the true feare of God Psal 36.1 The wicked haue no feare of God before their eyes Let vs therefore keepe Gods Commandemēts and not only talke of them but practise them and doe them First this teaches vs to walke in the path of Gods Commandements not to talke of them only or to commend them but to practise them and doe them the Prophet Dauid therefore sheweth plainely who they are that feares God saying The mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting Psa 10◠17 18. Psa 128.1 Psa 119 63. Deut. 8.6 vpon them that feares him to such as keepe his Couenant and remember his Commandements to doe them and blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes and Dauid saith I am a companion of all them that feare thee and keepe thy Commandements This must therefore teach euery one carefully to obserue and keep Gods Commandements according to the saying of God by Moses Thou shalt keepe the Commandement of the Lord thy God to walke in his wayes and to feare him In vaine therefore doe they boast of their feare seruice worship of God who instead of keeping Gods Comandements break them all delight thēselues in nothing more then in committing of sin transgressing the Law of God let vs therfore take Salomons counsell Eccle. 12.13 In all Gods children in whom the true feare of God is there must be vprightnesse and sincerity of heart Feare God and keepe his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man Secondly wee must get vprightnesse of heart in the whole course of Gods worship and seruice Hee that walketh in his vprightnes feareth the Lord. Iob was an vpright man and one that feared God Cornelius was a iust man and one that feared God with all his house Pro. 14.2 Iob. 1. Act. 10.22 Verse 2. and certainely in all Gods people in whom the true feare of God is there cannot but be vprightnesse of heart voyde of all hypocrisie and a true endeauour to approoue their hearts vnto God to bee true and sound in all things as knowing that God knoweth and beholdeth all and he who will iudge them all at the latter day To goe on constantly in grace vnto the end is a true signe of the holy feare of God Ier. 32.40 Pro. 24.24 Therefore let vs all get vprightnesse of heart and goe on constantly in the grace and fauour of God cleaning so fast vnto God as neuer to fall away from him for those that haue made some good beginnings and yet afterwards fall away from him do euidently declare that they neuer had this true feare of God for God doth so put his feare in the hearts of his Children that they shall neuer depart from him they may sometimes fall through infirmities but as Salomon saith They rise vp againe therefore they cannot finally fall away from God none can plucke him out of his hands Satan cannot Ioh. 10.29 because he that is in vs Iohn 4.4 is stronger then hee that is in the world Sinne cannot because grace will preuaile against it The world cannot 1. Iohn 5.4 because this is our victory whereby we ouercome the world euen our Faith And the Apostle concludeth generally for all other matters that Neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 39. nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. The excellency of this grace shuld be a speciall motiue to vs to feare the Lord. And to stirre vs vp to the performance of this duety whereby we may get the true feare of the Lord let vs remember the excellency of this grace and how it maketh all those in whom it is to be most excellent Mal. 3.16 For a booke of remembrance is written before God for them that feare the Lord and they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts Pro. 31.30 in that day when I make vp my Iewels Here we see God hath them in euerlasting remembrance neuer to forget them as being his Iewels and chiefest treasure The woman that excelleth all is shee that feareth the Lord Pro. 15.16 Psal 37.16 this Salomon describes the excellency of this feare aboue all other things Better is a little with the feare of the Lord then great Treasure and trouble therewith A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked men and of all people Psa 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that feare him Thirdly we learne from hence that this blessed man that feareth the Lord No good thing will the Lord withhold from them that feare him hath the promise of temporall blessings as riches honour preferment length of dayes blessing vpon our labours and all that wee haue Doest thou then desire riches Wouldest thou come to honour Wouldest thou liue long and see good dayes Then bee carefull to feare the Lord and bee thou sure thou shalt haue these blessings or at least as good in stead of them Pro. 22.4 Pro. 10.27 Pr. 9.10.11 Psal 128. By the feare of the Lord are riches honour and life the feare of the Lord prolongeth dayes and by it thy dayes shall bee multiplyed and the yeeres of thy life shall bee increased Blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord for thou shalt eate the the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee Loe thus shall the man bee blessed that feareth the Lord. Againe wouldest thou haue God to deliuer thee and saue thee from trouble then feare the Lord. For the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that feare him Psal 34.7 and deliuereth them Wouldest thou haue plenty or at least a competent liuing to enioy Gods good blessings then feare God for their is no want to them that feare him The Lyons doe lurke and suffer hunger Psal 9.9.10 but they that feare God shall want to manner of thing that is good Wouldest thou haue thy hearts desire granted thee of God so far forth as shal be agreeable to his will Psal 37.4 Then delight thy selfe in the Lord and hee shall giue thee thine hearts desire yea he will fulfill the desires of them that feare him hee will heare their cry and will helpe them Wouldest thou haue all things to be well with thee then feare the Lord for he taketh pleasure in them that feare him Psal 147 11. Eccle. 8.12 And though a sinner doth euill an hundred times and his dayes be prolonged yet surely I know that it shall bee well with them that feare God which feare before him And though many troubles and manifold mischiefes are in the world though the righteous fall into manifold afflictions Yet as Salomon saith Eccle. 7.18 He that feareth God shall come forth of them
and dost thou not rest in Negatiues abstaining only from what is forbidden but hast thou also regard to affirmatiues doing what God hath enioyned to bee done esteeming this latter as necessary as the former Surely if it bee thus thou mayst haue comfort that thy obedience to the Commandements is sound and good but yet a little further thou abstainest from grosse euils and art seuere and sore against others that fall into them such such sinnes thou dost not commit but what is the ground of thy abstaining Is it the law of the Magistrate feare of Gods wrath or shame of the World or is it because thou wantest ability or opportunity if this be the ground let me tell thee this is a false ground will deceiue thee in the end But dost thou leaue these H s 3.5 Psal 130.4 because they are euill and displeasing to the Lord Dost thou feare the Lord and his goodnesse and tremble to offend him because of his mercy Why then it is an euident signe of a sanctified soule Oh that we would deale truely with our selues that we would now at the last learne to be wise and not gull our soules as most doe and therefore consider with thy selfe and be thou better aduised cast of all profainenes follow holines and piety for without it no man shal euer see God to his comfort Seeing therfore examination is so necessary for euery one Examination so necessary that without it no state of life can bee rightly ordered let vs goe one step further in this tryall of our selues Hast thou felt by thine owne experience this great worke of regeneration and change wrought vpon thy soule Hath the powerfull Word by the inward and effectuall working of his Spirit broken and bruised thy hard stony heart Hath it pierced and purged the very closest and vnsearchable corners thereof hath it humbled it with the sight of thy sinnes hath it filled it with fearefull terrours remorse and true sorrow for thy life past hath it after quieted and refreshed it with a sure faith in Christ Iesus and a delight in heauenly things hath it mortified thy inward corruptions broke the heart of thy sweet sin hath it planted a holy moderation in all thy affections that whereas heretofore they haue beene enraged with lust with immoderate anger with ambition with insatiable desire for the inlargement of thy possessions greatnesse and with hatred of Gods dearest seruants and their holinesse are they now inflamed with zeale for Gods honor truth seruice with a feruent loue vnto the Lord and his Saints with Christian courage to oppose against the sinnes of the time to defend goodnesse good causes to contemne the lying slanders and profane scoffes of worthlesse men hath it begot in thy will an hunger and thirst after the spirituall foode of thy soule the Word and Sacraments so that thou hadst rather part with any worldly good then not enioy the incomparable benefit of a conscionable and constant ministery are thy thoughts which hertofore did wander vp downe at randome wickedly idly wantonly are they now bounded within a sacred compasse and spent vpon holy things and the necessary affaires of thy honest lawfull calling Is thy vnderstanding informed acquainted with the mistery of saluation which the world the wise men thereof account nothing but madnes and folly is thy memory which hath heretofore bin stuffed with trash and toyes vanities and follies now capable and greedy of diuine knowledge are thy words which heretofore haue bin full of profanenes worldlines now directed to glorifie God to giue grace to the hearers Nay yet further besides this reuocation of the faculties of thy soule hath the power of grace sanctified all thy outward actions Dost thou order in euery particular all the businesses of thy vocation religiously conscionably by direction out of the Word of God Dost thou now heare the Word of God not only of course and custome but of zeale conscience to reforme thy selfe by it to liue after it Do not the weekdaies duties and worldly cares drown thy mind on the sabbath dost thou exercise daily with fruit feeling prayer that precious cōfort of the faithfull Christian Thou being conuerted dost thou labor the cōuersion of others especially of those which are committed any way to thy charge and for whom thou must giue a more strickt account as if thou be a master of a family dost thou pray with them instruct them in the doctrine of saluation wayes of godlinesse dost thou now not only sticke at and forbeare great and grosse sinnes but dost thou euen hate the garment spotted of the flesh and all appearance of euill Thes 15.22 doth the tendernes of thy conscience check thee for the least sin make thee feareful to offend thogh it be but in a wandring cogitation after euery fal into infirmities art thou carefull to renew thy repentance learn wisedom watchfulnes to auoid thē afterwards dost thou feele thy selfe profit grow increase in these fruits effects of grace hast thou such a gracious taste of the glory of God of eternal life that thou art euen willing desirous to meete thy Sauior in the clouds not so much to bee rid out of the miseries of this life as to be freed from the heauy burden of Heb. 12.1 sin which hangs on so fast to enioy his presence in the heauens for euer in a word as thy soule giues life spirit motion to thy whole body euery part thereof doth the Spirit of God euen so inspire thy soule and body and all thy actions with the life of grace why then thou art possest of the state of true blessednes Here is great comfort for all such as can find this vprightnesse in themselues they neede not feare thogh the earth should bee mooued yet they shall abide and be safe in the Day of the Lord. thou art then happy that euer thou wast borne thy life is certainely the way of life and I can assure thee and I dare boldly speake it that thou art already out of the reach of all the powers of Hell Satan is chained vp for euer doing thee any deadly hurt all the creatures are reconciled vnto thee at league with thee thou hast filled the angels with ioy at thy conuersion they will for euer gard thee thou shalt neuer more be afraid for any ill tidings though the earth bee moued Psal 46.2 and though the mountains fal into the middest of the sea thy heart shall abide strong vnshaken and comfortable when thou fallest downe vpon thy bed of sickenesse thou shalt finde no mortall pryson in thy flesh no sting in death no darkenesse in the graue no amazement at that great and fearful day for all the merits and sufferings of Christ are thine all the comforts of Gods children are thine all the blessings in the booke of God
must bee with euery true penitent True it is in the time of our impenitency like wilde and mad horses we gallop in the way of sinne yet in the day of our repentance the spirit of God as with a bit or bridle giueth vs a checke and turnes vs backe and setteth vs as fast a going the other way insomuch that our olde companions stand wondering at the matter admiring that wee so suddenly breake off company 1. Pet. 4.4 and runne not with them to the same excesse of ryot so great is the change that not onely our selues but others also see it admire it Now then thou that talkest of repentance and of thy obedience to the commandements is this change in thee assure thy selfe if thou hast repented it is and all the world may see it Canst thou with a good conscience say of thy selfe as Paul did of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 6.10.11 I was once a thiefe a drunkard an adulterer a reuiler an extortioner a couetous person and the like but now I am washed now I am sanctified yea iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of my God canst thou thus say of thy selfe and that in truth why then to thy comfort be it spoken this is a notable euidence of the truth of thy repentance but if it be otherwise thou mayest deceiue thy selfe for if no reformation followes these are not signes of true repentance for this is true repentance Augustine saith Augustine so to bewayle sinnes past as that we commit them no more which wee haue bewayled It is to no purpose then for vs to bewayle our former courses vnlesse there follow amendment let not then this deceiue thee For where the Lord giues repētance there he giues the grace of reuocation whereby they becom new creatures for thou doest but mocke and not indeed repent when thou still doest that whereof thou hast repented this is true repentance so to repent that thou hast sinned as that thou doest so no more till therfore thou doest cease from sinne and reforme thy wayes vntill thou doest find this change in thy selfe so that thou canst truely say I was thus and thus but now the case is altered thou canst haue no comfort in thy repentance nor in the commandements for asure thy selfe that repentance and continuance in the old wicked courses can neuer stand together Lastly this may serue for the comfort of all such as doe finde this change in themselues who can say with that blinde man who had his sight restored one thing know that whereas I was blinde now I see Ioh. 9.25 whereas I was filthy and vncleane I am now washed and cleansed Oh happy is the condition of such a one thrise blessed is the estate of that man onely manifest this change vnto the world that others may also say How is this man cbanged from what he was that as others haue beene witnesses of thy sinne so they may bee also witnesses of thy repentance This may serue for reproofe Loose professors reprooued as being farre from keeping the commandements against our loose and leud hypocrites masked vnder the name of pure professors promising to thēselues though liuing and lying in their sins far frō keeping the cōmants the reward of glory no as thou sowest thou must reape as thou bruest thou must drinke if thou sowe tares neuer looke to reape wheate if thou Brue with crabs neuer looke to drinke milde Beere Can men gather figges of thorns or grapes of thistles so I comparing our workes to trees their rewards to the fruits say the like thinke you euer of the thorns and thistles of couetousnes pride vncleannes blasphemy swearing profanation of the Sabaoths euer to gather the sweet figges or pleasant grapes of glory and happines will this gall and wormewood euer make pleasant drinke◠will these wilde and sower grapes euer yeeld sweete wine Oh that wee could seriously lay this to heart that wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ 2. Cor. 5.10 11. to receiue according to that which we here haue done whether good or euill that hee that soweth of the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption Gal. 6.8 and hee that soweth of the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting then would we presently begin to reason with our selues Alas how poore how how barren am I in good workes how fruitfull in ill it is true indeed that according to the quality of our works we shall be iudged alas what other works can I present the Lord withal besides the works of death and darknes if these had the promise of reward then were my case good let vs examine our hearts herein and thinke euer with our selues thus long haue I liued but what good haue I done eyther to my selfe or others where are my prayers fastings humiliations meditations well spent Sabaoths well gouerned children and seruants where are the workes of mercie to my brethren either to their soules in holy admonition reprehension exhortation or bodies in ministring reliefe to their necessities how can I look for the penny that hath stood idle in the market place all the day long for the crown that refused to runne Rom. 2.7 for a good crop in haruest that would not sowe in seed time let vs no longer deceiue our selues no glory honor and immortality can be found of any but such as seeke it by continuance in well doing and in keeping the commandements and delighting therein Seeing then the greater our zeal paines and trauell hath beene in Gods cause the greater shall bee weight of our glory the twelue Apostles shall haue twelue special thrones at the day of iudgement and whereas otherwise men shall but shine with the brightnesse of the firmament Dan. 12 3. they that turne others from their euill wayes with brightnesse of the starres Phil. 4.17 hee that soweth liberally shall reape liberally and euery good worke added to the number of the former helpeth to further our reckoning in the day of the Lord. Mat. 12. And here for our comfort let vs remember that God rewards euery one according to his worke for he will reward the least good worke euen a cup of cold water an t 5.1 eating not onely of our honey but of our hony-combe yea at the last day notice will bee taken of inferiour sorts of workes as giuing a peece of bread or a peece of cloath God forbid then that any should say with those in Malachy It is in vaine to serue the Lord therefore let vs feare Gods saying Behold I come quickely and my reward is with me When Mordecay had performed a worthy seruice to Ahashuerosh in discouery of a dangerous treason Est 6.10 hee had not his reward presently but yet his seruice was registred and so afterward when the king looked vppon the records it was royally recompenced Malachy teacheth vs that there are books of
remembrance written for them thar feare the Lord Mal. 3.16 and in this Chronicle all our good seruices euen euery action of obedience is recorded that it may bee rewarded our labour then shall not bee lost nor so much as our teares but they are blotted men may forget vs as Pharaoh did Ioseph Iudg. 9.17 Gen. 41 42. and Sechemites Gedeon but God wil not our reward is sure though not so speedy as wee desire Here is great comfort to all faithfull Ministers who spend their strength to turne sinners from their euill wayes great is their reward in Heauen We must liue the life grace heare if we meane to shine in glory hereafter God heere assures vs of reward in the Kingdome of Heauen Behold what comfort shineth from hence to all you who haue spent your strength in the seruice of God and conuersion of sinners great is your reward in Heauen you shall shine as starres in the Ftrmament for euer and euer From hence we learne that the degrees of glory heereafter shall bee according to the degrees of grace here so that if wee would then shine in glory now we must shine in grace therefore take the aduantage of this thy corruption shake of all spirituall sloth vse it as a goade in thy side to make thee sweat againe in Gods worke double paines shall bring thee double pleasure double deligence double delight double holinesse double honour Who will be a common stone in the building when he might be a Piller Who would be a Doore-keeper when he might be a Steward therefore let vs looke to the whole course of our liues God rewards vs not according to our good or euill worke but according to our workes to the ordinary course of them this must teach vs faithfully to walke before the Lord in the discharge of our seuerall callings let vs look well to our worke that wee doe it and God will looke farre better to reward our worke Oh then that instead of taking thought how to get this or that good thing promised wee would once take thought how to doe this or that good thing commanded and so doing our duty we should be happy for euermore In worldly affaires no weighty thing can bee done without diligence farre lesse in spirituall Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently how shall hee looke for the penny that hath stood idle Oh that there were no such to bee found in these our dayes 2. Tim. 4 2. forgetting the rule of the Apostle Preach in season and out of season Hence it commeth to passe that their Sheepe belonging to their charge are like Pharoa his Kine so leane and euill fauoured and so weake as euery bush is able to entangle and euery ditch ready to drowne them and euery blast of vaine Doctrine able to blow them away Oh that this charge were considered and that we remembred that belongeth to them that preach not the Gospell Art thou a Steward Art thou an Ambassador Why then dost thou not distribute Gods food vnto his people How wilt thou be able to looke him in the face at whose barre one day all flesh must stand Luke 16.21 and if the rich man were cast into Hell who did not relieue poore Lazarus with his bread What shall become of those that haue famished the Soules of their people for want of holy admonition and instruction First to all bee it spoken both Minister and people let vs auoyd all sinne and endeauour our our selues to the vtmost of our power to keepe and delight in the Commandements not one but al and that we may not deceiue our selues herein let euery man examine himselfe at this marke and with a single eye and vpright heart take a view of his affections whether his ioy bee inward and spirituall that is in the assurances of God fauour in his word in his Children in Prayer and continuall practise of Godlinesse or outward and carnall that is in attainement of greatnesse and worldly pleasures in the encrease of our Corne and Wine and Oyle vvhether hee loue the peace of Conscience farre more dearely then the fauour of men or his owne life Whether hee bee more zealous for the honour and praise of GOD then his owne Whether hee bee more afraid of secret sinnes then open shame of offending God then outward afflictions Whether he bee more angry in the cause of Religion and concerning Gods glory or for our owne priuate wrongs and so throughout the rest of our affections Secondly wouldest thou repent thee of thy sinnes turne from them and haue them pardoned then labour to know them striue to find them out Consider of thy wayes make a stand for a while and examine thy courses put the question to thy soule what haue I done and againe propound it wherein am I fayling take the light of Gods Law that will shew thee thy filthinesse that will discouer vnto thee thy great corruptions and many faylings bee not backward in this duty the more backward thou art the greater cause thou hast to feare thy estate Bankerouts that are not worth a groat do not dare look into their state because they know they bee worse then nought bee then perswaded to call thy courses to account Consider the estate wherin thou art thy case is fearefull because thou art ignorant of it but it is desperate if thou wilt not be perswaded to looke into it but on the other side if thou wilt take thy selfe aside and commune with thy owne heart as Dauid speaketh Psal 4.4 surely then thou wilt be in a fayre forwardnesse to sound conuersion But heare some may aske Obedience to all the Commandements is an infallible signe of a true iustifying faith how shall I know if I be such a one or not I answere thou mayst easily prooue it in keeping the Commandements and delighting therein by this maist thou know and therefore try thy selfe whether thou hast respect to the first Table as well as to the second to the second as well as to the first dost thou performe good duties for conscience sake dost thou as well make conscience of dissembling with the world defrauding thy neighbour lying or equiuocating for aduantage as of blaspheming Gods name of prophaning Gods Sabbath of neglecting holy exercises Dost thou lament and bewayle thy dulnesse and deadnesse thy drowsinesse and heauines in the performance of holy duties to God and honest duties to men Art thou grieued and disquieted when thou findest not the efficacies and fruit of those good exercises in thy heart hast thou learned to make conscience of sinnes of omission as well of commission Dost thou as well open thy mouth to speake to his honour as keepe it shut from dishonouring him Dost thou as well make conscience of doing these good duties on the Sabbath Day hearing reading meditating and the like which God requireth as thou dost from abstaining of the workes of thy ordinary calling which hee forbiddeth