Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	fear_v	lord_n	remembrance_n	1,962	5	9.9520	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90384	The fear of God: vvhat it is, and exhorted to as one of the great lessons God calls upon men to learn by his great dispensations in the last days. In a sermon preached unto the Church of Christ meeting in Petty France London, the tenth day of the sixth month. Anno 1656. By the faithful servant of Christ John Pendarves a little before his death.	Pendarves, John, 1622-1656.	1657 (1657)	Wing P1137; Thomason E907_3; ESTC R3183	20,112	38

spoken to our own souls Use If it be so that the fear of God is one of those great Lessons God calls upon men to learn by his great Works in the latter dayes Then let mee exhort and beseech you all to learn this blessed Lesson of the Fear of God It is surely a very desirable thing It may bee many of you will take it in scorn to bee taught this and bee ready to say What are wee yet to learn this Let mee tell you it is much to bee feared That many that have made a long profession of God are yet void of this true filial fear of the Name of God and therefore to help you a little in it I shall give you but some Motives and some Directions and so conclude Motive 1. Consider the excellency of the fear of God it is Prov. 1.7 Psal 111.10 the beginning of wisdome and it is good for persons to observe a method and order in what they doe whiles thou art void of this fear thou art void of true spiritual wisdome and therefore Job also telleth us That the fear of the Lord that is wisdome Job 28. last v. And therefore you that are void of spiritual wisdome and have not the fear of God imprinted upon your hearts the first lesson you are to learn is the fear of God and as you would bee wise men and women take heed of light and vain spirits for Solomon tells us A fool is known by much laughter Eccles 7.6 Motive 2. Consider that this fear of God is that which will fit Saints for that glorious state God will bring them into and by the signes of Christs coming it seems to bee nigh that distress that is upon the Nations speaks something to it Oh friends wee are not fit for that familiarity Saints shall then have with God if this fear of God be not upon our hearts Notions of love will but lead to vanity and lightness without they bee ballanced by this fear and therefore to fit and prepare persons for Christs appearing and that familiarity wee shall have with him at his coming this fear of God is absolutely necessary and therefore those that profess to bee most inlightned in the truth of Christs appearing and Kingdome ought much to live in this fear for you shall finde this is the use David makes of it in Psal 2. Having treated of the Kingdome of Christ and the subjection of the Nations to him hee concludes with this vers 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Motive 3. Consider The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him Psal 147.11 Gods delight is in such a man and hee reckons such among his Jewels Mal. 3.17 18. So when God would triumph of a man as hee did of his servant Job saying There is none like him in all the earth one that Feareth God and escheweth evill Job 1.8 But on the contrary God takes notice of light and proud and vain professors they are not worthy of a name in his book by way of Approbation And when that discerning time comes spoken of in Malachy 3.18 When God makes up his Jewels then shall men discern between them that fear God and those that fear him not The fear of God and the love of his Name are the two great things by which souls shall then be distinguished that soul that can trust God for his daily bread here and for eternal life and glory hereafter and the carnal Professor shall then bee distinguished each from other and when Saints come to have a more discerning spirit they shall see that none are rightly spirited for God but those which have this Fear of God and can look at Gods glory above all things and the people of God shall be much known by this that they are willing to forbear any thing that tends to their own advantage when it may dishonour Gods Name because they fear God and love Gods Name and I beleeve God will put such a difference between Ishmael and Isaac and their children between Professors and Professors that they shall bee much discerned and discovered by this very thing the one of seeking alone Gods glory and the advancement of his Name above all and the other seeking the inriching themselves and onely minding their own advancement in the earth such as these God will manifest his displeasure against But hee taketh pleasure in them that fear him Again as a 4 Motive To press you to this fear of God consider the judgements threatned against those that fear him not for let mee tell you That notwithstanding all your outward Profession of the Name of God yet if this fear of God bee not in your hearts you will not bee able to escape the great judgements of the great God against those that fear him not I will be a swift witness against them that fear not mee saith the Lord Mal. 3.5 But to this man will hee look even to him that trembles at his word Isa 66.2 And therefore as a 5 Motive Consider the many precious promises God hath made to them that fear him They shall bee mine saith the Lord and when hee makes up his Jewels he will remember those that fear him Yea he hath his book of remembrance for such souls hee will be sure not to forget them Mal. 3.16 17. And blessed is the man that feareth alwayes Prov. 28.14 And you may finde David pressing to the fear of God upon this account Psal 34 9 10. O fear the Lord all yee his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him the young Lions shall lack and suffer hunger but they that fear the Lord shall want no good thing And you may further note That the great reward that will bee given at the last day is promised unto those that have this fear See it in Rev. 11.18 Hee will reward his servants the Prophets and those that fear his Name small and great And it is for some singular goodness manifested to them that they are called upon to praise God in Rev. 19.5 Praise our God all yee his servants and those that fear him both small and great And so God hath promised to hear the prayers yea to fulfill the desires of them that fear him Psal 145.19 And are not these great priviledges which are promised to those that fear God And therefore let all these Motives bee usefull to work the fear of God where it is not and to increase it where it is Quest But perhaps some may say This fear of God is an excellent thing but how shall wee come by it wee are not able to plant this plant in our owne souls Answ It is true This fear of God is a flower that doth not grow in Natures garden but it is a precious effect of the Spirit of Christ in the heart as I shewed you in the Description but let mee say this to you That since the fear of God is so excellent a thing take heed that you do

The Fear of God VVhat it is And EXHORTED TO As one of the Great Lessons God calls upon men to learn by his great Dispensations in the last days In a Sermon Preached unto the Church of Christ meeting in Petty France London the Tenth day of the Sixth Month. Anno 1656. By that faithful Servant of Christ John Pendarves a little before his Death LONDON Printed by R. I. for Livewell Chapman and are to be sold at the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1657. TO THE Church of God WHICH He hath purchased with his own Bloud meeting at ABINGDON Precious and Beloved THis Sermon is especially commended to your view as being those which I judge have most right unto it because of that near relation which was between you and the Author of it a taste of whose savoury spirit you may here behold near his Death which you have often heard and seen in his Life it is doubtless a losse yea a very great losse as to Sion in general so especially to you in particular to have such a painful Labourer taken out of the Vineyard but I hope you have learned as in other things so in this to say a Act. 21.14 the Will of the Lord be done this is our comfort that God b Mal. 2.15 hath a residue of the Spirit and hee will never want Instruments to doe his work by if he take away Moses hee will raise up a c Josh 1.1 2. Joshua and if he take away an Elijah he will d 2 King 2.9 double his Spirit upon some Elisha and who knows but God may take away such tall Cedars that some low Shrubs may grow up and be active for God in their generation Surely every such Dispensation as it is a spectacle of our Mortality so it loudly calls us to our duty to e Joh. 9.4 work whiles it is day that with Paul wee may have f 2 Tim. 4 7. fought our fight before we shall finish our course and with David g Acts 13.36 we may serve our generation by the Will of God before we fall asleep As touching the Work it self which you are here presented with it treats concerning the fear of God a Subject which I desire may be as profitable as it is seasonable in this our day wherein though Gods Judgements h Isa 26.9 have been abroad in the earth yet the inhabitants of the World will not learn Righteousness i Psa 36.1 and the transgressions of the wicked doe plainly declare that there is no fear of God before their eyes and if wee look into the Lives of Professors we have cause to fear that there is but little of this filial fear to be found among them which should cause them to k Psa 4.4 stand in awe and not sin and too many there are that profess to fear God that yet fear not to sin against him but how much soever this being neglected yet it appears to bee our duty and that which God calls for from us by vertue of his Supremacy over us If I bee a father where is mine honour and if I be a master where is my fear saith the Lord of Hosts Malachy 1.6 but I shall not Expatiate upon this point but referre you to the Discourse it self for further information concerning which the Reader is to bee further premonished that this Sermon being not intended by the Author for the Press nor his Notes left behind him neither being alive to correct it it may want somewhat of that lustre which otherwise might have attended it yet however to satisfie the desire of some godly Friends as also for the general profit it is here presented to Publick view as fully as it could be taken out of one Short-hand Copy written from his mouth and I desire that the l Deut. 33.16 blessing of him that dwelt in the Bush may goe along with it that the fear of God may hereby be wrought where it is not and increased where it is that those that fear not God may be made to fear him and those that doe fear God may fear him more and more And now Dear Brethren I shall leave it with you as the words of your dying Pastor not doubting but it will be of weight upon your spirits and some satisfaction to you to read his Works when you cannot hear his words this only I shall adde as my desire to you and of you that you would not only read the words but doe the works that his words may be read in your works and your Lives may bee as so many Volumes of his Labours that as on Earth you were his joy so in Heaven you may bee his Crown and as hee is gone before you may follow after and at last meet together and sit down together in the Kingdome of Glory to which place and portion that you with my self may have a safe Conduct is the ardent desire and prayer of Yours in our Head Christ JOHN COX The Fear of God Opened and exhorted too from Revel 15. the former part of the fourth verse Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name BEfore I come to speak more particularly to these words I shall offer something in a more general way in relation to this Book of the Revelations which wee finde commended especially to the Churches of Christ as you may see in Chap. 1. vers 11. What thou seest write in a Book and send it to the seven Churches c. You may take notice of the way and order wherein the Spirit of God walked in the discovery of Truth to the Saints under the Gospel and it is worthy your observation how that first the Spirit of Jesus Christ being poured out upon the Apostles did in the first place by them instruct the people to whom they preached touching those foundation truthes as I may so call them which did especially set forth Gospel-faith and you may observe how the Wisdome of God is very glorious in this way and method wherein the Lord did lead forth the Apostles those Primitive Preachers of the Gospel and those that were under the conduct of the Apostles in their days First The Lord made known to them the Doctrine of Grace in order to their beleeving in the Lord Jesus Christ And then Secondly They were instructed in the Doctrine of Baptisme and after this Thirdly They were gathered into Church Order to waite upon God for further discoveries of truth Fourthly After God had by the Apostles and others in their days set the Churches of Christ in order then Jesus Christ sends this Book of the Revelation to them and I finde it not given to them till then and doubtless that confusion that over-spread that part of the World called Christendome hath sprung very much from those that have preached truth in that they did not first lay down those foundations truths of Faith and Order And though I would not ascribe over much to order yet you

David tells us the like Psal 36.1 they have not this true Son-like fear natural men are unacquainted with it 2 That this fear comes by union with Christ and his Spirit that is the cause of it you may see Psal 86.11 Vnite my heart to fear thy name this fear of God it comes by vertue of an union with Jesus Christ by faith for the spirit of the fear of the Lord it is given to Christ Isa 11.2 And he received of that annoynting to shed it abroad amongst his Members and to give it to those that are united to him and no further then we live in union with Christ by faith can we bee partakers of this gracious frame of spirit to fear the Lord in truth this is a Lesson which the Spirit teaches and therefore it was by the Spirit that David cries out Come yee children and hearken unto mee and I will teach you the fear of the Lord Psa 34.11 and this God hath promised to give to his people Jerem. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me But if you ask me how the Spirit works this in the heart of a Beleever 3 I say it is through the discovery of the glory of God in his Word and Works by Christ by the Glory of God I understand his Attributes when Moses desired to see Gods Glory he shews him his Attributes in Exod. 34.5 6. he proclaimed the Name of the Lord and what is it why The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth This is the discovery of Gods Glory the discovery of his Name 1 Hee begins with his Attribute that denotes his Soveraignty and Dominion The Lord Salomon tells us The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdome and indeed until a Soul understands something of the Soveraignty and Dominion of God over him hee never comes to make a right use of Gods love and goodness for until the Soul comes to see that God orders all things in Heaven and Earth and that he is in the hands of the great God to dispose of him as he will and that he can destroy him and cast him to Hell if hee pleaseth he cannot finde any sweetness in the tenders of Grace in the Gospel nor apply his Soul in reality to them and therefore I finde that when the Prophets of God of old time brought Gods Message to the Sons of men they usually spake to them as from the Lord saying Thus saith the Lord you have it sometimes twice in a verse setting forth Gods right of Soveraignty over them to whom they delivered their Message and this is that which is exceeding needful to bee set upon the hearts of the Sons of men when they come to hear Gods Word or have any thing to doe in his Works when the Soul considers Gods Soveraignty over him it causes him to stand in awe and fear before him and therefore by this you may try your selves whether this fear of God be in you or no Did the Lord ever shew himself to you as the Soveraigne Lord and make you to lye at his feet as dust and ashes and as clay in the hands of the Potter for if ever God have wrought this fear in your heart this was your frame I know many have a notional knowledge of Gods Soveraignty and are able to write Books of it but are your hearts really affected with it so as to lye low before the Lord in the apprehensions of it I finde it hard in every action to know this God to be the Soveraigne Lord of all and that he ruleth in all things and wee are to obey him in thought word and deed and to fear continually before him But 2 There is Gods goodness which is another thing wherein his glory appears he is the Lord God merciful and gracious and this following the former much conduces to fear him when the Soul considers that the great God that made the Heavens and the Earth and before whom all Nations are but as the drop of a Bucket should offer tenders of Grace and Mercy to be reconciled to such a poor sinfull Creature this inclines the heart to hearken to him and fear before him knowing this that he is the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness judgement and righteousness in the earth Jerem. 9.24 and that he is good to all those that fear him Psal 34.9 10 11. this brings the heart over to God indeed when Gods greatness and goodness is displayed before the Soul together this works up the heart in reality towards God O how doth David admire Gods love when he considers the great Works of God in Psal 8.3 When I consider the heavens the works of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast made what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him and at vers 9. O Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth he could not but admire and fear and fear and admire Gods great name But again 3 Let us also consider Gods power which much conduces in the hand of the Spirit to work this fear of God in our hearts and therefore you shall finde when God calls upon his people to hearken to him hee useth such kinde of expressions as these Thus saith the Lord that made the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth that they cannot bee moved And what a strong influence it hath you may see in Jer. 10.6.7.10 12 13. There is none like unto thee Oh Lord thou art great and thy Name is great in might Who would not Fear thee thou King of Nations the Lord is the true God and the everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his indignation he hath made the earth by his power he hath established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched forth the heavens by his discretion hee maketh lightning with rain and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures Very gloriously you see the Prophet sets forth the greatness of Gods power when he comes to declare a message to the people from him So also the Prophet Isaiah in the 40. Chap. 12 13 14 15 16 17. sets forth Gods Power as he hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the Mountains in scales and the Hills in a ballance Behold the Nations before him are but as the drop of a bucket and as the small dust of the ballance he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing and all Nations before him are as nothing And if that bee not enough he tells you They are counted to him less than nothing and vanity So vers 22. It is hee that sitteth upon the Circle of the earth and the Inhabitants thereof are as grashoppers that stretcheth out