682 Chap. 25. An ExpojTtion upon the Book of Jo a. Verf,z:. whomye Mallfear ; fear him whichafter he bath killed, bath pow- er to call into hell ; yea, I (ay untoyou, fear him. How is he to be feared, who at one ftroake can pierce b^dy and foule quite through, and throw both into hell ? The Lood is to be feared up- on the.confideracionof the ordinary providentiall puttings forth ofhis power, howmuch more when he puts forth his power ex- traordinarily and Judicially ? (yer. 5. 22.) Feareye not me, fayth. the Lord? will yenot tremble as my prefence,wbich have placed the fandfor the boundofthe Sea, by a perpetual decree that it cannot paffe it, and though the waves thereof trf a thernfelves, yet can they . net prevaile, though they roare, yet can they not paffe over it ? I have done this thing. put a flop to theSea, I have puta bridle in- to the mouth of the Sea, I can check the waves when they roare and toffe, and will ye not feareme ? Secondly , God is to be feared for his goodneffe, as we read at the 24th verle of the fame Chapter, where the Lord upbraids . their want of fear, while they remembred his moll otdir.ary good . providences at land ; Neitherfay they in their heart , let us how feare the Lord our god, that giveth raine, both the former and the latter in hie feafon : he referveth unto we the appoyntedweekes of the harvefl. If God be to be feared for that witneffe of his goodneffe which is held out by raine and fruitful( feafons, or by filling the hearts ofmen in common with food and gladnes, then how much. more is God to be feared for the diftingutfhing as ofhis good- nes and mercy, the pardon offin,and the givingout of his Spirit. There're forgiveneffe with thee, that thou mayfi be feared, fayd the Pfalmift (13a. 4.) and ( Hof. 3. 5.) They ¡hall fear the Lord andhie goodneffe in the latter dayes;that is, they thall fear the Lord becaufeof his goodnes,his fpecial goodies to his Church and peo- ple,in advancing them to all their fpirituall liberties & priviledges . in the latter dayes. And thus the Lord is laid to b not onlyglo- rious in bolineffe, but fearful in práifes , becauie we fhould feare him, when we are praiung him both bccatire he hath wrought fo much goodneffeand mercy for thofe who are unworthy, as alto left while we receive fo much fom the hand ofhis goodr.efÍe and mercy, we fhculd walke unworthily, Secondly, When the text taich, Fear ùwith bim, we learne,, That Gad canffrikeman withfeare when he pleafeth.
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