The feare of God. I ' 38 . ·'The ftrfl co~m4ndement~ backes;ifone beefo farre from hating vnthriftines as that _bee will bee agameficr and fp.end thofe things ·idly ·and wa!Hully, which God gaue him for a better end, and for which hee mufl tbortly come to reckoningbefore his iudge– tncnt feate: hee that walk~ th in thefe,or any fuchwaies, it is plaine, that hee hates not that which God hates;·and therefore doth not loue God. - ~ The nexc duty here commanded is :the feare of God: which alfo proceeds from knowledge .For the .fight ofGods goodncfie, arid mercy and truth,will inflame the heart with a loue ofhim: fo ifone confider his greatnes)po'vver,and ex~ cellencieaboue all his creatures, this will {hike his heart with awonderfull reuerence, and a great feare of his Ma– ie!lie. But,for this feare,an obiecl:ion mufl firfl beeanfwer~d. For i.loh.4.18.he faith, Perfect louccafletb outfearc : and ·Luk! I.74.TVearedeliuered from a/ ouren1mieJ,that we m~e;htforue · him withoutfcare. To this wee anfwere,that perfe6t loue ca– fleth out a ilauHh feare indeede,and fuch as is in the diuels, vvbo tremble before God, but fo,' as they runne fr~m him; fuch as is inwicked men,when the threatnings ofGod arrefl: their euill confciences,and fummon their wicked heartsJand drawe them before Gods iuclgement feate, and make them therefore not to loue Gods w_ord and the MinHlerie, but to h~te it.,& cafl offal care ofgodlines and religion from them. But it is true,thatwhofoeuet loueth God, cann0t chufe, ·but in'the fame meafure alfo feare him.For the Spi~itofGod that.perfwadeth them ofnis fauour,and wolketllloue, will declare his 'power and gre~tnes, which will worke a feare and awe ofhim.It cailetheut t-herefor.e.the hellilh feare,that make~one f1ie from God:but it caufeth that holy feare, that makes one m·ore carefull to come vntohim, and. to wor– fhip him. We mull th.enloue God wi~h our whole hearts, and foules,and mindes, and withal haue fuch a feare as tnufi draw vs vqto him, and yet terrjfie oQr hearts from commit:. . ting any euill againll hitrJ. It mull be a feare mingle~ wi~h loue and confidence, .that mufi be holy, and crucifie~ and refiraine all ill aftections and defires. This is cGmman- . ded;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=