Chap. t9. An Expofition upon the Booke of J O B. Verf. 29. 423 Some fay, this is bale to be kept from evill by feare ; they take fcandall at those who preach feare, calling it legal! prea- ching. I anfoter ; it isindeed moll noble to obey out of love, To Pare she Lordand his gotdm ( 1-16fia 3 5. ) But yet it is good to feare the Lord, and his wrath. It is molt excellent to fay, tre feare the Lord; becaufe theft is mercy with him, but it is our duty to fare the Lord, becaufe there is juttice and judgement with hini. A good heart will improve th- ...:40etnents of God as well as his mercies, and the wrath of Goad as well as his love ; A good heart is bettered by all the difpenfationsofGod, both in his word,, and in his works ; ifGod fpeake death, it is anadvantage to hisfpirituall life ; and he mends upon threat- flings as well as upon promifes. Every word of God is good,. and bath a favour oflife unto life in it, by the working of the Spirit. It is bell and moil Gofpel- like, when we can fay as the Apoftle directs (2 Cor. 7. s.) Having theft pronifes, we cleanfi, osirfelves fromallfilthinefe offielb andfpirit, perfeaing holineffe in the¡rare of the Lord : but it is well, when we can fay, having theft threatnings we cleanfeoar felves, and perfea loolineffe in the feare of theLord. It is achoice frame to fay,as the Author to the Hebrewes calleth us ( Heb. tz. z8. ) Seeing we have a King- dom that cannot be moved, let us have grace toferve himaccepta. bly withreverence andgodlyfeare.Yetit is our duty to fay,and a mercy when we can fay it Seeing we live in a Kingdome or in a State that is moved and fbaken with judgements and troubles, therefore let us havegrace to ferve him acceptably with reverence andgodly fear. Feare either of trouble threatned, or oftrouble felt, maybe improved to purer atlings in grace, and a more ac- ceptable ferving ofGod. I (hall only adde three things to (hew what this feare right- ly improved will doe upon theheart. Firft, It doth not ftraiten,but enlargethe heart towards God. Thus theProphet fpeaks ofthat holy feare which (hould fol- low, or be an effect of that glory ofthe Church, in theaboun- dant acceffe ofthe Gentiles to the Gofpel (Ifa. 65. 5. ) Then thouJhalt fee andpip together, and thy heart fhallfear, andbeen- larged. Feare and enlargement goe together. Fear undera na- tural! confideration fhuts and ftraitens the heart. A man fur- prized ..
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