Directions againft Jinfttl Fear of God, and of the De11il. 345 ~· 4• Direct: 2· Know God in Jefiu C/Jrijt the Medifttor, and come to him .by him: ~nd then you Direll. 2~ may have acceji wi.tb .boldmfi tmd confidence, Ephef. 3. 12. We have boldJttfl to enter z.~to the koliejf 'l---' hy hif blood, by the new and livi1tg way which be bath coH[tcr~ted for 1u, throtlgb ~he vet!, that u !o .-. ~y hiJ fiefh : And having an High Prieft ov.er the IJou{t of God, l~t us dr~w near wtth ~ t~ue heart zn JuU affi<rapce •f faith, Heb. IO· 19, 20, 21, 22· The fight of Chnfi by faith lhould bamlh Immoderate fear, Marth. 14· 27. Be ofgoodchear it HI, be not afraid. • _ • §. 5· DircCl. 3· Vnderjland the tmo•r of the Gofjtf, and tht freenefr of the CovtnaHI ofGrace, and Dma. 3• then you will there tind abundant encouragement agamfi the marter of mordmate fears. · 9· 6. Diret!. 4· Empl•y ysur [clvu at much at po!Jiblt in Love and prai.fi: for Love expelleth tor- Dire[/. 4• mtming fear : there if no fear ht Love, 1 John 4· I 8. 9· 7· £?ired. 5~ Remtmbtr GodJ particular mcrcitt t9 your ,felvu : for thofe will perfw~de you ~hat Direl1. " he will u!e you kmdly, when you find that he bath done fo already. As when Manoah fa1d, We jbaU f•rtly dye, becauft we have fien God; his Wife anfwered, If the Lcrd were pleafcd to kJU 'Ill, be wo11ld not have received a11 Offering at our hand1, neither wo11ld. be have fhewed fiJ all theft thingJ, ]udg. I3· 22, 23· • §· 8. Direct. 6. Lobour tocltar •P your title to the promifetand fjecial interefi in Cbrift. 0 1herwife Dire/1. 6. the doubts of that will be flill feeding and jufiifying your fears. ~· 9· Dirtd. 7· Confidtr tvhllt a horrible injury it is tnGod, to thin~ of hirn a1 you do of the Devil, Dirdl. 7• .n an enenry '" humble willing foulJ, and a dejlroycr of ·them, and an adverfary to them that diligemly Jeek him : of whom he is a lover and rewarder. And fo to think of God as Evil, and fear him upon Hl!b, 1 r. 6. fuch mifapprehenfions. §. 1o. Direct. 8. Obj(rve tl!t filf{idnefr of your fear iH the effellt ; how it drivethyou from God, and Dire/1. 8. bindertth faith, and Love, and thankjit:lne[s, and difcollrtJ.geth you from prayer, and Sacramexu, and aU . duty: And therefore it mull needs be pleafing to the Devil, and difpleaiing to God, and no way to b~ pleaded fo.r or jullified. 9· I I• DireCl. 9· M:zr~ how you coHtradill the endeavours ofGod, iu his Word, a11d hy his Minifters : Direlt. 9 • Doyou, find God driving any from him, and frightning away fault that would fain be hi< l Ordath he not prepare the way bimfilf, and reconcile the world to himfilf in Chrijl, and then find bit Embaj[adort 1 Cor. f. I?· in his name and jtead to be[eech them to be reconciled-unto God, and to teU them that all things are ready, ~~~tb~~-z.~t and compeU them to come m ? 9· I2· DireCT. IO. Confider how thou wrongeft Bthers and l<etpefi them from coming home to God: When Dire{l. IO• they fee thee terrified in the way of piety, they will Ay from it, as if fame enemies or robbers were in the way. If you tread ft4r(uUy, others will fear there is fome quickfand : Ifyou tremble when you enter the Ship with Chrill, others will think he is an unfaitkful Pilot, or that its a leaking Veffe!. Your fear difcouf3geth them. · §. I3· Direct. I J, Remember how remedilejf, as to comfort, you leave your [elves, while you inor- Dirctl. 11 • dinately fear him, who alone muft comfort you againft allyottr othtr fears. If you fear your Rtmtdy, what !hall cure 1he fear of your difeafe 1 If yon fear your meat, what !hall cure your fear of hunger 1 If you fear him that is mofi Good and faithful , and the friend of every upright foul, what !hall eafe you of your fear of the wicked and the enemies of holy fouls! If you fear your Fathtr, who !hall comfort you againfi your feet l You call away all peate, when you make God your terrour. §. 14. DireCl. 12. Ttt ta~ heed hjl under thi< pretenct you caft away the nmffiry fear •f God; DirelJ. 12 , even fucb as btlongeth to men in your condition, IQ dritt them out of theirfin and jtcurity unu Chrijl, a11d fuch as the trutb of his thrcatnings rtquire. For a fenflefi prefitmption 11nd contempt of God, art a fin of a far greater dangtr. Direlliont againft fi•ful fear of the Devil. §. •· Direct. I· Remember that the Devil it chained "P• and wboUy at tht wiU and btcl;, ofGod: He Vire[J, 1 , could not touch Job, nor an Ox, nor an Afs of his, till he had permillion from God : He cannot ap~ Job 1 , pear to thee, nor hurt thee unlcfs God give him leave. §. 2· Direct. 2. Labour therefore to ma~ furt of tne Love ofGod, and then thou art Jnfe: Then thou Dire[{. 2 , hafi God, his Love and P.romife alwayes to fer againll the Devil. 9· 3· DjreCt. 3· Remtmber that Chrift bath conquered the Devil, in hii temptations, on tbt Crofi, by Dire{]. 3 , hit Re{ttrrellioh aljd Afccnfion: He deftroyed through death him that had the powrr of death, even. the Devil, that he might deljver them n:ho tbroug_h fear of death were aU their life time fitbjrli to bondage, Hcb. 2· 14, 15. The Prmce of th1s world ts conquered and cafi out by him, and wilt thou fear a conquered foe? 9· 4• Direct. 4·. ~tmembtr that thou art already ~elivtred from. hiJ po?'er and dominio11, if thou be Dire8. i• renewed by the Spm.t of God: And therefore ler hM own be afratd of h1m, that are under his power, and not 1he free men and redeemed ones of Chrifi : God hath deliverea thee in the day that lle convc~ted·· thee, from a thou~and fold grea:cr calamity, than the fceing of the Devil would be: And havmg been faved from h1s greatefi: malice, you lhould not oVer-fear the lcfs. §:S· D!red. 5: Remember what alt i1tjury it .is to God, and '? Chrifl that conqutrtd him, tfl f/:ar the Dircll. S• Dt>zl, whzle God " your protellor, ( any olherw1ft than ~s the mfirument of Gods difplea(ure ) : It feeme1h as much as to lay, I fear !ell the Devil be too hard for God; or.Jell God cannot deliver me from him. Yy 2
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