measure changed into his likeness 2 Cor. 3.18 Beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord we are changed into the same Image The contemplative sight of God was transforming they had some Print of Gods Holiness upon them as Moses when he had been on the Mount with God his face shined Exod. 34.35 What is Godliness but God-likeness and who are so like him as they that think on his Name 9. Thinking on God is sweet it Ushers in a secret delight into the Soul Psalm 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet He whose Head is got above the Clouds his Thoughts are sled aloft and he hath God in his eye is full of divine Raptures and cries out as Peter in the transfiguration Lord it is good to be here Holy Thoughts are the Dove we send out of the Ark of our Souls and they bring an Olive branch of Peace Some complain they have no Joy of their lives and truly no wonder when they are such strangers to Heavenly Contemplation Would you have God give you Comfort and never think of him Indeed Israel had Manna drop'd into their Tents and they never Thought of it but God will not drop down this Manna of Heavenly Joy on that Soul which seldom or never thinks of him Would you have your Spirits chearful let your Thoughts be celestial The higher the Lark flies the Sweeter it sings The higher a Soul ascends in the Thoughts of God the sweeter Joy it hath 10. Thoughts of God will turn to the best account Thoughts spent on the World are often in Vain Some spend Thoughts about laying up a Portion for such a Child and perhaps either it dies or lives to be a Cross. Others beat their Brains how to rise at Court and when Royal Favour hath shined upon them on a sudden an Eclipse falls out and the Kings smile is turn'd into a frown and then their Thoughts are frustrated Et stultus labor est ineptiarum How oft do men build Castles in the Air But the Thoughts of God will turn to a good account they Augment Sanctification and bring Satisfaction Psalm 63.5 My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when I remember thee on my bed and meditate on thee c. The Thoughts we have of God in the time of health will be a Comfort to us in the time of sickness 11. God thinks of us and shall not we think of him Psalm 40.17 The Lord thinketh upon me God thinks on us every Morning Lam. 3.23 His Mercies are new every Morning He gives us Night-Mercies he Rocks us every Night asleep Psalm 127.2 So he giveth his beloved Sleep and if we chance to wake he gives us Songs in the Night Job 35.10 If God be thinking of us Day and Night shall not we think of his Name How can we forget a freind who is ever mindful of us Jer. 29.11 I know the Thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord Thoughts of Peace Though God be out of our sight we are not out of his Thoughts 12. God will one Day reckon with us for our Thoughts He will say I gave you a Cogitative faculty what have you done with it If God asks a Covetous man what have been your Sentiments which way have your Thoughts run he will Answer to heap up Riches if God asks Princes and Emperors how have you employ'd your Thoughts they will say how by our Scepter to beat down the Power of Godliness What a dreadful account will these Persons have to give at last Not only mens Actions but their Thoughts will accuse them Rom. 2.15 13. Our Thoughts of God shall not be lost God accepts of the Thought for the deed David had a good Thought come into his Mind to build God an House and God took it as kindly as if he had done it 2 Chron. 6.8 Forasmuch as it was in thy Heart to build an house to my Name thou didst well that it was in thy Heart When Christians have Thoughts of promoting Gods Glory they would do such good Acts if it were in their Power build Hospitals distribute Justice cut off offenders from the City of God the Lord looks upon it as if they had done it so that our Thoughts of God are not lost Let us think of God in a Right manner A Good Medicine may be spoiled in the making so may a Good Duty be spoiled in the doing Thoughts may be Good for the matter of them yet may be Faulty in the manner I shall shew you 1. How Thoughts of God may fail in the Manner 2. The Right Manner of Thinking upon God 1. How Thoughts of God may fail in the Manner 1. A man may Think of God yet not intend his glory Jehu had good Thoughts came into his Mind to destroy the Baal-worshippers but his intent was to advance himself into the Throne Bad aims Fly-blow good Actions 2. A man may have Good Thoughts but they are forced Virtus nolentium nulla est When one bleeds under Gods afflicting hand he may Think of God yet have no love to him Psalm 78.34 When he slew them then they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer nevertheless they did flatter him with their Mouth These were good Thoughts but it was to complement with God and to get rid of the Affliction 3. A man may have Thoughts of God out of design to stop the Mouth of Conscience Conscience doth lash the profane Sinner what art thou so Wicked as never to Think of God who indulgeth thee with so many favours Hereupon he may have a few good Thoughts but they are irksome to him this is not from a Principle of Conscience but to quiet Conscience 4. A man may think of God with Horrour he thinks of Gods Soveraignty and dreads the Thoughts of God You see one may think of God yet these Thoughts may become sinful 2. I shall shew you the Right manner of Thinking upon God 1. Our Thoughts of God must be Serious Feathers swim on the top but Gold sinks into the Water Feathery Spirits have some floting Thoughts but good Hearts sink deep in the Thoughts of a Deity 2. Our Thoughts of God must be Spiritual Take heed of framing any gross conceits of God in our Minds representing him by the similitude of the Creature Deut. 4.15 Ye saw no Similitude Conceive of God in Christ we cannot see him any other way as we cannot see the Sun in the Circle but in the Beams the God-head dwells in Christs Humane nature Col. 2.9 Think of God as a Spirit full of immense Glory propitious to us through a Mediatour 3. Our Thoughts of God must be Delightful With what Delight doth a Child think of his Father A gracious Soul counts them the Sweetest hours which are spent with God 4. Our Thoughts of God must be Vertual and Efficacious leaving our Hearts in a a better Tune The Thoughts of Gods faithfulness must make us
Origen sprinkle incense before the Idol but fear 2. Positively the Fear meant in the Text is a Divine Fear which is the reverencing and adoring Gods Holiness and setting our selves always under his Sacred inspection The infinite distance between God and us causeth this Fear When Gods Glory began to shine out upon the Mount Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 Such as approach Gods presence with light feathery Hearts and Worship him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a rude careless manner have none of this fear In the words are two parts 1. The Act Fear 2. The Object the Lord. They that feared the Lord The fear of God is the Summe of all Religion Eccles. 12.13 Fear is the leading Grace the first seed God sows in the Heart When a Christian can say little of Faith and perhaps nothing of Assurance yet he dares not deny but he fears God God is so Great that he is afraid of displeasing him and so Good that he is afraid of losing him It is an indispensible Duty incumbent on Christians to be Fearers of God Eccles. 5.7 Fear thou God Deut. 28.58 That thou maist fear this Glorious and fearful name the Lord thy God This goes to the very constituting of a Saint One can no more act as a Christian without Fear than he can act as a man without reason This Holy Fear is the fixed temper and Complexion of the Soul This Fear is not Servile but Filial there is difference between Fearing God and being afraid of God the Godly fear God as a Child doth his Father the wicked are afraid of God as the Prisoner is of the Judge This divine Fear will appear admirable if you consider how it is mixed and interwoven with several of the Graces 1. The Fear of God is mixed with Love Psal. 145.19 20. The Chast Spouse fears to displease her Husband because she loves him There 's a necessity that fear and love should be in conjunction Love is as the Sails to swiften the Souls motion and Fear as the Ballast to keep it steady in Religion Love will be apt to grow wanton unless it be poised with fear 2. The Fear of God is mixed with Faith Hebr. 11.7 By Faith Noah moved with fear c. When the Soul looks either to Gods Holiness or it 's own sinfulness it fears but it is a fear mixed with faith in Christs merits the Soul doth tremble yet trust Like a Ship which lies at Anchor though it shakes with the wind yet it is fixed at Anchor God in Great wisdom coupleth these two graces of Faith and Fear Fear preserves seriousness faith preserves chearfulness Fear is as Lead to the Net to keep a Christian from floating in presumption and Faith is as Cork to the Net to keep him from sinking in despair 3. The Fear of God is mixed with Prudence he who fears God hath the Serpents eye in the Doves head He foresees and avoids those Rocks which others run upon Prov. 22.3 Though divine Fear doth not make a Person Cowardly it makes him Cautions 4. The Fear of God is mixed with Hope Psalm 33.18 The eye of the Lord is on them that fear him that hope in his mercy One would think Fear should destroy Hope but it cherisheth it Fear is to Hope as the Oil to the Lamp it keeps it burning the more we fear Gods Justice the more we may hope in his Mercy Indeed such as have no Fear of God do sometimes hope but it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good hope through Grace 2 Thessa. 2.16 Sinners pretend to have the helmet of Hope 1 Thes. 5.8 but want the breast-plate of Righteousness Ephes. 6.14 5. The Fear of God is mixed with Industry Heb. 11.7 Noah moved with fear prepared an ark There is 1. A fear of diffidence which represents God as a severe Judge this takes the Soul off from duty 2. A fear of diligence a Christian fears and prayes fears and repents Fear quickens Industry The Spouse fearing lest the Bridegroom should come before she is dressed hastens and puts on her Jewels that she may be ready to meet him Fear causeth a watchful eye and a working hand Fear banisheth sloth out of it's Diocese The Greatest labour in Religion saith Holy Fear is far less than the least pain the damned feel in Hell no Greater Spur in the Heavenly race than fear CHAP. III. Cogent Reasons enforcing the Fear of God THe Reasons enforcing this Holy Fear are 1. Because Gods eye is alwayes upon us He who is under the eye of his earthly Prince will be carefull of doing any thing that should offend him Iob 31.4 Doth not he see my wayes and count all my Steps God sees in the dark Psalm 139.12 The darkness hideth not from thee The night is no Curtain the clouds are no Canopy to hinder or intercept Gods sight He sees the Heart A Judge can judge of the fact but God judgeth of the Heart Ier. 17.10 He is like Ezekiels wheels full of eyes Ezek. 10.12 and as Cyril saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Eye Should not this make us walk with fear and circumspection we cannot sin but our Judge looks on 2. God interprets our not fearing him a slighting of him As not to praise God is to wrong him so not to fear God is to sleight him Of all things a person can least endure to be sleighted Psalm 10.13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God For a worm to sleight it's Maker causeth the fury to rise up in Gods face Ezek. 38.18 3. God hath power to destroy us Mat. 10.28 Fear him who hath power to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell God can look us into our Grave and with a breath blow us into Hell and shall we not fear him Is it easie to wrestle with flames Psalm 90.11 Who knoweth the Power of his anger What engines or buckets can quench the infernal fire We are apt to fear men who have power in their hand to hurt us what is their power to Gods They threaten a Prison God threatens Hell They threaten our Life God threatens our Soul and shall we not tremble before him O dreadful when the great Fountains of Gods wrath shall be broken up and all his Bitter Vials poured out Ezek. 22.14 Can thy heart endure or can thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee But are not we bid to serve God without Fear Luke 1.74 We must not Fear God with such a fear as the wicked do they fear him as a Turkish Slave doth his Pateroon they fear him so as they hate him and wish there were no God We must not serve God with this hellish fear but we must serve him with an ingenuous fear sweetned with love CHAP. IV. Containing a practical Improvement of the Proposition IT confutes the Papists who hold that a Christian cannot have Assurance because he is to serve God with
when Conscience is awake when Death strikes when the last Trump sounds And shall not we Fear this God Ier. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence The Fearing Gods Justice is the way not to feel it And let it not seem strange to you if I tell you that in respect of Gods infinite Majesty there will be some of this blessed Fear in Heaven Not a Fear that hath Torment in it for Perfect love will cast out Fear But an Holy Sweet Reverential fear Though God hath so much beauty in him as shall cause love and joy in Heaven yet this beauty is mixed with so much Majesty as shall cause a Veneration in Glorified Saints 5. The Fear of God tends to life Pro. 19.23 It is true 1. In a temporal sence Prov. 10.27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth daies in the Original it is It addeth dayes Long life is Promised as a blessing Psalm 91.16 With long Life will I satisfie him The best way to come to an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Good Old age is the Fear of God Sin curtails the life many a mans excess wasts his Vitals enervates his strength and cuts him short of those years which by the course of nature might be arrived at You that desire to live long live in the Fear of God Deut. 6.24 The Lord commanded us to fear the Lord our God that he might preserve us alive 2. It is true in a Spiritual sence The Fear of the Lord tendeth to life namely to life Eternal Life is sweet and Eternal makes it Sweeter The Life of bliss hath no Tearm of Years wherein it expires 1 Thes. 4.17 Ever with the Lord The Lamp of Glory shines but doth not spend so that divine Fear tends to Life a life with God and Angels for ever 6. The Fear of God gives full satisfaction Prov. 19.23 He that hath it shall abide satisfied Such as are destitute of Gods Fear never meet with satisfaction Iob 20.22 In the midst of his sufficiency he shall be in straits This is a riddle to be full yet not have enough The meaning is there is still something wanting he who Fears not God though his Barns are full yet his Mind is not quiet The sweet Waters of Pleasure do rather inflame the thirst than satisfie it Omnia fui et nihil expedit I have run through all the delights and Grandures of the world and could never find full contentment said the Emperour Severus But he who hath the Fear of the Lord shall abide satisfied 1. He shall be satisfied His Soul shall be filled with Grace his Conscience with peace an Holy man said when God had replenished him with inward joy It is enough Lord thy Servant is a clay vessel and can hold no more 2. He shall abide satisfied This satisfaction shall not cease it shall be a Cordial in death and a Crown after death 7. The fear of God makes a little to be sweet Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord. Why is a little better because that little a Believer hath he holds in Capite in his Head Christ that little is sweetned with the love of God He hath with that little a contented mind and contentment turns Daniels Pulse into Venison Again that little is a Pledge of more that little Oyl in the Cruse is but an earnest of that Golden joy and bliss which the Soul shall have in Heaven Thus a little with the Fear of God is better than all unsanctified riches Lazarus's Crumbs were better than Dives his Banquet 8. The Fear of God is a Christians safety He is invulnerable nothing can hurt him Plunder him of his Money he carries a treasure about him he cannot be robbed of Isa. 33.6 Cast him into bonds his Conscience is free Kill his Body it shall rise again He who hath on this Breast-Plate of Gods Fear may be shot at but can never be shot thorow 9. The Fear of God makes all things go well with us Psalm 128.2 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee Is it not well with that man who hath all things go on his side and hath nothing wanting that may do him Good Psalm 84.11 If God sees Health or Riches Good for him he shall have them Every Providence shall center in his happiness O what an inducement is here to solid Piety Come what times will it shall be well with them that Fear God When they dye they shall go to God and while they live every thing in the world shall do them good 10. The Fear of God is a great Cleanser Psalm 19.9 The fear of the Lord is clean It is so 1. In its own nature it is a pure Christal Orient grace 2. It is clean Effective in the effect of it it cleanseth the Heart and Life as a Spring works out the mud so it purgeth out the love of sin The Heart is the Temple of God and Fear sweeps and cleanseth this Temple that it be not defiled 11. The Fear of God makes us accepted with God Act. 10.35 In every nation he that Feareth God is accepted with him What was St. Paul so ambitious of 2 Cor. 5.9 We labour that we may be accepted with him Divine Fear ingratiates us into divine Favour Such as are Fearless of God neither their Persons or Offerings find acceptance Amos 5.21 22. I despise your Feast dayes and I will not smell in your solemn Assemblies though ye offer me burnt-offerings I will not accept them Who will take a Gift from one that hath the plague 12. The Fear of God layes a train for spiritual joy some may think the Fear of God breeds sadness no it is the in-let to joy The Fear of God is the morning Star which ushers in the Sun light of comfort Acts 9.31 Walking in the Fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy ghost The Fear of God hath solid joy in it though not wanton Oecolampadius an holy man being on his sick-bed was asked if the Light offended him he putting his hand to his heart said Hic sat lucis Here I have light enough God mixeth joy with Holy Fear that fear may not seem slavish 13. The Fear of God drives out all other base Fear Carnal fear is an enemy to Religion The Fear of God frights it away it causeth Courage Exod. 18.21 Able men such as Fear God some Translations render it Men of Courage When a Dictator Governed in Rome all other Offices ceased Where the Fear of God rules in the Heart it expells fleshly Fear When the Emperess Eudoxia threatned to banish Chrysostom Tell her saith he I fear nothing but sin The Fear of God swallows up all other Fear as Moses Rod swallowed up the Magitians Rods. 14. To be void of Gods Fear is Folly Psalm 75.4 I said to the Fools
Profession to lose Heaven What think you of the Foolish Virgins They are called Virgins because they were not tainted with any gross Sin yet these Virgin-Professors were shut out Mat. 25.10 Balaam a Prophet Iudas an Apostle both cashiered We have seen some Ships have had glorious names given them the Good-speed the Hope the Safe-guard yet cast away at Sea 2. It is possible to come near to Heaven yet fall short of it Mark 12.34 Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God yet he was not near enough Men may countenance the Ministry of the Word have their Affections moved at an Ordinance and in outward show out-go the Children of God yet not having the Oyl of Sincerity in their Vessels they may be frustrated of happiness And how dismal is that to lose God to lose their Souls to lose their Hopes The Millions of Tears shed in Hell are not sufficient to bewail the loss of Heaven Well may such as have Heaven in them Fear their coming short of it Thus much for the Use of Trial. How shall we arrive at this Blessed Fear 1. Let us set God ever in our eye study his Immensity He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God Almighty Gen. 17.1 He gives laws to the Angels binds the Consciences of men cuts off the Spirit of Princes Psalm 76.12 The Thoughts of Gods incomprehensible Greatness would strike an Holy awe into our Hearts Elijah wrap'd his face in a Mantle when Gods Glory passed by The reason men Fear not God is because they entertain slight thoughts of him Psalm 40.21 Thou thoughtest I was such an one as thy self 2. Let us pray for this Fear of God which is the Root of all Holiness and the Mother of all Wisdom Psalm 86.11 Vnite my Heart to Fear thy Name the Lord hath Promised to put his Fear in our Heart Ier. 32.40 Let us pray over this Promise while some pray for Riches and others for Children let us pray for an Heart to Fear God To conclude this you who have this Fear planted in your Souls bless God for it Psalm 135.20 Ye that Fear the Lord bless the Lord. God hath done more for you than if he had made you Kings and Queens and caused you to ride upon the High places of the Earth He hath enriched you with that Jewel which he bestows only upon the Elect. O stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing The Fear of God is an Immortal Seed springing up into Glory Psalm 22.23 Ye that fear the Lord praise him Begin the Work of Heaven now be Spiritual Quiristers sound forth Holy Doxologies and Triumphs say as David Psalm 71.8 Let my Mouth be filled with thy Praise and with thy Honour all the day God hath but little praise in the world Who should pay him this Quit-rent if not they that fear him CHAP. V. Shewing the first Character in special of the Godly namely Speaking of God 2. HAving done with the Character of the Godly in General I proceed next to their Special Characters 1 They spake often one to another When the Wicked said It is Vain to serve God then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another The meaning of this word they spake often is they did discourse Religiously together their Tongues were Divinely tuned by the Holy Ghost Christians when they meet together should use holy Conference This is not only an advice but a charge Deu. 6.6 These words shall be in thy Heart and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy House and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Indeed where there is Gratia infusa it will be effusa Grace changeth the Language and makes it Spiritual When the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles they spake with other Tongues Act. 2.4 Grace makes Christians speak with Other Tongues A good Christian hath not only the Law of God in his Heart Psalm 37.31 but in his Tongue vers 30. The body is the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.19 The Tongue is the Organ in this Temple which sounds in Holy discourse Prov. 10.20 The tongue of the Iust is as Choice Silver He drops Silver sentences enriching others with Knowledge Mat. 12.35 A Good man out of the Good treasure of his Heart bringeth forth good things In his heart is a Treasure of Goodness and this is not like a bag of Mony Sealed but he brings something out of the Treasure within to the enriching of others Grace is of the Nature of fire which will not be pent up like new Wine it will have Vent There is a principle within constrains to holy Conference Job 32.18 The Spirit within me constraineth me CHAP. VI. Containing the Applicatory part IT shews the Genius and temper of true Saints they speak often one to another their Lips drop as an Hony-comb A man is known what country he belongs to by his Language He who belongs to the Jerusalem above speaks the Language of Canaan none of Gods children are dumb their mouth is a well-spring of Wisdom Prov. 18.4 Here I may draw up a bill of Indictment against five sorts of Persons 1. Such as are silent in matters of Religion They would be counted Good but he must have good eyes that can see it I know not whether it be Ignorance or Bashfulness that makes good discourse waved Many are so mute in Religion as if their Tongues did cleave to the roof of their Mouth had they any love to God or had they ever tasted how sweet the Lord is their mouth would talk of his Righteousness Psalm 71.24 Friends what should we mind but Salvation what are the things of this world they are neither Entia nor Manentia Do not we see men heap up Riches and on a sudden death as Gods Serjeant Arrests them What should we talk of but the things Pertaining to the Kingdom of God Let this cause blushing among Christians that their meetings are so unprofitable they leave God out of their discourse Why is there no good conference Have you so much Knowledge that you need not have it encreased Have you so much Faith that you need not have it Strengthened Silence in Religion is a loud sin We read of one who was possessed with a Dumb Devil Mark 9.12 How many are Spiritually possessed with a Dumb Devil It is a rebuke to such as when they meet together instead of speaking of Heaven they have idle frothy discourse They do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Plutarch said of Alcibiades Their Lips do not drop as an Honey-comb but run as a Spout their speaking is Just like a Childs scribling Psalm 12.2 They speak Vanity every one with his Neighbour If Christ should ask some as he did the two Disciples going to Emaus Luk. 24.17 What manner of Communications have you as you walk they could not say as they did concerning Jesus of