j02 f he IJ,anger of Pro[perity. ·-----"-----' J;E;.,:r:.·::; ];;~i~;, n~~;; ~:k~n~!1J~bf~~~~~~a;t~~:.~1~1n~Jc~~o~:c i2'i~~~ua;o~~Fcl:;~~~·~{'~~ Aug. Conf. hcavicil: Sorrow. ( ?· ) The Fear of Gud, is a mo!l: di!l:ant AffeCtion from the Heart of the foolifi1 Sin- ~~~J~ ~!~;I~{i;;~?ttio!1~~!~i~is0!t!f;,~~c~~~~t~~1s,tl:c a ~::c~~~::~~~;i~;~~ ~~~~:.~: ~he AngcJs in all their bright degrees of Excellence cover thei r Faces before his Throne. T he fear of Circumfi)cd'ion that refirains from difpleafing him upon the account of his Ju!l:icc and Power, is a proper Affection to Men in the preicnt State. The Blclfcd in Heaven are above this Fear, being confirm' cl in a State of unchangeable Perfection and felicity : The Damned in Hell arc below this Fear, in that no change can make their Condition worfe : but 'ris moll: ufeful and congruous in this middle State. This Fear of God is the heginning of Wifdom, the firll: and chiefe!l: part of it in refpect of Order ~nd Dtgniry. For the true Notton ofW.ifdom, confifi:s in the forcfrghr of:Evils, in the choice and ufc 0f effcdua l means to avOid it, and it is the bcfl: 'Vifctom that araids rhe grcarc(l: Danger. This Fear is the Principle of Convcrfion from Sin ro Holincfs; cxci ~ ring us to. make God. our Fr~end, who is fo drca?ful an f\dvcrf~ry, fo Holy and Juft, that he wdl not conniVe at Sm, and. fparc rh~ Guilty and Impcmrcnt ; and 10 powerful, rhat with one flroke he ~an utterly deHroy Ius moft 11ubborn Enemies. Carnal Security is directly oppolitc eo this Fear of God, and nothing does more harden and forrific Men in Security, than a P.ro~pcr~us State. The Voluptuous and Scnfital arc \\1thour Apprc~ Pm. SS· 19· hcnfi'!n of Danger, tllltmn:mcnr and in their :View. Becaufe tbry bt~vc 110 cbanges, tbere. fore tbey fear not God. . Unmterr~tptcd ~rofpenty tempted them to Athcifhcal Security: 1\ nd ,as none arc foliciCons and m anxtc.t.y,. Jefl: the Sur~, whofe prefcncc is the fupport and beauty of the World, fhould nor anic ut tl?e Mornmg, becaufc its regular courfC is dl:ab!i01'd and cqnfl:ant; and it would be a M trade contravening the Order of Nature if it Jl1ould be !l:op'd ; Thus the Ion& Enjoyml'llt of Plenty, and Eafe, and Peace, tcn- ~icrs Men coQtl:~mly fecur~ and fearlcis, as tf the ten?r of their Profperity were invariable, and no Ev1 l could d11l:urb it; or at lca!l: they W1ilfct back the Expectation of Evil at a great di!l:ancc, like thofe prophane Scorncrs mentioned by the Prophet, J'bey .fay, t;~,r';'J:'ili.~~,~~, ;fli~;t :h:nyof:I.:e tit~;:.~~;~r·Pt;'c!srfo:'J,:~;~;{cit~s,";~.~~~n! arc fo rebeilwully and boldly difobedJem, as the profperous Smner; which is the fourth Ehing to be confidcred. ( 4.) Entire Obedience is due to the Suprcam Lawgiver, who is able. to fave and dcfl:roy for ever: Yet he is mcrcifidly inclin' d to pardon the Infirmities of Men, and grca- ~er Sins rctraCJ:ed by Repentance. There arc Sins of Ignorance, when a Man dafl1cs blindfold againO: the Law ; and of fudden furreption, when there is no rim,.. to deliberate, and for recollection ; and the be£1:. are nor exempted here £ ')m Sins of rbis nature: there arc Sins of deadly malignity, when Men arc carclefs of G~.. J '> Commam:s, and in· dulgc their Luil:s, rho' not without fome remorfc. But the profpl;rous Sinner is ufitally mofl: prefumpnwus, he fins with a high hand, and incurr~ a greater Guilt, and fhall be cxpofed to greater Punifhment. When the Fear of God IS extinguill1:d, Luxury, rakes rhc Reins, and breaks through the Hedge of the Law, wirhout feclmg the \Votmding -:- Thorns, the fearful Threarnings in it; and ?rives on through all the degrees of Sin. Deut. 31 · 1 $. 'Tis the Aggravation of the Ifraelites Ingratttudc ; Jcfurun waxedfat, and l.·icl:ed; n11d ligbtly ej/eemed the Rock of bis Sal'Vation. They were like Bcall:s high fed, that become fierce and unrrad"ab1e, will endure no Yoke upon them. The profpcrous Sinnc! fecttrc· ly defpifes the Commands of God, and by an implicit Blafphcmy dares his offended Omni potence, as if he were fl:ronger than the Lord. He concludes hi s fafety from his pre· ?:~' '• ·•· {~~~["~~'j';J:t~f{: J,.':sA::1~r~~~ff 1~":t't;;;'i/;~· J.;a;z:·.~~;m:;;~:';f::~ ;.;~ fmoke againfl t}Jat Mrn to his dejlruEiion. . ?· Profpcriry expofes dangeroully to the tempti ng Powet of Satan, whofe Subtility; Malice, and Deligcnce, is always exerdfcd in trai ning Men ro Perdition. His dcfuu. . dive Power cannot make immediate impreflions on the Soul, but he tempts by Objetl:s without, and rhe Affections within; the World and the Flcfh rhat are in combination :Cor. 4· with him. He'is accordingly fl:iled, tiJeGod of this Jtf~"orld, as he reigns in the Menofrhc World, by uling the things of the World, to obtain and e!l:ablifli his Kingdom. He ~J~~~s ~~~~r a~h~~ '~~ 9i1~~~1~1~o~~~2e~~~o~~d :~~ildei~~;~~~~~;~:~z~gr~~~~~,b;n~1i;c~~~~~~ ous Operations ; and 'ris certain he cannot make a forcible entry into the Soul, and rcmpr
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