_c_1_J--------~~::,piri!uai Perfi.~e_Cl_io_n_. ------- on thei r Minds . Till urged by the Terrors of Everlafiiog Death, they will reieEl the afters of eve rl aftiog L_1fe. \V hi le Carnal M~n are in Profperir y, they hare lnflruEbon to prevent Sin , and delpr [e Reproof to cor reEl Son; they flight the fearful report of Thunder and d~ no more tremble at the Torments of Hell, threa ten'd in the \Vord of God , rhad at Sq01bs and C rac/(er:,. the fport of Boys. Bur in _01arp A!fliaions, and the approaches of Dt:Hh, when Confclence dr aws near to God 's Tnbunal, H becomes bold, and refumes t he Govcrnmcn r, and calls the£!1 to an account _for all their Hebellior:s, and forces them to Confofs what they would faon Conceal, theor fears of Eternal Judgment. 2. Holy I:Car prcferv es and increa fes Relig1oo. Th is may be confider'd as it includes R e n:rcn~.:e of God, with circumfpetlion and Caution. The Fear of Reverence is an inrepara lie Affc£tion and Chara8er. of a Saint: Hear tht pra1ers of thy {ervant1 who Jt. fire to frAr t/Jy namt. The deCircs Include the fince riry of thi s Grace , in oppofit ion to Hopocrofie and pretences , for they are the un fe igned Iffues of the Soul : and the frecnefs of :he A!foE\ ion in oppofi tion to Violence and 'Conllraint. The Name of God implieo his Excellent Awibures. the proper Motives of Holy Fear. His MaJefiy is ador'd by the Angels rn thttr bttmble pojl11r.e before I;U htgh Throne. His Purity, wherein God does fa tXcel, and we arc fo delea1ve, excites the moll awful refpeas of him. l!flho woNid not fear thrr, for thou Art holy ? HoiJ ,znd reverend if hU n11me. His Goodnefs to a Holy ingenuous Soul is a motive of fea r: they lhall f<ar the Lord and hu goodm(s. If Fear declines and Oumbers, there is prefent danger of lof!ng the purelt fweetnefs of Love and Joy that proceeds from intercourfe and Communion with God. His Omnifcience, and the recompencesofhis Ju fl ice and Power keeps the Soul Cautious, Jell we lbould offend him. What Stupidity, what fury, to .provoke fo dreadful an Adver[ary, who can difpatch a Sinner to the Grave and Hell m a Moment? Some obJeCt, that 'tis unfuitable to the gracious d.ifpen[ation of the Gofpel, for the Children of God to reBeEl upon his Terrible Attributes, But are they wifer than God, who uks this Difciphne as Medicinal, either to prcvt:nt Sin, or to correa them into their Duty: Are they more Evangelical than our Saviour, who counfcll'd his Di[ciples; I f•J unto you, my frimds, be not afraid of thtm that can kill the hody, and aftt~ that, havt no more th~t they &an do? But I 1Vi!lf0rew4rn JOU whom you /ball fear, fear h1m which ~fter he lwh ktll'd, hAth !O"'" to cajl into heH, !fa! unto yo11, fear him. Are they more Spmtual than .St . p,z,l, who from ·the Confideration of our be ing accbuntable for all things done in the Body, before the inlightned Tribunal of Chrifl, infers , /(nOJving therefore the terrors of the Lord, we pt r{rv11de men. This In. fluenc'd hi m to a zealous difcbarge of his Duty. It may feem very difficult to reconcile t he exercife of holy Fear, with Faith, and the SanElificd AffeElions of Love, Hope, and Joy. But it will appear they are very confi llent. o. Fear is the produft of Faith: and affurance of God's Favour is preferved by the Fear of his Difpleafure. Fear is not contrary to Fatb, but to Prefumption: Be not high· mindtd, but frar. A jea loufie of our [elves, IeO we lbould provol<e God, is JOy n'd with a more emire and pure Trull-in his ~race and Mercy. 2 . The Lo•·e and Fear of God have a mutual Cau[ality on each other. The Love of God excites Thoughts of his continual Prefcnce and PerfcEl ions, that caufe an awful dhem of him, by which Love is maintain'd. Defires proceed from Love, and 'tis ex· prcfs'd in the forecitcd place, thy Servants who d,(ire to frar thJ Name. The fear of the L ord iJ t heir TrtafuTe, not their . rorment , for their fear to Offend him, is from their pure Lon! to Pl~af~:: hi111. Indeed fervtle Fear, that is mere ly from theconfideration ofhis Anger and Power, is confillenr with the Love of Sin, and inconfiflenr with the Love of God: 'tis a judicia l and violent impreffion on Confcience, that Carnal Men would fain deface, th at th"y mi{;ht freely enjoy their de fir'd ObjeEls, and 'tis by Fit's, for God fometimes t hunders in the Coofcience as well as in the Air. But filial Fear is the Habirua l Con· fiirmion of a Saint, he is voluntary and aaive to preferve it in cont inual Exercife. l · The Pear of God , and Hope, are joyn'd in Scripture, and in the Hearts of Be· lievers. Tit Lord deliJ!.ht s in tho{e that fear him, and hope in his mtrc7. Fear and Hope contemper each or her : Fear without Hope is flavifh, and Hope without Fear is fecure. As che growth of things in Na ture, Flowers and Fruits, is from the heat of the Days, and the cold moiflure of the Nights, fa growth in Grace is by the warm encourage.mems of Hope; and rhe chili ing infl~ e nce of Fear. A regular Hope in the Promifes, is Joyn'd wi :h an humble Fear and SubJeaion to his Commands. 4· Holy F~:ar is mixed wirh Jo~'· Serv~ the Lord with fear, and rejoJ&e with trembling. C ar:J al Jor, t~nd Carnal Pear and Sorrow, are conrrary Extremes tha t proceed from con- (rarr Cau!cs. ~ profpe rousState in rhis Worl?, and the. Satisfa~ion of the Senf~al De· firt:s, is c!Je roar from whence carna l joy fi)nngs, and IS nounfht: and the beJ~~i~e:i . /
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