that is also an effect of the everlasting covenant and love of God to men I will give them an heart to fear me there must in all actions be heart and without heart no action is good nor can there be faith love or fear from every kind of heart these must flow from such an one whose nature is to produce and bring forth such fruit Do men gather Grapes of thorns or Figs of thistles so from a corrupt heart there cannot proceed such fruit as the fear of God as to believe in God and love God Luke 6.43 44 45. The heart naturally is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked how then should there flow from such an one the fear of God it cannot be He therefore that hath not received at the hands of God a new heart cannot fear the Lord. 3. This fear of God it flows from an impression a sound impression that the word of God maketh on our souls for without an impress of the word there is no fear of God Hence it is said that God gave to Israel good laws statutes and judgements that they might learn them and in learning them learn to fear the Lord their God Therefore saith God in another place Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God Deut. 6.1 2. Chap. 31.12 For as a man drinketh good doctrine into his soul so he feareth God If he drinks it in much he feareth him greatly if he drinketh it in but little he feareth him but little if he drinketh it not in at all he feareth him not at all This therefore teacheth us how
Horeb when the Lord thy God said unto thee gather me the people together and I will make them hear my Words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the Earth Dut. 4.9 10 11. The remembrance of what we saw felt feared and trembled under the sense of when our first fears were upon us 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 there be in the Land famine if there be pestilence blasting mildew locust or if there be Catterpillars if their Enemies besiege 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 Israel 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 dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his waies whose heart thou knowest for thou even thou only knowest the hearts of all the Children of men that they may fear thee all the daies 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 is from a belief that he certainly knoweth the heart and seeth 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 so 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 You are they said Christ that justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts Luk. 16.15 The Pharisees 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 sins 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 is 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 Peter 1 Pet. 1.17 And if ye call upon the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans works pass the time of your sojourning here in fear He that hath godly conviction of this will fear of God will fear before him by which fear their hearts are poised and works directed with trembling according to the will of God Thus you see what a weighty and great grace this grace of the holy fear of God is how all the graces of the Holy Ghost yield mutually their help and strength to the nourishment and life of it and also how it flows from them all and hath a dependance upon every of them for its due working in the heart of him that hath it And thus much to shew you from whence it flows And now I shall come to the third thing to wit to shew you what flows from this godly fear What flows from this godly fear Having shewed you what godly fear flows from I 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 this godly fear a godly reverence of God He is great said David and greatly to be feared in the assembly of his Saints God as I have already shewed you is the proper object of godly fear it is his Person and Majestly that this fear alwaies causeth the eye of the soul to be 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 so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until he have mercy upon us Psal. 122. verse 2. Nothing aweth the soul that feareth God so much as doth the glorious Majesty of God 1. His person is above all things feared by them I fear God said Joseph Gen. 42.18 That is more than any other I stand in awe of him he is my dread he is my fear I do all mine actions as in his presence as in his sight I reverence his holy and glorious Majesty doing all things as with fear and trembling before 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 Princes said David persecute me without a cause but my heart standeth 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 say will cause a man to afflict his soul when he seeth that by professors dishonour is brought to the name of God and to his word Who would not fear thee said Servius O King of Nations for to thee doth it appertain He speaks it as being affected with that dishonour that by the body of the Jews was continually brought to his name his word and waies he also speaks it of a hearty wish that they once would be otherwise minded The same saving in effect hath also John in the Revelations O who would not fear thee Lord said he and glorify thy name Revel 15.4 clearly concluding that godly fear produceth a godly tenderness of Gods glory in the world for that appertaineth unto him that is it is due unto him 't is a debt which we owe unto him Give unto the Lord said David the glory due unto his Name Now if there be begotten in the heart of the godly by this grace of fear a godly tenderness of the glory of God then it follows of consequence that where they that have this fear of God do see his glory diminished by the wickedness of the children of men there they are grieved and deeply distressed Rivers of waters said David run down mine eyes because they keep not thy Law Psal. 119.136 Let me give you for this these following instances 1. How was David provoked when Goliah defied the God of Israel 1 Sam. 17.23 29 45 46. 2. Also when others reproached God he tells us that that reproach was even as a Sword in his bones Psal. 42.10 3. How was Hezekiah afflicted when Rabshakah railed upon his God Isa. 37. 4. David also for the love that he had to the glory of Gods word ran the
to judge who feareth the Lord they are those that learn and that stand in awe of the word those that have by the holy word of God the very form of it self engraven upon the face of their souls they fear God Rom. 6.17 But on the contrary those that do not love good doctrine that give not place to the wholsom truths of the God of Heaven revealed in his testament to take place in their souls but rather despise it and the true professors of it they fear not God For as I said before this fear of God it flows from a sound impression that the word of God maketh upon the soul and therefore 4. This godly fear it floweth from faith for where the word maketh sound impression on the soul by that impression is faith begotten whence also this fear doth flow Therefore right hearing of the word is called the hearing of faith Galla. 3. verse 2. Hence it is said again By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith Heb. 11.7 The word the warning that he had from God 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 soul there can be none of this faith 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 sorrow worketh repentance godly repentance produceth this fear For behold saies Paul This self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you what clearing of your selves yea what indignations yea what fear 2 Cor. 7.10 11. Repentance is the effect of sorrow and sorrow is the effect of smart and smart the effect of faith now therefore fear must needs be an effect of and flow from repentance Sinner do not deceive thy self if thou art a stranger to sound repentance which standeth in sorrow and shame before God for sin as also in turning from it thou hast no fear of God I mean none of this godly fear for that 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 spirit as a spirit of bondage but these we do not discourse of now wherefore the godly fear that now I treat of it floweth from some sense or hope of mercy from God by Jesus Christ. If thou Lord saies David shouldest mark iniquity O Lord who should stand 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 feareth God Indeed nothing can lay a stronger obligation upon the heart to fear God than sense of or hope in mercy See Jer. 33.8 9. This begetteth true tenderness of heart true godly softness of spirit this truly endeareth the affections to God and in this true tenderness softness and indearedness of affection to God lieth the very essence of this fear of the Lord as is manifest by the fruit of this fear when we shall come to speak of it 7. This fear of God flows from a due consideration of the judgments of God that are to be executed in the world yea upon professors too yea further Gods people themselves I mean as to themselves have such a consideration of his judgments towards them as to produce this godly fear When Gods judgments are in the earth they effect the fear of his name in the hearts of his own people My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am said David afraid of thy judgments Psal. 119.120 When God smote Vzza David was afraid of God that day Chron. 13.12 Indeed many regard not the works of the Lord nor take notice of the opperation of his hands and such cannot fear the Lord. But others observe and regard and wisely consider of his doings and of the judgments that he executeth and that makes them fear the Lord. This God himself suggesteth as a means to make us fear him Hence he commands the false Prophet to be stoned That all Israel might hear and fear Hence also he commanded that the rebellious Son should be stoned That all Israel might hear and fear False Witness was also to have the same judgment of God executed upon him That all Israel might hear and fear The man also that did ought presumptuously was to die That all Israel might hear and fear Deut. 13.11 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 hath 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 distresses when we were distressed 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 leaveth in us and upon our spirits that sense and relish of our first awakenings and dread as also occasioneth and produceth this godly fear Take heed saies God and keep thy soul deligently lest thou forget the things that thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the daies of thy life but 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 wit 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