Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n
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A18125
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A sermon of the nature and necessitie of godly feare Preached in the Cathedrall Church of Chester, in September, 1614.
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Case, William, 1584 or 5-1634.
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1616
(1616)
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STC 4766; ESTC S118534
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19,465
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32
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feare of God before their eyes Primus in orbe Deos fecit timor saith the heathen Poet The first thing that euer made men to thinke there was a God was Feare Teaching vs that no sooner nor longer doe we beleeue there is a God then we haue feare A fearelesse man therefore is a gracelesse man the want of feare being an assured and vndoubted testimonie that there is no goodnesse in him in asmuch as it is the first grace that is wrought in the heart of a man and so certaine a ground of goodnesse that it was generally taken amongst the Iewes for the whole worship of God and that there can be no part of Gods true worship where feare is not As therefore the wants of feare may bee feare vnto vs if there be any kinde of inclination vnto goodnesse in vs vnlesse we be altogether hardened so also if we desire to be happy the many promises in the Scriptures of diuers and all kinde of blessings therevnto may incourage and moue vs to striue and endeauour our selues to stand in awe and feare of our gracious God As first Acceptation in his sight for in euery nation saith Saint Peter he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Act. 10.35 Secondly Mercy for his mercy is on them that feare him throughout all generations Luk. 1.50 Thirdly Compassion for as a Father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him Psal 103.13 Fourthly the continuance of posteritie for blessed is the man that feareth the Lord for he shall see his childrens children and grace vpon Israel Psal 128.1.6 Fiftly long life for the feare of the Lord encreaseth the daies and he that is filled therewith shall continue and not be visited with euill Pro. 19.23 Sixtly Riches Glory and Life for the reward of humilitie and the feare of God is riches glory and life Prou. 22.4 Seuenthly knowledge and illumination in the misteries of our saluation for the Lord reueales his secrets vnto such as feare him and what man is hee that feares the Lord him will he teach in the way that he shall choose Psa 25 12.14 Eightly protection and preseruation Behold saith the Prophet the eye of the Lord is vpon such as feare him to deliuer their soules from death and to preserue them in time of famine Psal 33.18 And lastly audience vnto our praiers for to him will I looke saith the Lord that is poore and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my words Esay 66.2 And in summe all those things that can make vs blessed shall we be sure of if we liue in this feare for no good thing doth hee withhold from them that feare him As therefore wee doe desire to be accepted of him as wee looke for mercie and compassion from him as wee would expect the blessings of God vpon our posterities as we hope for protection and preseruation from his almighty power and finally as we would be made partakers of all those blessings that may make vs happy either in this life or the life to come so are wee to endeauour our selues at all times to banish from our thoughts all securitie and alwaies preserue in our hearts a reuerent and awfull feare of the dreadfull maiestie of God as being assured that the diuell will be the accuser the Angels the beholders and the iust God the auenger of all those carelesse and fearelesse actions that at any time shall proceede from vs through the whole course of our liues Now for the Relatiue part of this feare that it is a barre and restraint vnto sinne though reason and experience might sufficiently informe vs herein yet for our better satisfaction and encouragement the Scriptures are expresse in many places to this effect Pro. 14.17 The feare of the Lord saith Salomon is a wellspring of life to auoide the snares of death the snares of death are the baites of sinne the onely preseruatiue against their enticements is the feare of the Lord saith Salomon The only meanes which the Lord in the time of the Law prescribed vnto his owne people to preuent and auoide sinne As for example against Oppression You shall not oppresse one another but thou shalt feare thy God Leuit. 25.17 And against Extortion take no vsurie of thy poore brother nor increase but feare thy God ver 36. Against Crueltie and Tyranny also thou shalt not rule ouer him with rigour but shall feare thy God ver 43. Againe thou shalt not curse the deafe nor put a stumbling blocke before the blinde but shall feare thy God Leuit. 19.14 And in the 32. verse against irreuerence towards superiours thou shalt rise vp before the hoarie head and honour the face of the old man and feare thy God Against presumptuous disobedience to the Priestand Iudges And all the people shall heare and feare and doe no more presumptuously Deut. 17.13 Against dissimulation in singlenesse of heart fearing God Col. 3.22 What should I stand to instance in any more particulars in a matter so consonant and agreeable to common sense that onely the feare of God doth depart from iniquitie A point of instruction onely seruing for a rule to trye whether there be any feare of God in vs or no. For if at any time the diuell taking aduantage by our owne corruption shall suggest either reuenge for iniuries or deceit to get profit to vse false weights or measures to inrich ourselues or indirect meanes to attaine our purposes or what wickednesse so euer shall be behoosefull vnto vs if we feare we shall forbeare A wise man feareth saith Salomon and departeth from euill Pro. 14.16 And therefore beloued to draw an end of this point in as much as both reason doth teach vs and the Scriptures enioyne vs to stand in awe and feare of God and that thereby we shall attaine vnto blessings and escape and preuent both siune and punishment for sinne Let vs then haeue grace whereby we may serue God acceptably with reuerence and feare Heb. 12.28.29 for euen our God is a consuming fire And so I passe from the first part of my Text the preuension of sinne vnto the second the prohibuion of sinne in these words Sinne not Wherein I will consider two things the duetie enioyned Sinno not and the manner of proposing it which is indefinitely For the first the intent and meaning of the Prophet in these words sinne not may be both iustly doubted of and questioned For in asmuch as considering the frailetie and corruption of our nature there is a continuall necessitie of sinne in man the Apostle witnessing the same of himselfe being regenerate in the seauenth to the Romans that he was carnall and sould vndersinne Rom. 7.14 and that of the Prophet Psa 19.12.1 Ioh. 1.8 who knoweth how oft he offendeth and that of Saint Iohn If we say we have no sinne we deceiue our Ielues and the truth is not in vs. How then is it here