Conscience is Good because it is quiet When the Devil keeps the Palace all is in peace Luke 11.21 The Philosopher saith one Great sign of an Earthquake is excessive Calmness of the Air ungrounded peace doth presage an Earthquake in the conscience 3. A secure sinner is careless about the main Chance The Soul is the princely part which is crowned with reason it is a glass of the Trinity as Plato calls it A secure sinner provides for his Body but neglects his Soul like one that waters his Flowers but never minds his Jewels Behold here a secure person who is in a spiritual Lethargy he hath no sence of the life to come he is destitute of the fear of God It reproves Scoffers who are the vilest of sinners 2 Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last daies Scoffers Such were Lucian and Porphiry These Ishmaels jeer at holy walking and make all Religion a Ridicule They throw Squibs of reproach at the Saints Quintinus scoffed at Christs Apostles In the Massacre at Paris the Papists cried out to the Protestants when they murdered them Where is now your God what is become of all your Psalms now and your Prayers Some Martyrs in Prague as they were at Supper being the next day to suffer comforted themselves saying That this was their last Supper upon Earth and that to morrow they should sup with Christ in Heaven a Great Papist flouted them saying Hath Christ Cooks for you in Heaven These are Devils in the likeness of men They are far from the fear of God The Scorners chair stands at the mouth of Hell It exhorts us to get the fear of God planted in our hearts Prov. 28.19 Happy is he that feareth alway The fear of God would influence all our actions It would make us Good in both Tables It would make us Holy towards God and Righteous towards men We would be true in our Promises just in our dealings Mat. 7.12 That I may press you to this Holy Fear let me shew you the dignity and excellency of it 1. The fear of God is the very Badge and Livery of a Saint The Saints of old were men fearing God Gen. 22.12 Act. 10.22 1 Kin. 18.3 Obadiah feared the Lord Greatly Not all the Moral Vertues in their Highest elevation make a Saint but here is his true Character He is one that Fears God Saint Austin said of himself that he did knock at Heaven-gate tremibunda manu with a trembling hand Christ calls his Elect his sheep John 10.27 Sheep are of a trembling nature The Saints are tremulous they dare not take that liberty as others do 2. The Fear of God is a main branch of wisdom 'T is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Head of wisdom Prov. 1.7 Wisdom is more precious than Rubies Prov. 3.15 No Jewel we wear doth so adorn us as wisdom now the fear of God is our wisdom Iob 28.28 And unto man he said the fear of the Lord that is wisdom Wherein is the fear of God the true wisdom 1. The fear of God is Wisdom as it makes us careful about our spiritual accounts Wisdom lies in nothing more than in keeping accounts exactly The fear of God teacheth one to examine the state of his Soul critally O my Soul how is it with thee dost thou gain or lose is thy Faith in it's Infancy being but newly laid to the breast of a Promise or is it Grown to some stature how is it doth Grace prevail or Sin Thus the fear of God makes us wisely ballance our accounts and see how matters stand between God and our Souls Psalm 77.6 I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search 2. The fear of God is Wisdom as it makes us understand divine secrets Psalm 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him He must needs be wise who is acquainted with the Arcana coeli the secrets of Heaven A fearer of God is acquainted with the secret of Election 1 Thess. 1.4 of Gods love Rev. 1.5 of the holy unction 1 John 2.20 He knows Gods mind 1 Cor. 2.16 We have the mind of Christ. 3. The fear of God is Wisdom as it makes us considerative Psalm 119.59 I considered my wayes A great part of wisdom lies in consideration He who fears God considers how Vain the world is therefore dares not love it how short Time is therefore dares not lose it how precious Salvation is therefore dares not neglect it 4. The Fear of God is Wisdom as it makes us walk wisely Col. 4.5 Walk wisely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 towards them that are without 1. The Fear of God makes us walk affably Gen. 23.7 Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the Children of Heth. Piety doth not exclude Curtesie 2. The Fear of God makes us walk inoffensively it prevents not only Scandals but Indecencies 2 Cor. 11.12 That I might cut off occasion from them that desire occasion The Veneration of a Deity causeth circumcision of Heart and circumspection of Life 5. The Fear of God is Wisdom as it preserves us from Hell 't is wisdom to keep out of danger fear makes us fly from the wrath to come 3. The Fear of God is the best Certificate to shew for Heaven Have you knowledge so hath Satan have you Profession so hath Satan he transforms himself into an Angel of light But have you filial fear herein you excel him The fear of God is though not our Plea yet our Evidence for Heaven 4. There is that in God which may command fear Iob 37.22 With God is terrible Majesty 1. With God is Majesty 1. There is Majesty in Gods Name Iehovah It comes from an Hebrew Radix which imports Gods absolute Eternal and Independent being 2. There is Majesty in Gods Looks Iob had but a glimpse of God and he was even swallowed up with divine amazement Iob 42.5 Now mine Eye seeth thee wherefore I abhorr my self 3. There is Majesty in Gods Words he speaks with Majesty as when he gave the Law in thundring insomuch that the people said Let not God speak with us lest we dye 4. There is Majesty in Gods Attributes his Holiness Power Justice which are the Irradiations of the divine Essence 5. There is Majesty in Gods Works Psalm 145.5 I will speak of the Honour and Majesty of thy wondrous works Every Creature sets forth Gods Majesty we may see the Majesty of God Blazing in the Sun Twinkling in the Stars Gods Majesty is discernable in those two Wonders of nature Behemoth and Leviathan Iob 40.18 chap. 41.19 In short the Majesty of God is seen in humbling the Children of Pride He turned King Nebuchadnezzar to grass and made him Fellow-commoner with the Beasts Doth not all this call for Fear 2. With God is Terrible Majesty Psalm 76.12 He is terrible to the Kings of the Earth There is a time coming when God will be dreadful to his enemies
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
God saith to us ye are mine then we have great immunites 1. We are freed from the revenging wrath of God We are not free from Gods anger as a Father but as a Iudge God will not pour his vindictive Justice upon us Christ hath drunk the Red wine of Gods wrath upon the Cross that Believers may not tast a drop of it 2. We are freed from the Predominancy of sin Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion or as the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall not Lord it over you Though Believers are not freed from the In-being of sin nor from the Combate with it yet they are freed from its Imperious command As it is said of those beasts in Daniel they had their Dominion taken away yet their Lives were prolonged for a season Dan. 7.12 So sin Lives in the Regenerate but its Dominion is taken away And to be thus freed from the jurisdictive power and tyranny of sin is no small blessing A Wicked man is at the command of sin as the Asse is at the command of the driver the curse of Cham is upon him Gen. 9.25 A Servant of Servants shall he be He is a slave to his Lusts and a slave to Satan O what a priviledge is it to have ones neck out of the Devils Yoak 3. We are freed from the accusations of Conscience The worm of Conscience is part of the Torment of Hell But God being our God we are freed from the Clamors of this hellish Fury Conscience sprinkled with Christs blood speaks Peace a good Conscience like the Bee gives Hony it is like the Golden pot which had Manna in it 2 Cor. 1.12 6. If God saith to us ye are mine we shall be his for ever Psalm 48.14 This God is our God for ever and ever You cannot say you have health and you shall have it for ever you have a Child and you shall have it for ever but if God be your God you shall have him for ever The Covenant of Grace is Sacrum diploma a Royal Charter and this is the Happiness of it it is eternized The interest between God and his people shall never be broken off How false therefore is the Opinion of falling from Grace Shall any that God makes his own by Federal union Fall finally Indeed if Salvation hath no better Pillar to rest upon than mans will as the Arminians hold no wonder if there be falling away but a Christians stability in Grace is built upon a surer basis namely Gods inviolable Covenant Isa. 55.3 Once in Christ and ever in Christ. A Star may sooner fall out of its orb than a true Believer be pluck'd away from God 7. If God saith to us ye are mine he will take us up to himself at death Death breaks the union between the Body and the Soul but perfects the union between God and the Soul This is the Emphasis of Heavens Glory to be with God What is the Joy of the blessed but to have a clear transparent sight of God and to be in the sweet and soft embraces of his love for ever This hath made the Saints desire death as the Bride the wedding day Phil. 1.23 Lead me Lord to that glory said an Holy man a glimpse whereof I have seen as in a glass darkly Let this be a Consolatory to the Saints there is a Covenant-union between God and them God is theirs and they are his they shall be mine saith the Lord. Here is a standing cordial for the Godly God looks upon them as having a propriety in them they shall be mine This is Comfort 1. In respect of Satans accusations he accuseth the Saints first to God then to themselves but if God saith ye are mine this answers all Satans Bills of Indictment Christ will shew the debt-book crossed in his blood It was a saying of Bucer I am Christs and the Devil hath nothing to do with me 2. It is Comfort in respect of Poverty Believers are match'd into the Crown of Heaven and all that is in God is theirs The Philosopher comforted himself with this that though he had no Musick or Vine-trees yet he had the houshold Gods with him So though we have not the Vine or Fig-tree yet if God be ours and we are his this Creates joy in the most indigent condition And that which may raise the comfort of the godly higher and cause a jubilation of Spirit is that shortly God will own his people before all the world and say these are mine At present the elect are not known 1 Iohn 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be The Saints are like Kings in disguise but how will their hearts leap for joy when God shall pronounce that word these are mine These the lot of Free-grace is fallen upon these shall lye for ever in the Bosom of my love To all who are yet strangers to God Labour to get into Covenant with him that he may say ye are mine Why doth God woo and beseech you by his Ambassadours if he were not willing to be in Covenant What shall a poor forlorn Creature do to get into Covenant with God 1. If you would be in Covenant with God break off the Covenant with sin 1 Sam. 7.3 What King will be in league with him that holds correspondence with his Enemy 2. Labour for Faith 1. Faith in the Mercy of God Jer. 3.12 I am merciful saith the Lord and will not keep anger for ever As the Sea covers great Rocks as well as little Sands so Gods Mercy covers great sins Manasseh a bloody sinner was held forth as a pattern of Mercy Some of the Jews who had an hand in Crucifying of Christ yet their sins were forgiven 2. Faith in the merit of Christ. Christs blood is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only a Sacrifice to appease God but a Propitiation to ingratiate us into Gods favour and make him look upon us with a smiling aspect CHAP. XVIII The Second part of the Saints Reward Gods Honouring them 2. THE Second part of the Saints reward is Gods Honouring them in that day when I make up my Iewels Here are three Propositions 1. That God hath a great honour for his People 2. That Gods People are his Jewels 3. That there is a day when God will make up his Jewels 1 st That God hath a great honour for his People He speaks of them here with Honour in that day when I make up my Jewels Isai. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable Honour attends Holiness That the Lord doth highly honour the fearers of him is evident by four demonstrations 1. In that he prefers them before others He chooseth them and passeth by the rest Mal. 1.2 Was not Jacob Esaus brother saith the Lord yet I hated Esau and loved Jacob. 2. In that God gives them frequent Visits 'T is counted an
feaâ— Assurance and Fear are diversa but not Opposita different but not contrary A Child may have assurance of his Fathers love yet hath a fear of offending him Who more fearful of Sin than St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 Yet who had more assurance Galat. 2.20 Who Loved me and Gave himself for me Faith procures assurance fear preserves it Is it a duty to Fear God what strangers then are they to Religion who are void of this Holy Fear The Godly fear and sin not the wicked sin and fear not They are like the Leviathan who is made without Fear Iob 41.33 Want of the fear of God is the innate Cause of all Wickedness Rom. 3.14 Whose mouth is full of Cursing and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood Whence was this vers 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes Abraham surmized the men of Gerar would stick at no Sin why so Gen. 20.11 I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place The Judge in the Gospel is called an unjust Iudge Luke 18.6 And no wonder for vers 2. he feared not God There must needs be an excess of Sin where there wants the Fear of God to restrain it The water must needs Overflow where there are no banks to keep it out We live in a Godless age durst men Sin at that rate as they do if the fear of God were regent in their hearts durst they swear be unclean use False weights bear false witness hate purity deride Gods signs in the Heaven Forge Plots Persecute Christs body if they had the fear of God before their eyes these men proclaim to the World that they are Atheists they believe not the Immortality of the Soul They are worse than brutish a Beast fears the fire these fear not Hell Fire They are worse than Devils for they believe and tremble Jam. 2.19 Let us bewail the want of the Fear of God Terras Astraea reliquit Whence is it so few fear God 1. Because they have not the knowledge of God Prov. 1.24 They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord did men know God in his immense glory they would be swallowed up with divine amazement When the Prophet Isaiah had a glimpse of Gods Glory he was stricken with holy consternation Isaiah 6.5 Wo is me I am undone for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts But the Ignorance of God banisheth fear 2. Men fear not God because they presume of his Mercy God is merciful and they doubt not of the Vertue of this soveraign Balm But who is Gods mercy for Luke 1.50 His mercy is on them that fear him Such as fear not Gods Justice shall not tast his Mercy Let this be for a Lamentation that the fear of God is so vanished Where almost is it to be found Some fear shame others fear danger but where is he who fears a Deity Diogenes came into a full Market with a Candle and Lanthorn they asked him what he sought saith he Hominem quaero I seek a man that is a wise man So in the Crowd of people we may go and seek a man fearing God And not only among the Commonalty but even among Professors how sew fear God in truth Profession is often made a Mantle to cover sin Absalom palliated his Treason with a Religious Vow 2 Sam. 15.7 The Pharisees made long Prayer a preface to Oppression Mat. 23.14 This is sordid to carry on wicked designs sublarva Pictatis under a pretext of Piety The Snow covers many a dung-hill A snovvy vvhite Profession covers many a foul heart The sins of Professors are more odious Thistles are bad in a Field but vvorse in a Garden The sins of the vvicked anger God but the sins of Professors Grieve him It reproves Iovial Sinners vvho are so far from fearing God that they spend their time in mirth and vvantonness Luke 17.27 They did eat they drank they married till the flood came and destroyed them all There is a place in Affrica called Tombutium where the Inhabitants spend all the day in piping and dancing What sensual effeminate lives do the Gallants of our age live They spend their Life in a Frolick As if God had made them to be like the Leviathan who plays in the Sea Job 21.13 They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ They ride to Hell upon the back of Pleasure and go merrily to damnation Though the Times are sad they have no fear in regard of the publique Doth not God call us to trembling our sins are the fiery Comets that presage evil May not we fear the Glory is departing may not we fear the death of Religion before the birth of Reformation May not we fear some portentous calamity should bring up the rear of former Judgments and as the Prophet Ezekiel saith Should me then make-mirth Ezek. 21.10 But Jovial spirits have banished the fear of God Amos 6.4 5. That lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches that drink wine in Bowls and anoint themselves with the chief Oyntments Sinners whose hearts are hardned with soft pleasures let them have their lusts and farewell Christ and his Gospel Iude 12. Feeding themselves without fear But they Forget death will bring in the reckoning and they must pay the reckoning in Hell The Great Turk when he intends the death of any of his Bashaws invites them to a Sumptuous Feast and then causeth them to be taken away from the Table and strangled so Satan Gluts men with sinful pastimes and delights and then strangles them Foolish Gallants are like the Fish that swim pleasantly through the Silver streams of Iordan till at last they fall into the dead Sea It reproves secure Sinners who have no Fear of God Like Laish of old Iudg. 18.27 A people quiet and secure Those who are least safe are most confident Security casts men into a deep Sleep Birds that build and roost in Steeples being used to the continual ringing of Bells the noise doth not at all disquiet them So Sinners who have been long used to the sound of Aarons Bells though ever and anon they have a peal rung out against their sins yet being used to it they are not startled A secure sinner is Known thus 1. He lives as bad as the worst yet hopes to be saved as well as the best He doth bless himself saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart Deut. 29.19 As if a man should drink Poison yet not doubt but he shall have his health A secure sinner lies in Delilahs lap yet hopes to be in Abrahams bosom 2. A secure sinner thinks all is well because all is in peace He hears others speak of a Spirit of bondage and the terrors they have felt for sin he thanks God he never Knew what Trouble of spirit meant he thinks his